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Suggest pagesCentre for Civil Society
| Centre for Civil Society | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CSS |
| Formation | 1997 |
| Type | non-profit |
| Location | New Delhi |
| Website | Official website |
The Centre for Civil Society (CSS) is a Indian think tank and an independent, non-profit, research and educational organisation, established in 1997 and working towards improving the quality of life for all citizens of India by reviving and reinvigorating civil society.[1]
In 2004, CSS was awarded the inaugural Templeton Freedom Award for excellence in the Student Outreach category, followed by the award in Free Market Solutions to Poverty in 2005 and in Initiative in Public Relations category in 2009. The award is given by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation using funding from the John Templeton Foundation.[2][3]
Contents |
[edit] History
The Centre for Civil Society (CCS) is an independent non-profit research and educational think-tank based in New Delhi. According to the Centre's website, it is committed to increasing opportunity, prosperity, and quality of life for every Indian by reinvigorating civil society and readjusting political society.[4] CCS was founded in 1997 by Dr. Parth Shah, an economist and former Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan.[5] Since then, CCS has built a reputation for rigor, innovation, and effectiveness. Across the spectrum, through research, proofs of concept, advocacy and outreach, the Centre has contributed to a changed climate of opinion around the country.[citation needed] In 2007, it launched a "School Choice Campaign", which involves giving “education vouchers” to poor students to reimburse tuition fees.[6]
[edit] Organisation
CCS researches and conducts activities in several policy areas, including:
- Livelihood Studies
- Good Governance
- Community and Markets in Environmental Protection
- Education Choice
- Economic Freedom
CCS has a small team of members who seek to spread the message of liberty and responsibility. Borrowing greatly from the philosophies of Ayn Rand, the Centre says it strives to create the thinkers of tomorrow, and in such an effort targets college students for its programs, students who they identify as change agents.[citation needed]
Research being a major department in CCS attracts a lot of attention from those in the Centre itself. Also people not only of Indian origin and nationality but also from abroad apply for such research.
CCS is also in association with luminaries such as Swaminathan Aiyar, Sauvik Chakraverti and Subroto Roy.
Along with Parth J Shah, helping with the Centre's work are a "team" of libertarians. The "team", according to the Centre, comprises young intelligent individuals who contribute towards making liberty a household name in India. With its head office in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, it holds its seminars regularly across India. The more famous of these seminars is Liberty & Society Seminar (From 2008 re-named to I,society & Public policy seminars).
[edit] References
- ^ "What an idea, Sirji!". Financial Express. Sep 14, 2010. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/what-an-idea-sirji/681129/0.
- ^ "Templeton Prize For Indian Think-tanks". Financial Express. Mar 11, 2004. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/story/101052/.
- ^ "2004-2007 Templeton Freedom Award Winners". http://atlasnetwork.org/networknews/2007/11/2004-2007-templeton-freedom-award-winners/.
- ^ About us CSS website.
- ^ "Buffett and Gates Prod India’s Wealthy to Be More Philanthropic". New York Times. March 24, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/business/global/25rupee.html.
- ^ "`Govt. should fund students, not schools'". The Hindu. Mar 30, 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/30/stories/2007033011730400.htm.
