Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies

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Template:Infobox organization The Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies (CSES), founded in 1996, is an independent, non-profit, research institute based at Kochi, Kerala, India.[1]

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, anganwadis, welfare institutions, local governments 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 Program (MGP), Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project (KLGSDP)[1] and the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) of the Government of Kerala.[2] The studies on water governance conducted for the World Bank and Jalanidhi.[3]

Poverty and social exclusion

The 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 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 marginalized sections in the society such as the rural and urban poor,[4] migrant workers,[5][6] elderly[7] and disabled. For instance, studies on alternative education, tribal health, education of migrant children, management of household finances by poor,[8][9] indebtedness among rural poor,[10][11][12][13][14][15] welfare legislation for vulnerable groups.[16]

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[17]- fiscal powers of the central, state and local governments are some of the key research topics pursued in this area.[18][19][20] The centre has examined the implications of the recommendations of successive Central Finance Commissions.[21][22]

Decentralization

Another major area of research where CSES has done various studies is that of Decentralization.[23]

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.[24] 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,[25] 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.[26]

Labor and migration

Labor studies is a prominent research theme pursued at the CSES particularly with a focus on labor market transformation in the state of Kerala. CSES conducted a pioneering study on interstate labor migration to Kerala.[27][28] Of late, with increasing long-distance labor inflows to Kerala, CSES has been focusing on research to assess vulnerabilities encountered by migrant workers,[29][30] education of migrant children and social protection programs available and accessible to them.[31] Apart from the studies on interstate labor migration, CSES focuses on international labor migration.[32][33][34][35]

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 mobility requirements of those commuting daily to the city are side-lined in city planning.[36][37]

Demography and health

Dynamics of Kerala's demographic transition— high life expectancy, low infant, child and maternal mortality, decreasing share of children and increasing share of elderly in the 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.[38]

Health is a domain where CSES has worked extensively across regions, by conducting various rounds of District Level Household Survey on Reproductive[39][40] and Child Health, Global Adult Tobacco Survey[41] and Global Youth Tobacco Survey[42] 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 women,[43][44]

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.[45]

References

  1. ↑ Endline Study of the Kerala Local Government Service Delivery Project, CSES, Centre for Socio-economic & Environmental Studies. Kerala Urban Service Delivery Project(November 2017). Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  2. ↑ Towards People Centric Service Delivery: Land Revenue, Survey & Land Records, Registration, Food & Civil Supplies and Police., V.S, Achuthanandan. Administrative Reforms Commission, Government of Kerala(March 2020). Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Second Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (Jalanidhi II). The World Bank(20 December 2019). Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Money-lending 'guests' cash in on urban poverty. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  5. ↑ Kerala turns into Gulf for migrants, Radhakrishnan, M. G.. India Today(7 May 2012). Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  6. ↑ Who's That Man In The Angadi?, Ittyipe, Minu. Outlook India(27 June 2016). Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. ↑ A study on the Functioning of Maintenance Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals for the Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens, Kumar, N. Ajith. Department of Social Justice, Kerala(October 2015). Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  8. ↑ How the Poor Manage Their Finances: A Study of the Portfolio Choices of Poor Households in Ernakulam District, Kerala, George, K.K.. Reserve Bank of India(April 2013). Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  9. ↑ Kerala agriculture faces crisis. The Hindu(2013-06-17). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  10. ↑ Rural Kerala struggles to service debt burden. Deccan Chronicle(2019-11-14). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  11. ↑ Over 88% BPL householdsin State in debt: survey. The Hindu(2019-11-17). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  12. ↑ ദരിദ്ര കുടുംബങ്ങളില്‍ ഞെട്ടിപ്പിക്കുന്ന കടബാധ്യത. Dhanam(2020-02-08). Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  13. ↑ ഗ്രാമങ്ങളിലെ 88 ശതമാനം ദരിദ്രകുടുംബങ്ങളും കടക്കെണിയിൽ. Madhyamam. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  14. ↑ ദരിദ്രര്‍ വാണിജ്യബാങ്കുകളേക്കാള്‍ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നത് സഹകരണ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളെ: റിസര്‍വ്വ് ബാങ്ക് പഠനം. Deshabhimani. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  15. ↑ കേരളത്തിന്റെ ഗ്രാമീണ മേഖലയിലെ ദരിദ്ര കുടുംബങ്ങളില്‍ മൂന്നിലൊന്നും അമിത കടബാധ്യത അനുഭവിക്കുന്നവര്‍; വായ്പയെടുക്കുന്നതില്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ ബഹുദൂരം പിന്നില്‍. DoolNews. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  16. ↑ Welfare to Rights: Implementation of Select Legislations - A Review. Administrative Reforms Commission(October 2018). Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  17. ↑ Kerala News - ധനകാര്യ കമ്മീഷന്‍: കേരളത്തിന് ഗുണകരമല്ലെന്ന് വിദഗ്ദ്ധര്‍. archives.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  18. ↑ 'Finance Panel Fund Devolution Has Hit State'. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  19. ↑ Study moots fiscal reforms. The Hindu(2012-05-05). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  20. ↑ India Together: Kerala going greener - 04 March 2010. indiatogether.org. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  21. ↑ 'Kerala stands to lose Rs 7,800 crore if 15th Finance Commission's Terms of Reference is implemented'. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  22. ↑ Kerala may lose Rs 16,000 crore funds, Sethunath, K. P.. Deccan Chronicle(2018-04-08). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  23. ↑ Kerala showing way in decentralisation. The Financial Express(2005-03-08). Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  24. ↑ Tracking the winds of change. The Hindu(2011-06-06). Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  25. ↑ Mushrooming of SFCs a blessing in disguise for u. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  26. ↑ Private Cost of Medical and Para-Medical Education in Kerala, Kumar, N. Ajith. Centre for Development Studies(2004). Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  27. ↑ Labour Migration to Kerala: A Study of Tamil Migrant Labourers in Kochi, K.S., Surabhi. Shram(2007). Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  28. ↑ Kerala is a mini-Gulf for migrant workers. @businessline. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  29. ↑ Imagine There Is No Migrant, Jha, Giridhar. Outlook India(29 October 2018). Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  30. ↑ Out of record books, open to exploitation. The Hindu(2015-07-01). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  31. ↑ Experts urge Kerala to set up migrant worker welfare board. @businessline. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  32. ↑ Robust rupee hits Kerala economy hard: Study. The Economic Times(2008-05-05). Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  33. ↑ NRIs seek compensation for rupee appreciation. The Economic Times(2008-05-12). Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  34. ↑ Cashing out of the money order economy - Indian Express. archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  35. ↑ Daily NRI Remittances Through Banks Almost Double. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  36. ↑ Patterns of Commuting for Work: A Case Study of Kochi City, Goswami, Baishali. Centre for Development Studies(September 2015). Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  37. ↑ Commuter-friendly public transport system need of the hour, says study. The Hindu(2015-03-27). Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  38. ↑ People and land — the shifting sands in Kerala. The Hindu(2011-07-30). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  39. ↑ Caesarean section on the rise in Kerala. The Hindu(2010-02-09). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  40. ↑ Instant delivery, Radhakrishnan, M. G.. India Today(11 February 2010). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  41. ↑ Global Adult Tobacco Survey (second round). National Tobacco Control Programme(28 May 2018). Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  42. ↑ നാലാംഘട്ട ഗ്ലോബല്‍ യൂത്ത് ടുബാക്കോ സര്‍വ്വേയ്ക്ക് കേരളത്തില്‍ തുടക്കമായി. Deshabhimani. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  43. ↑ First World Suffering, Polanki, Pallavi. Open Magazine(17 February 2010). Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  44. ↑ The trance of birth energy. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  45. ↑ Gender difference beneficial to women. The Hindu(2010-04-05). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
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