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{{short description|Non-profit research institute in Kerala, India}}
{{Orphan|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies
| logo = Logo-CSES.png
| logo_size = 50
| abbreviation = CSES
| type = Independent, Non-profit, Non-governmental organisation
| purpose = Promoting policy and action oriented research, consultancy and training programmes.
| location = [[Kochi, Kerala]], India
| website = {{URL|csesindia.org}}
}}
The '''Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies''' (CSES), founded in 1996, is an independent, [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]], research institute based at [[Kochi, Kerala]], [[India]].[http://csesindia.org/]

== Key research areas ==
The centre has made significant contributions in the following priority areas:

=== Governance and public service delivery ===
A major area of interest of CSES is how services are delivered to the general public by government agencies. From time to time, CSES has looked into service delivery of various public agencies, including government schools, health care facilities, [[anganwadi]]s, welfare institutions, [[local government]]s and government offices. Through this research, CSES has identified service delivery parameters important to the citizens and developed performance indicators across these parameters that facilitate evaluation over time. Most of these studies are commissioned by various Government agencies including the [[Modernising Government Programme|Modernising Government Program]] (MGP), Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project (KLGSDP)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kusdp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KLGSDP-End-line-Study.pdf|title=Endline Study of the Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project|last=CSES|first=Centre for Socio-economic & Environmental Studies|date=November 2017|website=Kerala Urban Service Delivery Project|access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref> and the [[Administrative Reforms Commission]] (ARC) of the Government of Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arc.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/Towards%20People%20Centric%20%20Service%20Delivery%20%28Land%20Revenue%2C%20Survey%20and%20Land%20Records%2C%20Registration%2C%20Food%20and%20Civil%20Supplies%20and%20Police%29%20-%20.pdf|title=Towards People Centric Service Delivery: Land Revenue, Survey & Land Records, Registration, Food & Civil Supplies and Police.|last=V.S|first=Achuthanandan|date=March 2020|website=Administrative Reforms Commission, Government of Kerala|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923180523/http://www.arc.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/Towards%20People%20Centric%20%20Service%20Delivery%20%28Land%20Revenue%2C%20Survey%20and%20Land%20Records%2C%20Registration%2C%20Food%20and%20Civil%20Supplies%20and%20Police%29%20-%20.pdf |archive-date=2020-09-23 |access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref> The studies on water governance conducted for the [[World Bank]] and Jalanidhi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://documents.albankaldawli.org/curated/ar/133041577206413825/pdf/India-Second-Kerala-Rural-Water-Supply-and-Sanitation-Project-Jalanidhi-II.pdf|title=Second Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (Jalanidhi II)|last=|first=|date=20 December 2019|website=The World Bank|access-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>

=== Poverty and social exclusion ===
The [[Kerala model|Kerala Model of Development]] which won accolades for high social development with low economic growth, also had its "outliers" or sections of the society that the development bypassed; namely the Scheduled Tribes and the Fisher-folk. Bringing the issues faced by such [[Social exclusion|marginalized]] sections into mainstream academic and policy-level discourse is an objective that CSES has persistently followed. Research at CSES also addresses issues of other groups of [[Marginalised|marginalized]] sections in the society such as the rural and urban poor,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2013/aug/26/money-lending-guests-cash-in-on-urban-poverty-510297.html|title=Money-lending 'guests' cash in on urban poverty|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> [[migrant worker]]s,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/20120507-kerala-malayalis-gulf-labourers-crisis-758191-2012-04-28|title=Kerala turns into Gulf for migrants|orig-date=28 April 2012|first=M. G. |last=Radhakrishnan|date=7 May 2012|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Who's That Man In The Angadi? |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/whos-that-man-in-the-angadi/297328|last=Ittyipe|first=Minu|date=27 June 2016|website=Outlook India|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618000011/http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/whos-that-man-in-the-angadi/297328 |archive-date=2016-06-18 |access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> [[Old age|elderly]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://swd.kerala.gov.in/DOCUMENTS/Report/Annual%20Report/FUNCTIONINGO_1458715644.pdf|title=A study on the Functioning of Maintenance Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals for the Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens|last=Kumar|first=N. Ajith|date=October 2015|website=Department of Social Justice, Kerala|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023212015/http://swd.kerala.gov.in/DOCUMENTS/Report/Annual%20Report/FUNCTIONINGO_1458715644.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-23 |access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref> and [[Disability|disabled]]. For instance, studies on alternative [[education]], [[Tribal Health Initiative|tribal health]], education of migrant children, management of household finances by poor,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/RPOTC070513FL.pdf|title=How the Poor Manage Their Finances: A Study of the Portfolio Choices of Poor Households in Ernakulam District, Kerala|last=George|first=K.K.|date=April 2013|website=Reserve Bank of India|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020060717/https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/RPOTC070513FL.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-20 |access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Nair|first=N. J.|date=2013-06-17|title=Kerala agriculture faces crisis|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-agriculture-faces-crisis/article4822471.ece|access-date=2020-05-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> [[Debt|indebtedness]] among rural poor,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/141119/rural-kerala-struggles-to-service-debt-burden.html|title=Rural Kerala struggles to service debt burden|date=2019-11-14|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2020-04-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Harigovind|first=Abhinaya|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/over-88-bpl-householdsin-state-in-debt-survey/article29997395.ece|title=Over 88% BPL householdsin State in debt: survey|date=2019-11-17|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-04-29|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ദരിദ്ര കുടുംബങ്ങളില്‍ ഞെട്ടിപ്പിക്കുന്ന കടബാധ്യത|url=https://dhanamonline.com/economy/debt-in-poor-families-living-in-kerala-villages/|date=2020-02-08|website=Dhanam|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ഗ്രാമങ്ങളിലെ 88 ശതമാനം ദരിദ്രകുടുംബങ്ങളും കടക്കെണിയിൽ|url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/village-family-issue-kerala-news/648845|website=Madhyamam|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ദരിദ്രര്‍ വാണിജ്യബാങ്കുകളേക്കാള്‍ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നത് സഹകരണ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളെ: റിസര്‍വ്വ് ബാങ്ക് പഠനം|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/special/poor-depends-more-on-cooperatives-than-commercial-banks-reserve-bank-study/603580|website=Deshabhimani|language=ml|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=കേരളത്തിന്റെ ഗ്രാമീണ മേഖലയിലെ ദരിദ്ര കുടുംബങ്ങളില്‍ മൂന്നിലൊന്നും അമിത കടബാധ്യത അനുഭവിക്കുന്നവര്‍; വായ്പയെടുക്കുന്നതില്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ ബഹുദൂരം പിന്നില്‍|url=https://www.doolnews.com/one-third-of-people-in-kerala-s-rural-area-in-high-debt-deep-report622.html|website=DoolNews|language=ml|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref> welfare legislation for vulnerable groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arc.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/ARC-3rd%20Report-%20Report%203%20-%20Welfare%20to%20Rights.pdf|title=Welfare to Rights: Implementation of Select Legislations - A Review|date=October 2018|website=Administrative Reforms Commission|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104113626/http://www.arc.kerala.gov.in:80/sites/default/files/inline-files/ARC-3rd%20Report-%20Report%203%20-%20Welfare%20to%20Rights.pdf |archive-date=2019-11-04 |access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>

=== Public finance ===
Right from its inception, public finance was one of the core areas of research activity at the centre. Issues related to state finances and [[fiscal federalism]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archives.mathrubhumi.com/online/malayalam/news/story/3608075/2015-05-26/kerala|title=Kerala News - ധനകാര്യ കമ്മീഷന്‍: കേരളത്തിന് ഗുണകരമല്ലെന്ന് വിദഗ്ദ്ധര്‍ |website=archives.mathrubhumi.com|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>- fiscal powers of the central, state and local governments are some of the key research topics pursued in this area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2015/may/26/finance-panel-fund-devolution-has-hit-state-765731.html|title='Finance Panel Fund Devolution Has Hit State'|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/study-moots-fiscal-reforms/article3386678.ece|title=Study moots fiscal reforms|date=2012-05-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-04-29|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiatogether.org/keralbudg-environment|title=India Together: Kerala going greener - 04 March 2010|website=indiatogether.org|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> The centre has examined the implications of the recommendations of successive Central [[Finance Commission]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/apr/10/kerala-stands-to-lose-rs-7800-crore-if-15th-finance-commissions-terms-of-reference-is-implemented-1799308.html|title='Kerala stands to lose Rs 7,800 crore if 15th Finance Commission's Terms of Reference is implemented'|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/080418/kerala-may-lose-rs-16000-crore-funds.html|title=Kerala may lose Rs 16,000 crore funds|last=Sethunath|first=K. P.|date=2018-04-08|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>

=== Decentralization ===
Another major area of research where CSES has done various studies is that of [[Decentralization]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/kerala-showing-way-in-decentralisation/128834/|title=Kerala showing way in decentralisation|date=2005-03-08|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>

=== Education ===
[[Education]] has been a major research theme of CSES ever since its inception. Being located in Kerala, a region which received national and international attention for its achievement in the field of education, CSES has tried to develop an insider's perspective of the strengths and weaknesses of State's education system right from pre-school education to professional and higher education.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-06-06|title=Tracking the winds of change|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-educationplus/tracking-the-winds-of-change/article2080034.ece|access-date=2020-05-03|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Broadly, CSES studies examined the social, economic, financial and management aspects of the education sector. Some of the specific aspects examined include exclusionary trends in the education sector,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mushrooming of SFCs a blessing in disguise for u|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2011/may/09/mushrooming-of-sfcs-a-blessing-in-disguise-for-u-251404.html|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> education of marginalized groups such as children from tribal families, children with disabilities and children of migrant labor, entry barriers to professional and higher education, private cost of education.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Private Cost of Medical and Para-Medical Education in Kerala|url=http://www.cds.ac.in/krpcds/publication/downloads/84.pdf|last=Kumar|first=N. Ajith|date=2004|website=Centre for Development Studies|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031223408/http://www.cds.ac.in/krpcds/publication/downloads/84.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-31 |access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref>

=== Labor and migration ===
Labor studies is a prominent research theme pursued at the CSES particularly with a focus on [[Wage labour|labor]] market transformation in the state of Kerala. CSES conducted a pioneering study on interstate labor migration to Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Labour Migration to Kerala: A Study of Tamil Migrant Labourers in Kochi|url=http://www.shram.org/uploadFiles/20121218074417.pdf|last=K.S.|first=Surabhi|date=2007|website=Shram|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818222013/http://www.shram.org:80/uploadFiles/20121218074417.pdf |archive-date=2019-08-18 |access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala is a mini-Gulf for migrant workers|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-economy/Kerala-is-a-mini-Gulf-for-migrant-workers/article20179117.ece|website=@businessline|language=en|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> Of late, with increasing long-distance labor inflows to Kerala, CSES has been focusing on research to assess [[Vulnerability|vulnerabilities]] encountered by migrant workers,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Imagine There Is No Migrant|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/imagine-there-is-no-migrant/300775|last=Jha|first=Giridhar|date=29 October 2018|website=Outlook India|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019102038/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/imagine-there-is-no-migrant/300775 |archive-date=2018-10-19 |access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Martin|first=K. a|date=2015-07-01|title=Out of record books, open to exploitation|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/out-of-record-books-open-to-exploitation/article7373107.ece|access-date=2020-05-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> education of migrant children and social protection programs available and accessible to them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Experts urge Kerala to set up migrant worker welfare board|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/Experts-urge-Kerala-to-set-up-migrant-worker-welfare-board/article20402273.ece|website=@businessline|language=en|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref> Apart from the studies on interstate labor migration, CSES focuses on international labor migration.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-05-05|title=Robust rupee hits Kerala economy hard: Study|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/robust-rupee-hits-kerala-economy-hard-study/articleshow/3012975.cms|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-05-12|title=NRIs seek compensation for rupee appreciation|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/nris-seek-compensation-for-rupee-appreciation/articleshow/3032777.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cashing out of the money order economy - Indian Express|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/cashing-out-of-the-money-order-economy/242464/|website=archive.indianexpress.com|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Daily NRI Remittances Through Banks Almost Double|url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu-business-line/20130611/281797101551126|via=PressReader|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref>

=== Urban development ===
Impact and implications of [[urbanization]] is a cross-cutting theme addressed in several research projects of CSES. In an effort to better understand facets of [[urbanization]], CSES has undertaken a research study on the [[commuting]] pattern for work in Kochi which captures how [[mobilities|mobility]] requirements of those commuting daily to the city are side-lined in [[Urban planning|city planning]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Patterns of Commuting for Work: A Case Study of Kochi City|url=http://cds.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/RULSG-5.pdf|last=Goswami|first=Baishali|date=September 2015|website=Centre for Development Studies|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829050613/http://cds.edu:80/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/RULSG-5.pdf |archive-date=2017-08-29 |access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-03-27|title=Commuter-friendly public transport system need of the hour, says study|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/commuterfriendly-public-transport-system-need-of-the-hour-says-study/article7038413.ece|access-date=2020-05-03|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Demography and health ===
Dynamics of Kerala's [[demographic transition]]— high [[life expectancy]], low [[Infant mortality|infant]], [[Child mortality|child]] and [[Maternal Mortality|maternal mortality]], decreasing share of children and increasing share of elderly in the [[human population|population]] —has been a focus of research at the CSES. These demographic issues are explored to identify changes observed, adaptations required in social sectors of education and [[health]] and in relation to the population pressure on land.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-07-30|title=People and land — the shifting sands in Kerala|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-propertyplus/people-and-land-the-shifting-sands-in-kerala/article2306935.ece|access-date=2020-05-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Health is a domain where CSES has worked extensively across regions, by conducting various rounds of District Level Household Survey on Reproductive<ref>{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=2010-02-09|title=Caesarean section on the rise in Kerala|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Caesarean-section-on-the-rise-in-Kerala/article16813395.ece|access-date=2020-05-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Instant delivery|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20100222-instant-delivery-742053-2010-02-11|date=11 February 2010|first=M. G. |last=Radhakrishnan|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> and Child Health, Global Adult Tobacco Survey<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Adult Tobacco Survey (second round)|url=https://ntcp.nhp.gov.in/assets/document/surveys-reports-publications/Global-Adult-Tobacco-Survey-Second-Round-India-2016-2017.pdf|date=28 May 2018|website=National Tobacco Control Programme|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428041725/https://ntcp.nhp.gov.in/assets/document/surveys-reports-publications/Global-Adult-Tobacco-Survey-Second-Round-India-2016-2017.pdf |archive-date=2020-04-28 |access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> and Global Youth Tobacco Survey<ref>{{Cite web|title=നാലാംഘട്ട ഗ്ലോബല്‍ യൂത്ത് ടുബാക്കോ സര്‍വ്വേയ്ക്ക് കേരളത്തില്‍ തുടക്കമായി|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/global-youth-tobacco-survey/822964|website=Deshabhimani|language=ml|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> in different states. CSES has also conducted studies on the provision of health care services by the government and health care utilization, health care expenditure and health outcomes of the general population as well as vulnerable sections such as [[Woman|women]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=First World Suffering|url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/first-world-suffering/|last=Polanki|first=Pallavi|date=17 February 2010|website=Open Magazine|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The trance of birth energy|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2010/sep/30/the-trance-of-birth-energy-191354.html|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref>

=== Gender ===
Apart from undertaking researches exclusively on women's issues viz. health, livelihood and employment, [[gender]] has figured as a major component in various studies of CSES.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-04-05|title=Gender difference beneficial to women |language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/lsquoGender-difference-beneficial-to-women/article16014896.ece|access-date=2020-05-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Research institutes in Kochi]]
[[Category:Think tanks based in India]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1996]]

Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies - Revision history

Mvjceng at 01:02, 30 April 2026