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2015 Durgabhai Deshmukh Memorial Lecture

July 15, 2015

Venue: Durbhai Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre (main) New Delhi

Prof. Abhijit Sen, Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University speaks on, Demographic Drivers of Economic Growth – Role of Human Capital

Abstract

The topic of the lecture ought to be seen against the background of the economic situation that India is facing currently. The UPA had ambitious plans for education and health, both indices on which India is substantially behind other countries at her stage of development. The Eleventh Five Year Plan’s (2007-12) achievements have fallen considerably short of targets while the Twelfth Five Year Plan’s (2012-17) actual expenditures are so much below planned targets that it is now impossible to realise even Eleventh Plan expenditure/outlay ratios. It will require much more effort and resources than is being expended today to make up for these large short-falls in a reasonable period of time.

Moreover, following the higher devolution of taxes by the 14th Finance Commission, the NDA government at the Centre has made cuts in its spending on social sectors, indicating that it will maintain full funding (at expenditure levels budgeted in 2014-15) only for a few schemes. This is with the expectation that States, with their share of increased devolution and resulting flexibility, will be able and willing to put in the resources and effort required to bridge the gap that has opened between actual and original intent.

In the meantime, the Centre has unveiled ambitious plans for infrastructure and a Make in India campaign, indicating greater emphasis on physical rather than human capital formation. Among other arguments quoted for this shift in emphasis are the opportunities and compulsions associated with the demographic dividend that India is in a position to harness from the fact that the share of the working age population in total population is increasing.

With this background, the lecture will provide an overview of how economists have looked at demography and human capital in trying to answer why growth rates in per capita income vary across countries. It will then, in the light of recent demographic projections, try to present where India currently stands not only with regard to the demographic transition proper but also another associated traditional driver of growth – the shift of labour away from agriculture.

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Discussion on Future Agricultural Policy Direction in India

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July 15, 2015

Programme

10.00-11.30hrs: Future Agricultural Policy Direction in India
Chairperson
Prof. V.S.Vyas, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur.
Address by Chief Guest, Sri. Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Transport, Shipping and Infrastructure
Speakers
Dr. T. Haque, CSD, New Delhi
Dr. Devinder Sharma, Forum for Biotechnology & Food Security, New Delhi
Sri. Harvir Panwar, Editor, Money Bhaskar
Dr. Anjani Kumar, IFPRI, New Delhi
Sri. Sudhir Panwar, Hon’ble member, Planning Commission, Uttar Pradesh
Sri Anant Jauhari, Sarvadaliya Kisan Sangh, Madhya Pradesh
11.30 – 11.45hrs: Tea Break
11.45 – 13.30hrs: Future Agricultural Policy Direction in India (cont)
Chairperson
Sri. Satyapal Singh, Hon’ble Member of Parliament
Speakers
Prof. Ashwini Mahajan, Swadeshi Jagaron Manch, New Delhi
Sri. Achyut Das, Agargamee, Odisha
Sri. Naresh Sirohi, Advisor, DD Kisan, New Delhi
Sri. Krishna Bir Chaudhary, Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, New Delhi
Sri. Rakesh Tikait, Bhartiya Kisan Union, UP
Sri. Rampal Jat,
Sri. V.M.Singh
Sri. Mohinder Singh Grewal, Former Member, CACP
13.30 – 14.30 hrs: Lunch
14.30 – 16.30hrs: The Way Forward and Conclusion
Chairperson
Sri. Raju Shetty, Hon’ble Member of Parliament
Co Chairperson
Prof. D. Narasimha Reddy, ICSSR National Fellow, Hyderabad
Panelists
Prof. Biswajit Dhar, JNU, New Delhi
Dr. Devinder Sharma, Forum for Biotechnology & Food Security, New Delhi
Prof. Prof. H.M. Desarda, Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics, Pune
Sri. Harvir Panwar, Editor, Money Bhaskar
16.30: Tea Break
18.00: Durgabai Deshmukh Memorial Lecture on “Demographic Drivers of Economic Growth – Role of Human Capital” by Prof. Abhijit Sen at IIC (Main) Auditorium

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National Workshop on Best Practices in Food and Livelihood Security in India: Lessons for upscaling

July 14-15, 2015

Venue: Lecture Room II, India International Centre (Annexe), New Delhi

Programme

09.00-9.30hrs: Registration
09.30-10.30hrs: Welcome
Dr. P. K. Joshi, Director, IFPRI South Asia
Chairperson
Prof. Muchkund Dubey, CSD, New Delhi
Introduction
Dr. T. Haque, CSD, New Delhi
Inaugural Address by Mr. Shyam Khadka, FAO Representative in India, New Delhi
Vote of Thanks 

10.30-11.30hrs: Technical Session I: Best Practices in Public Distribution System
Chairperson
Prof. Abhijit Sen, JNU, New Delhi
Case Study I
Prof. Swarna Sadasivam Vepa, MSE, Chennai
Case Study II
Prof. Reetika Khera, IIT, New Delhi
Discussants
Dr. Biraj Patnaik, Right to Food Campaign, New Delhi
Dr. Dipa Sinha, Right to Food Campaign, New Delhi
Ms. Bhavdeep Kang, Journalist, New Delhi
General Discussion
Remarks by the Chairperson
11.30 – 11.45hrs: Tea Break

11.45 – 13.15hrs: Technical Session II: Best Practices in MGNREGA
Chairperson
Mr. J.K.Mohapatra, Secretary, MoRD, Govt. of India
Case Study I
Prof. D. Narasimha Reddy, ICSSR National Fellow, Hyderabad
Case Study II
Prof. S. Indrakant, RBI Chief Professor, CSD, Hyderabad
Case Study III
Dr. Md. Kashif Imam, MoHRD, GoI, New Delhi
Discussant
Prof. K.B.Saxena, CSD
Dr. Ashok Pankaj, CSD
General Discussion
Remarks by the Chairperson
13.15 – 14.00hrs: Lunch

14.00 – 15.00hrs: Technical Session III: Food Security and Self Help Groups
Chairperson
Prof. D.K. Marothia, Member, Chhattisgarh State Planning Commission, Raipur
Case Study I
Dr. Rahul, Kudumbhasree, Kerala
Case Study II
Dr. D.V.Raidu, Advisor, Farm Livelihoods, NRLM, MoRD, GoI.
Case Study III
Ms. Prasanthi, State Programme Director, APMSS, Hyderabad
Discussants
Dr. Indu Agnihotri, CWDS, New Delhi
Dr. Anjani Kumar, IFPRI, New Delhi Advocate.
Waman Rao Chatap, Swatantra Bharat Paksha, Maharashta
General Discussion
Remarks by the Chairperson
15.00 – 15.30hrs: Tea Break

15.30 – 16.30hrs: Technical Session IV: Best Practices and Civil Society Organisation
Chairperson
Sri. Sanjeev Chopra, Joint Secretary to Govt. of India, MoA
Case Study I
Dr.Vandana Shiva & Dr. Vinod Bhatt, Navadanya, New Delhi
Case Study II
Mr. Achyut Das, Agargamee, Odisha
Case Study III
Mr. Raj Krishna Mukherjee, , Development Research Communication and Services Centre, Kolkata
Case Study IV
Mr. Sibabrata Choudhury, LANDESA, Bhubaneshwar / Mr. Pinaki Halder, LANDESA, Kolkata
Discussants
Mr. Ramesh Rawal, Executive Vice President, BAIF, New Delhi
Dr. Avinash Kishore, IFPRI, New Delhi
General Discussion
Remarks by the Chairperson

16.30 – 17.30hrs: Panel Discussion: Learning Lessons for Up-scaling Best Practices
Chairperson
Mr. Alok Sinha, Former Secretary to Govt. of India
Panel Members
Prof. D. Narasimha Reddy, ICSSR National Fellow, Hyderabad
Prof. Praveen Jha, JNU, New Delhi
Dr. Himanshu, JNU, New Delhi
Dr. Devesh Roy, IFPRI, New Delhi
Dr. N. S.Jodha, ICIMOD, Kathmandu
General Discussion
Remarks by the Organizers
Vote of Thanks

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