04-27-2006, 02:05 AM
It looks like it is political party which is trying for social and political changes.
With Foriegn moeny coming to these activieis they have significant influences
in political changes.
The Institute of Social Sciences
Advocacy and Awareness Building
Advocacy and awareness building are important for the success of democracy. Only informed citizens will be in a position to make decisions for the holistic development of the society at large. ISS believes in shaping up public opinion towards creating a climate in which Gram Sabhas (Village Assemblies) and Panchayats (Village Councils) get their rightful place in Indiaâs federal polity. ISS is active in awareness and advocacy building. It sees a major role for itself in creating an ethos where grassroots level democracy, womenâs participation in politics and good governance below the state level can flourish.
During the eight-year period from (1985-â93), the Institute initiated the necessary intellectual discussion and created a political debate for amending the Constitution, incorporating provisions for new Panchayati Raj institutions. Finally, when the landmark legislation â Amendements to the Constitution (73rd and 74th Amendment) Acts, 1972 â was made for direct elections to the local level government bodies, and reservation of seats for women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes â the traditionally âexcludedâ sections of Indian society â the Instituteâs contribution to the historic amendments was widely recognised.
Global Network on Local Governance
The Institute is in the process of setting up a Global Network on Local Governance. The objective of the Network is to create an informal forum which would pursue the objectives through dissemination of values of local democracy and participative governance, documentation and exchange of experiences in local governance, support for local government advocacy, collection of study of success stories on local government system and widening the scope for people's participation in governance.
The major areas of concern for the Network are:
strengthening local democracy
political empowerment of disadvantaged groups, including women, indigenous people, and others, and their inclusion in the process of decision making at the local level
transparent, efficient, accountable, and participative local governance
interface between civil society organisations (NGOs and CBOs) and local government institutions
combating the tendency toward centralisation of political power
making local administration (i.e. distinct parts of central/state/provincial government at the local level) more accountable to elected local government bodies and
ensuring fiscally viable local government institutions
Other Notable Efforts of ISS towards Advocacy and Awareness Building
- Celebrating Womenâs Political Empowerment Day
Annual celebrations to commemorate the reservation of seats for women in local governing bodies. The day is marked by organising seminars and workshops on a particular aspect related to womenâs empowerment. Following themes have so far been covered:
2003 - Ten Years of Panchyati Raj : Problems and Prospects
2002 â Panchayats, Women and Food Security
2001 â Panchayats and Womenâs Economic Empowerment
2000 â Women and Gram Sabha
1999 â Women and Family welfare
1998 â Women and Poverty eradication
1997 â Women and Primary Education
1996 â Women and Health
1994 â Women and Empowerment
- Instituting an Award for the Outstanding Women Panchayat Leader
This award instituted by the ISS in recognition of the role played by elected women representatives in the development of their panchayats and to publicise their achievements in acquiring equal status and political power.
- Inter State Study Tours
The Institute organises study tours for elected Panchayati Raj representatives to study the functioning of various local governing bodies in different States of India.
- Daughters of the 73rd Amendment:
Video Film on the lives and struggles of the successful women Panchayat leaders.
With Foriegn moeny coming to these activieis they have significant influences
in political changes.
The Institute of Social Sciences
Advocacy and Awareness Building
Advocacy and awareness building are important for the success of democracy. Only informed citizens will be in a position to make decisions for the holistic development of the society at large. ISS believes in shaping up public opinion towards creating a climate in which Gram Sabhas (Village Assemblies) and Panchayats (Village Councils) get their rightful place in Indiaâs federal polity. ISS is active in awareness and advocacy building. It sees a major role for itself in creating an ethos where grassroots level democracy, womenâs participation in politics and good governance below the state level can flourish.
During the eight-year period from (1985-â93), the Institute initiated the necessary intellectual discussion and created a political debate for amending the Constitution, incorporating provisions for new Panchayati Raj institutions. Finally, when the landmark legislation â Amendements to the Constitution (73rd and 74th Amendment) Acts, 1972 â was made for direct elections to the local level government bodies, and reservation of seats for women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes â the traditionally âexcludedâ sections of Indian society â the Instituteâs contribution to the historic amendments was widely recognised.
Global Network on Local Governance
The Institute is in the process of setting up a Global Network on Local Governance. The objective of the Network is to create an informal forum which would pursue the objectives through dissemination of values of local democracy and participative governance, documentation and exchange of experiences in local governance, support for local government advocacy, collection of study of success stories on local government system and widening the scope for people's participation in governance.
The major areas of concern for the Network are:
strengthening local democracy
political empowerment of disadvantaged groups, including women, indigenous people, and others, and their inclusion in the process of decision making at the local level
transparent, efficient, accountable, and participative local governance
interface between civil society organisations (NGOs and CBOs) and local government institutions
combating the tendency toward centralisation of political power
making local administration (i.e. distinct parts of central/state/provincial government at the local level) more accountable to elected local government bodies and
ensuring fiscally viable local government institutions
Other Notable Efforts of ISS towards Advocacy and Awareness Building
- Celebrating Womenâs Political Empowerment Day
Annual celebrations to commemorate the reservation of seats for women in local governing bodies. The day is marked by organising seminars and workshops on a particular aspect related to womenâs empowerment. Following themes have so far been covered:
2003 - Ten Years of Panchyati Raj : Problems and Prospects
2002 â Panchayats, Women and Food Security
2001 â Panchayats and Womenâs Economic Empowerment
2000 â Women and Gram Sabha
1999 â Women and Family welfare
1998 â Women and Poverty eradication
1997 â Women and Primary Education
1996 â Women and Health
1994 â Women and Empowerment
- Instituting an Award for the Outstanding Women Panchayat Leader
This award instituted by the ISS in recognition of the role played by elected women representatives in the development of their panchayats and to publicise their achievements in acquiring equal status and political power.
- Inter State Study Tours
The Institute organises study tours for elected Panchayati Raj representatives to study the functioning of various local governing bodies in different States of India.
- Daughters of the 73rd Amendment:
Video Film on the lives and struggles of the successful women Panchayat leaders.