Dr. R. Sarala
Associate Professor
Sarala.r@iihmrbangalore.edu.in
DoJ: 6th September 2011
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Dr. R. Sarala is a Social Scientist with Ph.D. in Sociology from the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, one of the renowned Social Science Institutions in India. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in HRM. She was a recipient of a research fellowship from the Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) for pursuing a Ph.D. She has also passed the National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lectureship in Sociology, conducted by UGC, New Delhi. She has more than 10 years of teaching experience in the field of Health Policy, and Healthcare Delivery Systems, Research Methodology, Health Systems Research, and Human Resource Management. She has a profound experience in public health research projects with skills in concept development and implementation. She is proficient in carrying out Evaluation and Implementation Research, Health System Research and Social and Behavioural Change Communication (IEC Materials-content development & pre-testing) in the area of Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition and WASH among Tribal and Urban Slum communities. She has been involving (as PI and Team Member) in various projects funded by national and international organizations such as ICMR, UNICEF, Alive & Thrive (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), United Way and HCL Foundation, etc. She possesses good experience in carrying out qualitative data collection and analysis of quantitative data by using statistical packages such as SPSS.
EXPERTISE (AREAS) :
Maternal and Child health
Health Policies & Health Systems Research
Project Evaluation & Implementation
Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) & Strategy
| Course handled | Health Policy & Healthcare Delivery System in System, Health Survey Research Methods, Research Methodology & Community Studies and Human Resource management |
| Pedagogical Innovation | • Case study and topic relevant videos • Health system about different countries e.g. BRICS are assigned to students. Then different groups are formed where each student discuss about their own health system to other members in the group. • As the research process are taught, simultaneously students select the problem for study, develop the problem statement, methodology and develop instruments. In each stage of research process few assignments are selected for discussion in the class and feedback is given. Based on the feedback, other students had to refine their assignments and submit for evaluation. • As part of Community Studies, students are given different health topics, develop tool and collect data in the community. Enters the data in the SPSS and makes presentation. |
| Assessment Innovation | • Field visit to government health facility and discussion on the same in groups. (1). Role plays on different HR topics are done by the groups. Firstly, each group plays only the issue/s Secondly, other groups should discuss and provide the solution to the issue. Thirdly, the group plays their solution/s. In the end all the groups are allowed to give their views/comment on the solution. • Different HR topics are assigned to group of students. Students had to visit any of the hospital HR and make the presentation on the same. |
| Digital Innovation | • Case Studies are given to group of students and asked to discuss in the assigned group. Then from each group representative present their group solutions or views on the case study. In the end, the faculty shares his/her views on the case. Discussions on solution continues and ends by appropriate solutions. |
- Sarala Raju, M K Gupta, Fehmida Visnegarwala, An Educational Intervention to Empower and Engage the SHG Women against Cervical Cancer, International Journal of Health Sciences & Research, Vol.6, Issue: 5, May 2016
- Sarala Raju, Priya Thomas and Reshmi R.S., Nutritional Status of Tribal Children In India: An Overview, International Journal Of Development Research, Vol. 05, Issue, 08, Pp. 5276-5278, August, 2015
- R. Sarala, Coping Strategies of the Slum Dwellers during Health Aliments and Childbirth, The International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences’, Vol 3, Issue 3, March, 2015
- R. Sarala, ‘Social Networks in Rural-Urban Migration: A Case Study of a Slum in Bangalore City’, Urban India, Vol.31, No.2, July- December 2010.
- 5. R. Sarala, Social Network among Women Workers in the Unorganized Sector: A Case Study of Bangalore Slum, The ICFAI University Journal of Urban Policy, October 2007, Vol. 11 (No. 2), Pages 56 – 67.
- Position: Principal Investigator
“Empowerment and Engagement of Community in Strengthening Child Health among Tribal Population”
Funding Agency: Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) - Position: Program Coordinator
Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and Comprehensive Health Centre in Urban Slums of Bangalore – Urban Project Scheme of ‘Uday’.
Funding Agency: HCL Foundation - Position: Principal Investigator
“Pre-testing of IEC Materials on Nutrition Intervention (MIYCN) for Behavioural Change Strategy in UP and Bihar”
Funding Agency: Alive & Thrive, New Delhi - Position: Co-Principal Investigator
Baseline Study for Strategic Behaviour Change Communication Intervention for Maternal Health and Child Development in Karnataka
Funding Agency: UNICEF, Hyderabad - Position: Team Member
Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Sustainability of Sensitizing Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to Reproductive health via Empowerment and Engagement.
Funding Agency: Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) - Position: Principal Investigator
Task Force Project: Improving the Healthcare Access and Quality in the context of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) among Scheduled Tribes in Tumkur District: An Implementation Research
Funding Agency: Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) - Position: Project Coordinator
“Svasti-Nutrition for Women and Children Program in Kolar and Tumkur District, Karnataka”
Funding Agency: Bhoruka Charitable Trust, Bangalore - Organised TOT along with Food & Nutrition Board, GoI from 24th – 28th June 2019 at IIHMR, Bangalore (Technical Partner). Trained on Adolescent Nutrition and Health and IEC materials preparation for BCC.
- Organised TOT along with Food & Nutrition Board, GoI 19th June- 23rd June, 2017at IIHMR, Bangalore (Technical Partner). Trained Anganwadi Supervisors/CDPO on “Care during Pregnancy, lactation and Post Natal care, Social Causes of Malnutrition, WASH & Safe Drinking Water.
- Health and Nutritional Status of Children during Pre- and Post-COVID-19 in Anganwadi Centres, Jigani and Anekal Taluk, Bangalore: Qualitative Study
- Indian Public Health Association
SELECTED RESEARCH PROJECTS
ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS
MDP / Certificate Course / TRAININGS ORGANIZED
CONSULTANCY (@ IIHMR-B)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
| EDUCATION | COURSE / DEGREE | YEAR | INSTITUTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHEST QUALIFICATION | PhD | 2010 | Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore |
| MASTERS | MA, M. Phil PGDHRM | 2003 | Bharathidasan University, Trichy Allagappa University, Karaikudi |
| GRADUATION | BA | 2002 | Holy Cross College, Trichy |
| ANY OTHER FELLOWSHIPS | Recipient of Research Fellowship by Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) for pursuing Ph.D. in Sociology. Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lectureship in Sociology . | December 2002 | University Grants Commission UGC, New Delhi. |