Aims and Objectives                ^TOP

The Memorandum of Articles of Association of CRRID has the following broad aims and objectives:

• To provide environment suitable for academic research and to undertake, organise, guide and promote research in selected subjects in the humanities, Indian culture, comparative religion, social sciences, natural sciences, industry, agriculture and other fields as the authorities of the Centre may decide from time to time,
• To organise meetings, lectures, seminars, symposia, conferences and cultural activities, and
• To start, conduct, print, publish and exhibit any magazine, periodicals, newspapers, books, pamphlets, monographs or posters that may be considered desirable for the promotion of the objectives of the Centre.

Activities                ^TOP

CRRID's activities are diverse, ever growing and can be placed in the context of its professed aims and objectives. CRRID plays an active role in promoting social science research in India, which matches the accepted standards of social investigation and meets the emerging challenges facing the country from a variety of perspectives. Inter-disciplinary research is at the core of its activities, which have an emphatic policy orientation besides empirical grounding and theoretical base. In this backdrop, short as well as long-term projects sponsored by the Government of India, State Governments, International Agencies and others are undertaken at CRRID. In recent times, on advice of the funding agencies, policy makers and government CRRID has diversified its research programmes and brought interventional studies into its fold. The research profile of CRRID also reflects, individual concern and specialization of the faculty as well as contemporary challenges of the society in general and of the northwest-region in particular. The geographical coverage that immediately interest CRRID are Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarranchal, western Uttar Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh. CRRID's has an open approach towards research collaboration and networking and currently has a number of collaborative ventures in terms of funding of research projects, data collection and sharing, joint publications, organization of seminars and workshops, etc., In addition, to regular networking with sister ICSSR supported Centres all over the country, CRRID has active strong academic links with Universities in the region for Doctoral (Ph.D) and other programmes. CRRID faculty also works as advisors and consultants to specific projects in the region and outside depending on their respective expertise and interests. CRRID is undertaking training programmes in a host of socially and locally desired areas to add to capacity building and there is a satisfying interface between research and training at the Centre. Enriching public policy discourse is also prominent in CRRID's activities, and the Centre is fast emerging as a think-tank at local and national level with active participation of academics, jurists, industry, jurists, media, bureaucracy, social workers and political leadership. Towards this end CRRID regularly organises national and international lectures, workshops, seminars and conferences in Chandigarh. Special lectures and discussions are regular features in CRRID's attempt to broad base research and knowledge, which are widely attended by local, national and international guests. In Chandigarh, CRRID is widely acknowledged and referred to as an intellectual hub of non-traditional nature. In past CRRID has received guests who have shown avid interest in its programmes. Apart from a few distinguished national and international visitors, which include President, Vice President, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and State level Ministers; prominent, Administrators, Artists, Diplomats, Journalists, Planners, Scientists, Social Scientists and Writers have honoured CRRID by visiting and partaking in the activities at CRRID. Local research scholars and those from outside, including foreign academic institutions, working on the region frequent CRRID for further benefits from the faculty, programmes and library. Interactions at CRRID are usually open to public men and women from all walks of life and are viewed as extremely rewarding. For ensuring larger public benefits, dissemination of research output is perceived to be very vital in CRRID. Towards this end, the local and national media are actively associated in the activities at CRRID. Also, CRRID has its own publications department, which besides publishing the books, reports and monographs on completed research studies along with conference proceedings, also brings out the quarterly journal the `Man and Development'. The journal has set itself the ambitious task of critically examining and analysing the entire complex processes of political, social, economic and cultural transformation in India and beyond.

Thrust Areas                ^TOP

CRRID's primary focus has been on carrying out socially relevant research on rural and industrial development in the wider social, economic and political context. In view of the contemporary emerging scenario at the regional, national and global levels, its trust areas are as follows:

• Panchayati Raj Institutions and Rural Development
• Urban  Governance and Development
• Population, Health and Family Welfare
• Communalism and Conflict Resolution
• Education
• Gender Issues
• Industrial Development and Economic Growth
• Environment and Climate Change
• Migration National and International, Role of Diaspora
• Cooperation Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia

Future Programmes                ^TOP

The future programmes of CRRID for coming five years involves diversification, expansion and consolidation of existing areas, and addition of new areas of research namely, Disaster Management, Environmental Studies, International Cooperation and Peace, and Regional Development, as identified by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC).

Location and Facilities                ^TOP

CRRID is situated in the prime institutional locality of the City Beautiful and provides a right ambience for intellectual pursuits. The Centre is easily approachable from Chandigarh Railway Station (5 kms.) Chandigarh domestic airport (14 kms.) and Chandigarh Interstate bus terminus (3kms) and is well connected by all modes of transport, and has its own Campus in 1.75 acres of land with open lawns, three terrace gardens lobbies and Cafeterias. The Centre has a well-equipped library housing more than 25,000 titles and 123 national as well as international periodicals on Social Sciences and related disciplines. The computer section of the Centre is well equipped with machines, software packages, audio-visual aids and Internet connections. The ICSSR has declared CRRID as a nodal Centre in the northwest region for data processing, analysis and associated consultancy services. Outside scholars are also encouraged to avail data processing facilities at CRRID by the ICSSR. Researchers Rooms, Project Rooms, air-conditioned and well furnished Guesthouse, Conference Hall, and Committee Room with all modern facility.

Population Research Centre                ^TOP

CRRID has a Population Research Centre (PRC) sanctioned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi in July 1986. Main objectives of this PRC are to carry out research in the field of Population Studies and to accept the assignments relating to state level Demographic and Health Programme Evaluation entrusted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, from time to time. At present there are 18 PRCs functioning in the Country located in Universities and Institutions of national repute. Though the PRC covers in its research domain the demographic and related issues in neighbouring states namely, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, yet, for operational purposes the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has defined the State of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to be the jurisdiction of this PRC. Since its inception, the PRC is engaged in referral, analytical, evaluation and interventionist demographic studies with special focus on the States of North India in general, and Punjab in particular. The research programme of the PRC is largely determined by the priorities of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, and the lead provided by the CRRID. Regular submission of quarterly progress reports, annual reports, and other documents required by the Ministry, in addition to periodic reviews by the Ministry, and the expert committee appointed for the purpose, not only give broad directions to the activities of the Centre, but also oversee its overall functioning. Moreover, the constant networking with the Government of Punjab and regional representative of the Union Health Ministry, as suggested by the MOHFW, on researchable and policy making issues at the State level also enhances the contribution of the PRC in the policymaking, and utility to the State Government.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Chair                ^TOP
 
RBI Endowment Scheme – Institution of RBI Chair at CRRID: RBI Chair has been instituted at CRRID for focused research in core areas covering regional economy, informal and formal credit and financial inclusion in the North-West region.

Nehru-SAIL CHair                ^TOP
 
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has set up Nehru-SAIL chair at CRRID with an aim to undertake programmes for socio-economic development, to work as a nodal point through which relevant studies can be encouraged and to disseminate the knowledge through lectures at various institutions. The scope and areas for research consultancy for Nehru-SAIL Chair shall also be relevant to the Iron and Steel Industry and will include:

• Knowledge sharing by encouraging research and relevant studies in CRRID to cover augmentation of steel consumption in rural areas;
  

• Undertaking programme of socio-economic development in field of rural and industrial development;
  

• Allowing SAIL to harness the vast knowledge of the CRRID community in refining, evolving and developing its socio-economic and industrial development programme as a part of its CSR initiatives.

Centre for Caucasian Study                ^TOP
 
A Centre for Caucasian Study was set-up at CRRID in November 2003 in collaboration with Institute of Oriental Studies, Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Yeravan for promotion of understanding, cooperative development and peace through research, education and training. The President of Armenian Republic, His Excellency Mr Robert Kocharian, inaugurated the Centre in a solemn function presided over by the Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh, Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia and other selected invitees. The Centre for Caucasian Study aims to promote Indo-Caucasian relationship by making efforts to enhance socio-economic programmes including collaboration in agriculture, trade and industry. Supported by both the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Government of Armenia, the Centre for Caucasian Study also works on international diplomacy and subjects of mutual concern with active collaboration of scholars, policy makers, diplomats, representatives of trade and industry, journalist from both the countries. The Centre organizes regular visits of scholars from Caucasian region to Chandigarh besides undertaking research studies on a range of themes.