Guru Arjan Dev(GAD) Institute of Development Studies is a centre for advanced research and training in multi disciplinary areas as diverse as Agriculture and rural development; social change and social structure; environment and resource economics; globalization and trade, industry, labour and welfare; macro economics issues and models; population and development and health policy research. The institute is being runs under the aegis of Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies Society, Amritsar which is a registered national scientific and educational society under Societies Registration Act, XXI of 1860, Chandigarh in July 2009 vide Registration No. 77 of 2009-2010. The society was collectively conceived by a group of like-minded peoples drawn from different disciplines and backgrounds to promote research, publication, development, training and similar creative activities. Though the institute is at the embryonic stage, it has got membership into various world organizations, namely, UN Global Compact; Global Water Partnership; Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development; Forum: Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development, Economic and social (ECOSOC) of UN, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and so on.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Institute include:
Given the nature of our concerns, the Institute is a multi-disciplinary research organization. Much of our research is regarding the evolution of appropriate policies and action-programme. In our endeavour to build data base and evidence for the state policy and development action, we have been working with a wide range of national and international agencies and collaborating with a large number of scholars across the globe. On policy front, we have been interacting with various agencies of the Government of India as well as of Punjab Government. And have been actively collaborating with other like minded societies and organizations, which are working for the development of the Indian Society. The institute provides knowledge-support to different civil society’s actors and functions as a resource centre for academia, government departments, bilateral agencies, developmental NGOs and INGOs.
Mission
The mission is to fill the lacunae in the knowledge-base pertaining to issues of development of the Indian society. It takes cognizance of the macro environment, planning processes and strategies including their socio-economic dimensions and attempts to make timely interventions through research and dialogues. Particular attention is given to the study of the micro-processes, the failure of trickledown effects of growth, direct public intervention such as through poverty reduction and employment generation programme, and participatory efforts of voluntary organizations with respect to the marginalized sections of the society. Our specific concern relates to regional issues specially relating to Punjab. The institute, founded by Dr. Gursharan Singh Kainth, as its director had the are distinction of having a thinker, administrator and a leading economist, Dr. Rajinder Singh Bawa as Chairman of its Advisory Council. Currently, leading visionary and well know educationist, Sardar Amar Singh Kanwal is the Patron-cum-Chairman of the Governing body of the institute, who is also the President of the society. The institute is presently housed in the rent free accommodation provided by the society treasurer, Sardarni Gujinder Kaur. The institute is likely to grow step by step with the earnest efforts of its dedicated team of research, library, administrative and other staff in building up an environment conducive to research, education, development, consultancy and training activities.
