Dr. G. Prabakaran is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Pondicherry University, Puducherry. He holds a Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral degree in Sociology from Periyar University and an M.Phil. and Master’s degree in Sociology from Annamalai University. His academic journey reflects a deep commitment to the study of marginalized communities, especially landless women agricultural labourers and tribal populations in India.
Dr. Prabakaran’s doctoral research focused on the “Issues of Landless Women Agricultural Labourers” in the Veerapandi Block of Salem District, Tamil Nadu. Adopting a functional theoretical framework, his study examined the social, economic, and health challenges of landless women agricultural workers, highlighting issues such as poverty, illiteracy, dependence on cattle rearing, and indebtedness to moneylenders. His post-doctoral work, funded through the prestigious Dr. Radhakrishnan Post-Doctoral Fellowship, extended this inquiry to landless tribal women agricultural labourers.
He is also a recipient of the UGC’s National Fellowship for his doctoral work. His areas of specialization include tribal studies, landlessness, gender and rural livelihoods, social exclusion, and decentralised health governance.
Dr. Prabakaran is currently supervising three Ph.D. scholars working on issues related to the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA), tribal health access, and livelihood vulnerability of Scheduled Castes. He has published several research articles in peer-reviewed journals, including those indexed in Scopus and UGC CARE lists. His notable publications include studies on agricultural activities of Malayali tribes, social control mechanisms of Jarawa tribes, and feminization of agriculture.
In addition to his academic research, Dr. Prabakaran has actively contributed to policy-oriented projects. Notably, he was involved in preparing the Human Development Report (HDR) for Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu, a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission. He also prepared long-term perspective development plans for all hamlets, villages, blocks, and taluks in Dharmapuri district, focusing on inclusive planning and sustainable development.
Dr. Prabakaran’s scholarly and policy contributions reflect a deep engagement with the realities of rural and tribal communities in India. His work bridges academic research and policy implementation, aiming to promote inclusive development and social justice for the most marginalized populations. He remains an active researcher, mentor, and contributor to discourses on social exclusion and inclusive policy in India.