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SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DEEPENING
DEMOCRACY THROUGH PARTICIPATORY LOCAL GOVERNANCE
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RIGHTS-BASED
DEVELOPMENT
15-17 May 2015
Organised by
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT
Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Chief Patron
Dr. M.K. Muneer
Hon’ble Minister of Panchayati Raj and Social Justice
Government of Kerala
Venue
Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
KERALA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
Thrissur, Kerala, India
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Dear friends,
We are happy to invite you to the Second International Conference on ‘Deepening Democracy
Through Participatory Local Governance’ on the theme of LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND
RIGHTS-BASED DEVELOPMENT.
BACKGROUND
As is worldly accepted, Kerala is a path-breaking State in implementing democratic decentralisation and its Local Governments have become a national model. Democracy becomes
meaningful only when human rights of all citizens are guaranteed and protected. Special care
has to be devoted to the protection of rights of marginalised groups like ethnic minorities,
Scheduled Castes, disabled, migrant labours, etc. and also the special rights of groups like
women, children and aged who are often subject to neglect, discrimination, exclusion and
sometimes violence. As the lowest tier of Government closest to the people, Local Governments
have a great role to play in nurturing a development culture based on rights.
Government of Kerala successfully organised an International Conference on Deepening
Democracy through Participatory Local Governance in January 2014 in which 1800 delegates
participated and 150 research papers on various subjects related to local governance were
presented. Taking note of the interest the conference had generated among academics, experts,
thinkers, activists and youth in India and abroad, Government of Kerala is organizing a Second
International Conference on Deepening Democracy through Participatory Local Governance
from 15th to 17th May 2015 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram on the theme of Local
Governments and Rights based Development.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the conference is to share the experiences of institutions in different parts
within and outside the country and evolve workable suggestions on rights-based development
for Local Governments.
TECHNICAL SESSIONS
It is proposed to hold technical sessions on the following Sub Themes.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
(xi)
(xii)
(xiii)
(xiv)
(xv)
(xvi)
Local Governments & Right to Information
Local Governments & Right to Work
Local Governments & Right to Food
Local Governments & Right to Health
Local Governments & Right to City
Local Governments & Rights of Scheduled Castes
Local Governments & Rights of Scheduled Tribes
Local Governments & Rights of Differently abled people.
Local Governments & Rights of the Aged
Local Governments & Rights of bedbound and home bound people.
Local Governments & Child Rights
Local Governments & Gender Rights
Local Governments & Livelihood Rights
Local Governments & Environmental Rights
Local Governments & Civic Rights
Local Governments & Labour Rights
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CONFERENCE VENUE
Hotel Samudra, Kovalam, Kerala
DATES
The programme will be conducted during 15 - 17 May 2015. The sessions will be in
English.
SUBMISSION OF PAPER
The abstract (in 500 words) has to be submitted in the prescribed format which can be
downloaded from www.icodd2015.com. The Full paper (in 5000 words) shall be submitted in
Word format to the email address: icodkila@gmail.com on or before Saturday, 25th April, 2015.
ABOUT THE ORGANISERS
Department of Local Self Government, Government of Kerala
Kerala State has 978 Grama Panchayats, 152 Block Panchayats, 14 District Panchayats, 60
Municipalities and 5 Corporations. Consequent to the 73rd and 74th amendments to the
Constitution, the three-tier system came into existence in India. In Kerala, Local SelfGovernment Institutions have been meaningfully empowered through massive transfer of
resources as well as administrative powers. Local self-government Institutions have emerged as
effective agencies for the implementation of developmental programmes. Developmental
programmes are identified and implemented through Grama Sabhas. With the decentralisation
of power, Local administration department has gained an important role in the formulation and
implementation of developmental works at the grass-root level. Today Panchayat Directorate,
Directorate of Urban Affairs, Commissionerate of Rural Development and Town and Country
Planning Department are the major allied departments of Local Administration. Related to local
administration activities, there are different allied institutions and training centres under LSGD.
KERALA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION (KILA) , Kerala
KERALA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION (KILA) Kerala Institute of Local
Administration (KILA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Local Self- Government
Department, Government of Kerala, is the nodal agency for Training, Research and Consultancy
for Local Self-Government Institutions in Kerala. The Institute began its operation in 1990. Apart
from training, consultancy and policy oriented research activities, KILA organizes seminars,
workshops and discussions on various issues of local governance and development. The
Government of Kerala have recognised it as a Centre of Excellence. The Ministry of Panchayati
Raj, Government of Kerala have declared KILA as the SAARC Centre of Training in
Decentralization and Local Governance. KILA has provided a lead role in the capacity building
and training of democratic decentralization in Kerala and now it is engaged in institutionalizing
the process of decentralization and to make the local government system sustainable. KILA is a
link between people and the Government and is also a think tank for policy formulations. The
feedbacks that have been gathered from various training programmes together with the
research support facilitate in the formulation of pragmatic policies for strengthening
decentralization. Indeed, in implementing these policies, KILA plays a major role by means of
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wider dissemination of information through training, publications, seminars, workshops and
discussions. Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) has been engaged in the capacity
building activities for local governments in Kerala since its establishment in 1990. The Institute
is supported by the Government of Kerala, as its nodal institution for training, research and
consultancy for the Local Self-Government Institutions. The Institute engages in different
capacity building activities of the local governments, both rural and urban. The Institute
disseminates the insights of research and recommendations of its various training programmes
and workshops through a number of publications. In order to meet the training needs of the
participants from other Indian states and neighbouring countries KILA has translated several
documents in English and other Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and Kannada. KILA
actively collaborates with many national and international agencies like Swiss Agency for
Development and Co-operation (SDC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNHABITAT, and Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) with a motive of
deepening local governance. KILA collaborates with the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance
and All India Institute of Local Self Governments, Mumbai to conduct international course in
decentralised governance and poverty alleviation. KILA has been recognised as one the Regional
Resource Centres of the Government of India for the capacity building of urban local bodies.
KILA will be elevated to the status of Deemed University in the near future. Kerala Institute of
Local Administration (KILA) is near the Cochin International Airport (one and a half hours by
road from KILA) which is having connectivity to the major international airports. The nearest
railway station is Thrissur (20 min by road from KILA).
ABOUT KERALA
Kerala, ‘the God’s Own Country’, is one of the 50 “must see” destinations identified by the
National Geographic Traveller. It is the southernmost state in India. Endowed with unique
geographical features and having an equable climate with temperature varying between 170C to
340C round the year, it has serene beaches, tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters, lush hill
stations, exotic wildlife, waterfalls, sprawling plantations and paddy fields. It has enchanting art
forms, historic and cultural monuments, and festivals.
Referred as the “Spice Garden of India”, Kerala is one of the cleanest and the most peaceful parts
of India, with the state remaining a major source of India's pepper, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg,
clove, star anise, and cinnamon. The State is also has cultivation of cashew, bananas, rubber,
cardamoms, coconuts, cashews and ginger.
Thiruvananthapuram is the southernmost
district of the coastal state of Kerala, in south
India. It came into existence in the year
1957. The headquarters is the city of
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) which is
also the capital city of Kerala. Tourism has
contributed heavily to the economy of
Thiruvananthapuram. The entire tourism
package of the state such as hill stations,
back waters, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife
sanctuaries are present in the district. Foreign tourists flock to Thiruvananthapuram, a major
destination for chartered flights to India for Medical tourism, as there are more than fifty
recognised Ayurveda centres in and around the city. This is primarily due to Ayurveda's
immense popularity in the West. Medical tourism is further promoted by world class modern
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medicine hospitals in the city. Recuperation facilities are available at five-star beach resorts and
hill stations nearby. Another major tourist attraction here is the Kovalam beach located around
16 km from the city center.
Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight
of coconut trees. It is also known as the paradise of the south. Kovalam has three beaches
separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous
crescent of the Kovalam beach.

Lighthouse Beach
The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse
Beach is the one most frequented by tourists.
Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old
Vizhinjam Lighthouse. It is 35 metres high
and located on a rocky promontory here. Its
intermittent beams at night render the beach
with an unearthly charm.

Hawah Beach
Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as
Hawah Beach, ranks second, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out
for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates
a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights.

Samudra Beach
A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have
tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.
Detour past Kovalam junction to land on Samudra Beach which is to the north of Ashoka Beach.
One has the option to walk along the sea-wall too. The sight of the waves lashing on the rocks
below is awesome. Shallow waters stretching for hundreds of metres are ideal for swimming.
The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of
goods and services. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the
presence of Ilmenite and Monazite.
HOW TO ARRIVE AT THE CONFERENCE VENUE
The venue of the Conference is at Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest airport is the Trivandrum
International Airport which is having connectivity to the major international airports. The
nearest railway station is Trivandrum Central Railway Station. The organisers will make
arrangements for the travel from the airport and the railway station to the conference venue.
There will be a helpdesk at the airport and the railway station for receiving the participants.
REGISTRATION
There is no registration fee. Acceptance of the full paper is considered as registration. The
organisers will take care of boarding and lodging. Download the abstract submission form from
our website www.icodd2015.com or email a request to the Conference E-mail ID :
icodkila@gmail.com. The email may be addressed to the Director, KILA.
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CONTACT DETAILS
Mr. S. Divakaran Pillai
Chief Coordinator,
International Conference on Deepening Democracy
Public Office Compound,
Museum, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala - 695 033
Tel: +91-471-2321221
Dr. P.P.Balan
Director
Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA)
Mulamkunnathukavu P O, Thrissur
Kerala - 680 581
Tel: +91-487-2201312
Mob: 09446521312
E-mail ID: icodkila@gmail.com
Dr. Sunny George
Academic Coordinator
Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA)
Mulamkunnathukavu P O, Thrissur
Kerala - 680 581
Tel: +91-487-2201402
Mob:+91- 09446606973
E-mail ID: icodkila@gmail.com
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