The Hindu Business Line : CESS marches into the silver jubilee year

Its entry into the 25th year was preceded by its in-depth and accurate macro-economic view of Andhra Pradesh, which was touted as the model State pursuing economic reforms under the leadership of Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu.

The CESS bold review titled "Andhra Pradesh Development: Economic Reforms and Challenges Ahead", brought out in 2003, did not concur with the Government's views of that time, but found appreciation.

Interestingly, the CESS was started by a few social scientists, with the full support of the Andhra Pradesh Government under its founder Mr B.P.R. Vithal in 1980-81. It was the first institution in the State to focus on multi-disciplinary social science research.

The CESS is now a part of the network of 27 institutes under the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). It runs on a budget of just over a crore, with funds both from the Andhra Pradesh Government and the ICSSR. In addition, it generates more than 50 per cent of the budget from external sources through projects.

The CESS is also benefited by a corpus provided by the Planning Commission. The World Bank, Rockfeller Foundation, DFID of UK, Ford Foundation are among the leading agencies providing project funding for important studies.

Prof S. Mahendra Dev, who heads, the compact, but dedicated team of social scientists and economists, said 50 per cent of the time and resources of the CESS are directed to studying issues related to Andhra Pradesh. Rest of the efforts are being channelised on more national issues and of late South Asian perspective.

As part of the Silver Jubilee initiatives, CESS has proposed the establishment of a Research Wing on Environment, Water and Livelihoods. "We have approached the Ratan Tata Trust to support the project," Prof. Dev told Business Line.

The main objective of the activity at this centre would be to come up with a perspective on the status and linkages between environment, water and livelihoods with special emphasis on water resources management. Policy makers, experts, NGOs and State Government officials would be involved in the activity.

Beginning with an inquiry into the poverty, rural development, agri food security issues centred around Andhra Pradesh, the CESS has, over the years, diversified into health, public finance and more recently into industry and intellectual property rights, economic reforms, world trade organisation and its implications, Prof. Dev said.

CESS was the first to do poverty ratios at the district level (The NSS data is region wise). The estimation of poverty at the district level and the standard of living at the micro level have been hailed as important contributions. On the basis of the findings on poverty and unemployment, CESS has chalked out a programme on employment guarantee for Andhra Pradesh.

As a part of the South Asia network of Institutes, CESS has done sponsored studies in Sri Lanka on food security issues. It has also done a study on the fertility levels decline between India and Bangladesh.

CESS has been able to in its own way influence the State policy. The most recent example Prof. Dev cited was that the institute's work has played an important role in helping the present State Government shape its policies on agriculture, rural areas and food security. On public distribution system, the institute's recommendations have been taken.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has recently entrusted CESS with the task of studying the handloom sector and submit a report by September end. Similarly, a major study on women's employment in apparel park at Gundlapochampally is underway, he said.

The broad areas of expertise CESS boasts of today are in agriculture and livestock development, food security, poverty alleviation, unemployment, district planning, resettlement and rehabilitation, State finances and economics of health and demography. The institute has been doing evaluation studies of resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected people under major irrigation projects of Andhra Pradesh.

The institute is planning a series of activity to commemorate the Silver Jubilee year. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has agreed to inaugurate the main seminar, dates for which would be finalised soon.

A special lecture series has been started on a monthly basis. Prof. Andreas Beteille and Prof. Jayati Ghosh from New Delhi have already spoken. The CESS has also lined up a list of publications of the important research work done in the last few years.

In the industry sector, the institute is concentrating on IPR and WTO impact, especially on the pharma, textile and other industry sectors relevant to India.

Given its limited faculty and researchers, CESS is also offering fellowship under the ICSSR doctoral programme. Currently, 32 scholars in M.Phil and 56 in Phd are registered.

It has established good relationships with other institutes such as the Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi; Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai etc.

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