National Seminar on Women's Participation and Inclusive Development
- Date : 11-13 March, 2013 -

Centre for Women Development and Gender Studies
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(An Organization of Ministry of Rural Development, GoI )
Rajendranagar: Hyderabad – 500 030

Background

It is an accepted fact that though women constitute nearly half the population; they are still left behind in the race of development. Various policy initiatives on National and International levels have been taken for bringing them into the main stream of development and improve their participation. Various strategies are adopted for this; to name a few, decentralized planning initiatives, group approach and collective action, women component plan, inclusive growth, gender budgeting etc. Positive discrimination in favaour of women is what is needed for their upliftment and is also being attempted at various levels including public and private and corporate sectors

The Eleventh Five Year Plan has talked about inclusive development and one of the inclusions that are referred to is women's inclusion through participation in different development programmes. It also talks of involving voluntary initiatives to mobilize self help groups of women and their economic upliftment, capacity building, skill development and political participation.

The proposed seminar would focus on all such efforts made in the recent past and try to project the achievements, replicability, challenges, new policy interventions if needed, modifications in the current strategies etc and will try to suggest some future course of action.

Objectives

1. To analyze and appreciate efforts made in the direction of women's participation in different development programmes ;
2. To share the initiatives for inclusive development and its effects;
3. To assess the current strategies adopted to promote women's participation and to suggest needed measures.

Outcome

Papers of topical importance and relevance with analytical base duly scrutinized and short-listed by a committee of subject experts will be published in the form of a book. The observations related to development policies and programmes will be used as inputs in the training programmes.

Themes

Papers highlighting policy related issues and ground realities with the analytical base are invited on the following themes for presentation and discussion in the respective sessions to be chaired by eminent subject experts. It may please be noted that the papers should be in 'Times New Roman' style with font size 12 and one and a half space. The maximum size of abstract should be 200 words and full paper 3,000 words.

1. Women's participation in development planning and implementation-the emerging scenario;
2. Political participation of women in India – the changing political climate and its implications;
3. Socio-economic transformation of women in India- Role of policies and programs;
4. Inclusive growth and development – the concept and its attainments;
5. Contribution of voluntary organizations in increasing awareness and upliftment of women;
6. Empowerment of women through participation – social, economic and political;
7. 'Enabling Strategies' for enhancing women's participation in Development;
8. Policies of central/state governments towards encouraging
Voluntary action in the field of women's participation and development and its effects;
9. Role of 'Gender Budgeting' initiatives for assessing and analyzing women's contribution to development and its valuation;
10. Analysis of current strategies for encouraging women's participation and their efficacy

Logistics

The contributors of the papers will be provided free board and lodging in NIRD Guest House. Select paper contributors would be considered for payment of TA, maximum up to 2nd AC (Train) on production of tickets as per NIRD norms. Pick & drop in Hyderabad could be arranged on request made well in advance.

Registration Fee

There is no registration fee for participants/paper contributors. However it may be noted that in view of the limited accommodation, the center may accept a maximum of 35 participants with thematically relevant papers.

Level of Participation

Development Officials, Gender Experts, Academicians from Universities, Women Development Centers, Research and Training Institutions, Faculty from NIRD/SIRDs, ATIs, Representatives of Voluntary Organizations

Last date for receipt of abstracts: January 31, 2013
Last date for receipt of papers (soft & hard copy): February 11, 2013
Venue: NIRD, Hyderabad

Seminar Director:
Dr. C S Singhal, Professor & Head,
Centre for Women Development & Gender Studies (CWD&GS)
National Institute of Rural Development,
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, AP - 500030
Phone: 040-24008456 (T/F); 040-24016500(Fax). Email: nirdws(at)gmail(dot)com