A Pilot Project in Bangladesh and India

Local Level Advocacy

International Trade and National Development Strategy in India: Voices from the Ground

This Training cum Advocacy workshop broadly organized by CUTS CITEE aims at demystifying the contents of globalisation and International Trade and its impacts on agriculture and agriculturists. This workshop also throws light on the importance of good governance at every level including efficiency of governance at the local level i.e. the Panchayti Raj Institutions. The event would provide a forum for fruitful group discussions involving stakeholders who would share views and reflect upon strategies to mainstream international trade in to national development.

The event would comprise of three sessions:

Demystifying International Trade and Economics

What is Economics and why is it important

Why International Trade important in the Agricultural context?

How to look at agricultural production practices with an Economic lens

Experiences relating to Public Administration in International trade

A brief history of International trade in India

Relevance of International Trade to Government Agencies

Need for Public Administration Reforms

Training on Needs Assessment for PRI Representatives, which would include Group Exercises and Reflections on Strategies to Mainstream International trade into National Development Strategy

RAJASTHAN:

WEST BENGAL:

Agenda
English | Bengali

Presentations
Presentations 1 | Presentations 2

Report

State Level Advocacy

International Trade and its Reach at the Grassroots- an analysis of Research Findings from Rajasthan and West Bengal

A large number of literature argue that International Trade can indeed play a major role in poverty reduction, provided right complementary policies and associated institutions are in place. A majority of these literatures were based on macro level data. As a result one cannot say, without doubt, that the benefits of International Trade are indeed trickling down to the grassroot stakeholders.

The fruits of International Trade will reach the grassroot stakeholders only when there are effective and efficient channels for Information Flow (from the grassroot to the policy makers) and Decision Flow (from the policy makers to the grassroot stakeholders). Channels of Information Flow refers to the signaling process of grassroot needs and demands to the policy makers at the higher echelons whereas channels of Decision Flow refers to the institutional arrangements for delivering pro-poor schemes at the grassroot.

In the Indian context, the Panchayat Raj system in its current form is intended to give the electorate the right to self-govern by strengthening democracy at the grassroots. Apart from espousing democratic values, the process is expected to reduce the transaction costs and improve efficiency of the government as provider of services. The three-tier system of Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) starting from the Gram Panchayat at the bottom, Panchayat Samiti at the intermediate block level, and Zilla Parishad at the district level is to support and at times surpass the roles and functions of other offices of people’s representation like state assemblies and national parliament by delivering political and economic power to the people.

As a part of the advocacy phase CUTS had organized two training workshops (one in each State capitals) Firstly, to make the grassroot stakeholders aware about the various aspects of International Trade and its probable impact on the agricultural sector and secondly, to make them aware about the roles and responsibilities of the various PRI representatives. The workshop also aimed at letting the people know about the various pro-poor schemes implemented through the Gram Panchayats with special emphasis on NREGS and SGSY.

RAJASTHAN:

WEST BENGAL:

Presentations
(Presentation1) | (Presentation2)

Report

National Level Advocacy

Towards a Coherent Trade and Development Strategy of India
New Delhi, 24-25 July 2008

This National Conference to be held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 24-25 July 2008 aims to provide a forum for discussion on the dynamic relationship between international trade and poverty reduction, at the national as well as international levels. It will address the need for mainstreaming India’s national development strategy to make use of the beneficial role that international trade can play in enhancing development and reducing poverty.

The event is to discuss the following thematic issues:

Regional Trade Openness Index, Income Disparity and Poverty

The need for Mainstreaming International Trade into the National Development Strategy of India

Responding to the Challenges of International Trade and Securing an Inclusive Path to Development

Participants will include civil society organisations, farmer associations, business associations, media, academics, government officials, representatives from international and inter-governmental organisations, the donor community, media persons, etc.