Dr Balarin joins us from the Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE) where she is Senior Researcher and Director of Research. Her applied work focuses on the analysis and qualitative evaluation of educational and social policies, with a special focus on processes of policy implementation. Her academic work has mostly focused on the field of education, where she has been concerned with understanding how educational processes mediate relations between the state and society.

During her time with the IPR, Dr Balarin will be developing her research on youth transitions in Peru, by focusing on young people who are not in education, employment and training (NEETs) or who are in highly precarious forms employment. Aruna Sharma previously served as 1982 Batch Indian Administrative Service Officer for the Madhya Pradesh Cadre and as Secretary, Ministry of Steel, and Government of India until 2018. She was the Co-Chair of the Global Steel Forum from 2017-18. She was named “Data Champion” by John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, for developing an IT based data module for bringing efficiency in Government functioning using high-quality data systems.

At the IPR, Aruna will continue her research on poverty as a multi-dimensional and complex debate across the globe - particularly in a world of digital divide. Her research will not only capture vulnerable households and individuals, deprived of having equal access to Government interventions and market opportunities for self and household growth, but also the shift from welfare approach to entitlement. Using the Samruddhi (Prosperity) model, Aruna will develop a digital data model for common household wise (comprising individuals) by capturing different diverse parameters, and thus enabling to extract entitlements to target Government interventions.

You can read more about our visitors and their research here.