RESEARCH
Research in basic and applied social sciences is one of the core components of the academic work of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). One of the specific characteristics of the research activity of the Institute is its orientation to development in that, much of it is centred around social issues or has got policy implications for social development. A number of research projects undertaken at the Institute have been evaluative and, hence, have had direct implications for development and social welfare.
Faculty have the flexibility and freedom to choose research areas of personal interest and of social relevance. This freedom is also provided when formulating research areas, designing extension programmes and field interventions. A strong linkage between theory and empirical work is another added dimension in this regard.
The funding for research projects comes from various sources—the Institute's own research funds, Central and State Governments, international agencies, and other organisations such as industries.
The TISS is an established centre of social research and several research projects of national importance have been undertaken by its faculty. Two recent examples of such projects are:
In 2004–2005, the TISS was engaged in 104 research and documentation projects. Of these, 14 projects were interdisciplinary involving faculty members from two or more departments/units and the remaining 90 projects were conducted by faculty members attached to a specific department/unit. Forty projects were initiated in this period. The new projects initiated are under the following areas:
Health: Investigation of user fees and its implications to access to health care services of the government in five states; quality of health care services provided by private and charitable hospitals; role of information, education and communication in enhancing reproductive and child health in Goa; and sexual and reproductive health status of tribal adolescent girls in Jharkhand State.
Education: Investigations of performance of students under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan; community mobilisation for realising the goal of ‘Basic Education for All'; role of government and households in enhancing access to higher education; and structure and performance of BMC schools.
Water and sanitation: Domestic water use pattern in major cities in India ; community mobilisation for drinking water and open defecation-free villages; and status of garbage workers in Mumbai.
Livelihood and food security: Farmers' suicide in Maharashtra; assessment of lives and livelihood loss and strategies for recovery and development of tsunami-affected people in Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands; and access to food and drugs and its safety of urban and rural poor in Western India.
Disability: Nutritional status and disability prevalence among the tribal children.
Child development: Child rights and participation in Mumbai; innovative programmes servicing the homeless and street-living children in Mumbai, Nairobi and Los Angeles ; and quality and performance of schemes for the welfare of street children.
Livelihood rights: Mainstreaming rights based approach to the livelihoods of single and deserted women; micro-credit and women's empowerment—negotiation with multiple patriarchies; and minor forest produces and sustainable livelihood options for tribal people.
Violence against women: Issues in conviction in trafficking cases; and sexual violence within marriage.
Psychosocial counselling and support: Facilitating hope in the wake of fear—a replication of a community-based research initiative to reduce trauma; and capacity-building of para-professionals on psychosocial support and counselling with tsunami affected people in Sri Lanka .
Study of ethnic minorities: Status of the Parsis — elderly, young, families and demographic change — in India .
Conflict and peace: Right to peace and development—a project aimed at curriculum building on issues related to communalism.
Research Documentation: ‘Our family' — A Film on the trans-gendered community; and ‘SheWrite' — A film on four contemporary Tamil women poets.
Social work education: Innovations in schools of social work.
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