Report On One Day National Seminar on Contours of Development: Vulnerability and Social Justice

A one day national seminar on “Contours of Development: Vulnerability and Social Justice” was held at Christ University, Bangalore on February 28, 2013. The event was organized jointly by the Department of Sociology, Christ University and Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore.

The proceedings of the seminar can be unfurled into three parts. The first part included the inaugural session, part two of the seminar consisted of four sessions of paper presentations under various sub-themes, and the final part included a valedictory session which marked the end  of the academic event.

The inaugural session of the seminar began at 9:30 am with the invocation song and lighting of lamp by the dignitaries that included Dr. Anand Imbanathan, ISEC; Dr. Anil Pinto, Registrar, Christ University; Prof Malika Krishnaswami, Dean of Humanities, Christ university; Dr. Fr. Jose C. C, Director, Department of Sociology; and Dr. Pritha Dasgupta, Head of Sociology Department, Christ University.

Following the lighting of lamp, a series of short speeches were delivered by the dignitaries which  included a welcome speech by Dr. Dasgupta, a brief insight on the theme of the seminar by Dr. Imbanathan, and keynote addresses by Dr. Pinto, Prof Mallika Krishnaswami and Dr. Fr. Jose. C. C. The inaugural session concluded with the delivery of vote of thanks by Dr. Joyce. G. John from the Department of Sociology.

Four sessions of paper presentations were successfully held under the sub-themes titled Conceptual framework; Structures of inequality and dependence; Role of state and civil society; and Nature of participation and empowerment: Rural and Urban Governance. Four papers were presented in the first Session that was chaired by Dr. Imbanathan. The first presenter, Dr. Sudeshna Mukherjee from Centre for Women’s Studies, Bangalore, spoke on “Endogenous Development: A Post Modern, Inclusive Developmental Alternative for Indigenous people”. Mr. Karthik and Dr. K. Hemalatha from the Department of Social Work, Christ University presented a paper titled “Indicators related to non Institutional Delivery”. Ms. Musarrath Banu from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, presented a paper titled “Social Justice and Muslim Women: An agenda for the Nation’s Inclusive Growth”; and finally, Ms. Maya Mohan from the Department of Sociology, Christ University, presented a paper titled  “Community Forestry and the Indigenous Participation”.

The first session of paper presentation was followed by a short tea break, and the second session that was chaired by Dr. K. Asha proceeded at 11:30 am. The papers that were presented include “Recasting Inequality in India: Precedence of the ‘Practical’ in Andre Beiteille’s writings” by Dr. L. T. Om Prakash and Dr. Pritha Dasgupta, Department of Sociology, Christ University; “The Power to Change: From marginalization to empowerment” by Dr. Pritha Dasgupta and Dr. Joyce G. John from the Department of Sociology, Christ University; “Shortcomings in the Implementation of Women Empowerment Programmes” by Ms. Kalavathi. P, Department of Sociology, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore; “Organizational predictors of sexual Harassment at workplace” by Ms. Noopura Sundaresh and Dr. K. Hemalatha from the Department of Social Work, Christ University; and “Women are not the weaker sex” by Dr. Berin Lukas. Suarna Kar, Dr Hemalatha and Anwesha Tewary presented a paper on social security concerns among women working in the unorganized sector.

Sessions three and four of paper presentations were held post lunch. Dr. Babu form ISEC chaired the third session where four papers were presented. Mr. Xavier V. K from the Department of Economics, Christ University, presented a paper titled “Inequality and Instability as Deterrents to Economic Growth: A Study on Indian States”. Dr Asha K from ICMR presented a paper on “Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Access - The Challenges Ahead”. Dr. Sudhansubala Sahu, from the Department of Sociology, presented a paper titled “Reachability of Health Communication to the Vulnerable Section in India: A Review”. Finally, Dr Tony Sam George, Department of Psychology, Christ University, presented a paper titled “Group Interventions and Social Disability in OCD in India - Bridging Gaps in Client Outcomes”.

The third session was followed by another short  tea break. The last session of paper presentation was chaired by Dr Sangitha. The presenters of this sessions involved scholars and academicians from ISEC, Bangalore. The first speaker, Dr. Imbanathan, spoke on “Challenges to Leadership: Women and Scheduled Caste Presidents of Panchayats”. Dr Babu presented a paper titled “Decentralization and Social Justice: Some Observations from Karnataka”. Dr. Mansi presented a paper on “Urban Governance in Water Supply Services- Case Studies of Five Cities in Karnataka”. Dr. Sangita presented a paper on “Decentralised Governance, Vulnerable Sections and Inclusive Development in India: Theory and Evidence”. Finally, Dr. Dilip Kumar presented a paper on “Village Self Governance, Panchayat institutions and the State in the Context of sustainable management of natural resources: Revisiting Joint Forest Management arrangements”.

The seminar concluded with the valedictory programme wherein a paper presenter as well as the students of MA Sociology shared their experiences and reflected upon the academic event. The individuals who shared their experiences, on behalf of the groups that they represent, felt that the event was fruitful and highly enriching.  Adding on to that, the day long event indeed provided a platform for thought provoking discussions that was initiated and laid down by persons of  high intellectual caliber, through their presentations on diverse areas of development, vulnerability and social justice.