The first ever week-long course on Basic Research Methodology with a clear focus for advocacy and lobbying, organized by Research Unit of Indian Social Institute, Bangalore was held at the institute from Sept. 13-18. Fr. Eugine S. Rosario, the head of Research Unit says, “The purpose of this training is not to equip academicians on research methodology, but rather it is to motivate our social workers to do research with a concrete focus on advocacy and lobbying which we often miss out in our social commitment.”

Dr. Sitharamam Kakarala, a senior researcher at the Centre for Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore, and a member of the Governing Body of ISIB was the chief guest at the inaugural function. He delivered the well appreciated key note address on “Rights Based Research for Advocacy and Lobbying: Necessity and Importance for Policy Changes.” He dwelt on the explosion of technology that has made many of the researches superfluous and the need for newer ways of communicating the findings of the research.

There were twenty two participants in the course. Most of them are professional social workers with post graduation in social work and are engaged in advocacy researches at various levels. Fr. Aloysius Irudayam SJ, of IDEAS who is a researcher involved in Advocacy and Lobbying at the National as well as United Nations, Fr. Selvaraj Arulnathan SJ, a researcher from Indian Social Institute, Delhi and Ms. Lakshmi the research associate at Indian Social Institute, Bangalore formed a resource team with Fr. Eugine S. Rosario SJ, the Head of the research unit of ISIB.

Dr. Aravind of NIMHANS, Bangalore and Dr. M.K. Geroge SJ, the Director of ISIB helped the participants with Quantitative and Qualitative methods. Activist researchers Prasad of NCDHR, Xavier Mariadass of PCTC, Vidya of Equations interacted with participants. Participants expressed satisfaction about the course and sought continued support for their advocacy related research efforts from the institute and expressed their desire to work with the institute in their future advocacy efforts. Frs. Maria Nayagam S.J and Shailendra S.J of Andhra Province were among the participants and they enriched the participation with their exemplary work.

Eugine S. Rosario