ICSSR to study socio-economic impact of Centre’s schemes

In a view to Indianise methodologies to study country’ societies, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is going to study the socio-economic impact of center’s schemes on society.

• ICSSR has invited research award proposals to study the impact of various schemes and public policy initiatives of the Union government.
• Around 500 researchers will get funding for the studies based on field work focused on a specific geographical region.
• The ICSSR also plans to develop “Indianised research methodology tools” to study the country’s social and economic changes.
• The schemes and policy initiatives for empirical research include the PM Ujjwala Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Year of Millet 2023, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Aushadhi Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Make-in-India, PM Gati Shakti, New Education Policy 2020, Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, and the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 among others.

Why there is a need for Indianised way of socio-economic analysis?

• To study the socio-economic realities of specific communities of the country, the paradigms so far used primarily originated from the U.S. or Europe.
• Same yardsticks cannot be applied to study communities of various regions.
• India has its own intellectual and philosophical traditions which have social concepts and analytical frameworks in them.

What is Social research?

• Social research refers to the study of individuals and societies and is often used to identify regularly occurring social patterns in social life.
• It can be defined as the systematic understanding of social facts or phenomena. It is used to gather information on the social world, in order to come up with a course of action or simply to develop new knowledge.

How it is helpful?

• Social research helps to acquire knowledge of human society. The dynamic nature of society makes it challenging to understand to move towards progress and welfare. Social research enables us to analyze social behavior, understand the causes, and accelerate its evolution.
• Social research expands our knowledge to drive discovery and innovation. It contributes to the growth and development of a nation or the entire human society.

What are tools to assess the research data?

• An academic research tool is a software or platform that helps researchers organize, analyze, and manage the various components of their research projects.
• Some examples of academic research tools include reference management software, data visualization software, and survey design tools.

Significance of social research:

• Can predict social behavior: Social research helps us understand different people and societies. Information gathered from the research can help us predict the behaviour of certain individuals or groups. When we have a good understanding of a social phenomenon, we may have a better idea of how to govern or guide it.
• Helps expand or rectify current knowledge: Social research adds to the knowledge we currently have. It can also be used to test or very old social fact or beliefs and how it impacts on people’s life.
• Provides an understanding of social life: Social research is used to gather information on social phenomena. It provides us with an understanding of the life of different social groups.
• Structural changes: The data collected can be used to bring planned structural changes to social life. It can help you understand the current needs people have and develop an action plan to meet those needs.
• Precipitates social progress: Social research helps us obtain appropriate and reliable knowledge on social structures and groups. This information can be used to disintegrate prejudices, misconceptions, and superstitions, precipitating social progress and creating a more inclusive society.
• Formulates new theories: Social research allows us to formulate new theories in different fields of study. There are many existing theories on leadership, motivation, and human behaviour that wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for social research.
• Helps develop methodologies: Social research has been used over time to create methodologies to deal with social problems such as drug addiction, worker ethic, leadership style, child labour, and is continually used to revise old methodologies or to create new ones.