Civil Society Efforts Research Articles

Advancing emigrants' rights in India: strategies of civil society in spaces for engagement

ABSTRACT This article explores Indian civil society's efforts to promote the rights of migrant Indian labourers working abroad in low-wage employment as a response to weakly institutionalized rights frameworks in the global and India's national governance of labour migration. Existing scholarship has explored civil societies' advocacy in multi-national fora, at regional levels, and as forms of transnationally organized networks, but only marginally at the analytical level of migrant-origin states. The article examines their multi-level and multi-stakeholder strategies through the analytical lens of spaces for engagement. Drawing on original qualitative data, this article shows that civil society organizations play a leading role in (e)migration governance in India and are key to understanding the politics of migration of the world’s largest migrant-origin state. In particular, the local and subnational levels are important entry points to advance their agendas in the context of migrant-origin states.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR THROUGH PRIORITIZATION IN THE PLANS FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPALITIES

The focus of the study is directed to the analysis of existing deficits in some of the plans for integrated development of the municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, having a direct relation to the development of a sustainable agricultural sector. On the basis of the identified weaknesses/gaps, specific proposals have been prepared to valorise the potential of this sector. Unpopular, "soft measures" aimed at realizing fruitful cooperation between interested parties have been proposed. Cooperating efforts of farmers, public authorities and civil society are the basis of this targeted cooperation.

Civil War in Yaman: Do Women and Children Have Human Rights Protection?

Introduction: This article delves into the intricacies of the Yemen civil war, focusing on the human rights situation affecting women and children. The analysis underscores the severe challenges in safeguarding their rights due to limited access to essential services caused by the conflict. The article examines ongoing programs and policies to strengthen protection measures and reinforce global awareness of vulnerable populations in Yemen. Purposes of the Research: The research is dedicated to analyzing the gravity of the human rights crisis in civil war, especially for women and children. Highlighting the hardships they experience, proposing pragmatic solutions, and increasing international recognition of their plight. Identifying gaps in existing protection mechanisms, this research advocates for cooperative strategies that can ease the burden faced by the Yemeni and nurture a more promising future.Methods of the Research: Utilizes normative and legal methodologies to comprehensively explore the protection of human rights. A complete understanding of the challenges faced through a descriptive methodology, incorporating a literature review and case studies. Research information was drawn from relevant legal documents, media reports, and policy analysis.Results of the Research: The findings of this research unequivocally reveal that Yemeni women and children face enormous obstacles in securing their human rights in armed conflict. Acts such as murder, rape, and recruitment of child soldiers exacerbate this already dire situation. Engaging government and civil society efforts are urgently needed to advocate for and ensure the well-being of Yemeni women and children during this protracted conflict.

Civil War in Yaman: Do Women and Children Have Human Rights Protection?

Introduction: This article delves into the intricacies of the Yemen civil war, focusing on the human rights situation affecting women and children. The analysis underscores the severe challenges in safeguarding their rights due to limited access to essential services caused by the conflict. The article examines ongoing programs and policies to strengthen protection measures and reinforce global awareness of vulnerable populations in Yemen. Purposes of the Research: The research is dedicated to analyzing the gravity of the human rights crisis in civil war, especially for women and children. Highlighting the hardships they experience, proposing pragmatic solutions, and increasing international recognition of their plight. Identifying gaps in existing protection mechanisms, this research advocates for cooperative strategies that can ease the burden faced by the Yemeni and nurture a more promising future.Methods of the Research: Utilizes normative and legal methodologies to comprehensively explore the protection of human rights. A complete understanding of the challenges faced through a descriptive methodology, incorporating a literature review and case studies. Research information was drawn from relevant legal documents, media reports, and policy analysis.Results of the Research: The findings of this research unequivocally reveal that Yemeni women and children face enormous obstacles in securing their human rights in armed conflict. Acts such as murder, rape, and recruitment of child soldiers exacerbate this already dire situation. Engaging government and civil society efforts are urgently needed to advocate for and ensure the well-being of Yemeni women and children during this protracted conflict.

Nuclear Disarmament in Latin America: Unveiling the Impact of Humanitarian Perspectives and Advocacy Campaigns on the TPNW

This essay explores the evolution of the humanitarian disarmament initiative toward the TPNW and the links and influences from Latin America civil society efforts. Shifting away from traditional military objectives, humanitarian disarmament integrates civil society organizations, prioritizes Human Security over State security, and emphasizes the humanitarian impact of weapons. The paper examines key campaigns, including the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), the Control Arms Campaign, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), elucidating their advocacy strategies. It highlights the unique features of humanitarian disarmament, stressing obligations beyond elimination, addressing challenges in multilateral forums, and presenting Latin America’s distinct approach. The essay concludes by discussing the status of nuclear disarmament in the region, emphasizing universalization efforts and contextual challenges, including the rise of alt-right movements and the region’s historical commitment to nuclear disarmament.

Foreword

I was delighted to open the conference on ‘Violence Against Children’ organized by the Department of Religion Studies, at the Universityof Johannesburg, in partnership with the New Testament Society of Southern Africa (NTSSA). I am extremely pleased that a special issue on the topic has been produced so briskly. Although there is currently much work being done on violence, there is insufficient interdisciplinary and collaborative work on how violence configures the lives of children in Southern African countries. One does not hear of conferences on children or children’s rights as often as one might hear about initiatives on other compelling topics. This coming together of scholars to reflect on the experiences and lived realities of children – and, on the theme of childrenand violence – is exciting and timely. Currently, there are more than 2 billion children in the world, with the highest proportion living in sub-Saharan Africa. By the middle of this century, more than 40 percent of children younger than 5 years will be resident here. It is often pointed out that a child’s life chances are shaped by the place of birth, year of birth, and privileges of the natal familial context – in this regard, class, race, nationality, regionality, and gender are some of the key predictors of a child’s future. Many countries face entrenched inequalities and disparities, thus economic, sociopolitical,cultural, religious, and communal factors often have considerable and defining impacts on a child’s future well-being and success. Interventionsto create equality of opportunities and mitigate inherited disadvantages have been considerable. Despite government and civil society efforts, thesituation of children today remains dire. This is distressing to note for all who work in this field and who acknowledge that a country’s future stability, growth, and development, are inextricably linked to the ways in which this youngest cohort is treated, catered for, inspired, and afforded economic, social, and educational opportunities.

‘We will not Relax our Efforts’: The Anti-Nuclear Stance of Civil Society and Government in Post-Independence Fiji

ABSTRACT In the years immediately following independence, Fiji took advantage of its position as the first Pacific Island country in the United Nations to highlight the harms of French nuclear testing. Building on the outspoken efforts of Fijian civil society that reflected deep concerns in the region, the government of Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara took on an increasingly activist role in the international arena around the testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. Fiji’s advocacy over this time represented an important moment in Pacific Way politics, tying nuclear resistance to self-determination struggles. Anti-nuclear sentiment at both a community and political level positioned Pacific agency and perspectives in this global discourse. Revisiting the speeches and diplomatic efforts of the Fijian government alongside the advocacy and activities of the ATOM group offers lessons on the importance of collaborative politics in the face of transboundary harms and regional challenges.

Public Administration in a Context of Engaging Local Communities for Solar Energy Spreading: Analysis of Innovative Models and Challenges for Ukraine

The article examines the opportunities and challenges related to the implementation of innovative solar energy models in urban and rural (settlement) territorial communities. It is identified that in urban communities, where there is high competition for space, solar energy opens up new possibilities for sustainable development through the integration of solar panels on the roofs of buildings, in office centers, and other urban structures, contributing to the reduction of dependence on traditional energy sources and decreasing carbon emissions. Innovative solutions, such as solar roads and facades generating energy, demonstrate significant potential for further integration into urbanized environments. At the same time, rural (settlement) areas face their own set of challenges and opportunities in using solar energy, where the lack of access to centralized energy supply makes it an ideal solution for providing local communities with electricity. Solar systems can be installed on individual houses, in schools, and hospitals, not only providing them with electricity but also contributing to social and economic development. Particularly, in the context of ensuring safety and improving the comfort level of local residents, the use of autonomous street lighting systems in remote areas, capable of operating without connection to the electrical grid due to being fully powered by solar energy, which is unlimited in supply and harmless to the natural environment, deserves special attention. Moreover, the agricultural sector can also reap significant benefits from the development of solar energy by using photovoltaic systems for irrigation, ventilation, and other needs of farming operations. At the same time, the transition to solar energy is accompanied by certain challenges, including integration into existing power grids, energy storage, regulatory and financial barriers, etc. However, progress in battery technology development, improvements in the political and economic climate, and increasing public support are contributing to the industry’s development. The article analyzes how solar energy can transform urban and rural landscapes, creating new business models and promoting sustainable and economically viable futures. A series of successful solar energy use cases that demonstrate its potential for urban and rural (settlement) areas are considered. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating solar energy into the overall energy system and the need to focus joint efforts of public authorities, business structures, and civil society to overcome existing challenges. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the comprehensive analysis and synthesis of contemporary cutting-edge approaches to the implementation of projects in the field of solar energy, which can ensure efficient use of solar energy under the conditions of various types of territorial communities, which is extremely relevant under the conditions of post-war recovery and development.

Shared Resilience Between Business and Society under Climate Change

This paper delves into the intricate relationship between climate change, extreme weather events, urbanization, and its multifaceted impacts on business and society. It charts the historical trajectory from the Industrial Revolution to contemporary urbanization, revealing the critical role of human activity in driving climate change. The changing interplay between urbanization, industrialization, economic growth, and environmental consequences. Through an interdisciplinary lens, this paper reveals the intricate links between climate change, extreme weather events, and urbanization. The escalating frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, from heatwaves to floods, have ripple effects on economies and communities across the globe. In the midst of these climate challenges, the concept of resilience as a guiding framework has taken center stage in the discussion. Once a psychological construct, resilience has evolved into a multidisciplinary approach to climate risk. This paper explores the collaborative efforts of government, business, and civil society in developing adaptive strategies that enhance climate resilience. It emphasizes the crucial role of business in building climate-resilient supply chains, supporting communities, and promoting environmental sustainability. The need for collective action is emphasized, urging stakeholders to work together to address the complex challenges of climate change. By understanding these interconnections, societies can use adaptive strategies to navigate the changing climate landscape and advance toward a future of shared prosperity, environmental sustainability, and resilience in uncertainty.

Features of the world grain market functioning in the conditions of geopolitical instability

Methods. The study used the methods of generalisation and scientific abstraction to clarify the essence and main features of the global grain market; general and specific – to characterise the function of the national and global grain market; structural and functional analysis – to structure the global grain market by three classification features; statistical analysis – to identify trends in the functioning of the grain market in the context of geopolitical instability; induction and deduction – to formulate the study’s conclusions. Results. The essence of the modern world grain market and features of its functioning in the context of geopolitical instability are clarified. The structure of the grain market is classified according to three criteria. The main functions of the world grain market are allocated: production, supply, global trade, pricing, food security, economic development, stimulation of innovations, and risk reduction. Based on the identified functions, the author analyses the trends of the global and national grain market in the context of geopolitical instability. It is emphasised that grain production is a key component of the world market and has a significant impact on the global economy, food security and trade. The production volumes of cereals such as wheat, rice, corn, barley and others determine the total amount of food available to the population. It is emphasised that grain exporting countries can use their agricultural potential to strengthen their geopolitical position. It has been established that Ukraine is one of the important players on the world grain market and is among the top ten producers and exporters of grain crops. It is substantiated that due to the continuation of the war in Ukraine, serious problems with the supply of grain crops may arise in the world and further aggravation of the geopolitical situation. It has been demonstrated that solving the problems of grain supply in the modern world requires an integrated approach at different levels – from global to local, as well as coordinated efforts of various actors, including governments, scientific institutions, industry organizations and civil society. Only through the integration of various aspects and the construction of balanced strategies, sustainable and long-term supply of food to the world’s population can be achieved in conditions of geopolitical instability. Novelty. The study reveals that geopolitical instability has a destabilising impact on the functioning of the global grain market, which is a key component of the global food chain. It is substantiated that a prolonged war in Ukraine could lead to serious problems in the world with grain supplies and food security for millions of people. Practical value. The results of the study can be used by scientific and educational institutions in the process of researching the national and global grain market.

Sexual Harassment in International Law

Sexual harassment within the realm of international law is a multifaceted and intricate matter, impacting numerous individuals worldwide annually. This article seeks to examine and assess the difficulties and potential advancements in safeguarding those affected by sexual violence on a global scale. By conducting a comprehensive examination of diverse international legal instruments, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on Human Rights, various regional agreements, and UN resolutions, the authors highlight the pivotal role that international organizations play in combatting sexual harassment. The article also underscores the legal enforcement challenges and the accountability of sexual harassment perpetrators at the international level. The lack of uniformity in the definition and punishment of sexual misconduct across different countries, along with restrictions on victims' access to the legal system, pose hindrances to effectively addressing this issue. Nonetheless, despite these obstacles, the article presents optimistic prospects concerning the advocacy efforts of civil society and the growing global awareness of the problem of sexual harassment. In transcending national borders, international initiatives aimed at addressing sexual harassment are gaining increasing significance to establish a safe and violence-free global environment.

Millets: The sustainable ancient superfood for the modern world

Millets are a category of small-seeded, nutrition-rich grains that have been integral to human subsistence for thousands of years, especially in Africa and Asia. The most extensively grown millets worldwide, notably in India, are pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, Indian barnyard millet, kodo millet, little millet, and proso millet. Millets are explicated under Dhanya Varga in Ayurveda and are referred to by the names Trina Dhanya, Kudhanya, and Kshudra Dhanya across various Samhita. Moreover, indigenous people have long used millets for ethnomedical purposes and prevention of hunger. Millets are a highly resilient crop since they are typically grown on degraded and nutrient-deficit soil receiving little rainfall. Millets are a panacea to various health disorders as they are rich in dietary fiber, proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, etc. Millets have surfaced as a possible option to solve current difficulties in the field of agriculture, food security, and public health as there has been a decrease in the yield of main staple grains due to changing agro-climatic conditions for which millets have shown great adaptability with excellent nutritional makeup. This research paper provides a concise overview of millets, highlighting their historical significance, folklore use, cultivation practices, health benefits, their potential to contribute to sustainable farming systems, and food security with government and civil society efforts to encourage millet farming in India. Various Ayurveda literatures, journals, published articles, and books were comprehensively reviewed for this research paper.

Situating commercial determinants of health in their historical context: a qualitative study of sugar-sweetened beverages in Jamaica

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality across the Caribbean and similar regions. Structural determinants include a marked increase in the dependency on food imports, and the proliferation of processed foods, including sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). We focused on Jamaica as a case study and the health challenge of SSBs, and situated contemporary actions, experiences and policies within their historical context to investigate underlying drivers of commercial determinants of health and attempts to counter them. We asked: how can a historical perspective of the drivers of high level SSB consumption in Jamaica contribute to an enhanced understanding of the context of public health policies aimed at reducing their intake?MethodsAn ethnographic approach with remote data collection included online semi-structured interviews and workshops with 22 local experts and practitioners of health, agriculture and nutrition in Jamaica and attending relevant regional public webinars on SSBs and NCD action in the Caribbean. Our analysis was situated within a review of historical studies of Caribbean food economies with focus on the twentieth century. Jamaican and UK-based researchers collected and ethnographically analysed the data, and discussed findings with the wider transdisciplinary team.ResultsWe emphasise three key areas in which historical events have shaped contextual factors of SSB consumption. Trade privileged sugar as a cash crop over food production during Jamaica’s long colonial history, and trade deregulation since the 1980s through structural adjustment opened markets to transnational companies. These changes increased Jamaican receptiveness to the mass advertisement and marketing of these companies, whilst long-standing power imbalances hampered taxation and regulation in contemporary public health actions. Civil society efforts were important for promoting structural changes to curb overconsumption of SSBs and decentring such entrenched power relations.ConclusionThe contemporary challenge of SSBs in Jamaica is a poignant case study of commercial determinants of health and the important context of global market-driven economies and the involvement of private sector interests in public health policies and governance. Historically contextualising these determinants is paramount to making sense of the sugar ecology in Jamaica today and can help elucidate entrenched power dynamics and their key actors.

The digital augmentation of extremism: Reviewing and guiding online extremism research from a sociotechnical perspective

AbstractOnline extremism remains a persistent problem despite the best efforts of governments, tech companies and civil society. Digital technologies can induce group polarization to promote extremism and cause substantial changes to extremism (e.g., create new forms of extremism, types of threats or radicalization approaches). Current methods to counter extremism induce undesirable side‐effects (e.g., ostracize minorities, inadvertently promote extremism) or do not leverage the full potential of digital technologies. Extremism experts recognize the need for researchers from other disciplines, like information systems, to contribute their technical expertise for understanding and countering online extremism. This article aims to introduce the field of information systems to the issue of online extremism. Information systems scholars address technology‐related societal issues from a sociotechnical perspective. The sociotechnical perspective describes systems through a series of interactions between social (structure, people) and technical components (physical system, task). We apply the sociotechnical perspective to (1) summarize the current state‐of‐the‐art knowledge of 222 articles in a systematic multi‐disciplinary literature review and (2) propose specific research questions that address two questions (How do digital technologies augment extremism? How can we successfully counter online extremism?).

Lost in Corporate Translation: How Firms Mediate Between Social Mobilization and Regulatory Intervention in the Extractive Sector

ABSTRACTFirms should be considered as actors that potentially mediate between social movement pressures and policy outcomes. This article shows that at the mining project level, social mobilization can generate important changes in corporate practices toward nearby communities, and that these practices can undermine the cohesion of social movement coalitions advocating for regulatory intervention or reform, thus limiting their ability to make compelling claims on the state. In this way, company interpretations of and responses to protest are an important mediating process that conditions civil society efforts to activate state institutions in their favor. This argument extends recent work on the social foundations of regulation in Latin America by including corporate actors. The article is based on a comparative case study of the Pascua Lama/Veladero mining projects in both Argentina and Chile, using both secondary sources and primary field research.

Monetization of politics and public procurement in Ghana

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the prevalence of corruption in Ghana to understand how and why it has turned public procurement into a mere money-making scheme instead of a means to provide needed public goods and services.Design/methodology/approachThe study focuses on Ghana as a case study and mobilizes the monetization of politics lenses. Data are collected via interviews with key officials across the procurement sector (including the government, donors and civil society), documents, documentaries and news articles.FindingsThe findings suggest that the increasing costs of elections and political financing coupled with the costs of vote-buying, which has become informally institutionalized, intensify corruption practices and, consequently, turns public procurement into a mere source of cash for political ends. Political appointments and legalized loopholes facilitate this by helping to nullify the safeguard accounting and other control institutions are designed to provide. Likewise, enduring poverty and rising inequality “force” citizens into a vote-buying culture which distorts democratic premises that may drive out unscrupulous politicians; thus, perpetuating capture schemes. Civil society's efforts to remedy these have had little success, and corruption and inequality remain rife.Practical implicationsThe main practical implication of the study lies in the need for a gradual demonetization of elections, and the consideration of the fundamental function of public procurement as a policy instrument embedded in economic, social, cultural and environmental plans. Additionally, given the connectedness of the various corruption issues raised, a comprehensive system-based approach in dealing with them would be more effective than a piecemeal approach targeting each issue/problem in isolation.Originality/valueWhile extant literature has examined the issue of endemic corruption in developing countries using state capture, few have attempted to explain why it remains enduring, particularly in public procurement. This study, therefore, contributes to the literature on corruption and state capture theoretically and empirically by drawing on monetization of politics from political science to explain why corruption and state capture endure in certain contexts (with Ghana as an illustrative example) which reduce public procurement to a cash-milking scheme.

ECOLOGICAL MARKETING IN THE PARADIGM OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ASPECT

Theoretical and methodological approaches to the development of the field of marketing in the information society based on the principles of sustainable development are considered, which is due to the task of creating and maintaining, with the help of marketing, competitive advantages compatible with the tasks of the concept of sustainable development, adapting the marketing orientation of organizations to the needs of sustainable development in order to harmonize interaction «nature-society». It is shown that in the field of marketing, the focus on the concept of sustainable development actualized the formation of the ideology of sustainable marketing and sustainable consumption, a sustainable marketing organization and contributed to the formation of ecological marketing, which focuses on the demonstration of positive social and environmental behavior by companies to ethical consumers, responsibility for environmental safety, life and health consumers. In accordance with Ukraine’s course of integration into the European Union, the economic policy of the state is faced with the task of building the economy based on the principles of sustainable development. The issue of the need to combine the efforts of the state and civil society to implement the concept of sustainable development has been updated. It is indicated that in order to overcome the dominance of resource- and energy-intensive industries and technologies, the raw material orientation of exports that dominates in Ukraine, state policy should consider the achievements of the Fourth Technological Revolution and support science-oriented industries. The role of the achievements of the Fourth Technological Revolution, to solve the problems of sustainable development thanks to technologies of alternative energy production, «smart» technologies for the house, and cloud technologies, which become the basis for calculating the economical distribution of resources and optimal satisfaction of consumer needs, is considered. It is shown that with the efforts of civil society, with a formed environmental consciousness, it is possible to overcome the ideology of consumer society, which led to the global environmental crisis and prevent business from neglecting the requirements for environmental protection, saving capital investments in the ecological sphere.

Promoting Human Rights standards for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from the perspective of International law

This article examines the issue of how various religious and legal systems cope with current developments that weaken the binary opposition of men and women including their definitions of sexual identity and culture. More concretely, this book tries to explain how society and concrete laws deal with claims of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) who claim wider recognition. This explains the difference between the Western provisions and the policies of relevant legal bodies such as the General Assembly of the United Nations, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Supreme Court regarding this matter. This also shows the nature and real impact of international civil society forces such as the Yogyakarta principle which formulates the expansion of rights regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexuals. Based on a comparison of various legal and religious discourses, he describes the current practice of direct and indirect discrimination and in some non-European national systems even extrajudicial killings, torture and ill-treatment, sexual assault, rape, and other human rights violations. While emphasizing the substantial differences between current European countries and non-European countries regarding policies towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), it points to the current trend of progress in the field by the general policy of the European Council, the most recent assessment issued by the European Court of Human Rights as well as civil society efforts such as the Yogyakarta principle. Swedish standards have been introduced to emphasize existing progressive attitudes towards LGBT people regarding gay marriage and adoption procedures.

The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Good Governance in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

Good governance is critical for the development and prosperity of any nation. In Africa, the role of civil society in promoting good governance has become increasingly important, given the challenges faced by many governments on the continent. This research paper explores the challenges and opportunities that civil society faces in promoting good governance in Africa. Using a qualitative approach, the study draws on existing literature and case studies to analyze the role of civil society in promoting good governance in Africa. The paper identifies the challenges facing civil society in Africa, such as limited resources, weak legal frameworks, and government hostility. Additionally, the study highlights the opportunities available for civil society to promote good governance, such as the use of social media and other forms of technology, international support, and partnership with the private sector. The study concludes that civil society has a crucial role to play in promoting good governance in Africa. However, to be effective, civil society organizations must overcome the challenges they face and take advantage of the opportunities available to them. This research paper provides recommendations for civil society organizations, governments, and international donors to support the efforts of civil society in promoting good governance in Africa.

Community’s Role for Marginalised Children

This article discusses the role of the community in the development of socio-economically marginalised children. There are several government schemes and civil society efforts for their upliftment. There is further need to critically analyse researches done with a distinct political stance which either seek to manage the marginalised or to ‘empower’ them. Such policies are simply management techniques and are not really a quest for the actual empowerment of these communities. Most of the research are carried from the perspective of a ‘deficit model’ perspective and not with an unprejudiced perspective of ‘reaching out’. The article draws from three qualitative field studies, with different settings of marginalised children in Delhi-NCR to argue for an empathy-based model for researching the underprivileged. The empirical argument is further strengthened by insights drawn from Pestalozzi and Savitri Bai Phule’s work with the community. While these action-oriented researches seek to underscore the importance of the work for marginalised sections, we also draw from Dewey’s idea of democratic education that insists upon the schools’ role and responsibility to involve marginalised sections.