RESEARCH INSTITUTES

 

THE Indian Council of Social Science Research provides maintenance and development grants to 27 research Institutes. Sponsoring of research institutes outside the scope of the University Grants Commission has been one of the major programmes of the Council in enlarging the base of social science knowledge, improving the quality of research, and promoting an interdisciplinary perspective. These institutes constitute an important mechanism for implementing the Council's policy of dispersal of research talents and building up of research capabilities in the different regions of the country, particularly in the areas where social science research is not yet well developed.

 

The Research institutes have established close links with the scholars in the region as well as elsewhere through various activities such as seminars, workshops and training and consultancy programmes. Some of the institutes are closely associated with national and state level planning and development agencies, and have thereby strengthened the links between research and policy making.

 

Each institute determines its own direction of research, which includes a wide spectrum of subjects related to agricultural and rural development, industrial structure and growth, income distribution and poverty, employment and wages, inter-regional differences in levels of development, education, health, nutrition, problems of weaker sections of society including women, energy, technology, ecology and environment, and social, cultural and institutional aspects of development. Thus, research studies have generated substantial empirical knowledge of the structure of Indian economy, polity and society and their dynamics both at the national and regional levels.

 

During the last five years 1452 research projects have been completed by the institutes, while 1829 are ongoing. These cover a wide spectrum of issues relating to areas that are already mentioned above. What is more significant in these efforts is that they are not only interdisciplinary in character, but also focus on regional and local problems. In this process, they have become centres of research for the region's specific issues and have greatly contributed to an awareness of the nature of development problems and potential of the country as a whole.  In terms of publications, the institutes have brought out 591 books and 1271 working papers during the last five years.

 

Another important activity, that has been given importance by the Council, 'is the training of young social scientists by the research institutes through M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes, and workshops and seminars. During the last five years, 121 Ph.Ds. have been produced and 787 scholars have been working on their Ph.D.

 

The Council can legitimately take pride in its role in promoting the research and training efforts made by the research institutes. 325 projects were completed in these institutes during the year under report. The total number of ongoing studies at the end of the year was 423.

 

Research institutes disseminate the results of their research studies in the form of published books. mimeographs, working/occasional papers, etc. During the year, the number of books published was 113,  monographs/mimeographs 14 and working/occasional papers and articles were 314.  The number of research papers published were 1028.

 

The institutes also undertake training of young social scientists and assist fresh researchers in designing and conducting their research. To this end, doctoral fellowships have been provided to these institutes. Some of the institutes have been assisting in teaching and training programmes for M.Phil. and Ph.D. students. In addition, as per the Council's policy, they participate in postgraduate teaching, research guidance in the universities and also involve the university teachers in their research programmes. Twenty scholars working under the guidance of the faculties of the research institutes were awarded Ph.D. degrees. Fourty scholars submitted their doctoral dissertations.  1007 seminars and workshops were held during 2005-2006.

 

The focus of the A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna, is on development with particular reference to problems of Bihar and the eastern region. Its approach to development emphasises on community initiative. A number of studies related to poverty alleviation, rural development, child development, economic policy, SC/ST studies, role of women and their status in society, impact of changing technology, social stratification and agriculture, political economy of the State, etc., have been undertaken by the institute. During the period, 13 studies were completed while 6 were in progress.  six articles were published by the faculty in various journals Three books were also published during this period.  Also, the institute brought out its journal, Social and Economic Studies.  

 

Public policy in human development, agrarian economy, labour and development technology, natural resource management. community irrigation, violence against women, banking sector reforms, labour and development, macro economic adjustment policies, population and land use, agrarian reforms and land distribution experiences, etc., get priority in the research activities of the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. 63 studies were completed while work on 45 studies is in progress. four students were awarded Ph.D. and 30 were working for their Ph.D. degrees. 5 books were published.   16  articles were published by the faculty in reputed journals. The Centres/faculty conducted/participated/ presented papers in 100 seminars/conferences and workshops.

 

The research activities of the Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad revolve around the economic and social problems of Andhra Pradesh. During the year, the centre concentrated its work on irrigation management, tribal development programmes, health sector reforms, sustainable development frameworks, solid waste management system, agriculture, social security, poverty alleviation, resettlement and rehabilitation, and employment.  The Centre completed two research projects and 23 studies were in progress.   The faculty published  one book.  5 scholars were awarded Ph.D. degrees.  

 

 The main activities of the Centre for Multi-­Disciplinary Development Research, Dharwad, were centred on cost and financing of elementary education, girl literacy, health indicators, economics of shifting from tobacco, financial management of operation blackboard, trade and environment and community contribution to development of education. During the period under review, the institute completed 3 research projects and 9 projects were at various stages of completion. Two scholars were awarded Ph.D Degree.   Six scholars were pursuing their Ph.D. work.  The Centre organised nine seminars.  Three monographs were published by the faculty and five occasional papers were contributed by them.

 

The focus of studies of the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, was on problems of governance, security policy, policies of migration and demographic change, politics and progress of decentralisation, future of urbanisation, economic liberalisation, social violence, globalisation, diplomacy and national security, etc. During the year, the Centre completed 24 projects   and 15 were at various stages of completion.  The faculty published 27 books and two working papers and 219 articles in reputed journals. The Centre also organised 139 seminars/workshops/discussions during the year.        

 

The Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh conducts research on population rehabilitation, education and development, migration, urban development, impact of Women-specific schemes, model village plan, reproductive and child health, etc. During the year, the Centre completed eight projects and nine were at various stages of completion. In addition, the centre organised 41 lectures/seminars and   training programmes during the year.  35 research papers/articles were published by the faculty in reputed journals.

 

Research at the Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad, has been primarily on educational incentive schemes, adult literacy, conservation of eco­-system, impact of industrialisation on peripheral economy, women workers and development, contribution of informal manufacturing sector and economy, functioning of salt industry in Gujarat and investment in dry land region. During the year, the institute completed four research projects and seven studies were in progress. The faculty of the institute published one book and several articles/research papers in reputed journals.  The centre/faculty conducted/presented papers in 85 seminars/conferences/workshops. 

 

The Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, continued to concentrate its work on economic and social problems of society, Among the projects that received major attention were impact of globalisation on Indian economy, industrial finance, urban popular culture, problems of under-investment in small scale industries, evaluation of refugee settlements, and rumour and communal conflict in Bengal. During the year, 28 projects were completed and 45 were in progress. The Centre published two books.  During the period, seven workshops/lectures/seminars were organised.  The faculty published 49 research papers and articles in reputed journals.

 

The main concerns of research at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, have been democratic politics and its future, politics of culture and politics of knowledge, peace security and economic cooperation for growth, ethnicity and diversity, political system and voting behaviour, violence, ethnicity and diversity, disaster management, and paradigm of national security. During the year seven projects were completed and 27 studies were in progress. The Centre published 20 books. The Centre also organised 36 seminars/ talks/ lectures/discussions.  The faculty published 347 reports/papers/articles in reputed journals.

 

The focus of research activities of Council for Social Development, Hyderabad, has been on pathology of poverty, panchayati raj institutions, human development, industrial clusters, and evaluation of post-literacy programme. During the period under report, the council completed six projects and two were in progress. The council faculty published three books and 17 research articles in reputed journals.  The Council/faculty conducted/participated in 18 seminars/ conferences/ workshops/lectures.

 

The Centre for Women's Development Studies, Delhi, since its inception, has undertaken research-cum-action projects. During the period, priority areas of the Centre were crimes against women, changing political role of tribal women, kinship and marriage alliance, gender and reproductive behaviour, gender construction in the media, matrimony, caste and gender, food security and sustainable livelihood, human rights, gender and violence in India.  Nine projects were completed, 18 were in progress.   Five publications were brought out.  In addition, the Centre continued to publish its journal. The centre also organised 18 workshops and seminars on various themes. 

 

Gandhian Institute of Studies, Varanasi is engaged on promoting research in Gandhian Studies. During the period under report, it completed three projects while nine were in progress.  The institute also brought out two bi-annual Journals – (1) Gandhian perspectives  (English) (2) Gandhian Gaveshana (Hindi).  During the year, It organized 11 lectures/discussions/ meeting/ seminars.  The faculty participated and presented papers in 13 seminars/workshops/conferences. The faculty also contributed three papers/Articles in Journals and edited volumes and published three books.

 

The research work carried out by Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow, was focused on rural informal credit market, evaluation of national programme of nutritional support, literacy, rehabilitation, agriculture and rural development, land reforms, regional dualism, tenancy situation, industries and physical infrastructure especially irrigation, power and road transport, etc. During the year, the institute completed 13 projects while 13 were in progress. The institute brought out two working papers and three books. In addition, the institute/faculty conducted/presented papers in six seminars/workshops/ conferences.  Eight students/scholars were pursuing the research work under Ph.D. Programme.

 

Emphasis of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad, during the year was on total literacy campaign, cultural continuity and change, problems of the aged, elimination of child labour, public distribution system, etc.  During the period the institute completed 9 research projects while 12 were in progress.  Besides, 27 papers/articles were published by the faculty in journals, while the Institutes published 2 books.  Two scholars submitted their theses.  The institute  conducted 51 seminars/workshops/conference/lectures. 

 

Research activities of the Centre for Social Studies, Surat, related to the ethnography of malaria, child labour, social consequences of drough't, dalits and social conflict, communal violence, tribal migration, urban health schemes, gender issues, and panchayati raj and people's participation. During the period, two projects were completed and 13 were in progress. The centre continued to publish its journal Arthat. The faculty members published 24 articles/papers.  The Centre conducted 13 seminars/conferences/training programmes while faculty members participated/presented papers in 60 seminars/lectures/conferences.   One scholar submitted Ph.D thesis.

 

The research programme of the Indian Institute of Education, Pune, was focused on studies on perceptions and viewpoints on education, implementation of operation blackboard, non-formal education for sustainable development, and alternatives in school education. During the year, nine projects were completed and seven were in progress. The institute's quarterly journal Shikshan Ani Sarna} in Marathi continued to be published.  six scholars were pursuing their Ph.D.  The institute conducted six seminars/workshops.  The faculty participated/presented papers in 37 seminars/workshops/ conferences.  

 

The Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, undertakes research on tax reforms, gender studies, dalit studies, institutional development, employment, agriculture, irrigation, family welfare, management, health, panchayati raj, decentralised governance, etc. The institute focused on studies such as quantitative restrictions on agricultural import, national watershed development programme, cropping pattern, analysis of biodiversity conservation, regional disparities, and education and development. During the year 25 research projects were completed, 27 were at different stages of completion. The institute published 10 books. In addition, one monograph  60 papers/articles  were published by the faculty in reputed journals.  It conducted nine seminars/workshops.  The institute also brought out its Journal, Journal of Social and Economic Development.    

 

The thrust area of research at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, Delhi has been on emerging information and communication technologies in promoting and disseminating social science research. The institute mainly focused on social safety net. saving and investment of corporate sector trends in India's external trade, and squatters and the state. During the period, two research projects were completed and eight were in progress. The institute published thirteen research papers. The institute has created a multimedia Centre with an aim to combine new technologies and create linkages between different researchers and institutions. The Institute organized four workshops. The faculty participated/presented papers in 38 seminars/conferences/lectures/ discussion.  

 

The research work undertaken by the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, is related to market and institutional mechanism, health studies, literacy and development, credit and rural Industrialisation, globalisatlon and Cultural imperialism, financing of elementary education and panchayatl raj. During the year, 14 projects were completed, 17 were in progress. It conducted 20 seminars/ workshops/lectures and training courses. The Institute published six books and the faculty prepared and published 14 research reports and working papers.

 

Research activities of the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi relate to small scale industry, change in irrigated agriculture, institutional credit to agriculture, forestry, urban poverty, planning and forecasting, illegal drug market, reproductive health, demographic transition, secularism, trade liberalisation, growth in Indian industry, etc.  The institute completed 33 research projects and 57 research projects were in progress.  During the year 10 books were published and 48 papers/articles were published by the faculty in various journals.  The Institute brought out nine working papers and 11 discussion papers.  Twenty scholars were working   under  Ph.D programme.  One scholar has been awarded Ph.D. degree and two scholars submitted their theses. 

 

The Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad, has conducted studies on restructuring of public sector enterprises. janma bhoomi programme, social safety net for VAS. biotechnology in India, poverty initiative programme, marketing strategies, and disinvestment of public sector units. The institute provides courses on MBA (PE) and PGDCS. The institute completed eight research projects, three consultancy projects while four were in progress.  During the year, three books and 18 research articles were published. In addition, the institute organised 45 training programmes and workshops.  14 scholars were pursuing their research work for Ph.D. and six scholars submitted their theses.

 

The Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati, was established to promote research on issues relating to the economy and society of Assam and other states of the north-eastern region. The thrust areas of research identified by the institute, revolve around demographic transformation, economic history, tribal studies, women empowerment programme, labour market, ecology and environment, and participatory democracy in panchayati areas. The institute completed thirteen research projects and thirteen were in progress.  six working papers were brought out and 23 papers/articles were published by faculty in various journals.   Besides, the institute   organised three seminars/workshops/training programmes during the year.

 

The Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, focused on subjects such as gender and employment, water conservation management, land reforms, women and electoral politics, environment and social transformation. During the year, three research projects were completed, 14 were in progress.  The institute brought out one monographs and six working papers.  The institute conducted three    workshops and 32 seminars series during the year.

 

The research focus of the Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, covers subjects such as girl literacy, public health, anti­poverty programme, rehabilitation, women empowerment, Orissa economy, functioning of welfare schemes, forest and livelihood, and impact of super cyclone. During the period under review, the Centre completed six  projects  while seven were in progress. The centre published two books.  The faculty also published 13 articles/research papers in various journals.  The Centre organised seven conferences / seminars/ workshops while faculty members participated/presented papers in 21 seminars/workshops.   Fourth Kalinga Lecture (New Series) was delivered by Professor Michael Cornea, Department of Anthropology, George Washington University.

 

The major activities of the Sardar Patel Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ahmedabad, during the year were sustainable development framework, women development activities, investment in non-farm sector, water resource use in India, diversification of Indian agriculture, etc. Three Research Projects were completed and four projects were in progress. The institute brought out a bi-annual journal in English and another in Gujarati.   one scholar was awarded Ph.D Degree.  Twenty articles were published in various journals/edited books by the faculty.  

 

The Madhya Pradesh Institute of Social Science Research, Ujjain, undertakes interdisciplinary research in social sciences with special emphasis on the problems of Madhya Pradesh and the neighbouring regions. Researches during the period covered subjects on tribal development, panchayati raj system, rehabilitation, working women, rural development, and information technology. During the year, the institute completed three projects and ten were at various stages of completion.  12 articles/papers were published by faculty in various journals.  The Institute published its own journal Madhya Pradesh Journal of Social Sciences. The institute organised two training courses and nine special lectures.  Two scholars were awarded Ph.D Degrees and 15 scholars pursuing their research work under Ph.D. programme.  

 

The main research activities of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Institute of Social Sciences, Mhow, during the year were social segregation and accessibility, girl infanticide, occupational. mobility and social change, panchayati raj and development of scheduled castes, rehabilitation of scavengers, and value crises among scheduled castes and Buddhists. During the year nine studies were completed while eight were in progress. Four scholars were awarded Ph. D. Degrees.    During the year, the faculty also contributed seven articles in different journals. The institute brought out two Social Science Documentation Series in Hindi.  Besides, it conducted two seminars, eight symposia and three lectures.   The faculty participated/delivered lectures in 30 conferences/seminars/ workshops.