Field Scoping Activity with Dr. Duncan Webb (Princeton University) in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu

A scoping study exploring legal enforcement, healthcare access, and discrimination in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

Project Introduction

This scoping activity, conducted in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, was led by Dr. Duncan Webb of Princeton University, supported by DIA. It investigated three development challenges: translating legal reforms into effective enforcement, improving access to healthcare information in underserved areas, and understanding the role of discrimination in shaping labour market and housing outcomes. These themes were chosen to identify persistent policy gaps, explore context-specific interventions, and lay the foundation for long-term research and programmatic work in the district.

Partners

Researchers

Project Methodology

Over three weeks, nearly 100 stakeholders were interviewed, including police personnel, nurses, students, government officials, and members of the public, to identify bottlenecks in service delivery, gaps in legal literacy, digital accessibility challenges, and the social dynamics underpinning discrimination. Given the sensitivity of topics such as discrimination and interactions with law enforcement, semi-structured interviews were used to allow natural conversation and adaptive probing, with real-time translation by the Research Associate ensuring clear communication with non-English-speaking participants. Exploratory field visits, stakeholder mapping, and informal interactions further helped refine instruments and identify institutional entry points.

Impact

The activity identified context-specific gaps in policy implementation, from legal enforcement to healthcare delivery and social inclusion, revealing that despite formal reforms, structural and cultural barriers continue to impede equitable access to justice, health services, and housing. It also brought to light deeply entrenched social discrimination, particularly in the rental housing market, laying a foundation for targeted interventions that go beyond legal prohibition and address behavioural change. Overall, the scoping activity created a roadmap for future research — including randomized controlled trials — built relationships with local stakeholders, and sparked dialogue essential for inclusive, evidence-based policy reform.

Documentation

This project is currently in progress, and will be updated with findings as results arise.

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