The Hindu Business Line : Centre for Livelihood to be formed

THE Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), has firmed up plans to set up a Centre for Livelihood. It has taken up a proposal with the Ratan Tata Trust for a grant of Rs 5 core and support from both Central and State Governments.

The Director of CESS, Prof. S. Mahendra Dev, said that this centre would work on areas relating to creating livelihood and is also exploring potential to partner with Basix, a micro finance institution provider, to undertake grassroot level studies.

Addressing newspersons here, the CESS Director said the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, would inaugurate a three-day silver jubilee seminar on "Perspectives on equitable development: International experience and what can India learn?" on January 7.

The seminar would have participation from leading economists, people's representatives including the State Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the RBI Governor, Dr Y.V. Reddy. The seminar expects to sequence reforms and connect them to poverty and employment generation. The focus would be on employment growth.

During his visit here, the Prime Minister would inaugurate the newly constructed auditorium to mark the 25th year of the Centre. Outlining the functioning of Cess, Dr Dev said the Centre provides a comprehensive view on status and linkages between environment, water and livelihoods with special focus on water resources management in an environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially equitable manner.

As a part of the Centre's ongoing research initiatives, CESS is working on a Human Development Index (HDI) for Andhra Pradesh. It would be like the ones already developed by Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and be ready by middle of 2006.

As a part of this exhaustive exercise, CESS will host regional interaction in five zones of the State and gather information from local groups.

The index seeks to bring about district-wise development parameters that would help the Government in its efforts to bring about holistic development, he added.