Prof. Chiranjib Sen with studenrs & teachers of Economics Dept. at CSSEIP 18-3-2013

Keynote address was given by Prof. Chiranjib Sen from the Azim Premji University, Banglore who enlightened the audience with a broad, lucid perspective on sustainable development. His presentation began with a brief outline of India’s development trajectory in the post independence period. He averred that first 15 years success on the economic development was witnessed through the various innovative models in place; however various crises in the late 1960s deviated the policy objective from development towards pure economic growth resulting in the rise of social issues. He highlighted sustainability and its relevance in present time, constraints to achieve it, various dimensions of sustainable development and relationship between economic growth, social base and environment. According to him, the two mechanisms that are in place; market mechanism and state mechanism are unable to resolve the existing issue of sustainable development and hence the need to promote community mechanism through participatory and non-participatory approach. He gave examples of the Brazilian economy to explain the community based approach. He mentioned that education is one collaborative solution towards achievement of sustainable development.