Areas of Interest/Specialization:

Development Economics; Poverty Analysis; Inter - Social Group Disparities; Gender Issues; Labour and Employment Issues

Experience:

• Associate Professor, Department of Economics, North- Eastern Hill University, Shillong since March 22, 2017.
• Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, North- Eastern Hill University, Shillong since January 18, 2010.
• Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Sciences and Social Sciences, North- Eastern Hill University, Shillong from March 22, 2007 to January 18, 2010.
• Lecturer, Department of Economics, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong from May 15, 2002 to March 21, 2007.

Phd Awarded/Supervised

1. Ms. Rupa Bakor Kharshiing (awarded in September 2017)
2. Ms. Anika Mary Wanhun Kshiar Shadap (awarded in August 2019)
3. Ms Pyallie D. Sangma (awarded in December 2019)

Academic affiliations (if any)

Life Member: (i) Indian Economic Association, (ii) Indian Society of Labour Economics 

Research Projects

• “Enumeration and Valuation of the Economic Impact of Female Labour in the Hills: A Study of Indian Himalayan Region”, A study assigned by NITI Aayog, conducted by the Consortium of Central Universities in the Himalayan States, Sponsor: University Grants Commission, New Delhi under the UGC-STRIDE scheme (April 2021 to February 2022).
• “Identifying Pathways Out of Durable Inequalities” with Prof. Amaresh Dubey, CSRD, JNU (principal investigator) and Dr. K. K. Mishra, BHU, Prof. R. Pandey, BHU, Dr. G. Sridevi, University of Hyderabad and Dr. V. Pala, NEHU (co-investigators); Sponsor: Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi (ongoing).
•  “Levels of Living and Poverty among Socio-religious Groups in India: Analysis of the Correlates and Determinants at the Region Level” (With Anika M. W. K. Shadap), Sponsor: Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, November 2015.
• ·“Gender Issues in Rural Meghalaya”, Sponsor: International Fund for Agricultural Development, Rome; June 2013.
• ·“Determinants of Post-Higher Secondary Enrolment in India during 1993-94 to 2009-10”, Sponsor: Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi; January 2013.
• Co-ordinated the data collection process in Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland for the India Human Development Survey - II, 2012, conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi and the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
• Social Structure And Educational And Employment Achievements: A Study Of Disparities Across Different Social Groups In India during 1983 To 2009-10”, Sponsor: Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi; December 2012.
• “Social Structure and Educational and Employment Achievements: A Study Of Disparities Across Different Social Groups In India during 1983 to 2004-05” (with Amaresh Dubey); Sponsor: Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi; July 2011.
• “Determinants of Post-Higher Secondary Enrolment in India” (with Amaresh Dubey), Sponsor: University Grants Commission, November 2007.
•  “Social Structure and Educational and Employment Achievements: Study of Disparities across Different Social Groups in India” (with Amaresh Dubey), Sponsor: Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi, March 2006.
• Co-ordinated the data collection process in the entire North Eastern Region including Sikkim for the India Human Development Survey - I, 2003-2007 conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi and the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
• Co-ordinated the data collection process in the state of Meghalaya for the National Survey on Household Income And Expenditure (2005) conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi.
•  “Disparities in Consumption and Poverty among different Social Groups in India” (with Amaresh Dubey), Sponsor: The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi, March 2004.
• “Labour Profile of the Northeastern States of India” (with Amaresh Dubey), Sponsor: V. V. Giri National Labour Institute, NOIDA, July 2003.

Publications

• Nongspung, A. & Pala, V. "A Comparative Analysis of Recent Trends in Employment and Wages of Social Groups in India", Man and Development, (forthcoming)
• Pala, V. & Nongspung, A. “Trends in wages of regular wage employees and casual workers in Indian states”, The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, (forthcoming).
• Pala, V. &Gangmei, K. “Contribution of the Service Sector to Income and Employment in the North Eastern States of India”, Man and Society: A Journal of North-East Studies, (forthcoming).
• Pala, V. (2021). “The Role of Khasi-Pnar Women as Community Builders and Peace Makers” in Tula, M. &Ghosh, K. (eds).  Women and Peace Building: Perspectives from the Field, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati. ISBN: 9788195302420, pp. 165-175.
• Pala, V. (2019). “Social exclusion and poverty in India: The case for a more decentralized approach”, Indian Journal of Economics & Development, (ISSN: 2320-9828; e_ISSN: 2322-0430), Vol. 7, No. 4, April.
•  Pala, V. & Sangma, P. D. (2018). “Determinants of Women's Participation in Agriculture in India with special focus on the Role of Education”, International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research, (ISSN: 2455-8834), Vol. 3, No.6, pp. 2771-2782.
• Shadap, A. M. W. K. & Pala, V. (2017). “Nutritional intake and consumption pattern in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya”, The NEHU Journal, Vol. XV, No. 2, July-December, 2017, pp. 15-28.
• Pala, V. & Dubey, A. (2017). “Poverty and nutrition in the north eastern region of India”, in Mishra, Deepak K. and Upadhyay, Vandana. (eds.) Rethinking Economic Development in Northeast India: The Emerging Dynamics, Routledge, London and New York, pp. 97-135.
•  Fernandes, W., Pala, V., Bharali, G. & Dutta, B. (2016), The Development Dilemma: Displacement in Meghalaya 1947-2010, North Eastern Social Research Centre, Guwahati. ISBN-9788189762568
•  “Unequal Access to Water: Implications for Poverty and Educational Attainment”, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Water Resource Management in the Eastern Himalayan Region, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, (2016), ISBN-978-81-910147-4-7, pp. 141-150.
• “Trends and Patterns of Migration in the North Eastern Region of India” (with Ibalari Phylla Khongjoh), in Nongrum, K. and Warjri, A. P. (eds.) Human Migration in South Asia: Dynamics and Implications, Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi (2016), ISBN: 978-81-837047-4-8, pp. 8-38.
• “Government Educational Incentives and Enrolment in Indian States”, (with Rupa Bakor Kharshiing), International Journal of Economic and Business Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, February 2016, pp. 101-113. (UGC approved Journal No. 47335; ISSN 2349-0187)
• “Poverty Reduction and Structural Changes in Indian States: The First Dozen Years of the New Millennium”, The Indian Economic Journal, Special Issue on Income and Wealth Inequalities and their Relation with Social Class, December 2015, pp. 63-78.
• “Rights and Responsibilities of Tribal Women at Home and Work in Rural Meghalaya”, Man and Society: A Journal of North-East Studies, Vol. XII, Summer 2015, pp.160-175.
• “Combating Child Labour: The Need for a Holistic Approach”, The NEHU Journal, Vol. XII, No. 2, July-December, 2014, pp. 27-40.
• "Calorie Deficiency among Scheduled Tribes in the North-Eastern Region of India” (with Ibalari Phylla Khongjoh), in Nathan, Dev and Xaxa, Virginius (eds.), Social Exclusion and Adverse Inclusion: Development and Deprivation of Adivasis in India, Institute for Human Development and Oxford University Press, New Delhi, (2012), ISBN-13: 978-0-19-807893-7, ISBN-10: 0-19-807893-5, pp. 286-309.
• “Human Development: Concept and Measurement”, chapter II of the Meghalaya Human Development Report 2008, Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong, pp. 17-30, (2009).
• “Income, Employment and Unemployment in Meghalaya” (with Minakshi Chakraborty and Smita Das), chapter VI of the Meghalaya Human Development Report 2008, Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong, pp. 125-160, (2009).
• “Social Sector in Meghalaya” (with Shreeranjan),  chapter XI of the Meghalaya State Development Report, 2008-09, Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong, pp. 347-396, (2009).
• “Labour and Employment”, chapter XII of the Meghalaya State Development Report, 2008-09, Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong, pp. 397-417, (2009).
• “Role of Christianity in Fostering Literacy and Education in Northeastern Region: Statistical Evidence” (with Amaresh Dubey) in Subba, T. B., J. Puthenpurakal and S. J. Puykunnel (eds.) Christianity and Change in Northeast India, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, pp. 63-92, (2009), ISBN 81-8069-447-X.
• “The Non-farm Sector in the Rural North- Eastern Region of India: Some Correlates and Determinants” (with Smita Das and Amaresh Dubey), Manpower Journal, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 51-72, April-June, (2007).
• "Migration in the North- Eastern Region of India: Some Issues" (with Amaresh Dubey and Smita Das) in Dubey, Amaresh, M. Satish Kumar, N. Srivastava and E. D. Thomas (eds.) Globalisation and North- East India, Standard Publishers, New Delhi, pp. 55-92, (2007), ISBN 81-87471-39-5.
• "The Employment Situation in the North- Eastern Region Of India: A Gender Perspective" (with Amaresh Dubey and Smita Das) in Dubey, Amaresh, M. Satish Kumar, N. Srivastava and E. D. Thomas (eds.) Globalisation and North- East India, Standard Publishers, New Delhi, pp. 115-146, (2007), ISBN 81-87471-39-5.
• "The Non-farm Sector in the Rural North- Eastern Region of India: Some Correlates and Determinants" (with Amaresh Dubey and Smita Das) in Dubey, Amaresh, M. Satish Kumar, N. Srivastava and E. D. Thomas (eds.) Globalisation and North- East India, Standard Publishers, New Delhi, pp. 147-170, (2007), ISBN 81-87471-39-5.
• “The Employment Situation in the North-Eastern Region of India: A Gender Perspective” (with Smita Das, Amaresh Dubey and Eugene D. Thomas), Manpower Journal (Special Issue on North East), Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 151-170, April-June, (2006).
• “Labour in the Unorganised Sector” (with Amaresh Dubey) in Debroy, Bibek and Kaushik, P. D.  (eds.) Reforming Labour Market, Academic Foundation, New Delhi, pp. 337-377, (2005).
• “Economic Liberalisation and Female Labour Force Participation Rate” (with Amaresh Dubey and E. D. Thomas) in Debroy, Bibek and Kaushik, P. D. (eds.) Reforming Labour Market, Academic Foundation, New Delhi, pp. 379-396, (2005).
• “Workforce Participation of Women in Rural India: The Role of Education” (with Amaresh Dubey and Eugene D. Thomas), The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Vol. 47 No. 4, pp. 749-760, (2004).
• “Education and Participation of Women in the Labour Force: Evidence from Indian Micro Data” (with Amaresh Dubey and M. Satish Kumar), in Proceedings of the First International Manas University Conference in Economics, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, pp. 157-179, (2004).
• “Labour Mobility: Evidence from Northeastern Region of India” (with Smita Das and Amaresh Dubey), Labour and Development, Vol. 9, No.2, pp. 196-222, (2003).
• “Non-farm Employment and Decline in Rural Poverty in India: An Exploratory Exercise” (with Smita Das and Amaresh Dubey), Manpower Journal, Vol. 38, Nos. 2&3, pp. 49-73, July-December, (2002).

Papers presented in Conferences/Seminars

• “An Overview of Income, Employment and Means of Livelihood in Meghalaya”, paper presented in the National Seminar on Governance and Development in Meghalaya, organized by the Union Christian College and Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association at Union Christian College on July 7, 2022.
• “Employment and wages of Scheduled Tribes in India: A comparative analysis of recent trends” (with AibanskhemNongspung), paper presented in the International Seminar on Safeguarding Tribal Identity: Concept and Implications, organized by the Department of Sociology, Synod College, Shillong, 9^th – 10^th September, 2021.
• “Sectoral Contributions towards the economies of North-Eastern Region of India” (with KeziahGangmei), paper presented in the 21^st Annual Conference of the North-East Economic Association, organized by Department of Economics, Manipur University, 14^th – 15^thFebruary, 2020.
• “Human Development in the North-Eastern Region of India: Identifying priorities for public policy”, paper presented in the UGC-SAP National Seminar on Public Policy, Governance and Development in Northeastern States, organized by Political Science Department, NEHU, Shillong, 13^th – 15^th March 2019.
• “Role of Khasi - Pnar Women as Community Builders and Peace Makers”, paper presented at the National Seminar on The Role of Women in Peace Processes, organised by North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC), Guwahati, 2^nd - 3^rd November, 2018.
• “Structural transformation of the economies of North-Eastern states of India with special focus on the service sector” (with Keziah Gangmei), paper presented in the 19^th Annual Conference of the North East Economic Association, hosted by the Department of Economics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, 23^rd – 24^th March 2018.
• “Employment and Education in North East India: Exploring the Great Divide”, paper presented in the International Inter-disciplinary seminar on "Human Resource Development in South Asia: Capabilities, Challenges and Prospects", organized by Synod College, Shillong and South Asia Social Science Research Network , India Chapter, at Synod College, Shillong,  during 16 – 17 March 2018.
• “The Challenge of Employment in the North-Eastern Region of India” in the National Seminar on Agrarian Crisis, Rural Credit and Employment in the North-East,  organised by the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati and Department of Economics, NEHU, Shillong, at ICSSR-NERC, Shillong, during 23-24 February, 2018.
• “The Social Impact of Education”, paper presented in the Seminar on Reclaiming Education organised by ICARE, Asian Confluence, Shillong, June 21, 2017.
•  “Type of Development in Meghalaya and Nature of Displacement” Keynote Address presented in the Seminar on Displacement: Search for Alternatives in Meghalaya, Loyola College, Williamnagar, 24^th February 2017.
• “Disparities in Poverty and Consumption among Social Groups in Indian States”, paper presented in the Workshop on Causes of the Varying Performance of Indian States jointly organized by the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Centre for the Study of Regional Development (CSRD), JNU and Indian Institute of Dalit Studies; CSRD, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 21^st – 22^nd, November, 2016.
•  “Poverty Reduction and Structural Changes in Indian States: The First Dozen Years of the New Millennium”, paper presented in the 98^th Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association, hosted by Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad, December 27^th – 29th, 2015.
• “Unequal Access to Water: Implications for Poverty and Level of Living”, paper presented in the International Conference on Water Resource Management in the Eastern Himalayas, organised by St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, November 4^th - 5^th , 2015.
•  “Poverty, Food Consumption Pattern and Nutritional Intake in North-East India”, paper presented in the National Seminar on Poverty, Inequality and Health in India with special reference to North-East India, organized by the Department of Economics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong in collaboration with Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, Shillong, October 8-10, 2015.
• “Trends and Patterns of Migration in the North Eastern Region of India” (with Ibalari Phylla Khongjoh), paper presented in the Interdisciplinary International Seminar On Human Migration in South Asia: Dynamics and Implications, organised by Synod College, Shillong, October, 9-10, 2014.
• “Combating Child Labour: The Need for a Holistic Approach”, paper presented at the National Seminar on Child Advocacy: A Collective Call to Action, organised by the Department of Social Work, Women’s College, Shillong, October 25-26, 2013.
• “Vulnerable and Marginalised Women and Women in Difficult Circumstances in the North-Eastern Region of India" at the Regional Conference on Achieving Convergence for Empowerment of Women, organised by the National Mission for Empowerment of Women, Government of India, and the Social Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya, at Shillong, February 7 - 8, 2012.
• “Education and Unemployment in NE States: Security Implications” (with Amaresh Dubey), paper presented at the Workshop on The New Security Agenda in the North-East of South Asia, organized jointly by BASAS (British Association for South Asian Studies) and NEHU, Shillong, March 11 – 17, 2010.
• “Calorie Deficiency among Scheduled Tribes in the North-Eastern Region of India” (with Ibalari Phylla Khongjoh), paper presented at the International Seminar on Adivasi/ ST Communities in India: Development and Change, organised by the Institute for Human Development, New Delhi, August 27 – 29, 2009.
• “Human Development in India: A Look at Disparities among Social Groups”, paper presented at the International Conference on Measuring Human Development organized by National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi and University of Maryland College Park, Washington, New Delhi May 16-18, 2008.
• “Role of Christianity in Fostering Literacy and Education in North- Eastern Region: Statistical Evidence” (with Amaresh Dubey), paper presented at the National Seminar on Cultural Change among the Tribes of North East India, organized by the Department of Anthropology, NEHU, Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures and Sacred Heart Theological College, Mawlai, Shillong, October 26-28, 2006.
• “Workforce Participation of Women in Rural India: The Role of Education” (with Amaresh Dubey and Eugene D. Thomas), paper submitted for the 46th Annual Conference of Labour Economics, Jaipur, December 16-18, 2004.
• “Occupational Structure and Wage Differentials in India” (with Amaresh Dubey and Orester Kharpuri), paper submitted for presentation in the International Seminar on Wages and Incomes in India: Emerging Patterns and Policy Issues, organised by Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Institute for Human Development and Indian Society of Labour Economics, Mumbai, December 12-14, 2004.
• “Youth Unemployment in the North-Eastern States” (with Amaresh Dubey and Orester Kharpuri), paper presented in the Seminar on Transforming the Hill Economy of North East India :  Emerging Challenges and Opportunities, Arunachal University, Itanagar, November 25-26, 2004.
• “Education and Participation of Women in the Labour Force: Evidence from Indian Micro Data” (with Amaresh Dubey and M. Satish Kumar), paper presented in the First International Manas University Conference in Economics, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, September 23-24, 2004.
• “The Employment Situation in the North-Eastern Region of India: A Gender Perspective” (with Smita Das and Amaresh Dubey), paper submitted to the National Seminar on Human Resource Development in North East Region in the Era of Globalisation, organised by The Institute of Applied Manpower Research, New Delhi, March 4-5, 2003.
• “Migration in the North Eastern Region of India: Some Issues” (with Amaresh Dubey and Smita Das), paper presented in The National Seminar on Globalisation, Employment, Migration and Trade: Relevance for the North-Eastern Region of India, sponsored by The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, organised by the Department of Economics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, November 22-23, 2002.
• “The Nonfarm Sector in the Rural North Eastern Region of India: Some Correlates and Determinants” (with Amaresh Dubey and Smita Das) paper presented in The National Seminar on Globalisation, Employment, Migration and Trade: Relevance for the North-Eastern Region of India, sponsored by The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, organised by the Department of Economics, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, November 22-23, 2002.
• “Rural Non-farm Employment in the North Eastern Region of India: An Exploratory Exercise” (with Amaresh Dubey and Smita Das), paper presented in the Workshop on Employment, Unemployment and Generation of Employment: A Macro Development Perspective, organized by the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, Guwahati, March 26-27, 2002.
• “Rural Non-farm Employment and Decline in Poverty in India: An Exploratory Exercise” (with Smita Das and Amaresh Dubey), paper presented in the Workshop on Employment in the Rural Non-farm Sector, organised by the Institute of Applied Manpower Research, New Delhi, March 2002.

Collaboration/Consultancy:

• Consultant to the Asian Development Bank in a project titled “Procurement and Analysis of Survey Data: Identifying Districts in NSS and ASI Micro Data Over Time” during the period 26 – 01 – 2011 to 31 – 03- 2011.
• Co-ordinated the preparation of the Meghalaya Human Development Report, 2008, Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong; a report prepared in collaboration with the Planning Commission, Government of India and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), released on 27^th October, 2009.

Any other

• Member of the Task Force for Documentation of 50 years of Meghalaya, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong.
• Participated in the Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation Workshop organized by Cornell University, USA and Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), Mysore, India at the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru during 3^rd – 18^th July 2018.