PANKAJA KULABKAR
DATE OF BIRTH
12
October, 1966
PERMANENT
ADDRESS
B-5 Bank of India Housing Society, Taware Colony,
E-MAIL
pankajak@hotmail.com
TELEPHONE
0091-20-4223126/0091-20-4223794
NATIONALITY
Indian
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCIPLINE Political Science
AREA
OF SPECIALISATION
Governance
& political participation in developing countries
|
DEGREE |
UNIVERSITY
(& COLLEGE) |
MAIN
SUBJECT |
CLASS
OF HONOURS |
|
PhD |
International
Development Department, University of Birmingham, UK |
Title
of thesis:
The Politics of Plan Implementation: The Case of Pune’s Development Plan |
Passed.
Recipient of Commonwealth
Scholarship. |
|
PhD |
Department
of Political Science, University of Delhi, India |
Urban
Politics |
Awarded
the Junior Research Fellowship
by the University Grant Commission on the basis of national level
competition. On being awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship, the PhD
programme was continued at the University of Birmingham. |
|
M.Phil
by research |
Department
of Political Science, University of Delhi, India |
Urban
Politics Title
of dissertation: Supersession
of municipality and urban services: Case of the Municipal Corporation of
Delhi |
First
class. Distinction in dissertation. Awarded the Junior Research Fellowship by the University Grant Commission on
the basis of national level competition. |
|
M.A |
Centre
for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India |
Political
Science:
International Organisations (UN), International Relations, Political
Sociology, Comparative Government, Political Thought, Political Theory,
Indian Politics |
First
Class. |
|
B.A |
Department
of International Relations, Jadavpur University, India |
Political
Science:
International Organisations (like UN), International Relations, Political
Theory, Political Thought, Political Economy, Comparative Government,
Sociology |
First
in University. Awarded Gold Medal
for being the Best All Rounder Woman Graduate of the Year. |
|
Higher
Secondary |
Lady
Brabourne College, Calcutta, India |
Political
Science, Philosophy, Economic Geography, Economics, English, Hindi |
First
class. |
Training in political
science and development studies
I have studied at reputed political science and
development studies departments in India and in the United Kingdom.
Functions and role of the United Nations and its role in the global
community has been part of the taught courses attended for the bachelors
and the masters programme. Performance
in written examinations and interviews have won me prestigious fellowships.
The rigorous PhD programme has taught me perseverance, and has
trained me to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
My background and training is appropriate
for working on development issues at the UNDP. Research interestsI have strong academic interest in governance issues in the developing
countries. My PhD thesis
explored why in spite of the elaborate planning system in India,
implementation is so poor. The
study identified the actors involved in the implementation process,
analysed their strategies and limitations, sources of conflict among
actors, and the impact of these conflicts upon implementation.
The study indicated the role played by the poor in implementation,
and measures for making their role effective.
The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) yearns to improve
the political participation of the weaker sections of the society.
It also strives at making the government structures more
transparent. I am keen to
exchange ideas with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), colleagues at Oslo
and New York, and rigorously work towards fulfilling these commitments of
UNDP. |
Interaction
with communities worldwide
My formal education has given me the opportunity to
meet and work with people from different parts of the world.
I enjoy working with people from different backgrounds. This
would facilitate my working with colleagues and consultants worldwide. I have lived both in the developed and the developing parts
of the world. This makes it
easier for me to be based in Oslo, and if the need arises, to travel and
work in various developing countries. |
Public
Speaking
I enjoy public speaking, and have won awards in
several oratory competitions. I
have the experience of communicating well with my audience both
face-to-face, and through the media like the radio and the television.
Communication skills will help me in highlighting UNDP’s role in
strengthening civil society through my writings, and interviews.
I am keen to represent the United Nations’ team at various
conferences, and teach courses on civil society at forums like the Junior
Professional Officer Programme. Language
Fluency in several
languages strengthen my research, and communication skills. I am fluent in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and English. |
·
Commonwealth
Scholarship
– awarded by the Commonwealth Association on the basis of national level
competition.
·
Invited
by the British Council in September 2000, to share experience with Indian
students of student life in Britain.
·
Junior
Research Fellowship,
awarded by the University Grant Commission, India, on the basis of national
level competition.
·
Gold
Medal for
being the Best All Rounder Woman Graduate
of the Year, awarded by the Jadavpur University, Calcutta.
·
Represented
Jadavpur University at the Republic Day Parade National Camp at Delhi, and
several All India University Meets.
·
Won
awards in oratory, dancing, drama, and quiz competitions.
·
Presented
several papers during 1996-2000 at the Research Seminars held at International
Development Department, University of Birmingham. Presented papers on Research Methodology at the annual
workshops on research methodology in 1999 & 2000 at the School of Public
Policy, University of Birmingham.
·
Participated
at a day’s workshop in 1998 that discussed the research agenda of a project on
governance and poverty at the University of Birmingham.
·
Participated
at a seminar in 1998 on urban planning at the Institute of Town Planners, Delhi
·
Participated
at a three-day conference in 1998 on urban development at Holiday Inn, Pune.
·
Participated
at a conference in 1997 on urban development at the Department of Geography,
University of Oxford.
·
Presented
a paper at a three-week workshop in 1996 on urban development at CUES,
University of Calcutta. Selection
of participants was competitive and sponsored by the University Grant
Commission, India.
·
Research Students’ Representative at IDD, University
of Birmingham, UK.
·
Member of Staff-Student Committee at Jawarharlal Nehru
University.
·
Class Representative at Jadavpur University.
·
Assistant Secretary of Literature at Lady Brabourne
College.
·
Participated in workshops on leadership, teamwork, and
effective communication skills at University of Birmingham.
Experience of holding responsible position has made
me capable of quick thinking, and has given me the ability to carry out multiple
tasks. These qualities would help
while organising various events for the UNDP. Participation in the workshops mentioned above have refined
my leadership and teamwork skills.
·
Helped
children from low income neighborhood with their studies while studying for the
Masters programme at Delhi.
·
While
studying for the Bachelors programme was a volunteer of the National Service
Scheme, a national youth wing committed to welfare. Around the same time was an active member of two other
Calcutta based philanthropic organisations; the Vivekananda Study Circle, and
Vivek Chetana.
The above experience has made me sensitive to
the needs of the poor. Such
sensitivity would go a long way in my making substantial contribution to
improving the political participation of the poor.
RECENT EMPLOYMENT
I have been the recipient of the Commonwealth
Scholarship, and the Junior Research Fellowhship. Recipients of the Commonwealth Scholarship are not permitted
to work during the tenure of the award. Similar
is the case with the Junior Research Fellowship.
However, my research experience exceeds five years.
My abilities and performance were recognised when distinction was awarded
for the M.Phil dissertation, and the Commonwealth Scholarship was received for
undertaking the PhD programme. I
look forward to join the Oslo Centre, and assist in improving political
participation of the poor through my experience and expertise in governance,
policy analysis, administration, and writing skills.
|
1.
Mr Nick Devas: Research Supervisor IDD,
54 Pritchatts Road, School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham, B15
2TT, UK |
|
2.
Prof Richard Batley : Director, IDD IDD,
54 Pritchatts Road, School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham, B15
2TT, UK |
|
3
Mr Ian Blore: Lecturer IDD,
54 Pritchatts Road, School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham, B15
2TT, UK E-Mail:
i.c.blore@bham.ac.uk
|
|
4.
Dr Philip Amis, Research Student’s Convenor & Panel Member IDD,
54 Pritchatts Road, School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham, B15
2TT, UK |
|
5
Prof Amrut Nakhre, (Retired professor of Political Science) 1404
Cherry Lane, Wilson, NC, 27896-1522, USA |