local governments and rights-based development
Transcription
local governments and rights-based development
SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DEEPENING DEMOCRACY THROUGH PARTICIPATORY LOCAL GOVERNANCE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RIGHTS-BASED DEVELOPMENT 15-17 May 2015 Organised by DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India Chief Patron Dr. M.K. Muneer Hon’ble Minister of Panchayati Raj and Social Justice Government of Kerala Venue Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India KERALA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION Thrissur, Kerala, India 1 Dear friends, We are happy to invite you to the Second International Conference on ‘Deepening Democracy Through Participatory Local Governance’ on the theme of LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RIGHTS-BASED DEVELOPMENT. BACKGROUND As is worldly accepted, Kerala is a path-breaking State in implementing democratic decentralisation and its Local Governments have become a national model. Democracy becomes meaningful only when human rights of all citizens are guaranteed and protected. Special care has to be devoted to the protection of rights of marginalised groups like ethnic minorities, Scheduled Castes, disabled, migrant labours, etc. and also the special rights of groups like women, children and aged who are often subject to neglect, discrimination, exclusion and sometimes violence. As the lowest tier of Government closest to the people, Local Governments have a great role to play in nurturing a development culture based on rights. Government of Kerala successfully organised an International Conference on Deepening Democracy through Participatory Local Governance in January 2014 in which 1800 delegates participated and 150 research papers on various subjects related to local governance were presented. Taking note of the interest the conference had generated among academics, experts, thinkers, activists and youth in India and abroad, Government of Kerala is organizing a Second International Conference on Deepening Democracy through Participatory Local Governance from 15th to 17th May 2015 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram on the theme of Local Governments and Rights based Development. OBJECTIVES The objective of the conference is to share the experiences of institutions in different parts within and outside the country and evolve workable suggestions on rights-based development for Local Governments. TECHNICAL SESSIONS It is proposed to hold technical sessions on the following Sub Themes. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) (xi) (xii) (xiii) (xiv) (xv) (xvi) Local Governments & Right to Information Local Governments & Right to Work Local Governments & Right to Food Local Governments & Right to Health Local Governments & Right to City Local Governments & Rights of Scheduled Castes Local Governments & Rights of Scheduled Tribes Local Governments & Rights of Differently abled people. Local Governments & Rights of the Aged Local Governments & Rights of bedbound and home bound people. Local Governments & Child Rights Local Governments & Gender Rights Local Governments & Livelihood Rights Local Governments & Environmental Rights Local Governments & Civic Rights Local Governments & Labour Rights 2 CONFERENCE VENUE Hotel Samudra, Kovalam, Kerala DATES The programme will be conducted during 15 - 17 May 2015. The sessions will be in English. SUBMISSION OF PAPER The abstract (in 500 words) has to be submitted in the prescribed format which can be downloaded from www.icodd2015.com. The Full paper (in 5000 words) shall be submitted in Word format to the email address: [email protected] on or before Saturday, 25th April, 2015. ABOUT THE ORGANISERS Department of Local Self Government, Government of Kerala Kerala State has 978 Grama Panchayats, 152 Block Panchayats, 14 District Panchayats, 60 Municipalities and 5 Corporations. Consequent to the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution, the three-tier system came into existence in India. In Kerala, Local SelfGovernment Institutions have been meaningfully empowered through massive transfer of resources as well as administrative powers. Local self-government Institutions have emerged as effective agencies for the implementation of developmental programmes. Developmental programmes are identified and implemented through Grama Sabhas. With the decentralisation of power, Local administration department has gained an important role in the formulation and implementation of developmental works at the grass-root level. Today Panchayat Directorate, Directorate of Urban Affairs, Commissionerate of Rural Development and Town and Country Planning Department are the major allied departments of Local Administration. Related to local administration activities, there are different allied institutions and training centres under LSGD. KERALA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION (KILA) , Kerala KERALA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION (KILA) Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Local Self- Government Department, Government of Kerala, is the nodal agency for Training, Research and Consultancy for Local Self-Government Institutions in Kerala. The Institute began its operation in 1990. Apart from training, consultancy and policy oriented research activities, KILA organizes seminars, workshops and discussions on various issues of local governance and development. The Government of Kerala have recognised it as a Centre of Excellence. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of Kerala have declared KILA as the SAARC Centre of Training in Decentralization and Local Governance. KILA has provided a lead role in the capacity building and training of democratic decentralization in Kerala and now it is engaged in institutionalizing the process of decentralization and to make the local government system sustainable. KILA is a link between people and the Government and is also a think tank for policy formulations. The feedbacks that have been gathered from various training programmes together with the research support facilitate in the formulation of pragmatic policies for strengthening decentralization. Indeed, in implementing these policies, KILA plays a major role by means of 3 wider dissemination of information through training, publications, seminars, workshops and discussions. Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) has been engaged in the capacity building activities for local governments in Kerala since its establishment in 1990. The Institute is supported by the Government of Kerala, as its nodal institution for training, research and consultancy for the Local Self-Government Institutions. The Institute engages in different capacity building activities of the local governments, both rural and urban. The Institute disseminates the insights of research and recommendations of its various training programmes and workshops through a number of publications. In order to meet the training needs of the participants from other Indian states and neighbouring countries KILA has translated several documents in English and other Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and Kannada. KILA actively collaborates with many national and international agencies like Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNHABITAT, and Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) with a motive of deepening local governance. KILA collaborates with the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance and All India Institute of Local Self Governments, Mumbai to conduct international course in decentralised governance and poverty alleviation. KILA has been recognised as one the Regional Resource Centres of the Government of India for the capacity building of urban local bodies. KILA will be elevated to the status of Deemed University in the near future. Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) is near the Cochin International Airport (one and a half hours by road from KILA) which is having connectivity to the major international airports. The nearest railway station is Thrissur (20 min by road from KILA). ABOUT KERALA Kerala, ‘the God’s Own Country’, is one of the 50 “must see” destinations identified by the National Geographic Traveller. It is the southernmost state in India. Endowed with unique geographical features and having an equable climate with temperature varying between 170C to 340C round the year, it has serene beaches, tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters, lush hill stations, exotic wildlife, waterfalls, sprawling plantations and paddy fields. It has enchanting art forms, historic and cultural monuments, and festivals. Referred as the “Spice Garden of India”, Kerala is one of the cleanest and the most peaceful parts of India, with the state remaining a major source of India's pepper, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, clove, star anise, and cinnamon. The State is also has cultivation of cashew, bananas, rubber, cardamoms, coconuts, cashews and ginger. Thiruvananthapuram is the southernmost district of the coastal state of Kerala, in south India. It came into existence in the year 1957. The headquarters is the city of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) which is also the capital city of Kerala. Tourism has contributed heavily to the economy of Thiruvananthapuram. The entire tourism package of the state such as hill stations, back waters, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife sanctuaries are present in the district. Foreign tourists flock to Thiruvananthapuram, a major destination for chartered flights to India for Medical tourism, as there are more than fifty recognised Ayurveda centres in and around the city. This is primarily due to Ayurveda's immense popularity in the West. Medical tourism is further promoted by world class modern 4 medicine hospitals in the city. Recuperation facilities are available at five-star beach resorts and hill stations nearby. Another major tourist attraction here is the Kovalam beach located around 16 km from the city center. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. It is also known as the paradise of the south. Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach. Lighthouse Beach The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach is the one most frequented by tourists. Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse. It is 35 metres high and located on a rocky promontory here. Its intermittent beams at night render the beach with an unearthly charm. Hawah Beach Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as Hawah Beach, ranks second, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. Samudra Beach A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part. Detour past Kovalam junction to land on Samudra Beach which is to the north of Ashoka Beach. One has the option to walk along the sea-wall too. The sight of the waves lashing on the rocks below is awesome. Shallow waters stretching for hundreds of metres are ideal for swimming. The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of goods and services. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of Ilmenite and Monazite. HOW TO ARRIVE AT THE CONFERENCE VENUE The venue of the Conference is at Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest airport is the Trivandrum International Airport which is having connectivity to the major international airports. The nearest railway station is Trivandrum Central Railway Station. The organisers will make arrangements for the travel from the airport and the railway station to the conference venue. There will be a helpdesk at the airport and the railway station for receiving the participants. REGISTRATION There is no registration fee. Acceptance of the full paper is considered as registration. The organisers will take care of boarding and lodging. Download the abstract submission form from our website www.icodd2015.com or email a request to the Conference E-mail ID : [email protected]. The email may be addressed to the Director, KILA. 5 CONTACT DETAILS Mr. S. Divakaran Pillai Chief Coordinator, International Conference on Deepening Democracy Public Office Compound, Museum, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala - 695 033 Tel: +91-471-2321221 Dr. P.P.Balan Director Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) Mulamkunnathukavu P O, Thrissur Kerala - 680 581 Tel: +91-487-2201312 Mob: 09446521312 E-mail ID: [email protected] Dr. Sunny George Academic Coordinator Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) Mulamkunnathukavu P O, Thrissur Kerala - 680 581 Tel: +91-487-2201402 Mob:+91- 09446606973 E-mail ID: [email protected] 6