Two days training workshop on field data collection for the projects titled: Baseline survey on educational, socio-economic status of SC in Jammu Region and implementation of SC/ST (PCR) Act, 1955. & SC/ST (POA) Act 1989 – 3rd & 4th of April, 2023

Indian Institute of Public Administration, J&K Regional Branch in collaboration with Department of Social Welfare, J&K Advisory board for Welfare and Development of Schedule Castes Government of Jammu & Kashmir organizes two days training workshop on field data collection for the projects titled: Baseline survey on educational, socio-economic status of SC in Jammu Region and implementation of SC/ST (PCR) Act, 1955. & SC/ST (POA) Act 1989. The training programme was aimed at familiarizing the Field investigators with both the projects. The workshop was attended by the field investigators, Projects In-charge and the representatives of the department of J&K Advisory board for Welfare and Development of Schedule Castes Government of Jammu & Kashmir. The first day of the training workshop was initiated with the brief inputs by Mr. Jagdish Raj and Mr. Siddharth, representative of the J&K Advisory board for Welfare and Development of Schedule Castes wherein they appraised the Field investigators on the relevance and significance of the concerned projects along with briefing them on the institutional dimensions of the Act and the practical redressal mechanism available for the same. This was followed by the briefing of the relevance of the two projects by Prof. Rekha Chowdhary, Director Research–IIPA. She also familiarized the field investigators with the team of the two projects and also the attitude, acumen and knowledge required while making field interventions for the data collection. Following this, Dr Zeba, one of the project in-charge spoke about the details of the two projects referring to the Districts of field investigation, the methodology to be employed along with the process to be followed in the concerned projects. This was followed by a further discussion and interactive session with the Field investigators where the questionnaires of the two projects were discussed in detail. Day two of the training workshop began with hands on training of the Field investigators for conducting interviews in their respective fields. This session involved carrying out field exercises (simulation exercise) by the field investigators to develop their field skills for engaging with various questions and the responses expected form the respondents. It was a vibrant session with active participation of the Field investigators through their inputs and suggestions. Both the projects attain importance as SC/ST PoA Act, 1989 has been extended to the state only after the reorganization of 2019. Further, there is no baseline survey ever done or available on the 13 sub-castes of the schedule caste residing in the Jammu region. The valedictory session was attended by Dr. Ashok Bhan (Patron-IIPA J&K RB), B.R. Sharma (Chairman-IIPA J&KRB) and Prof. Alka Sharma (Hon. Secretary-IIPA J&K RB). In his address to the FIs (field Investigators), Dr. AshoK Bhan ( Patron-IIPA)stressed upon the role of the researcher while dealing with a marginal community and also apprise them about the extraordinary responsibility to be carried by them in terms of authenticity in data collection, research ethics and also the possible lay out of the study to be undertaken. Sh. B.R. Sharma (Chairperson–IIPA) in his brief highlights the value of this projects which essentially requires empathy and also highlights the value of this research intervention for further policy making for the respective community. He also stressed upon the value of a field investigators being unbiased and credible in his efforts. Prof. Rekha Chowdhary ( Director-Research-IIPA) in his address thanks the IIPA for posing trust in her for guiding and mentoring the entire team for this research intervention of the IIPA. Prof. Alka Sharma (Hon. Secretary-IIPA) presented the formal votes of thanks and also reinstated that by this research intervention, the IIPA regional branch will be creating a new niche among the entire regional branches in the country.