Call for Papers

Papers are invited for the following seminar

On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of ISEC, the Centre for Political Institutions, Governance and Development (CPIGD), ISEC and IIPA-KRB intend to hold a two-day seminar on the theme ‘Governance and Development in Karnataka’. The concept note for the seminar and the main themes and sub-themes of the seminar are as provided below.

As we enter the new millennium Karnataka stands for all the hopes and aspirations, contrasts and contradictions of India. On one hand Karnataka is increasingly known for its status as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ making the other Indian states emulate its strategies in developing information technology (IT) and information technology enabled services (ITES); on the other hand, Karnataka also reflects the rest of India in terms of its growing regional, sectoral and social inequalities and the environmental crisis. Thus, while Karnataka is emblematic of the hopes and aspirations of India’s burgeoning youth, it is also characteristic of India’s continued developmental laggardness. Governance in such contexts is largely burdened with managing the conflicts and contradictions arising out of lopsided growth as well as promoting the same growth-generating sectors. For example, the successive governments in Karnataka have emphasised a great deal on overcoming regional and sectoral inequalities, at the same time provided tax benefits and incentives for investing in IT and ITES as also in bio-technology and related sectors. The development so far has no doubt led to the growth of GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) and creation of an increasingly assertive middle class, the same has also been achieved leaving agriculture and backward regions such as Kalyan Karnataka, far behind. Day by day the gaps in terms of regional, sectoral and social inequalities only seem to be increasing rather than receding.

In the above context this seminar focuses on the governance and development in Karnataka. How and in what ways the governance is being carried out in Karnataka in the context of increasing regional, sectoral and social inequalities in the state? Are these three dimensions being levelled over time or the three inequalities getting aggravated owing to the development process? The fourth dimension is the environmental governance and sustainability. How far is the current nature of development in Karnataka environmentally, socially and politically sustainable? What innovations in governance are needed to improve on overcoming the inequalities and managing the environmental crisis? These are some of the questions posed by the seminar.

As is mentioned above this seminar squarely focuses on governance of regional, sectoral and social inequalities that are products of the nature of development in Karnataka. In addressing the above questions, the seminar focuses on the following themes:

• What is the overall nature of development in Karnataka over the recent period?

• What are the steps in terms of governance taken to meet the needs of development? More specifically what are the steps taken in governance to meet the following three major inequalities:

  1. Regional inequalities: in terms of the divide between north Karnataka and south Karnataka; Hyderabad Karnataka and rest of the state.

  2. Sectoral inequalities: between rural and urban Karnataka; agricultural and industrial and tertiary sectors

  3. Social inequalities: in terms of development and inclusion of marginalised groups in the development process. We have an intuitive grasp that a large middle class emerged owing to the development, but is it the only process taking place? What is the overall nature of the evolution of social groups in the state. Have the inequalities and contradictions between them been increasing are levelling down?

The two-day seminar to cover the following themes:

1. Regional inequalities and governance in Karnataka

   • The HDI status of North Karnataka and Kalyan Karnataka

2. Sectoral inequalities and governance in Karnataka

   • The sectoral gap between agriculture and industry, and tertiary sector in Karnataka

3. Social inequalities and governance in Karnataka

   • Status of Dalits and other marginalised communities in Karnataka

   • Status of Minority development in Karnataka

   • Governance of welfare and welfare schemes

4. Ecological governance in Karnataka

   • Forests, Western Ghats, mining and wildlife parks

5. Digital governance in Karnataka

   • Recent policies towards e-governance and digital governance in Karnataka

The seminar to be held in online/ hybrid mode;

• Written full papers are to be presented in the seminar which we subsequently intend to publish.

Dates of the seminar:

• The seminar will be held during 26th and 27th of April, 2022.

Last dates for submission of Abstracts:

• Abstracts of not less than 250-300 words to be submitted on or before 25th  March, 2022.

Full papers:

• Full papers of not less than 7000-8000 words in Ms Word format to be received by 20th of April, 2022. Only full papers received by this date will be presented in the seminar. Abstracts and full papers may be sent to the following email addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]

Brochure(.pdf)