Reimagining Institutions

‘These volumes fill a unique niche in the continuum between academic research and advocacy. They go beyond merely identifying challenges in various aspects of human development, particularly health, nutrition, and education, and instead explore potential solutions through critical reviews of what works. This makes the collection immensely valuable to both academicians and practitioners, rendering these volumes essential reading for anyone interested in public policy.’

Sonalde Desai, Professor, National Council of Applied Economic Research and University of Maryland, USA.

‘Human development cannot be viewed segmentally through a reductionist lens, since the various elements are closely integrated and impact each other. Health is inseparable from nutrition, and both are influenced by education, environment and economic development. In each of these, equity is the litmus test of development serving its social purpose. These six volumes knit these varied skeins into a unified tapestry of human development. While detailing the key components of each of the main themes, the composite collection connects them to create a coherent design for accelerated and equitable people centric human development in India.’

K. Srinath Reddy, Founder (Past) President,Public Health Foundation of India

‘These volumes compile the results of many micro studies in the areas of health, nutrition, education and rural livelihood development. These are critical areas where India needs to improve performance to achieve the objective of Viksit Bharat. Larger funding is unavoidable but even more important is to ensure efficiency of spending and it is here that these micro studies will provide evidence-based guidance in what works and in what circumstances. The solutions will not be the same across all states and this must be built into the design of each programme at the state level. The collection is an invaluable contribution in this very important area.’

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Ex–Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India

‘Do institutions determine the trajectory of social development in a large, pluralistic, diverse, participatory democracy like India? Do they facilitate or hinder inclusive, equitable and accountable social transformation? Has the institution of the District Collector, which is more than two and a half centuries old, become dysfunctional? Is it afflicted by a syndrome akin to Baumol's Cost Disease, with productivity improvements of the institution substantially lagging behind the rising expectations for delivery of quality public services? Can this legacy institution be reformed and revamped to bridge the widening gap between the ever-increasing responsibilities and diminishing authority, and ensure outcome-focused 'good governance'? What makes the “Kudumbashree” programme in Kerala so overwhelmingly successful in delivering collaborative governance? These are some of the questions, of immense interest to the practitioners of public policy as well as academic researchers, which have been addressed in this volume - Reimagining Institutions: Collaborative Pathways to Social Development in India. The book, consisting of seventeen chapters, authored by experienced administrators and eminent scholars, has explored how collaborative institutions have delivered tangible success in improving livelihoods and human development.’

Jugal Mohapatra, Former Secretary, Rural Development, Government of India