Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion
"Aligning Policy to People and People to Policy"
Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion, (CSEI) is engaged in deepening democracy and development in our body politic by enhancing the stake-hold of the excluded and marginalized communities in socio-economic and cultural (SEC) rights within the ambit of wider human rights. Recognising exclusion and discriminat
ion against Dalits, Adivasis and other minority communities, particularly children, youth and women among them; CSEI keeps ‘equity-inclusion’ as our watch words in focusing on their rights to education, employment and governance. Three decades of rights based development work by its members in community mobilizing, networking, research and campaign is the impetus behind CSEI. Being embedded in the experiences of the excluded communities and engagement with state, civil society organizations and other stakeholders is our strength. Vision: A just and inclusive society where every human being has equal opportunities, equitable resources, and adequate capabilities to harness their potential, realize rights and fulfill responsibilities to live in fellowship, dignity and liberty. Mission: To promote inclusive policies for equitable outcomes for socially excluded communities through policy research, monitoring and advocacy in collaboration with civil society organizations, particularly those led by members of excluded communities. Context and Concerns
• Prevalence of caste and other identity based exclusion, structured hierarchies and discriminatory attitudes in society.
• Excluded communities not engaged in planning and designing development strategies
• Absence of tools and mechanisms to translate policies and programmes for effective outcomes for the excluded communities
• Half-hearted measures in enhancing capabilities among members of excluded communities to represent themselves, access rights and resources
• Atrocities, backlash violence, impunity when the excluded organize and demand rights and entitlements
Strategy: Our efforts are directed towards i) filling policy implementation gaps by facilitating marginalized communities and their civil society organizations to engage in development design and monitoring ii) filling knowledge gaps through collaborative research and advocacy, and iii) developing tools and methodology for exclusion-equity monitoring and promoting inclusion. While taking cognizance of exclusion and its negativities, we are poised to promoting inclusive strategies and mechanisms in buildinga just society. Establishing an Equity-Inclusion Resource Centre: A critical role of CSEI is resource and capacity building on issues of exclusion-inclusion with its valuable field level studies/learning materials (research papers, position papers, documentaries and experience documentations etc) and training modules on equity-inclusion. We are linked to a network of professionals, human rights activists, civil society organisations and Adivasi, Dalit and Muslim women and men leaders across India. Tools for measuring discrimination and exclusion: We draw upon our in-depth personal/ professional experiences in/with excluded communities interwoven with sound research and academic frames on social exclusion in developing contextual tools within overarching rights and justice frame. Piloting innovative strategies for inclusion: Moving beyond exclusion and building strategies for inclusion, the centre takes up innovative pilots in collaboration with CSOs. Policy monitoring: The centre constantly and continuously monitors and disseminates on policies, institutions, resource allocation and outputs in education, employment and governance given their role in inclusive development. Advocacy research: CSEI undertakes collaborative advocacy researches with the community to fill knowledge gaps on the efficacy of current policies and programmes. These provide important inputs to policy makers and planners in ensuring inclusive development. Providing Internship Opportunities: CSEI offers internship programmes for students/professionals/ human right activists to learn and contribute in a range of opportunities as field/desk level studies, documentary making, networking and advocacy. II. Strengthening development interventions by members of excluded communities: CSEI partners with civil society organizations and networks, elected and nominated representatives, forums of children, youth and women and other concerned members from excluded communities in strengthening their organizations to equitably access their rights. a) Partnering networks/platforms of CSOs from excluded communities: CSEI consciously promotes spaces and engagements for the CSOs and their networks in the wider development and civil society spaces. b) Strengthening representatives: CSEI supports networks and platforms of elected representatives and nominated members from excluded communities to effectively raise the issues and needs of their communities, while promoting better interface with administration and elected representatives from other communities for inclusive governance. III. Engagement with State, UN and Development Agencies: CSEI closely works with other development stakeholders at state, national and international levels in promoting the visibility and concerns of marginalized communities and civil society organizations in policies and programme implementation. We also take up research and consultancy on issues of exclusion-equity-inclusion. We are closely linked to the HRD ministry as a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC-RTE) for equitable and inclusive implementation of the RTE. IV. Engagement with Corporate Sector on issues of inclusion: CSEI engages with the growing private sector to address the issues of exclusion-inclusion with respect to marginalized youth’s (especially women’s) access to education, employment and entrepreneurship in the context of privatization and globalization. V. Field Piloting and Model Building: Given our long standing engagement with Dalit civil society organizations in Bihar, the state has become our prime site for field piloting and model building. We are in the process of expanding our engagement with civil society organizations from other excluded communities, state and other development stakeholders in the state. VI. Collaboration and Networking: With our faith in collaborative efforts, CSEI is an active member of national and state level networks on child rights, Dalit rights, women’s rights and other collectives. We actively engage in network processes that promote greater accountability and transparency in governance and development interventions of the state. Governance and Administration
CSEI is a registered Trust with its national office in Delhi and state office in Patna, Bihar. Together the Trustees bring over a hundred years of professional experiences in both academic and activist worlds. Blending together personal and professional experiences with excluded communities, the team like-wise brings commitment to equity and inclusion for building a just and humane society.
