PM to inaugurate CESS seminar

The Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), an autonomous research institution, is organising a three-day seminar here from January 7-9, to mark its silver jubilee celebrations.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has given his consent to inaugurate the seminar on 'Perspectives on Equitable Development : International Experience and What can India learn?'

The seminar will focus on the lessons for India from the development experiences of East and Southeast Asian countries with focus on the post-reform period.

Addressing a press conference, S Mahendra Dev, director of CESS, said, "The main sub-themes of the seminar will be experience of growth and equity during the reform period, investment and infrastructure, agriculture and rural industrialisation, FDI in manufacturing and service sectors and so on."

Deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, governor of the Reserve Bank of India Y V Reddy, chairman of Economic Advisory Council C Rangarajan and chairman of the Union Public Service Commission S R Hashim will also participate in the seminar.

CESS is supported by the Andhra government and the Indian Council of Social Science Research. Its research areas include agriculture, livestock and food security, rural development and poverty, public finance, environment, irrigation and water management. It is now diversifying into areas like intellectual property and biotechnology.

Centre for Livelihoods

The Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) is setting up a Centre for Livelihoods to focus on research in employment.

Speaking to mediapersons, S Mahendra Dev, director of CESS, said, "We plan to set up the centre within the next six months and are looking at getting a grant of Rs 5 crore from the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. We may also tie up with BASIX, a livelihood promotion organisation, to do joint studies in this area." CESS may also approach the state government for funding.

CESS has been receiving annual grant-in-aid of Rs 50 lakh each from the Andhra government and the Indian Council of Social Science Research.

It also undertakes research projects sponsored by international agencies like the World Bank, Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation for raising further funds.