Dr. Ambedkar Chair was established at NISWASS in 1994 with the support of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The Chair encapsulates its various schemes/programmes at the Department of Social Work in NISWASS. Dr. Ambedkar Chair also implements the philosophies and democratic emancipations of SC/ST/OBC and Minorities. It supports Research, Documentation, and Publication.
Some of the research works of the Chair during the present academic year has been listed below:
The Gokha ( A Study of a Scheduled Caste Group of Odisha)
A monograph, on the Gokha, one of the largest groups among the Scheduled Castes in Orissa was prepared. Nearly 98.14 percent of the Gokha population lives in the districts of Cuttack, Balasore, Kendrapada and Puri. The study documents the various factors responsible for their social, educational and economic backwardness.
Content Analysis of SC and ST News in the Print Media
The report underlines the importance of media research with regard to the SC and ST. The mass media, and especially the print news media, have an unequivocal position in society when it comes to establishing and disseminating common socio-cultural references.
A Study on Bartan System (Jajamani System) and Striving for Social Dignity
The caste matrix in Indian society is quite complex. Bartan system is a form of caste based forced labour system that prevails mostly in the rural areas of Odisha. Under the guise of reciprocity of the jajmani system, bartan became exploitative and despite change in caste-based occupations, is still in practice in many parts of Odisha.
Social Ostracism and Social Inequality
A Socio-Economic Study on the status of Manual Scavengers in Odisha: Manual scavenging is a dehumanizing practice that continues despite laws abolishing it. Media reports, civil society organizations and a proactive judiciary continue to draw the attention of policy makers to the ground reality and the failure of the rehabilitation programmes designed for them.