Annual Report 2007 - Observer Research Foundation

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STUDIES & INITIATIVES (left to right) ● Mr. Vikram Sood and Gen. Afsar Karim at a discussion on Mumbai blasts. ● Dr. Vijay Sakhuja, ORF Fellow, calls on the President of Taiwan. ● Justice J.S. Verma (R), former CJI, at a conference on “Security and Liberty”. security are achieved. ORF/ISEAS Bilateral dialogue: Consistent with the policy of joining hands with other institutions, ORF tied up with ISEAS of Singapore and conducted a two-day event at New Delhi on 30 and 31st March 2006. ORF Chennai coordinated the event. Ambassador Kesava Pani, Mr Daljit Singh, Ms Krupa Sridharan and Mr Tan of ISEAS presented papers on East and South East Asian issues. From the ORF side, Ambassador M Rasgotra, Professor SD Muni, Mr. DS Rajan, Commodore RS Vasan, Ms Raakhee Suryaprakash and Dr Vijay Sakhuja presented papers. Commodore RS Vasan represented ORF and presented papers at both national and international seminars. The international seminars included a seminar on Indo-Sri Lankan Partnership in New Century on 30,31 January & 1 February 2006 at Indo-American Centre for International Studies and another one at the Centre of Indian Ocean Studies on 13th February 2007. In addition, many articles were published on websites, Dialogue, Society of Indian Ocean Studies and others. TERRORISM WATCH PROGRAMME In the aftermath of the devastating serial explosions in the commercial capital Mumbai, the Terrorism Watch Programme of the ORF conducted three brainstorming sessions. Participants included renowned academicians, distinguished former security force officials, well-known jurists, former career diplomats, journalists and human rights activists. These discussions resulted in the preparation of three policy briefs: “Mumbai Blasts: Time to Act”; “Effective Legislation Critical for Fighting Terror”; and “Terrorism and Human Rights”. On March 15 and 16, 2007, a South Asia Regional Workshop on “Security and Liberty: Linking Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights” was hosted in collaboration with the Fourth Freedom Forum, USA. The workshop included approximately 25-30 participants, drawn principally from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal. Participants included counter-terrorism practitioners and former security officials, judicial experts and officers, experts and former officials experienced in human rights training and/or monitoring, and representatives of the media. Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Mr Girish Chandra Saxena inaugurated the workshop, while former Chief Justice of India, Hon Mr Justice J S Verma and former Governor of Jharkhand and Manipur, Mr Ved Marwah, delivered special addresses. The high point of these efforts was the publication of a research paper entitled “The Maoist Movement in India”, in the prestigious and internationally acclaimed peer reviewed journal, Defence and Security Analysis, London: Routledge-Taylor and Francis, December 2006. The continuous and high quality research of the project on “Naxalite/Maoist Movement in India” brought international recognition to the Foundation with Dr Ramana being quoted by The Economist, in its August 19-25 issue. 22 Observer Research Foundation ◆ Annual Report 2007
The study was an attempt to develop an understanding of the power sector by looking at the interface between politics, markets, interests and different players NATIONAL INITIATIVE THE INDIAN ECONOMY AND INDIA IN THE WORLD ECONOMY This book authored by Dr. Jayshree Sengupta, Senior Fellow, on the Indian Economy is under publication by the Academic Foundation, New Delhi. It presents a jargon free explanation of the working of the Indian economy and the challenges ahead for India in order to sustain a high rate of growth that is equitable and environment friendly. She has also written an issue brief on Growing inequalities of income in India and have contributed to the ORF website on diverse subjects like inflation, problems in agriculture, SEZs and other subjects of topical interest. Under the National Initiative, another project has been initiated on the potential of India becoming a major world power by 2025. India is likely to be a third pole in the global economy by 2025 and India’s share in the world GDP is likely to rise from 6 per cent to 11 per cent. India’s economic growth experience in the last five decades is being studied and the main contradictions and problems ahead will be identified. STUDY OF POWER SECTOR REFORMS A Case Study on “Politics of Power Sector Reforms in India” was carried out by Dr. Niranjan Sahoo under the guidance of Mr. Shakti Sinha as a part of the National initiative. The study was an attempt to develop an understanding of the political economy of the power sector by looking at the interface between politics, markets, interests and different players in setting and determining the agenda of the power sector. It looked at different phases: politics during the era of one party domination, the transition period leading to reforms, and the reform phase. It has explored the circumstances, actors and forces (including political players and interest groups) that guided the reform processes and to unearth the potential areas of conflicts or political hazards on the reform path. Lastly, the study has come out with the broad outlines for future reform measures. The study report is under final review prior to publication. STUDIES & INITIATIVES STUDY ON “ HAS RESERVATION SERVED ITS ORIGINAL GOALS” This study was an attempt to assess the relevance and effectiveness of reservation as an affirmative policy by the government to address the problems of inequity and social injustice to certain sections of the society in India. The study was undertaken by ORF in the general background of lack of any serious attempt to scrutinize the implementation of such a critical policy. Though there have been a number of studies on caste system, socio-economic conditions of Dalits and Adivasis, not many scholars have taken interest in terms of undertaking comprehensive evaluation of reservation policies and looking at how these policies have been implemented. The study hopes to fill some of the gaps. The study has come out with comprehensive statistics/figures and various trends of implementation of Annual Report 2007 ◆ Observer Research Foundation 23
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Page 3 and 4: Contents Chairman’s Message .....
Page 5 and 6: “ORF has been reaching beyond the
Page 7 and 8: While ORF was founded over 17 years
Page 9 and 10: A joint programme with Asia Society
Page 11 and 12: OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION has be
Page 13 and 14: The Pakistan Army is arguably the m
Page 15 and 16: Events organised during the year un
Page 17 and 18: 18/9/2006 Talk by Mr. Strobe Talbot
Page 19 and 20: China Studies is a new initiative i
Page 21 and 22: INSTITUTE OF SECURITY STUDIES ‘Ar
Page 23: The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admir
Page 27 and 28: aries need to be maintained and exp
Page 29 and 30: REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS ORF Energy N
Page 31 and 32: International seminar on “Maritim
Page 33 and 34: Defence Minister A K Antony caution
Page 35 and 36: Nasscom vice-president Rajdeep Sahr
Page 37 and 38: “In his recent book, ‘The Argum
Page 39 and 40: Today, there is a broad consensus i
Page 41 and 42: THE YEAR GONE BY HAS BEEN A SUCCESS
Page 43 and 44: garh. When the shocking news of Nax
Page 45 and 46: During 2006, ORF brought out 28 pub
Page 47 and 48: OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION THE BU
Page 50 and 51: RESOURCES & INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATI
Page 52 and 53: (left to right) ● A workshop on K
Page 54 and 55: • Declassified Documents • Othe
Page 56 and 57: Faculty profiles Trustees R. K. Mis
Page 58 and 59: FINANCIAL FACT SHEET Observer Resea
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