Article "‘Majuli in Peril’: Challenging the received wisdom on flood control in Brahmaputra River Basin" by Debojyoti Das

'Majuli in Peril': Challenging the received wisdom on flood control in Brahmaputra River Basin, Assam (1940–2000)
by Debojyoti Das
Water History, 2014, 6(2):167-185
DOI 10.1007/s12685-014-0098-2
Abstract: This paper seeks to provide a framework to understand the politics of flood control and representation of deluge 'narrative' by looking at Majuli—one of the largest freshwater river islands in the world, located in the upper Brahmaputra valley in Assam. Policy makers and state planner present simplistic explanation of flood and its resultant impact on the island habitable space, as a 'techno-managerial' crisis needing policy redemption through 'experts' intervention. I present the phenomenon of flooding as a 'techno-political' problem and examine the politics of knowledge production. The paper thus challenges the received wisdom on ecological change promoted by institutions who have been working to save the island from two perceived threats—floods and bank erosion. Through a synoptic survey on state measures to control flood in the Brahamapura River Basin since the 1950s, I will show how the 'statist ecological discourse' based on equilibrium and linear models underlined by a 'command and control' discourse have dominated policy making on flood mitigation- devaluing other perspectives of ecological change. These new revisionist directions in ecology and science policy discourse bring important insights to understand the phenomena of floods from the multiple pathways of an ecological change paradigm and the ways they are mitigated and perceived.
Download Full-text: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12685-014-0098-2

CfPs 2nd Annual Convention on "Ethics in Research on Human Subjects: Evolving norms and guidelines for the Indian context" 2-4 Sept, at JNU

2nd Annual Convention on Ethics in Research on Human Subjects: Evolving norms and guidelines for the Indian context

 

on 2nd- 3rd -4th September 2014, at the Convention Centre, JNU.

 

The Convention will focus on the national and international guidelines (such as those of Nuffield Council on Bioethics 1991, Helsinki Declaration of 2000 clarifications in 2002, 2004, CIOMS 2002, and UNESCO document 2005, and specifically for India the ICMR guidelines, etc) and ground realities in India where we do not want to dampen the enthusiasm for research particularly in interdisciplinary sciences where mostly human participation is essential. At the same time, we also do not want to dilute the ethical norms and regulations prescribed globally. Most of the guidelines are also silent on behavioural, emotional, psychological research and psycho- social research involving human participants. In the first national convention organised by JNU in 2013, some of these issues were addressed by people from a large number of disciplines and also a variety of institutions participating. In the concluding session it was unanimously resolved to carry the discussion forward by making this an annual event. The proposed second national convention will take it forward with greater participation in numbers and greater enthusiasm and motivation within JNU and outside.

 

The proposed 2014 convention in JNU will take up these issues in paper presentations and posters, plenary talks and a couple of workshops, and conclude with a panel discussion.

Papers as verbal presentations or posters, workshops (proposed by groups) are invited on any of the following areas of concern:

 

• Protecting the participants in Human Research
• Respect for Individuality and Identity, Autonomy 
• Voluntariness and ICF- what is an ethical ideal?
• Subjectivity in our perception of an ethical ideal 
• Assessment of Risk and Benefit
• Policy Process and Policy framework,
• Is there law for universal application? 
• Capacity to exercise voluntariness
• Vulnerability issues in India studies
• National and International norms and rules for working with
• Children
• Tribals and people from EWS/ backward areas
• Illiterate/ semi educated people
• Medically unfit populations especially those with psychological / mental / cognitive disorders or those in a vegetative state
• Confidentiality issues
• Compensation, Incentives, Reimbursement, Insurance issues
• Legal issues arising out of research 
• Institutional Responsibility, Institution specific SOP's 
• Awareness / training issues and preparing the future researcher for ethical research 
  
• India specific norms, and case studies 
• Students Research Norms/ SOP's
• Faculty Research Projects 
• Setting the standards, accreditation standards 
• Norms for multidisciplinary, multi institutional, collaborative research
• Training IERB members

 

The issues and challenges are enormous. Through this Second National Convention on Ethics in Research on Human Subjects we need to continue the debate and discussion initiated last year, in July 2013 to identify India specific challenges and how to meet them through Universities, medical colleges and other institutions of higher learning.

Submission of Abstracts and full papers

Since we have very little time left please submit your abstract/full papers definitely by the 30^th June. The title of your presentation, a brief abstract in about 250 words, your affiliation may be sent to <ierbjnu@gmail.com> or <narang.vaishna@gmail.com>.

Full papers are to be submitted definitely by the 30th June so that we are able to complete the review process and print the proceedings before the convention begins on the 2nd of September 2014.

 

Registration

Registration fee, Rs 1500.00 to be paid on arrival, will include part payment towards various expenses, such as cost of printing of abstracts, handouts, tea and snacks and other contingent expenses only partially. Those of you coming from outside Delhi will be provided accommodation in the JNU guest house on the first cum first served basis, where you will have to pay for your boarding and lodging. 
------------------------------------------------------------
Convener
Prof VaishnaNarang

Member Secretary, IERB-JNU

Room no. 102,103, Old CRS Complex

Jawaharlal Nehru University 

New Delhi- 110067

Tel. +91-11-2674664, +91-11-26704697, +91-9810608936 

 http://www.jnu.ac.in/IERB/Events.html

University Grants Commission (India) releases publication "Sixty Years of the University Grants Commission: Establishment, Growth, and Evolution".

University Grants Commission (India) releases publication "Sixty Years of the University Grants Commission: Establishment, Growth, and Evolution".

Sharma, K A (2014). "Sixty Years of the University Grants Commission: Establishment, Growth, and Evolution". New Delhi: University Grants Commission.

Table of Contents
CHAPTER I Establishing the University Grants Commission
CHAPTER II The Formative Years (1953-1963)
CHAPTER III The First Wave of Expansion (1963-1973)
CHAPTER IV The Initiatives for Consolidation (1973-1983)
CHAPTER V The New Policy Initiatives (1983-1993)
CHAPTER VI Golden Jubilee and Post-Policy Interventions (1993-2003)
CHAPTER VII The Second Wave of Expansion (2003-13)
CHAPTER VIII The New Initiatives and Discourses

Download Full-text PDF

Also interesting:
UGC (2011). "Inclusive and Qualitative expansion of Higher Education, 12th Five-Year Plan, 2012-2017". Compiled and edited by V Prakash, S P Thyagarajan, F Qamar, R Srivastava and A K Sharma. New Delhi: University Grants Commission. Download Full-text PDF.

NMML 2013 'Science, Society and Nature' Lecture series: Audio Recordings Now Available

NMML 2013 'Science, Society and Nature' Lecture series: Audio Recordings Now Available

1. Kathleen D. Morrison, University of Chicago, USA, 'Human face of the land: Why the past matters for India's environmental future', 11 February, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/636-10.html
2. J. Srinivasan, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 'How should India deal with climate change?', 13 March, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/642-17.html
3. Deepak Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 'Reason, Science and Religion: Gleanings from the colonial past', 22 April, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/658-26-prof-deepak-kumar-22-april-2013.html
4. Raman Sukumar, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 'Elephant, Empire and Ecology in Ancient India', 1 May, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/662-27-prof-raman-sukumar-01-may-2013.html
5. Visvajit Pandya, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Ahmedabad, 'In Terra Nullius: The legacies of science and colonialism in the Andaman Islands', 22 May, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/669-31-prof-vishvajit-pandya-22-may-2013.html
6. Harini Nagendra, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, 'The Challenge of Collective Action: Ecological restoration by people in forests and cities', 24 May, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/670-32-dr-harini-nagendra-24-may-2013.html
7. Madhav Gadgil, Goa University, Goa, 'Science, Democracy and Ecology in Contemporary India', 17 July, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/674-33-prof-madhav-gadgil-17-july-2013.html
8. Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, 'Rethinking Animal-Human Boundaries: Musings of a primatologist', 24 July, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/672-34.html
9. Kuntala Lahiri Dutt, Australian National University, Australia, 'Dancing with the River: Hybrid landscapes and livelihoods of chars in Bengal', 25 July, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/673-36-dr-kuntala-lahiri-dutt-25-july-2013.html
10. Kartik Shanker, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 'Wagging the Dog: The use and abuse of science in marine conservation in Orissa', 31 July, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/675-36-dr-kartik-shankar-31-july-2013.html
11. Ambuj Sagar, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, 'Climate and Energy: How science and technology can help us develop sustainably', 7 August, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/676-37-prof-ambuj-sagar-07-august-2013.html
12. K. Ullas Karanth, Science-Asia Wildlife Conservation Society, Bengaluru, 'Rescuing Nature from Growth and Equity', 14 August, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/677-38-dr-k-ullas-karanth-14-august-2013.html
13. Sagari R. Ramdas, ANTHRA, Hyderabad, 'Livelihoods and Landscapes in Contention: Interfaces, interactions and insights on forests, farm and pasture', 21 August, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/680-39-dr-sagari-r-ramdas-21-august-2013.html
14. E. Somanathan, Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi, 'Economics and the Crisis of Ecology', 4 September, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/684-42-prof-e-somanathan-4-september-2013.html
15. Shiv Visvanathan, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, 'Impending Battles: Science and democracy', 11 September, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/686-45-prof-shiv-visvanathan-11-sep-2013.html
16. Aditi Mukherji, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, New Delhi, 'An Evergreen Revolution in Eastern India: Are we on the right track?', 18 September, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/689-48-dr-aditi-mukherji-18-sep-2013.html
17. C. R. Babu, Emeritus Professor, University of Delh, Delhi, 'Conservation of Nature: A strategy for human endurance', 9 October, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/693-52-prof-c-r-babu-09-oct-2013.html
18. Aparajita Datta, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, 'Conservation Challenges in Northeast India: Science, policy, tribal rights and development', 30 October, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/702-61-dr-aparajita-dutta-30.html
19. M. Rajeevan, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi, 'The Changing Monsoon and its Manifold Implications', 13 November, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/707-66-dr-m-rajeevan-13-nov-2013.html
20. Rinki Sarkar, Independent Researcher and Economist, New Delhi, 'Endangered Landscapes, Unperturbed Response: Socio-ecological concerns in the western Himalayas', 28 November, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/711-70-dr-rinki-sarkar-28.html
21. Harsh K. Gupta, National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi, 'Earthquakes: How to cope with them', 5 December, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/713-72-dr-harsh-k-gupta-05.html
22. Uma Ramakrishnan, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, 'DNA Studies and Evolutionary History: Why species survival is more than a game of numbers', 18 December, 2013. http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/55-lectures-audios/55-public-lectures-audios/detail/717-76-dr-uma-ramakrishnan-18.html

Call for Applications: Leverhulme Trust, U.K funding 15 PhD projects covering a broad theme 'Climate and Culture' at Sundraban

Call for Applications: Leverhulme Trust, U.K funding 15 PhD projects covering a broad theme 'Climate and Culture' at Sundraban 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware that the Sundraban delta has taken the centrestage in global environmental debates on Climate Change and tropical cyclones, given its status as  UNESCO World Heritage Site and tiger reserve. 

The Leverhulme Trust, U.K has pledged to fund 15 PhD projects covering a broad theme 'Climate and Culture' and expects inter-disciplinary participation of researchers who could test the frontiers of knowledge across disciplines while critically engaging with the existing theories and discourses on climate change. Please circulate the draft note attached to prospective M.A./MSc. and M.Phil researchers who are interested to work in the region. Applicants will design a research proposal around the theme 'Climate and Culture' in the Sundarban- Bay of Bengal Delta. 

All prospective applicants can contact me at das.birkbeck[at]gmail.com with their proposals and C.V. The PhD programme is generously funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The competition is global. Working knowledge of Bengali dialects will be a added advantage.

With regards

Dr Debojyoti Das

Department of History, Classics and Archaeology

Room 314, 27 Russell Square

Birkbeck, University of London

www.bbk.ac.uk

 Climate -Culture draft[1]-2.doc

​

Journal Paper "Status and Prospect of Research and Development in Agriculture in India", by Kunal Sinha, Formerly with CSSP

Vikas Kumar & Kunal Sinha. (2014) "Status and Prospect of Research and Development in Agriculture in India", Journal of Science Policy and Governance, 5(1).
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to investigate and summarize issues that are critical for agricultural Research and Development (R&D) and economic growth in the Republic of India. Specifically, the paper explores the role played by R&D in the modernization process and the interactions between agriculture and other economic sectors, the determinants of the Green Revolution and the foundations of agricultural growth, issues of income diversification by farmers, approaches to rural development, which have been at the root of the crisis in agricultural commodity volatility in recent years. Due to the scarcity of public funds for research in India, there is paradigm shift in agricultural R&D. The countries with a strong research system where various actors and networks are involved like India have initiated a number of reforms with an objective to diversify the sources of funding and increase research efficiency. Competitive funding, commercialization of technologies, strengthened intellectual property rights, facilitating regulations and flexible extension approach are some of the major reforms undertaken. This paper examines the outcomes of these reforms and draws lessons for other developing countries.

Download Full-Text PDF

CfPs: IEG-IFPRI International Conference on Innovation in Indian Agriculture: Ways Forward; 4-5 December, at IEG, New Delhi, India

IEG-IFPRI International Conference on Innovation in Indian Agriculture: Ways Forward
4-5 December 2014
Venue: Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), New Delhi, India

Call for papers
The Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), New Delhi and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC will convene a two-day international conference in New Delhi on December 4-5, 2014 to explore innovative ways of accelerating development in India's agricultural sector through productivity growth, higher returns to farming, acceleration of poverty reduction, and the improvement of social and economic welfare in rural India.
The objectives of the conference are to

(1) highlight research on the impacts of past reforms in Indian agriculture, structural changes in production, consumption and demand, resource degradation and climate change;
(2) analyse policy options for Indian agriculture going forward; and
(3) draw on the theoretical and empirical evidence on agricultural development from other countries and regions.

The conference will be built around plenary and parallel sessions that allow participants to present original research, share innovative ideas, and deliberate openly on pressing issues. Sessions are tentatively organized around the following theme areas:

1. Policy processes and the political economy of agricultural development
2. Private investment in markets for seeds, nutrients, water, and other inputs
3. Connecting farmers, firms and consumers through commodity markets, value chains, and value-added products
4. Gender dimensions of a changing agricultural sector
5. Technological change, innovation, and incentives in the scientific research community
6. The nexus between environmental sustainability and agricultural intensification

The conference aims to bring together academicians from India and abroad, policymakers, donor agencies, private firms and industry organizations, and civil society. We invite scholars and related individuals to contribute papers with rigorous analysis on these issues. Papers may be theoretical, applied, or practical in nature, and will be reviewed by a Scientific Committee comprised of both Indian and foreign scholars. A limited number of travel grants will be made available for authors of accepted papers.

Important Dates
An extended abstract of 500-1000 words that states the objectives, data, methodology, preliminary findings and policy recommendations of the paper must be submitted by July 15, 2014 to innovagri@iegindia.org. In these submission emails, authors are requested to provide detailed contact information, a series of keywords that best characterizes the paper, and the session number in which the author feels the paper would most appropriately be placed. The decision regarding accepted paper proposals will be communicated by August 15, 2014. Authors of accepted papers are expected to submit full papers before October 31, 2014. The last date for participant registration will be November 15, 2014.

Further information can be obtained by writing to innovagri@iegindia.org
Further Details: http://www.iegindia.org/events%5Ccallforpapers_innovagri.htm