This report is part of a wider research project that assessed the effectiveness and relevance of social protection
and labour programmes in promoting social inclusion in South Asia. The research was undertaken in
collaboration with partner organisations in four countries, examining BRAC’s life skills education and
livelihoods trainings for young women in Afghanistan, the Chars Livelihoods Programme and the Vulnerable
Group Development Programme in Bangladesh, India’s National Health Insurance Programme (RSBY) in
Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and the Child Grant in the Karnali region of Nepal. Reports and briefings for
each country and a paper providing cross-country analysis and drawing out lessons of relevance for regional and
international policy can be found at: www.odi.org/sp-inclusion.