JOIN USLeaving aside corruption, one of the reasons that has prevented development projects from having their intended impact is the fact that these schemes have not been thought through clearly in the first place.
This is the inevitable fallout when development agendas are fixed without taking ground realities into consideration. Unfortunately for India, the scope for both development research in general, and interdisciplinary development research in particular, has been largely ignored.
Very few institutes in the country offer researchers the opportunity to pursue developmental research as a subject of study — be it niche-specific or inter-disciplinary.
The Madras Institute of Development Studies, MIDS, based in Chennai is one of the few institutes to offer a programme in this line. Established in 1971 by Dr Malcolm S Adiseshiah, who retired as Deputy Director-General of UNESCO and Elizabeth Adiseshiah, MIDS was reconstituted in 1977 as a ‘National Institute’ under the joint sponsorship of the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Since then, MIDS has been blazing a trail in developmental research and provides professional advice to departments of the union and the state governments, autonomous agencies, universities and NGOs.
Research panorama
From pure economic theory to social movements, urbanisation and electoral politics, the scope of research that is possible at this institute is vast. Consider this: In the field of economics alone, institutional economics, social choice and general critiques of the neo classical paradigm come under the research umbrella. Likewise, there are broad areas covered under various subjects like growth and social justice, centre-state relations, poverty, inequality and social sector development, agrarian issues and institutions, irrigation and irrigation institutions, labour, village surveys, industry and industry infrastructure, demography, migration and urbanisation, natural resources and environment, data systems, education, social movements and social transformations, caste, constitution, communalism, electoral politics, social exclusion, and even ideology and gender studies.
MIDS Fellowships
Research at MIDS has been noted for the excellent facilities accessible at the institute, freedom and flexibility in designing the programmes, and a perspective of critical thinking that is encouraged by the distinguished faculty.
All of this has led to high quality research from the institute. In fact, many of the doctoral theses carried out at the institute have been published as books and academic journals.
MIDS offers researchers the chance to take up Development Research through doctoral programmes through three different fellowships:
*ICSSR Doctoral Fellowships
*RBI Doctoral Fellowships
*Elizabeth Adiseshiah PhD Merit Scholarship
PhD scholars will typically receive a monthly stipend of Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 besides an annual contingency grant of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 for three years. The institute’s PhD programmes are open to students as well as teaching scholars. Selection is on the basis of qualifications, a brief research proposal that does not exceed 750 words and a personal interview.
Interested persons can contact the assistant administrative officer, Madras Institute of Development Studies, 79, Second Main Road, Gandhinagar, Adyar, Chennai — 600 020, Tamil Nadu or e-mail him at roby@mids.ac.in.
For other details, call: (044)24412589/24411574 or log on to www.mids.ac.in
Hema Vijay