CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

(Supported by SC/ST Development Department, Govt. of Kerala)

Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode

KIRTADS Campus, Chevayur (PO), Kozhikode 673017 www.cex.ac.in Email: cex@dataone.net Ph: 0495 2355342, 2351496

Centre of Excellence
The Rationale
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constitute nearly ten percent of the total population of Kerala. Ever since Independence, the Government of India has been implementing social security measures for the upliftment of hitherto excluded communities. The thrust of the Governments efforts was to provide educational and employment opportunities for these communities. Positive discrimination like reservation did help a small section within these communities to a make strides in education and employment. A large section, however, has not been able to make effective use of these benefits, despite the Governments efforts to ensure opportunities. Though nearly one tenth of the professional degree holders and graduates/postgraduates in Kerala belong to Scheduled Communities, the Government of Kerala has not been able to provide job opportunities for a majority of them. The main reason for this is that suitable job openings are confined largely to Public Sector Undertakings and Government. Scheduled communities have a negligible presence in sectors that do not provide reservation benefits. In recent years it has been observed that there is a significant reduction in job openings in Public Sector Undertakings and in the Government sector. However, a large number of jobs have been created in the open market in emerging areas like IT, BPO and other private sector initiatives. It is expected that in the coming years, more job openings will be created in the private sector in Kerala. Though there are quite a number of professionally qualified candidates among the Scheduled communities, they lack adequate communication skills, and an entrepreneurial attitude mainly because of centuries of social exclusion. Also, the Scheduled Communities often fail to get admission into higher education courses or to secure better jobs, because they do not get proper mentoring and other support from their parents and society at large. In order to address these shortcomings, the Government of Kerala in 2002 suggested that the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode should incubate a Centre of Excellence (CEx) to enable candidates from Scheduled communities to compete in the open market for admission to professional as well as higher learning institutions of national repute to compete in the open market for job opportunities in special categories to compete for opportunities in research and development in the open market to improve their competence while working in the organized sector.

The Centre was conceived as a national institute of humanities, science and professional studies. It was also proposed that the Centre should take up a wide range of activities that include starting separate schools for conducting competence courses in selected branches of the humanities, setting up a full-fledged library networked with the other national university libraries, etc. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Government of Kerala sanctioned Rs. 250 lakhs to the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode in 2002-03 for incubating the Centre of Excellence.

Vision and Mission

The Centre of Excellence (CEx) was established in June 2002 in KIRTADS Campus at Chevayur, Kozhikode with the mission: to move towards creating a just, equitable and caring society through empowerment of the marginalized and underprivileged, based on the principles of humanism, equality and social justice. And a vision to help the marginalized and the underprivileged gain confidence, build competence and achieve excellence in all spheres of human endeavor, for their social, cultural and economic development through education, training, research, and consulting. Ever since its inception the Centre of Excellence has been striving to help young graduates from Scheduled communities to gain confidence, build competence and achieve excellence in all spheres of educational endeavor. This was achieved by building up a faculty with diverse backgrounds and capabilities, establishing professional links with a wide range of national- and state-level institutions sharing similar perspectives and by developing an academic ambience conducive to higher learning and achievement.

A Pioneering Five Years

Since its inception the Centre of Excellence (CEx) has pursued a broad range of activities that include training programmes, research, management development programmes, seminars, and colloquia that have relevance to the issues concerning the Dalit and Adivasi communities of Kerala. Training Programmes During the pioneering five years the Centre conducted nine five-month Certificate Courses for Professional Development. The programme was launched in November 2002. Forty Dalit and Adivasi graduates and professionally qualified Dalit/Adivasi students are selected for each course on the basis of their marks at the Degree level, entrance test and interview. The students are given a monthly stipend of Rs. 2000 to cover their expenses. Nine batches comprising a total of 318 candidates have successfully completed the course. Of these, 274 belonged to Scheduled Castes and 44 to Scheduled Tribes. Though the basic qualification for admission to the programme was graduation, a majority of the students had higher qualifications, particularly professional degrees.

Most of the students who underwent training at CEx hail from low-income families and are children of first or second-generation achievers. Twenty six per cent of those who attended the Certificate Course obtained higher jobs in the private sector or in Public Sector Undertakings/Government while eighteen per cent have taken up higher education like postgraduate programmes and research in reputed academic institutions in India and abroad. Management Development Programme (MDP) During 2002-07, three Management Development Programmes (MDP) were conducted on the following themes: Strategic Leadership for Schools in a Changing Environment (for Principals and Senior Superintendents of Model Residential Schools and Ashram Schools, 16 21 August 2004) Communication Skills and Managerial Effectiveness (for SC/ST officials of the Government of Kerala, 16- 20 September 2002) Communication Skills and Managerial Effectiveness (for SC/ST officials of the Government of Kerala, 29 Sept Oct 3 2004)

Research Projects

During 2004-05 CEx-IIMK took up a research project, Wayanad Initiative, to design a comprehensive development package for Adivasi Communities of Wayanad. The report, entitled A Situational Study and Feasibility Report for the Comprehensive Development of the Adivasi Communities of Wayanad, was submitted to the Honble Minister for Scheduled Communities on January 17, 2006. The project was assigned to CEx-IIMK by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department. The Centre has also undertaken a research project to prepare an annotated bibliography of Adivasi studies in Kerala. Colloquium, Workshop, National Seminars, Special Lectures Two workshops on Higher Studies Abroad was organized during 2002-07 for selected SC/ST students from Kerala. Representatives of the British Council and USEFI (United States Educational Foundation of India) and others participated as resource persons. A National Seminar, Rethinking Cultural Studies in India, was organized at IIMK in February 2004. Another national seminar on Institutions and Addressal of Collective Disadvantages was held in CEx in March 2004. A CEx - Kerala Council of Historical Research (KCHR) Colloquium on Residual and Emerging Forms of Social Exclusion in Kerala Society was held in March 2003 The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi has established the Kerala Chapter of its Southern Regional Centre in CEx. Two national seminars were conducted with ICSSR support (one in Calicut and the other in Kottayam) covering issues relating to the marginalized communities of Kerala/India. Over the last five, a total of 143 special lectures have been organized for CEx students. Scholars of national and international repute such as Magsasay Award Winner P. Sainath , Dr. A.R. Vasavi (NIAS, Bangalore), Mr.Alexander Cockburn (USA), Dr. Anna Lindberg (University of Pennsylvania, USA), Ms. Noelle Deffontaines (France), Dr. Filippo Osella (Sussex University), Dr. Caroline Osella (SOAS, London), Ms. Anita Nair (Sussex University), Dr. T.K.

Ramachandran (Calicut University), Dr. Diya Swaminathan (M. S. Swaminathan Foundation, Chennai), Dr. Joseph C. Davis (Sydney University), Ms. Indah Vidhyastuthi (Institute of Technology, Indonesia), Dr. Manish Thakur (Goa University), Ms. Angelic (UK), Ms. Lubna Mariyam (Bangladesh), Dr. M Raghavan, IES (Retd.) (Agricultural Prices Commission), Dr. M. Kunjaman (TISS, Mumbai), Fabba Fabrizio (Documentary film-maker, Italy) Dr. Leena Abraham (TISS, Mumbai), Dr. P. Bhaskaran Nair (University of Lincoln, UK), Suman Badami (Sydney University, Australia), Dr Rahul Sreevasthava (independent researcher, Goa). CEx Publications The Centre of Excellence has brought out an occasional paper entitled, Caste Indignities and Subjected Personhoods (Author: Dr.A.R.Vasavi) in December 2006. It also publishes a newsletter, Excelsior. Information Portal The Centre hosts a portal providing information and links to various job and higher education opportunities in India and abroad for SC/ST students from Kerala. It can be accessed at www.cex.ac.in Library The Centre has a library with an extensive collection of books and journals. K.R. Narayanan Memorial Lecture The Centre has decided to conduct an annual lecture in memory of Dr. K.R. Narayanan, former President of India. Every year a reputed scholar from India or abroad will be invited to speak on issues concerning the marginalized communities of the country. First K.R.Narayanan Lecture was held on 16 December 2006. Noted economist and Dalit writer Dr.Narendra Jadhav, ViceChancellor, Pune University delivered the lecture on Empowerment of Dalits & Adivasis in the Emerging Economy at the function held in Calicut. Faculty
Prof. D. D. Nampoothiri (Programme Coordinator) did his postgraduate and research studies in Sociology at the University of Rajastan, Jaipur, University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He retired as Professor of Sociology at Zamorins Guruvayoorappan College, Calicut. Professor Nampoothiri has been Chairman and Member of the Board of Studies in the Universities of Calicut, Kannur, Goa, Mangalore, etc. Prof. Nampoothiri has been the Programme Coordinator of the Centre of Excellence since its inception in 2002. He has participated and presented papers in several seminars and conferences in India and abroad. His published work includes the chapter on Caste and Social Change in Colonial Kerala in Perspectives in Kerala History: The Second Millennium, published by the Department of Gazetteers, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. He is the coordinator for the Kerala Chapter of the ICSSR Southern Regional Centre. Prof. Jaiprakash Raghaviah (Associate Programme Coordinator) was formerly a Professor at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration, Thrissur. Earlier, he served for many years on the faculty of the Indian Institute of Bank Management, Guwahati, Assam. He has also worked as an executive in the State Bank of India. Prof. Raghaviah completed his post graduation in Madras University and his research studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has presented a number of papers on banking and economics at various

conferences. He has authored a book on the economic history of Kerala entitled Basel Mission Industries in Malabar and South Canara: 1834-1914. He has done research on the rural non-farm sector, on selfemployment and entrepreneurship and on banking-related issues.

Ms. Sucharitha Hota completed her post graduation in Social Work at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is a consultant in the field of qualitative social research and was involved in projects for UNICEF, the World Bank, the Overseas Development Agency and the Government of India. Ms. Hota has wide-ranging interests in areas like maternal and child health, rural rehabilitation, education and gender. Ms. Hota is visiting faculty at CEx, IIMK. She is a faculty in Social Work at St. Josephs College, Devagiri, Kozhikode. Mr. B. Rameswaran is a faculty at the Department of Management Studies, Kannur University. He completed his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Calicut, and his MBA from Calicut University. He has served in responsible positions in reputed organizations such as CEPZ, BPL, L & T, and Cochin Shipyard. Ms. Radha Iyer is a communication consultant and trainer based in Calicut. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism and Communication and has served in various capacities, as faculty, Centre Manager, Director, Visiting Lecturer, resource person, course material contributor and editor for IGNOUs distance education programmes. Dr. V. Kesavan completed his research studies at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy and has specialized in economics, statistics and econometrics. He retired from the Department of Economics, Malabar Christian College, Calicut. Vinod Kumar, J. completed his B.Tech. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and worked for some time as a software professional. He later completed a Certificate Course in Professional Development at Centre of Excellence, IIMK. At present Vinod Kumar is working as a software professional for IBM. Swarnalatha, K. is at present the Principal of a Teacher Training Institute at Calicut. She retired from government service as Chief Tutor, District Centre for English, Government Teacher Training Institute, Calicut. Vinod Krishnan, T. Y. holds a Masters degree in Anthropology from the University of Mysore. He undertook research studies at the University of Delhi and Roskilde University, Denmark. From 1995 to 2002 he was attached to KIRTADS as a Research Officer. In 2002 he was awarded the ASIA Fellowship of Ford Foundation to conduct an ethnographic study on the Cham minority of Vietnam. He has conducted a number of studies on ethnic minorities in India and Southeast Asia. Prof. T. Sivadasan holds an M.Sc. (Mathematics) from Pachaiyappas College, Chennai. He was Coordinator, Centre for Coaching Minorities, University of Calicut, and retired as Divisional Employment Officer, Faculty, Teacher Training College. He has authored a book on Quantitative Applications and is a regular contributor to educational journals. Prof. Radha S. Nair holds an M.A. in English from Presidency College, Chennai, a Diploma from CIEFL, Hyderabad, and was Head of the Department of English, Providence College, Calicut.

Post incubation Future of CEx

Since the incubation of the Centre of Excellence by Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode will be completed in 30 September 2007, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Government of Kerala has entrusted to the Centre of Excellence the task of preparing the Memorandum of Association and the Project Proposal for establishing an autonomous organization, tentatively named Centre for Research and Education for Social Transformation (CREST). The proposed organization has been conceived in the backdrop of (a) the new global scenario into which India is integrating and its multifaceted features (b) the debate on affirmative action that is taking place in the country and the demands made on the private sector to respond to the governments suggestions with regard to reservation in the private sector. The social transformation India has been undergoing during the last one decade or so is characterized by unprecedented challenges and opportunities. While a small, privileged section of Indian society has benefited from the opportunities provided by the new social order, a majority of Indians, particularly the Dalits and Adivasis, have not been able to effectively utilize these opportunities. Owing to historical reasons, the Dalits, Adivasis and other marginalized communities of India have not been able to create for themselves a rightful space conducive to their advancement in the complex social milieu. They often fail to embrace aspects of the cultural patterns that are closely associated with the new social order. Social exclusion that lasted for centuries makes it difficult for them to take up the challenges in an effective manner. The issues confronted by the Dalit/Adivasi communities in the emerging new order demand concerted action from planners and academics. There has not been any significant initiative, either by the government or non-state agencies to address these issues in an effective manner. In recent years affirmative action is being debated in India. The Government of India has opined that reservation and affirmative action must percolate down to the private sector. In response, business and industry have opened a debate on corporate social responsibility. A few corporate agencies have already taken the initiative in this direction. Despite the apprehensions raised by a few, Indian business and industrial establishments in general have responded positively and have accepted corporate social responsibility as a serious concern. The proposed institution, CREST, has been conceived as a unique attempt to redress the collective disadvantages faced by the Dalit/Adivasi and other marginalized communities of the country and to address the current scenario. The establishment of the Centre of Excellence (CEx) in 2002 was a pioneering attempt by the Government of Kerala and IIMK in this direction. CREST is the outcome of this experience.

To fulfill its mission CREST will: Undertake research that is of relevance to the Scheduled communities of Kerala and disseminate the knowledge thus gained to civil society through seminars, workshops, publications, and through electronic and other media.

Take up advocacy on issues relating to the Scheduled Communities of Kerala and conduct programmes to educate policy-makers, agencies and civil society about the concerns and aspirations of these communities. Engage in multi-disciplinary research projects for the development of the Scheduled Communities of Kerala and offer consultancy services in specialized areas that deal with their development and empowerment. Award certificates, diplomas and other distinctions to candidates who undergo training and prescribe the standards of proficiency required for award of these distinctions Interact, cooperate and collaborate with educational and other institutions in any part of the world with objectives similar to those of the Centre, through exchange of faculty and students and other means. Provide technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of agencies responsible for the development of the Scheduled communities of Kerala. Organize training and in-service programmes for academics and planners working on issues relating to the Scheduled communities of Kerala.

Proposed Institution In order to undertake these activities CREST would be formed as a registered body under the Societies Registration Act. It will function as an autonomous organization initially supported by the Government of Kerala. CREST is expected to receive mentoring support from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, which incubated the Centre of Excellence. Two internationally reputed organizations, the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai are expected to provide advisory support to the proposed organization. The governing body of the organization will include social scientists of national repute, policy-makers and representatives of industry. The governing body headed by the Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Communities as Chairman will monitor the activities of the proposed organization. Dignitaries like the Governor of Kerala, Chief Minister of Kerala and the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly will be patrons of the autonomous institution as envisaged in the Memorandum of Association The Executive Director of the proposed organization will be a reputed academic with a social science background and a clear interest in issues relating to marginalized communities. She/he will function as a team leader, motivator and facilitator, leading a faculty with diverse academic backgrounds. She/he will liaise and network with institutions around the world, which share similar academic concerns with CREST. The faculty will comprise academics with deep social commitment and a flair for public action. They would evince skills and capabilities in transforming their theoretical knowledge as well as practical experience into academic concern and action. They will be persons with a track record

of contributing to student and institutional growth. The faculty will consist of experts in Sociology and Social Anthropology, Social Work, Social Psychology and Behavioral Science, Applied Economics, Communication, Management and Entrepreneurship Development, Accounting and Finance, and Information Technology. Instead of Departments, as is the practice in many academic institutions, the proposed institute will have Resource Groups which will encompass broad areas of academic concern impinging on the objectives of the organization. Each Resource Group will have a combination of different but related subject specializations.

Future Activities The proposed institution, CREST, will continue the present activities including the flagship programme undertaken by the Centre of Excellence. It will also take up Outreach programmes, research projects, short-term training programmes, and management development programmes. CREST has conceived the following programmes for the period 2007-12. CREST will conduct nineteen CCPD programmes of five months duration each, under which 760 SC/ST candidates from Kerala will receive training. Separate streams are envisaged for students of science or technically qualified students and for students with a social sciences/humanities background. CREST also intends to take up a two-year action research project on the School - Community Partnership Programme for Educational Nurturance of AtRisk Adivasi Children of Wayanad, Kerala. The objectives of the proposed project are to enhance the competencies, skills and aspirations of at-risk Adivasi children of Wayanad through augmentation of the school - community partnership. It also aims to address problems of alienation, lack of confidence and disenfranchisement of at-risk children caused by forms of discrimination, exclusion and practices linked to societal stereotypes, The project intends to sensitize schools on Adivasi issues and also to conscientize the community to make effective use of existing possibilities provided by the state system for the educational development of Adivasi communities. The Centre intends to prepare status reports on the Dalit and Adivasi communities of the state. The objective is to prepare a comprehensive status report on the Dalit/Adivasi population in Kerala in order to evaluate the extent of their achievement/underachievement as a result of affirmative action. It will also attempt to locate the Dalits of Kerala in the context of Keralas much acclaimed development model. Fifteen Management Development Programmes are envisaged. There will be three programmes each year on the following themes: Communication skills and managerial excellence, Data analysis for effective managerial decisions, and Project preparation. The beneficiaries of the programme will be senior SC/ST officials working in various departments of the Government of Kerala. The Centre has conceived a series of short-duration training programmes including Youth empowerment, Communicative English, IT for school-going children, Applying for jobs and appearing for interviews, Personality development, Career choice, Effective presentation, Seeking higher education abroad, Seeking jobs abroad, Training in foreign languages, and Research methodology. The Centre will also establish a career guidance and counseling unit, where candidates from the Dalit/Adivasi communities of Kerala can get guidance and mentoring support.