The Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) was registered as a scientific and educational charitable society in 1978. It is an autonomous research institute that promotes research, publication, development, training and other creative activities. It functions as a unit in the network of research institutes under the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). It is the only one of its kind in the north-western States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
CRRID: Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh – 160 019; Website: >www.crrid.res.in
It is financially supported by the Government of India and the Government of Punjab. Central funds come through the ICSSR. There is the Population Research Centre at the centre with 100 per cent grant from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has recognised the centre as a scientific and industrial research organisation. The centre has the distinction of having been headed by eminent persons like P.N. Haksar and Manmohan Singh.
Objectives
The centre aims to:
To provide an environment suitable for academic research.
To undertake, organise, guide and promote research in diverse areas such as humanities, Indian culture, comparative religion, social sciences, natural sciences, industry and agriculture.
To enlighten researchers and society in general to the work carried out at the centre.
Activities
Plays an active role in promoting social science research in India.
Meets emerging challenges facing the country through interdisciplinary research.
Takes up short- and long-term projects sponsored by the Government of India, State governments and international agencies. (Focus on Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttaranchal, Western Uttar Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh.)
Conducts Ph.D. programmes through links in universities.
Functions as a think-tank at local and national levels with active participation of academics, jurists, industry, media, bureaucracy, social workers and political leadership.
Thrust areas
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, both national and international, role of diaspora.
Cooperation development, peace and security in South and Central Asia.
Population research
There are 18 population research centres in the country under the control of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, functioning in universities and institutions of national repute. One of these is located in the CRRID. The centre carries out research in demographic and related issues in Punjab, Chandigarh and neighbouring States. It is engaged in referral, analytical, evaluation and interventionist demographic studies, focussing on aspects directed by the Ministry. The findings of the studies at the centre helps in the formulation of polices by the State governments. The scholars have opportunities to show their innovative skills in drawing inferences from the studies and suggesting ideas for policy making.
The Urban Governance and Development Unit of the CRRID is headed by a senior practising expert such as the Chairman of the State Finance Commission. The unit has a Chair awarded by HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation). This Chair helps in the training of elected representatives, community representatives and NGOs responsible for housing development and urban development in Punjab. Further, the unit undertakes the capacity building activities of urban local bodies for infrastructure development.
RBI Chair
The Reserve Bank of India has instituted an endowment scheme at the CRRID. The RBI Chair conducts focussed research in core areas covering regional economy, informal and formal credit and financial inclusion in the North-West region.
Nehru-SAIL Chair
Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) has set up a Nehru-SAIL chair at the CRRID for undertaking programmes for socio-economic development and working as a nodal point for encouraging relevant studies, which will cover aspects relating to the steel industry as well. The areas touched include:
Knowledge-sharing by encouraging research in the CRRID to cover augmentation of steel consumption in rural areas.
Undertaking programmes of socio-economic development covering rural development and industrial development.
Allowing SAIL to harness the vast knowledge in the CRRID for developing its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Caucasian study
This centre was set up at the CRRID in November 2003 in collaboration with the Institute of Oriental Studies, Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Yeravan. It aims to promote Indo-Caucasian relationship and works on international diplomacy and subjects of mutual concern, with collaboration of scholars, policy-makers, diplomats, representatives of trade and industry and journalists from both the countries.
Research studies
Some of the typical areas of research undertaken by the centre are indicated below, so as to give a picture of the nature of studies that awaits prospective students and researchers.
Irrigation, power and energy in Haryana: a study of infrastructure.
Power economy of Punjab and its border areas.
Gypsum for land reclamation: impact of subsidy schemes.
Problems of credit for pesticides for cotton and agricultural production.
Customer service survey in selected banks.
Border areas of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan: a search for a development strategy.
Communal violence and its impact on development and national integration.
Adult education programme in Punjab.
Impact and dimensions of indigenous system of education: a comparative study of Gurukul, Madrasa, monastery and Deras.
Promotion of use of plastics for conservation of energy and protection of the environment.
Trade between India and Bangladesh: trends, patterns, and potentialities.
Historical survey of Haryana: antiquity to Independence.
Leather artisans and leather industry in Punjab.
Implementation of minimum wages in industries of Punjab.
Socioeconomic background of the educated unemployment youth and their aspiration for employment.
Village-level tiny and cottage industrial units in Punjab.
Migrant labour in the industrial sector of Punjab.
Bonded labour in Punjab.
Innovative urban management: resource mobilisation and privatisation in local bodies.
Capacity building of local self-government institutions in Punjab.
Fiscal decentralisation and resource mobilisation by panchayats for social sector development in rural areas.
Working conditions of women and the girl child.
Vulnerable daughters in times of change: missing girls in North-west India.
Mining safety.
Out-migration from South Asia: a country study of India.
Operations research in spacing methods in family welfare.
