Organised by the Centre for Policy Studies and IDP in Climate Studies, IIT Bombay
Under the aegis of the Indo-German partnership Program in Higher Education, jointly supported by the University Grants Commission and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Deadline:
26 August 2019 (For those seeking travel assistance)
31 August 2019 (For those funding their own travel)
Apply here
During the past two decades, India has undergone a dramatic transformation. The urbanisation process is not merely resulting in the expansion of well-established urban centres. Smaller towns without urban amenities are also absorbing thousands of people from the rural areas. In this context, India is facing many environmental challenges, including air and water pollution which are accompanied by severe environmental degradation due to inefficient and sometimes non-existent waste management systems. India’s union government has passed many important bills aimed at protecting the environment. The scope of Article 21 of the constitution has now been expanded to include right to clean, healthy and pollution-free environment. The Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change (“MoEF&CC”), along with the Central Pollution Control Board (“CPCB”) and State Pollution Control Boards (“SPCBs”), administers and enforces environmental laws. There are separate regulatory bodies for various environmental laws. India has elaborate statutes and regulations on almost every conceivable area from hazardous waste to forests and wildlife. Yet, monitoring and enforcement capabilities remain weak. With the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment in 1992 and 1993, the country established mandatory provisions for decentralization to local government bodies at the Panchayat and municipal level in India.
IIT Bombay proposes to organize a workshop in Matheran from September 9-13 on the theme “Environmental policy, scope and challenges of local regulation” for PhD students working on this theme. The workshop invites case studies dealing with the interactions of local bodies with state regulatory agencies, in the specific context of how environmental policies and regulations come to be implemented on the ground. With local bodies constitutionally mandated to provide environmental services, what is their role (de facto and not de jure) in the existing regulatory regime for environmental protection? PhD scholars belonging to any discipline of social sciences are invited to send a short proposal of 500-700 words on the topic of their research and how this workshop benefits them. The workshop will involve a selected group of resource persons who will a) give lectures on the theme of the workshop, and b) guide students through their research papers and research work for publication. Apart from lectures, the plan is to devote time to each individual’s written work and to get case studies for an edited volume. Post-doctoral scholars and faculty members in their early career are also encouraged to apply.
The organisers will bear the expenses for travel (within India) accommodation for selected candidates during the period of the workshop.
Those seeking travel assistance must send in their applications before 26 August 2019.
Apply through this form: https://forms.gle/Turkmghc5uLoDTHm7