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| About Us |
| THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INSTITUTE |
| 1. |
Training: The training programmes are for the people in movements for activists, and anybody desirous of social intervention through issue-oriented and skill-oriented programmes. Although the training courses are varied in content and purpose, the single theme which weaves them together can be concisely articulated as socio-political and cultural perspective, strategy, and skills required for activists. New situations and changing trends are responded to by introducing modifications in the existing courses, or by offering new ones. |
| 2. |
Consultations: We do arrange timely consultation on Micro-analysis, Tribal Self-Rule, Human Rights, National Campaign on Dalit Rights, Gender Issues etc. |
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Workshops: We do conduct workshops on dalit identity, culture & nationality question, land question, electoral reforms, etc. |
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Research: The Institute takes up research in the area of macro and micro-research studies, carried out for the purpose of effecting policy changes through advocacy and campaign measures. These studies are done by the Institute’s staff through Research unit of the Institute.` |
| 5. |
Human Rights Training and Intervention: Joint ventures in three major areas characterise the Institute’s specific role: (i) Training for Rights based approach, (ii) Promotion of Human Rights Culture, and (iii) Advocacy and campaign on issues of human rights especially of Dalits, women and tribals. |
| 6. |
Women’s Unit: The age-old discrimination, domination and oppression of the female are still continuing unabated. Deeply rooted gender differences in our culture have not only stifled the potentialities of women but shown indifference to the injustices of sexual violence, atrocities and other deprivations. Considering the important role of women in the family and society there has emerged a consensus the world over that unless the women regains their dignity and rights, and has opportunities of growth as that of her counterpart, transformation of society is not possible. The Women’s Unit aims at empowering women through training, capacity building, advocacy, etc. |
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Outreach Programmes: The Institute has outreach training programmes in all the four southern states. Programmes are organised in vernacular for grass-root level social activists and leaders of marginalised groups like Dalits and tribals in collaboration with people’s organisations and movements. |
| 8. |
Library & Documentation: Activists, researchers and others are invited to make use of our library specialised in social themes with about 12,000 books, very many journals, and 350 CD film collections. |
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| In 2004 we reorganised the Women’s Unit with Ms. Sheela Minnal Rabacca S. as its coordinator. The unit has grown ever since with training programmes conducted at Karnataka, South Indian and national level, civil society involvement on women’s issues, collaborative action with other women’s organisations, campaign and advocacy. The national level 5-day training programme on “Cultural Conditioning and Gender Equity” was conducted in collaboration with Women’s Unit of ISI, Delhi in 2006 and 2007 both in Delhi and Bangalore respectively. A Research Unit was established with the aim of progressively increasing the research dimension of the Institute along with the training programmes. |
The year of 2005 was a year of search and exploration to make ISI, Bangalore relevant for the time. At the end of a lot of discussion and consultations at various levels, we prepared an action plan on “Reorientation of ISI programmes - 2005”. Some of the major programmes emerged out of this reorientation are:
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| 1. |
An yearly lecture in memory of Fr. Henry Volken S.J, the founder of ISI, Bangalore. The topic in 2006 was ‘Globalisation and the Emerging Development Paradigm’ delivered by Mr. Praful Bidwai and the lecture in 2007 was ‘The Market Economy and the Agrarian Crisis in India’ by Dr. Venkatesh Athreya. Both of them are printed and available at ISI. |
| 2. |
ISI Newsletter published thrice a year. |
| 3. |
ISI Documentation dispatch circulated thrice a year. |
| 4. |
South Indian Dalit Forum for National Dalit Policy was formed in 2005 as part of ISI’s involvement with South Asian People’s Initiative (SAPI), emerged out of the Mumbay World Social Forum (WSF). This forum for the first time gave shape to a draft National Dalit Policy which was later revised and redrafted by SAPI at national level. |
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A South Indian Dalit Women’s Forum was formed at the end of a 3-day workshop. |
| 6. |
As part of broader networking of various marginalised groups Kerala Outreach of ISI organised a 3-day workshop in Ernakulam of three marginalised groups of the state, namely Adivasis, Dalits and fishworkers, and they created the Forum of Dalits, Adivasis and Fishworkers. |
| 7. |
One day convention and campaign on “Death Penalty” was organised by Human Rights Unit in collaboration with half a dozen organisations from all over south India. |
| 8. |
A series of meetings of NGOs, activists and academicians were held at ISI,
which helped us to create better rapport with them for future collaboration and action. |
| 9. |
Many collaborative programmes and activities were undertaken by ISI in collaboration with the universities, colleges and civil society organisations. |
| 10. |
There were 86 training programmes in 2005-2006 including two 15-day training. |
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In 2006 ISI programmes and activities were evaluated by an external evaluation team. Based on the recommendations of the team, a lot more changes were brought about in 2007-2008 internally and externally. To give importance to research, apart from research unit, other units were encouraged to take up research studies. Accordingly all members of academic staff were given training in social research methodology. Women’s unit, Kerala and Karnataka Outreaches took up small research studies apart from their training programmes. There were 63 training programmes in 2006-2007 lasting from 3-15 days including six 15-day programmes. Fr. Sahaya Raj S.J, left the Institute and Fr. V. Joseph Xavier S.J. (Jothi) took over as research coordinator and superior. In 2007, Fr. K. Amal S.J, and Fr. Arockya Selva S.J, left the Institute and Fr. A. Joseph Xavier S.J, took over as coordinator of Human Rights and Training Units. The report of the research study on “Communalism and the Role of the State in Karnataka” was released in a one-day seminar participated by people from all over Karnataka. |
| Frs. K. Amal S.J, Mathew Aerthayil S.J. and Mr. Saravanan attended the World Social Forum, Nairobi in January 2007. Five staff members – Fr. Joseph Xavier S.J, K. Amal
S.J, Arockya Selva S.J, Mr. Chand Peer and Mr. Saravanan participated in the Indian Social Forum (ISF). ISI, Bangalore organised a seminar on “Discrimination against Elected Dalit Panchayat Leaders in India” at the venue of ISF, Delhi for which Fr. Joseph Xavier S.J. presented the paper. Fr. Joseph Xavier also presented a paper in a seminar at ISF organised by AICUF on the theme: “Threat to Higher Education: University Students Beware and Act.” |
For the year 2007-2008 there are 83 training programmes lasting from 1-15 day duration each. Out of them 29 training programmes are offered at ISI for outsiders conducted by four units of Training, Human Rights, Women’s Unit and Research Unit. All our training programmes this year have been prepared with a particular perspective of not only the needs of our partner organisations but also the needs of our country and of the four southern states with the criteria of issues, training/campaign and partners of wider influence. We want greater participation of our staff members in civil society activities and in academic matters like publishing of articles and booklets. |
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| Upcoming Programmes |
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| Open Programmes |
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| Site Under Modification |
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