Diploma Programme on Universalising Socio-economic Security for the Poor

An International Diploma Programme on "Universalising Socio-economic Security for the Poor" is co-executed by the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands, Self-Employed Women's Association, Ahmedabad and the Centre. The three month programme starts in January at the ISS, then moves on to SEWA during February and its last leg during March every year is held at the Centre. The Centre's share of the programme involves informing Kerala experience of social security initiatives like various welfare funds and social security arrangements for unorganised sector workers. Besides lectures and interactive sessions with academics from within and outside the Centre, activists, elected representatives of local governments and bureaucrats, the segment includes several field visits of short and long duration.

For the programme in 2006, there were fifteen participants - a mix of social activists, officials and researchers from Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Zambia, besides India.