New Delhi: The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has sought additional funding from the Union human resource development ministry for research in the field of social sciences.
Speaking to this newspaper on the sidelines of a two-day seminar, ICSSR member-secretary Virendra Kumar Malhotra emphasised on the need for increased funding for the sector.
“There is definitely a need for an increase in funding for research in the social science sector. I have taken up the matter with Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar who has been positive on the issue,” Prof. Malhotra said.
He said that there was a need to increase inter-disciplinary research among various nations and disciplines. “As part of an increased inter-disciplinary research outreach, we are collaborating with 25 nations across the globe,” Prof Malhotra said.
As part of the enhanced engagement with foreign nations, several workshops and seminars have also taken place, he added.
It is understood that social sciences only get about two per cent of the funds when compared to science subjects, and there has been an attempt at garnering more funds for the discipline. The ICSSR was established in 1969 to promote research in social sciences in the country.
The ICSSR advises the government on all matters pertaining to social science research as may be referred to it from time to time and takes such measures generally as may be necessary from time to time to promote social science research and its utilisation.
