Dharwad Local Branch

The Dharwad Local Branch started functioning from March 2004.

Activities

(i) A one-day FacultyDevelopment Programme was jointly organized by the IIPA, Local Branch, Dharwad and Dandeli Education Society’s Bangurnagar Arts, Science and Commerce3 College on 28th August 2023 at Dandeli, Uttar Kannada District.

(ii) IIPA, Local Branch, Dharwad jointly with Dept. of Political Science, Dept. of Public Administration, Karnatak University, Dharwad organized a Prelude Conference on ‘New Paradigms of Governance’ on 26th September 2023 at Dept. of Political Science, Karnatak University, Dharwad.

(iii) IIPA, Local Branch, Dharwad jointly with Dept. of Political Science and Public Administration, Karnatak University, Dharwad organized a seminar on ‘Stakeholders’ Participation, Information Technology and Administrative Reforms’on 27th February, 2024 at Karnatak University, Dharwad.

A Brief Report on Faculty Development Programme, 28 August 2023

A Faculty Development Programme was organized by the IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad in collaboration with Bangurnagar Arts, Science and Commerce College, Dandelion 28 August 2023 in Dandeli. Prof. S.S.Patagundi, Chairman, IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad made a presentation on Quality Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Institutions. He focused on the importance of the teaching profession in a globalized world and how to ensure passion for learning. Prof.A.S.Talawar, Professor of Statistics, KUD in his paper on the Role of Statistics in Researchexplained how statistics is important in various disciplines. Dr.B.N.Gundur presided over the programme. Prof. S.S. Hiremath, Treasurer, IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad was the coordinator of the event.

A Brief Report on Prelude Conference on New Paradigms of Governance, 26 September 2023

The IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad, in collaboration with the Department of Political Science and Department of Public Administration,Karnatak University,organized the 2023 Prelude Conference on New Paradigms of Governance on 26th September 2023. Dr. B.M. Ratnakar, Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, in his inaugural address,outlined the political developments of a globalizing world focusing on LPG in the 1990s. He explained the development of the concepts of Governance and Good Governance based on the World Bank Reports. Dr. VijaykumarN.Torgal, retired Senior KAS Officer as the Chief Guest highlighted the significance of pillars of Good Governance namely civil society, rule of law, proactive role of people, transparency, accountability, equity, inclusiveness, and responsiveness.

In the first technical session, Dr. Alkanand Shringare spoke on New Public Management: Change and Continuity by elucidating how the drawbacks of Weberian Public Administration resulted in the emergence of New Public Management. NPM reforms in governance suggested improving the performance of the government highlighting the 3Es- Economy, Efficiency, and Effectiveness whilethe Public Choice Theory and Neo–Taylorism provided the theoretical basis for NPM. In the second session, Dr.Rajesh Hittanagi presented a paper on An Exploration of Governance from a Legal Perspective. He highlighted the significance of the role of laws in governance and Good Governance. Dr. S.S. Patagundi, Chairmanof IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad inhis Presidential remarks held the view that political intervention needs to be clearly defined to ensure Good Governance.

A Brief Report of a Special Lecture on ‘Constitutional Morality’

A special lecture on Constitutional Morality in India was organized on 28 November 2023 by the Department of Political Science, NSS, and IQAC of the college, in collaboration with IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad at Government First Grade College Haliyal.

Dr. Chandrashekhar Lamani, Principal of the college, inaugurating the programme, outlined the importance of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution for policymakers and people emphasizing constitutional values. Dr. Vijayakumar N. Torgal, KAS (Retd.), Vice-Chairman, IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad delivering a special lecture viewed that everyone should develop utmost reverence for the Constitution and citizens’ awareness of Fundamental Rights and Duties is significant.

Dr.Torgal outlined the important role of constitutional morality in the working of parliament and other constitutional institutions of the Indian political system. Dr. S.S. Patagundi, Chairman of the Local Branch, in his Presidential remarks held the view that legal and moral dimensions are significant in the working of the institutions of the political system. The functioning of institutional mechanisms needs to be strengthened in the spirit of constitutional morality.

A Brief Report of the Seminar on Stakeholders’ Participation, Information Technology and Administrative Reforms, 27 February 2024

The IIPA Dharwad Local Branch and Departments of Political Science and Public Administration, Karnatak University jointly organized a seminar on Stakeholders’ Participation, Information Technology and Administrative Reforms on 27 February 2024 in the Karnatak University, Dharwad. Shri T.M.Vijay Bhaskar, IAS (Retd.),former Chief Secretary of Karnataka, former Chairman, Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission 2, Government of Karnataka and Chairman, IIPA, KRB, Bangaluru inaugurated the seminar.He stated that administrative reforms are essential for ensuring efficiency, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness of government.

He focused on the role of information technology and stakeholders’ participation in Good Governance, outlining the measures of simplification of procedures, timely delivery of services, delegation of powers, ensuring good quality of interaction in the office, user-friendly websites and technology, no brokers in the offices, technology for improving the generation of revenue, etc. The central concern of Shri T.M. Vijay Bhaskar’s inaugural address was to adopt information technology effectively for strengthening citizen-centric governance. For this purpose, he highlighted the vital role of the Seva Sindhu, Sakala, Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT), Bangalore, Single Window System, First–In, First–Out System, the Atal Jana Snehi Kendras, and Aadhar linked people programmes, etc. in citizen-centric governance.

Prof. M.S.Subhas, former Vice-Chancellor of VSK University, Bellary, presiding over the inaugural function, held the view that implementation of administrative reforms plays a crucial role in Good Governance. He suggested that the integration of AI contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of the implementation of administrative reforms. Dr.Vijay Kumar Betgar, Secretary, IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad welcomed the guests, resource persons, and gathering. Prof. S.S.Patagundi, Chairman of the IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad apprised the importance and relevance of the theme of the seminar and introduced the guests. Dr.Lakshaman Badakariyappanavar, Department of Political Science, KUD proposed a vote of thanks. Dr. Ratna Marreppagoudar compered the program.

In the first technical session, Dr. Rajesh Hegde, Dean (R&D), IIT, Dharwad, presented a paper on the Role of Artificial Intelligence and IoT in Effective E-governance for Sustainable Development. Referring to the growing debate on Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, he held the view that with Artificial Intelligence, policymakers can analyze a huge quantum of data. Data-driven decision-making is simplified by identifying beneficiaries and allocating the schemes/programmes of government more efficiently. Besides, he added, IoT-based platforms are useful to get citizens' feedback and provide opportunities to participate in decision-making processes, nurturing a sense of ownership and collaboration towards Sustainable Development Goals. AI and IoT in E-Governance help the government to monitor resource utilization, and engage people to promote sustainable development goals. Prof.Hegde suggested that addressing the problems of protecting privacy, security of data, and ethics in using AI to achieve inclusive and sustainable development is of paramount significance.

Shri G.C.Tallur, former Secretary, PWD, Government of Karnataka presented a paper on Governance and Governed- Stakeholders' Participation. He began his presentation by outlining the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Citizens are regarded as stakeholders in democracy and their participation in governance significantly contributes to empowering them. Shri Tallur argued that fostering stakeholder participation is imperative to strengthen democratic good governance. Well-informed citizens are essential and play a key role in the functioning of the democracy. Prof.S.T.Baglakoti, Registrar, Haveri University, Haveri chaired the first technical session. Dr.BasappaAthani, Department of Public Administration, KUD welcomed and introduced the resource persons and chairperson of the first technical session.

In the second technical session, Dr. Nitin Khot, Industrialist and Activist, Belagvi presented a paper entitled The Pursuit of Good Governance in a Re-Globalizing World. According to him, rewriting the grammar of Good Governance is important in the context of a re-globalizing world. The focus of the paper was on various political theories of governance, changing international situations in the context of interconnectedness, international cooperation, inclusive and sustainable development, and decision-making according to the people’s aspirations. Dr.Khot viewed that new forces of change are rapidly emerging and changing the world. The world is already on the sixth wave of technological innovation in industry. The present wave is of green energy, robots, and AI. Administrative reforms are expected to consider these developments in pursuit of good governance.

Dr. Chinmayanand, Professor, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Dharwad, presenting a paper on Information Technology for Administrative Reforms explained the role of Information Technology in bringing about changes in the administration. Online grievances redressal mechanisms should be built so that it becomes easy to register complaints and track their status, which in turn contributes to achieving accountability and transparency. Technology enables the availability of court judgments, case status, and court proceedings and brings a change in administering justice. Information Technology helps keep huge health records for better healthcare management and service delivery.

Dr. Chinmayanand cautioned about the challenges and threats of using IT. Increased reliance on IT systems exposes data and systems to cyber security threats such as hacking, malware, and data breaches. Secondly, the implementation and maintenance of IT systems are complex and expensive and require big investments to create infrastructure, training, and maintenance. Prof. Jagadish Tonannavar, Adjunct Professor of Physics, Karnatak University, Dharwad chaired this session. Dr. Jagadish Gouda, Department of Public Administration, KUD welcomed and introduced the resource persons and chairperson of the second technical session.

Prof.M.G. Khan, Adjunct Professor of Political Science, KU Dharwad in hisValedictory Address said stakeholders constitute an essential component of any organization seeking to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance. By involving stakeholders in leveraging technology and implementing reforms, they can foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Presiding over the valedictory function, Prof.S.S.Patagundi, Chairman, IIPA Local Branch, Dharwad viewed that the globalized world and technology considerably changed the lives of people in every country of the world. The experience of changes in a globalized world made people realize Marshall McLuhan’s concept of the Global Village. Such changes are to be considered for administrative reforms from the perspective of addressing new problems of governance in the 21st century. According to Joseph Stiglitz, the decision to introduce reforms is a difficult task. Dr.Lakshaman Badakarippannavar compered the valedictory program. Dr. B.M. Ratnakar, Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, KUD systematically coordinated the seminar. Dr. Dasharath Singe, Department of Political Science, KUD proposed a vote of thanks.