INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ?GOOD RURAL GOVERNANCE AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON "GOOD RURAL GOVERNANCE AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION" March 21-22, 2011, Delhi Region, India

Jointly organized by the Institute of Rural Research and Development, Jindal Global Law School and University of Baltimore School of Law

This conference is being organized against the backdrop of a unique experiment with methodology of Clinical Legal Education (CLE) carried out by the Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD) of S.M. Sehgal Foundation, www.irrad.org, and supported by Clinical Programmes of Jindal Global Law School (JGLS),  www.jgls.org, to bring about good governance in rural India through citizen participation. This initiative looks at preparing rural citizens into becoming effective participants in democracy to effect good governance and to address the disconnect between the promises of law and their grassroots reality. The Constitution of India promises a life of dignity to every citizen. However, there exists a complete disconnect between this promise and its grassroots reality, especially in rural India. Having determined that lack of good governance is the main cause of this disconnect, IRRAD came up with a unique initiative to effect good rural governance. Termed as 'Good Governance Now', this initiative involves citizens' effective participation in developing good governed villages. The nucleus of this initiative is a training of selected villagers for a period of one year, using CLE's methodology of 'learning by doing' and to strive for social justice. IRRAD and JGLS have collaborated to further strengthen this initiative. Through this collaborative effort, IRRAD and JGLS are working to develop a model of 'good governed districts' that they will look at replicating in other parts of India in collaboration with other law schools. The primary issues that this initiative covers include  food, health, education, employment, and social security, using the tool of the Right to Information for authoritative citizen participation. 

Venue:Day 1- March 21, 2011- India Habitat Centre, Magnolia Hall, Delhi, India

          Day 2- March 22, 2011- Institute of Rural Research and Development, Gurgaon, India

For more details, contact:  [email protected] or visit  www.iraad.org

Tweet