RONO HILLS, Mar 17: Department of Anthropology, Rajiv Gandhi University in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal organised a two-day long national seminar on Anthropology and Public Development Policy: Issues and Challenges on Friday. Education Minister, Honchun Ngandam while inaugurating the event, dwelt at length on the education scenario of the state as well as regional development, stressing on how higher education leads to socio-economic transformations and political development of the state. Giving a comparative account of how other developed countries around the globe is giving impetus to higher education, he stressed on developing the vibrant human resource in the country. While appreciating the efforts of RGU in promoting higher education in all disciplines and for instituting overall personality development of the students and for imparting quality education in this remote part of the country, he urged the stakeholders to contribute more. 

 

He further emphasised on the necessity of introducing undergraduate course specialising in anthropology and sociology subjects in the government colleges of Arunachal Pradesh and assured to take up the matter on priority basis.

 

Vice Chancellor, RGU, Prof. Tamo Mibang briefed on how anthropological knowledge was used for public welfare policies by governments and administrators around the world. He highlighted the importance of anthropology as an academic discipline at the undergraduate level for the better overview on cultural tolerance and also to promote human resource development.

 

General Secretary, The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, Dr SB Chakrabarty spoke about the contribution of an anthropologists’ in disseminating their knowledge in tribal development based on the policies and ideas endorsed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Verrier Elwin.

 

Chairman, Scientific Advisory Group, Indian Council of Medical Research, Prof RK Mutatkar, while delivering the keynote address on Anthropological Paradigm for Public Policy spoke about how anthropology from the very beginning contributed to public policy making owing to their holistic fieldwork. He noted about how colonial ethnographer contributed a lot in tribal education and health policy of India pre and post independence period. Citing some eminent anthropologists like SC Dube and DN Majumdar he emphasised their consultancy roles in shaping various governmental projects in various tribal areas.

 

The inaugural session was attended by a large number of faculties and scholars of the country including students. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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