The Giri Institute of Development Studies (GIDS), Lucknow, enjoys the status of an “institution of national importance,” carrying out research on various themes of national and regional significance in the area of socioeconomic development.
The institute is located at Sector “O,” Aliganj Housing Scheme, Lucknow – 226 024; Website: >www.gids.org.in .
It takes up issue-based individual research projects and studies. But the overall perspective of the integrated character of development is kept in view. The studies are undertaken on themes and subjects either developed internally by the faculty of the institute or based on projects sponsored by various State bodies, national bodies or international agencies such as the World Bank, the International Labour Organisation and the United National Development Programme
GIDS, which was established in 1973, comes under the umbrella of the Indian Council of Social Science Research. It receives financial support from the council and the Government of Uttar Pradesh on a matching basis.
The primary objective of the institute is to identify strategies for ensuring the removal of economic disparity in society through sustained research. Attainment of social equality in our country remains a dream that propels committed researchers in social sciences. The institute possesses an effective mechanism for providing academic and professional guidance, advice and consultancy to agencies, institutions and individuals for R&D in the areas of social sciences and economics. Further, it offers advanced training to researchers and practitioners in the field of development with a view to improving the quality of research and programme formulation and implementation.
Opportunities
As part of fulfilling its objectives of development of human resources in the field of social science research, the institute provides guidance and facilities to students for pursuing Ph.D. in Economics, Sociology and Political Science. It conducts short-term training programmes and workshops for research scholars. The institute organises seminars and conferences for discussion and dissemination of research findings and exchange of ideas among academics, policymakers, and other interested groups. The faculty of GIDS often provides consultation and assistance to public institutions, especially of the Union and the State governments. The research findings of the institute are made available to interested bodies for use in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of their programmes.
Research focus
One of the main strengths of the institute is the expertise in conducting primary data-based household surveys on socio-economic issues. The past studies cover a wide variety of issues, problems and themes including various aspects of socio-economic development in the country in general, and Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal in particular. Candidates who register for studies at this centre enjoy the fruits of experience of the institute in data collection and processing. Such studies undertaken by the institute are so vast as evidenced by the width and depth of cases indicated below. The range of opportunities available for research students in GIDS is unique. The field includes:
Agricultural development, agrarian structure and rural development.
Inter-regional and inter-State disparities — regional development and planning.
Economic infrastructure — irrigation, power and road transport.
Human development and social services such as health, education and drinking water.
Land-use planning, environment and development.
Industrialisation, industrial growth, rural industries and informal sector.
Urbanisation and rural-urban migration.
Problems of backward areas — drought-prone and the hilly regions.
Problems of disadvantaged groups — women, children, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Land reforms and problems of their implementation in rural development.
Financial and economic analysis of Uttar Pradesh.
Diversified agriculture support project, sponsored by the World Bank.
Evaluation of the scheme of rehabilitation of bonded labourers.
Rural poverty in Uttar Pradesh: trends of wage rates and employment of agricultural labourers.
Policy and regulatory environment of micro and small enterprises.
Study on marginal farmers and options for improving their livelihood.
Role of marriage and family in the empowerment of working women.
Socio-economic conditions of the downtrodden.
Provision of urban amenities in rural areas.
External evaluation of total literacy campaign.
Intra-firm trade between India and the U.S. — a structural analysis.
Punctuality of teachers and the total time spent by them in school on a teaching day.
Marginal farmers and options for improving their livelihood.
Evaluation study of Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana.
Social cost benefit and financial analysis for the Diversified Agriculture Support Project.
Economic growth and human development.
Eco-rehabilitation of degraded land and social uplifting of rural people through bamboo cultivation.
Mid-term evaluation of the United Nations World Food Programme in Uttar Pradesh.
Socio-economic survey and action programme for generating employment.
Fiscal restructuring in Uttar Pradesh.
Diagnostic study of selected handloom clusters in Uttar Pradesh.
Evaluation of Plan schemes of the Department of Agricultural Research, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow.
Rural industrialisation for backward area development.
Monitoring and evaluation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
Mid-term evaluation of vermi-compost project.
Evaluation of wasteland utilisation through bamboo cultivation.
Rural-urban nexus in India and China: A comparative study.
Factors affecting participation of Scheduled Caste children in elementary education.
Evaluation of national afforestation programme.
Roadmap for rapid economic development.
Functioning of bazaar economy.
Performance of agriculture in Uttar Pradesh: Study of trends patterns, and constraints.
Changing status of Dalits: resilience and metamorphosis.
Trends in determinants of female work participation.
Socio-economic conditions of widows in religious places.
External evaluation of mid-day meal programme.
Labour force, employment and unemployment in a backward economy.
Organisation of beneficiaries and party intervention: a study of some rural development programs.
Civil liberties and the State in India.
Changing profiles of women workers.
Agrarian structure and technological changes.
Socio-economic status of women and gender disparity.
Study of trends and determinants of savings and investment in agriculture in India.
This long list shows how wide the net has been cast by the institute in identifying areas of research in social sciences, with potential for their applications. Research students can naturally expect rich experiences from the academic life in the institute.
