3 Review(s)

There are three things that make man happy: Health, Wealth and Knowledge. Health among them is most important. A bed-ridden person, no matter how wealthy and knowledgeable he is, can never be happy. This book is conned with health; the first priority in human life. It examines the health scenario in India, and tells in detail how healthy we Indians are. The book traces the history of medicine and evolution of medical geography; points to the relationship between environment and health; culture and health; socio-economic conditions and health; focuses on health policy, planning and programming in the country; and finally suggests what needs to be done to make India healthy. This book is unique in many ways. It is the first of its kind and has no parallel in India. It is based on the information available from the WHO, UNDP, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Central Bureau of Health Intelligence, Census of India; and a long teaching experience of the author as medical geographer. It is a must for students of geography, medicine, social work; health departments of central and state governments, UN agencies in India, NGOs; and private companies engaged in production and distribution of medicines. About the Author R.P. Misra is an eminent scholar of development studies, urban and regional planning and rural economics. Among the positions he has held are Professor of Geography and Director, Institute of Development Studies, University of Mysore, Vice Director, United Nations Centre for Regional Development, Nagoya, Japan, and Vice Chancellor, Allahabad University. Author of over ten books and editor of twenty five volumes on emerging development issues, he has been a frequent contributor to literary journals on regional planning, urban and rural development and environmental problems. The multinational comparative study on regional development which he undertook while at UNCRD resulted in is work Rural Development: Capitalist and Socialist Paths in five volumes (Concept, 1985). Prof. Misra is currently heading the Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi, besides being Director, Gandhi Bhawan, Delhi University, and Chairman, IGU Commission on International Division of Labour and Regional Development.