National Seminar on Development Discourse Expanding Horizons
Call for paper
- Date : 18 & 19 March, 2013 -

CALL FOR PAPERS
Two Day National Seminar
on
Development Discourse: Expanding Horizons
(18 & 19 March, 2013), Imphal
Department of Social Work
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Regional Campus, Manipur

Concept Note

The process of development is meaningful only when its essence and intrinsic value is well informed by the social, economic and political realities existing in that society. Manipur from its association from the British colonialism had unable to evolve its own development process that addresses the ‘developmental sentiments’ of the people. Manipur’s development trajectories have not been in a smooth path rather upheavals and distortions mark its journey and has not adequately responded to development initiatives of the Government of India as well as Regional Governments, in the last six decades.

The region still remains as the backyard of a renascent, industrializing and globalizing India, where parameters of development are ominously still in their infant stage. Extreme inequality and underdevelopment with the rest of the country is leading to widespread alienation and social unrest by-producting into insurgencies related activities. Of late, being in the fold of Indian federal structure and special category states, a plethora of central sponsored schemes (flagship programmes) and funds has been injected in the region especially for strengthening the social security such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA), Sarbhya Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Rural health Mission, rural sanitation programmes, infrastructure programmes etc.

Moreover, the hype of Look East Policy has also resulted in massive construction works in the region ranging from highway projects, airport expansion, and mega dams. But the existing state-of-the-art development approach fails to ignite and kick start the pathway to development which feels the pulse of the common people. The crux of the problems lies in the inability of the state to adorn the real essence of development. For instance, huge construction works (read infrastructure development) which should be treated as a means to an end is treated as an end itself which has resulted in manifold increase in petty contractors. Moreover, construction works and state service sectors have been the site of public experience of development.

This narrow and restricted view of development is something which the government constantly propagated, justified, defended and imprinted in the social consciousness of the people. Important central sponsored schemes involving education, health, sanitation, and livelihood which is the main concern of the common people are in logjam due to weak governance. The state has completely failed in propagating such schemes as the real development ingredients. Such schemes are caught in low level equilibrium trap and there is complete policy paralysis in the part of state government.

The inability of the state government to appreciate the intention of centre sponsored flagship programmes has derailed the rapid process of development. The theme of the proposed seminar tentatively titled as Development Discourse: Expanding Horizons will try to engage the core issues of development in the region, the role of the state in handling sensitive issues of development, and an assessment of the central government schemes. The seminar will be a forum for all sections of the society: academicians, politicians, bureaucrats, representatives from NGOs, civil societies, researchers, media, environmentalist etc

The sub-themes of the proposed workshop are:-
1. Development Discourse in Manipur
2. Gender and Development
3. Livelihood, Environment and Development
4. State, Governance and Development
5. Conflict, Security and Development
6. Any other relevant to the theme

Interested individuals can submit abstract (500) along with a (100 word) profile to any of the sub-themes at junakams(at)gmail(dot)com . The last date of submission is 17 Feb, 2013. Selected abstracts will be notified by 20 February, 2013

Contact:
Dr. Hanjabam Shukhdeba Sharma
Coordinator
Department of Social Work
IGNTU, Regional Campus, Manipur
e-mail: hanjabam(at)gmail(dot)com

Grace Laltlinzo
Co-Coordinator
Department of Social Work
IGNTU, Regional Campus, Manipur
email: grace_laltlinzo(at)gmail(dot)com

Dr. Kamei Beeju
Co-Coordinator
Department of Social Work
IGNTU, Regional Campus, Manipur
e-mail: junakams(at)gmail(dot)com