For each individual to lead a life of CHOICE!

Year in Review April 2015 - March 2016 Chairman’s Message One of our key programs this year was the Vikalp Skill CCS continued to do well in the annual rankings of Mission Vision Voucher pilot, in keeping with the Prime Minister’s Skill think tanks by the University of Pennsylvania and, India program. In 2015-16 we expanded the program at #50, was the only Indian think tank in the top Centre for Civil Society envisions a world Centre for Civil Society advances social to impact 1,200 youth with a 65% placement rate. 100 global list. Our School Voucher for Girls pilot where each individual leads a life of choice change through public policy. Our work in The three-year pilot has demonstrated phenomenal in Delhi and our Jeevika Livelihood Campaign in in personal, economic and political spheres education, livelihood, and policy training results - 15 training providers, 23 empanelled courses, Rajasthan were described in detail in Meera Mitra’s and every institution is accountable. promotes choice and accountability across 5,100 footfalls at 55 career awareness melas (fests), a book ‘Breaking Through: India’s Stories of Beating the private and public sectors. To translate total of 2,000 youth trained, average dropout rates Odds on Poverty’. Nandan Nilekani and Viral Shah, policy into practice, we engage with policy as low as 9.5% and an average salary of Rs 9,566. We in their book ‘Rebooting India – Realizing a Billion and opinion leaders through research, pilot are grateful to our partners, Michael and Susan Dell Aspirations’, recommended CCS’ voucher idea to projects and advocacy. Foundation, Government of Maharashtra, TATA Motors ensure inclusive education in India. and HDFC Bank. We also moved to the advocacy phase and published an implementation toolkit to serve as Finally, we continued to push the ideas of a “how to guide” for agencies willing to replicate the competition, choice and market-based policies. We model. This was launched by the Principal Secretary, launched a portal “India before 91”, held a conference Department of Welfare-SC/ST/Minority Communities, to celebrate the work of S V Raju and partnered with Government of Delhi. CCS was invited by the Rajasthan Cato Institute and Livemint.com for Indianliberals. Government to explore the possibility of replicating in. 300 students and 28 journalists graduated from the components of Vikalp in its skill development our public policy courses and our Caravan programs. covered 2,380 students across 20 colleges this year. We’ve successfully entered the formal curriculum Among our other policy wins were the Delhi of St Xavier’s, Mumbai, National Law School, government adopting our centralised Bangalore and Pandit Dindayal Petroleum Institute, lottery idea for the 25% reservations Gandhinagar where we offered 3-4 credit courses under the RTE Act, the UP Government engaging over 60 students. providing funding for uniforms and textbooks for the kids covered by this On behalf of the CCS team, I would like to 25% reservation, the Rajasthan thank all our donors, partners (within High Court vindicating our stand the government and private sector), that there will be no more students, alumni and well-wishers for evictions of street entrepreneurs all their support. and the acceptance of two of our recommendations on Luis Miranda contract enforcement by the Chairman Department of Industry Policy and Promotion.

2 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 3 President’s Message SUPPORT CCS What are the three things that make me proud of I was actually abroad during our flagship education and mindset/ideas change. Through research, pilot IN OUR MISSION being at CCS? Chairman Luis Miranda has talked conference, School Choice National Conference in projects and advocacy, we work on specific policy about the work achievements of CCS during the year; December. Board members Amit Kaushik, Gurcharan change and through Academy programs, we work Your financial support helps let’s focus on the rest of CCS and the environs in which Das, Luis Miranda and Premila Nazareth have actively on ideas change. Thanks to the support of Nandan Centre for Civil Society (CCS) it functions. participated in these events and encouraged them to Nilekani, Academy is now the biggest team at CCS- advance its mission of social be the leaders of their programs. CCS and I are truly India’s ideas shall change. change through public policy. We evolved and deepened a collaborative leadership blessed to have such a great leadership team and the By giving to CCS today, you are model of governance. We have been thinking about Board. This clarity of the vision and mission has been ensuring that each individual my succession plan and have been trying different instrumental in shaping our overall strategy as well in India leads a life of choice models, including hiring a COO from outside or I am sure you have noticed the re-articulation of the as annual goals. The challenge for a think tank is to in personal, economic and promoting one from inside. Through these experiences CCS purpose/vision statement: Each individual leads find a right balance between planned work and on- political spheres and every and dialogues, what evolved as a life of choice in personal, demand work. If it leans too much towards planned institution is accountable. an effective governance model is Each individual leads a life of economic and political work then it would not be able to take advantage of that of collaborative leadership: all choice in personal, economic spheres and every institution changes in governments and their priorities and the All donations to Centre for five department heads and I make and political spheres and every is accountable. In short, changes in public opinion and discourse. If it focuses Civil Society are tax exempt up the Management Group (MG) institution is accountable. each individual leads a life of too much on responding to extant circumstances, under Section 80 G of Income and all organizational decisions are choice and every institution then it runs the danger of losing its focus on its core Tax Act, India taken by the MG. Moreover, we are moving towards is accountable. It does not say free enterprise or purpose. We are proud that we have been able to find each department developing an ‘autonomy contract’ free markets, or laissez faire, not even a good balance between inspiration and strategy and Promote SCHOOL CHOICE with me that extends the areas of autonomy with limited government, individual , -- between spontaneity and predictability. Though of to ensure that all children clear performance, including fund raising targets. the terms that are commonly used to describe liberal course, this is always a work in progress. in India receive quality or libertarian think tanks around the world. We have education of their choice. I am particularly grateful to the five department come to view those ideas as means to the goal of We hope you are as proud of our achievements as we heads for taking this journey together: Amit Chandra individual choice and institutional accountability are—they have been made possible only with your Advocate for greater (Advocacy), Baishali Bomjan (Development & which remains our core purpose. continued support. Our sincere gratitude for putting LIVELIHOOD FREEDOM Strategy), Manoj Mathew (Operations & Outreach), your confidence in CCS to advance social change for the​ rural and urban Rohan Joshi (Research) and The mission statement talks about promoting choice through public policy. poor by eradicating Samta Arora (Academy). They and accountability across public and private sectors in market entry and exit have represented CCS at many the areas of our focus through research, pilot projects, May the year bring each individual a life of CHOICE! barriers. national and international and advocacy. The areas of focus are in two buckets- forums. They have together -policy domains and policy training. The policy Parth J Shah Involve, engage and made it possible for me to domains that we currently focus on are education President connect students & be just a regular and livelihoods, and policy training includes all the influencers to DEVELOP participant in all work of CCS Academy (policy courses, internships, NEW LEADERS WITH NEW the major public colloquiums and conferences). A concise way to IDEAS through training in events of CCS; think about the work of CCS is through policy change public policy.

4 Table of Contents

POLICY WINS Regulatory Barriers to Micro, Small & 20 Building momentum for 28 ORGANISATIONAL WINS Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) New Education Policy Vikalp - Skill Voucher model adopted in 09 CCS in Government Education Taskforce in 45 Central and State Government Schemes Model Rules on Implementation of 20 2380 Students across 20 Colleges discuss 29 two States - Karnataka Jnana Aayoga (KJA) Street Vendors Act (SVA) 2014 ‘Why is India Poor’? Delhi Government adopts CCS’s Centralised 10 CCS in Government Education Taskforce 46 Lottery Idea for 25% EWS Admissions under Property Rights of Street Vendors 20 300 Students and 28 Journalists graduate 30 in two States - Delhi Dialogue Commission RTE Act from our public policy course (DDC) UnpackED: The Black Box of Indian Uttar Pradesh Reimbursements for 11 School Education Reform Launched 21 David Friedman’s India Tour 32 CCS Public Policy Courses part of Formal 47 25% Reservations Curriculum of three Leading Universities New Public Management 21 First Law & Conference in India 33 Protecting Livelihood Freedom of 12 - Liberty & Society Series 9 Online Outreach 48 Street Enterpreneurs Honoring India’s Liberal Giant SV Raju 34 Indianliberals.in Partners with 22 Media Outreach 49 Central Government picks two Key 13 Cato Institute and Livemint.com 12th JEEVIKA 36 recommendations on Contract Enforcement - Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival Accolades & Recognition 50 Repeal Laws: Delhi and Maharashtra 23 IDEA WINS School Choice National Conference 2015 38 Partners 51 Criminalizing Cheque Bounce Cases: 23 Best Practices in Regulation of Private 15 An Effective Remedy? Online engagement of Hindibhasis 39 Team 52 Education through Azadi.me PEOPLE WINS Trustee | Advisors 54 CCS New Education Policy Blueprint 16 India before 91 Launched 39 2000 Youth Trained: Vikalp Skill Voucher Pilot 25 Scholars 55 Study of Private School Regulation in 17 INSTITUTIONAL WINS Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Inclusion model for 25% reservation under 26 RTE established with 150 Economically Amplifying the Voice of Budget 41 Forest-Based Bamboo Trade in Mendha 18 Weaker Section Students in two schools Private Schools Lekha and Jamguda in Delhi Freedom Champions from Pakistan, India, 42 Improving India’s Ranking in World Bank’s 19 12 Members of Parliament engaged 27 China & more gather in Malaysia in 2016: Asia Ease of Doing Business Report with CCS ideas Liberty Forum | Think Tank Start Up Training

6 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 7 POLICY wins Vikalp - Skill Voucher Model Adopted in Policy Wins Central and State Government Schemes MAHARASHTRA

Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) invited CCS to join its PMU to provide inputs on overall strategy for skill development under the Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance, Government of Maharashtra. BARTI has picked up many elements from Vikalp model to introduce the same in other non-Vikalp skill development programs of the department. Some key design elements picked up are:

• Centralized Facilitation of Students: Online CENTRAL GOVERNMENT portal to share information on skilling programs and to manage ongoing application process for The Ministry of Skill Development and prospective trainees from all over Maharashtra Entrepreneurship introduced the idea of Skill Gift Cards in July 2016 in collaboration with the • Performance - Linked Payments to Training Central Bank of India. CCS was invited along Providers: Introduced a phased payment with National Skills Development Corporation system to include outcome parameters such as (NSDC), Associated Chambers of Commerce training completion, certification, placements of India (ASSOCHAM), Michael and Susan Dell and tracking including trainee feedback as Foundation (MSDF), Central Bank and select one of the parameters for payment to training industry representatives to brainstorm on the providers idea of Skill Gift Cards. Eventually however, the program was put on hold and not rolled out as envisaged on pilot basis in select geographies.

8 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 9 POLICY wins a. Revising the amount of reimbursements • Specification of the income limit for EWS made to schools for the 25% reservations Delhi Government at Rs. 1 lakh: Most states are yet to define such Uttar Pradesh under section 12 (1) (c) of the act and, an income criteria for identifying EWS, which CCS adopts CCS’s regards crucial to ensuring admissions to ‘truly b. Creating a scientific formula for calculating deserving’ candidates. Reimbursements for the reimbursement amount. Centralised Lottery • Definition of ‘disadvantaged group’: The 25% Reservations The government of Uttar Pradesh had earlier circular clearly defines and delimits the category, fixed the reimbursement amount to INR 450 Idea for 25% EWS and therefore makes it easier for schools to verify Following our colloquium on Education: per pupil per month. Following the roundtable claims. Philosophy, Policy and Practice, CCS was and the recommendations by CCS however, Admissions under RTE Act invited to co-host a roundtable on the the Government has approved supplementary • Relaxation of the neighbourhood criteria: implementation of the RTE Act in Uttar Pradesh. reimbursements of INR 400 for uniforms and a 3 key concerns unique to CCS’ recommendations on CCS considers the relaxation of the neighbourhood The roundtable, held in Lucknow concluded further INR 150 for textbooks in addition to the the implementation of the RTE Act are highlighted in criteria to be a significant game-changer in the way with two key recommendations for fostering the base amount of INR 450. The Government Order the circular issued by the Delhi Government on the forward, especially if the 25% reservation is to be implementation of the RTE in its true spirit: in this regard is underway. admission of EWS category students: implemented along the lines of a voucher system.

10 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 11 POLICY wins Protecting Livelihood Freedom of Street Central Government picks two key Entrepreneurs Recommendations on Contract Enforcement We filed a petition in the Rajasthan High Court to by CCS and submit it to the Court. The meeting In 2015, we produced two research papers Two key recommendations were picked by the stop eviction of street vendors and to implement report was presented to the High Court which titled ‘Improving Contract Enforcement Rank Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion the Street Vendors Act 2014. The Rajasthan unequivocally stated that there would be no for India’ and ‘Criminalising Cheque Bounce (DIPP) - merging process fee and court fee, and High Court ruled in favor of the street vendors more evictions on the field and that status quo Cases’, and two policy briefs titled ‘Improving issuing digitally signed judgments online. These putting a stay on eviction and asked the state shall be maintained. Contract Enforceability in India’ and ‘Pecuniary were included in the 2016 Business Action Plan government to prepare a comprehensive plan Jurisdiction’. for the states by the DIPP. regarding street vending in the state. However, the judgment had one technical flaw as it noted that the Central Act was not notified specifically for the state of Rajasthan and although the state law also does not allow it, they continued RESEARCH PAPER RESEARCH PAPER eviction. We filed a petition at the Supreme Court requesting clarification that the Central Act be applicable to all states. The Court subsequently asked Jaipur Municipal Corporation to hold a meeting with aggrieved parties and to prepare Improving an action plan, which incorporates several ideas Contract Criminalising Enforcement Cheque Rank Bounce Cases for India

12 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 13 idea wins Idea Wins Best Practices in the Regulation of Private Education In India, reforms in the regulation of private schools have been debated on the basis of universalizing access to education while recognizing the increasing role of private sector in enabling that access, particularly for the poor. However, the experience so far has been that the extant regulations create entry and exit barriers in the provision of education by entrepreneurs there by reducing competition and keeping the cost of education high. It is in this context that CCS undertook a comprehensive research study to better understand how governments in other parts of the world leverage private investments in education to foster improved access and outcomes for the benefits of the society in general. This study examines three cases of best practices in the regulation of private enterprise in education from around the world:

1. Regulation of Hagwon / supplemental education centers in South Korea,

2. Per-child funding model in the Netherlands, and

3. Punjab Education Foundation in Pakistan.

Download research paper here.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 15 idea wins

The document identifies three major challenges that the new policy should address: A Study of Private School Regulation 1  Missing motivation for performance in in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Government schools, The study focuses on existing legislation The matrix was used to identify and categorize 2 Low economic efficiency of public governing private schools in two of the largest existing legislation governing private schools in expenditure in education, and states in India – Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. UP and Rajasthan with support from primary data An initial stakeholder analysis was conducted obtained through interviews with private school 3 Expanding private schools amid an uncertain through interviews with school owners in Delhi owners from the two states. Representatives of and counterproductive regulatory framework. to develop a broad outline of the processes the education department in both states were involved in starting and running a school. Based interviewed regarding the implementation The NEP policy blueprint envisions an education on the initial stakeholder analysis, a detailed details and local government rationale behind system that is pillared by five basic principles: matrix of the processes involved and the laws the laws that were identified to be governing the that govern these processes was developed. operation of private schools. • Fund Students, Not Schools

• Promote Autonomy, Not Control

CCS’ New Education • Track Outcomes, Not Inputs

Policy Blueprint • Reward Performance, Not Compliance

The New Education Policy (NEP) blueprint creates • Encourage Innovation, Not Uniformity a detailed framework for policy in India that will improve choice in education, provide autonomy The policy blueprint suggests multiple inter- for education institutions and foster community- connected reforms in detail based on evidence based innovations. The policy blueprint urges from around the world that would increase policymakers to consider the current status of school choice by restructuring current inefficient education in India that points to increased private funding models and instituting accountability expenditure on education across income groups systems based on performance. and overall low levels of learning outcomes while formulating the New Education Policy. Download blueprint here.

16 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015/162015-16 17 17 idea wins Improving India’s Ease of Doing Business Ranking in World Bank’s Tracking 32 State Rankings on Ease of Doing Business Report the 98 Point Action Plan

CCS submitted its policy recommendations We launched a dynamic website to the parliamentary standing committee www.easeofdoingbusiness.org on 1 November constituted to look into the progress made in to track the progress made by state governments terms of the ‘ease of doing business’ efforts by on the 98 point action plan for business reform the government followed by a presentation laid down by DIPP. Of the 32 states and Union in the month of September. The standing territories (UTs) evaluated, no state has been committee submitted its report in the able to secure a position in the ‘Leader’ category, parliament on December 21, which was i.e. completed 75% of the reforms in the Forest-Based Bamboo Trade in subsequently presented in both houses 98-point action plan. Seven are in the of the parliament, giving due credit to category of ‘aspiring leaders’. Twenty- CCS for several recommendations. five states and UTs are in Mendha Lekha and Jamguda ‘acceleration The committee engaged all required’ This research paper examines the concerned ministries and category, i.e. implementation of the Forest Rights Act departments including key completed 2006 in the context of furthering access to authorities of the Department less than 50% bamboo as a minor forest produce to forest of Industrial Policy and of the reforms. dwelling communities in Mendha Lekha Promotion (DIPP), the apex 16 are in the village of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra body responsible for category of ‘jump- and Jamguda village of Kalahandi, Orissa. improving India’s rankings start needed’. Gujarat The study documents the issues faced by the which has consented to tops the list with 71%. villagers in claiming community forest rights the recommendations to be and in harvesting and sale of bamboo, along implemented in the days ahead. with the business practices adopted by both the villages. You will find our recommendations Ease of Doing Business Rank here. Download paper here. 2015 2016 Rank Rank

18 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 19 idea wins Regulatory Barriers Model Rules on New Public to Micro, Small & Medium Implementation of Street Enterprises (MSMEs) Management Vendors Act (SVA) 2014 Liberty & Society Series 9 This paper studies the overall effect of We created a document outlining rules for the business, policy, and legal/regulatory implementation of SVA and submitted it to environment on the growth of MSMEs, and finds the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty significant ‘over-legislation’, both at the central Alleviation, GOI and to the State Urban and state level, coupled with the scattered nature Development Ministries of Rajasthan and Delhi of regulations resulting in high entry barriers, UnpackED: The Black Box overwhelming tax and labour compliances, and You will find the rules here and our proposed lack of a defined exit process. It concludes with amendments to the Delhi government rules here. of Indian School Education a set of policy recommendations to improve the Reform Launched situation, and correspondingly India’s rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index. India’s educational quandary has been a subject of significant public debate over the last decade, Download research paper here. particularly in the wake of the RTE Act, a burgeoning private sector and the dwindling learning outcomes amongst its students. There has also been significant debate on, and a diversification of, interventions that have in the recent past, Property Rights of Street Vendors attempted to address or remedy this persisting crisis. Authored by Karthik Dinne, a CCS graduate, This monograph by Parth J Shah, President, CCS This study examines the evolution of property rights for UnpackED: The Black Box of Indian School explores how principles of business management Street Vendors in India, tracing the numerous judgments Education presents a comprehensive overview can be applied to the field of public administration, of the Supreme Court and High Court to recognize their of these many dialogues and interventions, thereby increasing accountability, transparency rights and shape up a statutory regime. It finds that highlighting the inefficacy and inadequacy of and efficiency in government functioning. It although the situation improved with respect to the state capacity as the critical constraint to effective explores the core principles of NPM and argues recognition of their rights, a lot remains to be done. reform in education in the country. The book was that these principles, when well-applied, help launched at our annual School Choice National create a system where the public sector functions Download research paper here. conference in December 2015. more efficiently and is accountable to the people.

Download publication here. Download publication here.

20 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 21 idea wins

Indianliberals.in Partners with Repeal Laws: Criminalizing Cheque Cato Institute and Livemint.com Delhi and Maharashtra Bounce Cases: IndianLiberals.in is a digital archive of Indian Experiences with Central Planning’ as part of our Post Phase I of the ‘Repeal of Laws’ project An Effective Remedy? liberal works. This year, as part of our ongoing larger outreach. wherein of the 100 central laws suggested efforts to source and share rare materials that by us, 23 were repealed, we rolled out Phase document our country’s rich liberal tradition, We have also collaborated with two leading II of the project identifying 30 laws for Delhi we digitized 15,000 pages including material in online publications: ‘.org’ - Cato and 25 laws for Maharashtra. These laws were Marathi. We also uploaded 10 videos: interviews Institute’s online library, and ‘Mint on Sunday’, the identified on the basis of them being obsolete with some of the leading liberal voices in the weekend edition of Livemint.com to syndicate and redundant, having outlived their purpose, or country - D R Pendse, Jagdish Bhagwati and material from our portal on a monthly and posing an impediment to material growth and/ Deepak Lal and hosted four talks in Delhi and fortnightly basis respectively. or development or having been subsumed by a Pune on the ‘Indian Liberal Tradition’ and ‘India’s subsequent legislation.

Pursuant to the research and drafting of the report, we contacted the local governments of the two states. For Maharashtra, of the 25 laws that we suggested for repeal, 19 were instantly agreed upon by the principal secretary with the promise that the same will be taken up in the coming assembly. This paper reviews whether criminalising cheque bounce cases has been an effective remedy. It also For Delhi, we had a meeting with the Aam Aadmi studies the penalties imposed in other countries Party - the ruling party in state government who against cheque bounce offenders and analyses recommended that we also engage with the their effective implementation in India. home ministry as most of the laws fall under the central government jurisdiction. Download research paper here.

Download papers for Delhi laws here and Maharashtra laws here.

22 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 23 people wins 5100 footfalls at 55 career awareness melas, a total of 2000 Youth Trained: 2000 youth trained, with an average dropout rate as low People Wins Vikalp Skill Voucher Pilot as 9.5% and an average salary of Rs 9,566. The Vikalp Skill Voucher Pilot benefitted 700 beneficiaries An implementation toolkit which serves as a “how with 62% placement rate in 2014 - 15. To further to guide” for agencies willing to replicate the model strengthen the aim of demonstrating measurable has been developed and was launched by the Pr. impact of the voucher model in the skilling ecosystem, Secretary, Department of Welfare - SC / ST / Minority our commitment grew stronger for 2015 - 16. The project communities, Government of Delhi on 4 April. The event impacted 1200 beneficiaries with 65% placement rate. saw participation of over 70 key stakeholders from The three - year pilot has demonstrated phenomenal government agencies, and multilateral and consulting results - 15 Training Providers, 23 empanelled courses, organizations working in the skilling space.

24 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 25 people wins 12 Members of millions of poor children affordable education of their choice.

Parliament engaged Watch video here. with CCS ideas Gaurav Gogoi, politician from Indian National Congress Party in Assam also made a speech Meenakshi Lekhi, MP in the Lok Sabha from in the parliament in support of budget private New Delhi constituency, National Spokesperson schools. of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Supreme Court lawyer attended two programs and took Vijay Goel, former BJP Delhi-unit President questions on Ease of Doing Business in India and politician made a speech on pecuniary from us to raise in parliament sessions. jurisdiction and raised a question on street Inclusion model for 25% reservation vending in support of our work in the sector Kirron Kher, Member of Parliament from during the parliament session. under RTE established with 150 Economically Weaker Chandigarh constituency made a strong case for budget private schools in the parliament session Mahesh Giri, social activist and member of Section Students in two schools in Delhi and highlighted school closure under the Right Bharatiya Janata Party went through our to Education Act as a major threat to providing presentation on education reforms and We completed a two year pilot, PATANG building holding 9 parent workshops; facilitating 3 forwarded it to MHRD Minister Smriti Irani an effective implementation model for the teacher training forums along with sustained for her consideration. academic and social inclusion of economically ongoing mentoring; and interacting with 35 weaker section students admitted under RTE organisations over the year, for knowledge Udit Raj, Lok Sabha MP, representing section 12(1)(c) in two schools in Delhi. This pilot, exchange, partnering and curriculum/training the North-west Delhi constituency; in partnership with Tech Mahindra Foundation, support. Over the last two years Patang has Rajeev Chandra Shekhar, Rajya Sabha established Patang centres in two schools seen a visible change in the two intervention MP; Baijyant J Panda, Lok Sabha MP; catering to 150 EWS students in standards 1-5. schools in terms of positive attitudinal change Anu Aga, Rajya Sabha MP; Vinod Kumar, of teachers, better academic performance of Advocate and MP; Derek O Brian, Key highlights included conducting academic students, more proactive and supportive school television personality and MP for All India assessments for the 25% (EWS) and 75% (Non- management, and increased awareness among Trinamool Congress, and Shashi Tharoor, EWS) student groups, enabling us to analyse parents. An implementation toolkit is currently MP and former diplomat participated in learning levels of both groups and gauge underway. The toolkit will be disseminated our policy roundtables, conferences and the impact of our project; collaborating with among key stakeholders and the government leadership summit this year. Amnesty International to hold combined for adoption of the model and scale. workshops for all school and Patang teachers;

26 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 27 people wins Building momentum for the 2380 Students across 20 colleges discuss New Education ‘Why is India Poor’? Policy FREEDOM CARAVAN visited 20 colleges this ideology. In both Mumbai and Delhi, over 50% of year, reaching out to 2,380 students across Delhi, the students were centrist in their leanings. Even In November - December 2015 we brought Mumbai and Pune. more striking was the fact that a large percentage together 30 policy makers and education of students (30% in Mumbai and 35% in Delhi) experts during two roundtables organized Among the colleges visited, were Hansraj were left-leaning. jointly with CABE member Anirban Ganguli’s College, BML Munjal University, Jai Hind College, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation NMIMS, and Government Law College. The talks, and Brookings Institute in Delhi. A joint letter focusing on the theme ‘Why is India Poor?’ were and recommendations have been submitted to delivered by Amit Varma, two-time winner of the the MHRD Minister. Bastiat Prize for Journalism and Prashant Narang of iJustice, along with the members of the CCS In February 2016, 1500 school owners of our Academy team. National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) participated in a demonstration at Jantar Students also took our World’s Smallest Political Mantar, New Delhi and submitted a Charter Quiz to map where they stood on political of Demands to the Prime Minister’s Office and MHRD Minister to incorporate in the NEP draft. NISA also made a presentation to the NEP drafting committee set up by MHRD as well as met with the MHRD Minister Smriti Irani in the state of Telengana and submitted our reform ideas.

CCS participated in eight state level consultations as well as made a presentation to the drafting committee in Delhi.

28 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 29 people wins

courses included Shreekant Gupta, Delhi School of accountability in India - Prashant Agarwal 300 Students and 28 Journalists graduate Economics; Amir Ullah Khan, Bill & Melinda Gates embarked upon a cycling tour from Delhi to Foundation; Gurcharan Das, Author and Public Lucknow in an effort to bring to the forefront from our public policy course Intellectual; Nikhil Mehra, Advocate, Supreme people’s expectations from the New Education Court; Swati Chawla, PhD Candidate, University Policy; four alumni were selected for the 12th We conducted six courses as a part of our Bangalore and Pandit Dindayal Petroleum of Virginia; Mohit Satyanand, Consultant; Barun South Asian Economics Students meet held ìpolicy Certificate Course on Public Policy in Institute, Gandhinagar engaging 300 students in Mitra, Liberty Institute, and renowned author in Colombo in December and four attended partnership with St Stephen’s college, Delhi total. On an average, we found that our programs and economist, David Freidman among many advanced programs in Slovenia, Germany and School of Economics, Shiv Nadar University have been successful in shifting the opinion of others. USA; Jai Vipra won an international research and Teach for India, and three Credit Courses ~45% students toward a more liberal approach competition; five alumni joined Students for with St Xavier’s, Mumbai, National Law School, to solving social problems. Our faculty for the Our alumni have been active in advancing their Liberty as Local Coordinators and 15 alumni intellectual journey and strengthening the contributed to SpontaneousOrder.in, the official movement for people’s choice and institutional blog of the Centre.

Public policy was an The discussions helped I don’t know why area unventured into me to challenge I attended this earlier, but after these 4 preconceived notions workshop as I was days of intensive sets of about addressing not A whole new side of The best aspect Now I am equipped discussions,“ games, documentaries socially,“ politically and supporter.“ But I was curious the coin was flashed of the course with better knowledge and talks, I’ve emerged with a economically relevant issues. to know what arguments in front of me. A new was how the about functioning of new perspective on policies for the Ipolicy ideology places innovative the ‘liberals’ are going to approach, a liberal speakers were governments, private public & the direction they might approaches to addressing these put forth. Generally I do “ one and a desire to see “ so open to our “ institutions and civil be thought about in. The idea of issues at the forefront. I will also not like to waste my time beyond the obvious, question ideas and opinions, with societies. I, now understand using games as analogies to public now look at people as wealth discussing privatization govt. policies defining market rules no answer being right or that sound policies are more policy formulation – FASCINATING! and opportunities to spurring and free market. During and understanding nonprofit wrong! In terms of topic, the important than the decisions The concept of having the economic growth. Although I workshop, sessions started institutions and communities. best aspect of the course taken with ‘just’ good intention. government help provision instead fell that certain visions of ipolicy with surprise, continued with Literally, I have learned to unlearn was touching upon public I also have a different approach of interference in production, are idealistic; still thinking with a curiosity and ended with and grasp policy making in a policies and economics in towards subsidies.” or producing themselves is also liberal framework will be a sound agreement.” better way. Thank you.” depth.” completely new and interesting.” starting point for bringing about lasting social change.” ADARSH BASER AVANTIKA SHARAN MUKESH SENGAR ipolicy for Young Leaders Economics and Public Correspondent ANUVA AGARWAL BHAVYA BISHNOI SHAILENDRA SINGH Nirma University Policy Credit Course, PDPU NDTV ipolicy for Young Leaders iPolicy for Young Leaders Sr. Reporter Shiv Nadar University St Stephen’s College Dainik Jagran

30 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 31 people wins David Friedman’s India Tour First Law & Liberty Conference in India CCS in collaboration with the Federalist Society Supreme Court of India; Shubho Roy from the for Law and Public Policy Studies, Jindal National Institute for Public Finance and Policy; Global Law School (JGLS) and Jindal School of Arghya Sengupta, Director of Vidhi Centre for Law Government and Public Policy (JSGP) hosted a and Policy; Prof. James Huffman, Erskine Wood Sr. two-day international conference on ‘Law and Professor of Law, Lewis and Clarke Law School; Liberty’ at the O. P. Jindal Global University on Prof. James Kelly, President of the Solidarity 18-19 September. Center for Law and Justice, USA were among the 16 speakers featured during the conference. Dr. C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O. P. Jindal Global University (JGU); Prof. Michael Davis, For more details on the conference, please see: Distinguished Visiting Professor, JGLS & Professor, Media Coverage | Photos on Facebook | Conference Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong; Shruti Videos Rajgopalan, Asst. Prof of Economics, State University of New York; Madhavi Divan, Advocate,

David Friedman – a libertarian theorist, legal for dialogue and relationship-building. We also scholar, physicist, and one of the world’s most organized two public talks – on ‘Law without eloquent economists, visited India in the month the State’ at the University of Chicago Centre of June. To honour his contributions and foster in Delhi, and on ‘Digital Content, Intellectual a vibrant dialogue on the Indian contemporary, Property, and & Innovation’ at IIM, Bangalore – we organised a series of events in Delhi, Mumbai with a total outreach of over 500 individuals from and Bangalore in partnership with FICCI, BPAC, the academia, media, corporate community, UChicago and IIM, Bangalore. The events youth and civil society. brought together dignitaries and intellectuals

32 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 33 people wins Honoring India’s Liberal Giant SV Raju

In partnership with the Friedrich Naumann and President of Indian Liberal Group who Foundation, we hosted an academic passed away earlier in 2015. Seven authors conference, ‘–Past, Present including Seetha, Senior Journalist, Surjit and Future’ on 20 November 2015 in New Delhi. Bhalla, Chairman & MD of Oxus Investments, R Shashi Tharoor, Indian politician and public Jagannathan, Editor-in-Chief, Firstpost, Parth J intellectual, delivered the keynote address at Shah, President, CCS, Barun Mitra, Founder & the conference which saw the participation of Director, Liberty Institute, J P Narayan, Founder, over 150 delegates including leading opinion Lok Satta Party, Jerry Rao, ex-CEO, MPhasis, and makers, political party members, think tank and Nitin Pai, Founder, Takshashila, presented their NGO leaders, corporates, scholars, researchers papers. The papers presented at the conference and students. The conference was held to will be published as a festschrift in May 2016. honor S V Raju, Secretary of Swatantra Party The abstracts of the papers can be accessed here

34 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 35 people wins A dedicated website on Ease of Doing Business (www.easeofdoingbusiness.org) was also launched during the festival.

The winners of the 12th Jeevika festival can be accessed here

th Centre for Civil Society also launched We were told 12 JEEVIKA ‘EduDoc | Stories of Eduprenerus’, a new initiative Key Highlights of the Festival that the film under Jeevika. EduDoc is conceptualized as could not be - Asia Livelihood an international short film competition that The festival received more than 200 media mentions in print, radio exempted from Documentary Festival attempts to highlight stories of and from and television. You can access the media citations here “ the certification entrepreneurs in education. EduDoc received 22 process - exemptions The 12th Jeevika : Asia Livelihood Documentary entries, out of which one chosen documentary The festival was also marked for the controversy surrounding ‘Caste are normal practice for Festival witnessed screening of 25 documentaries was screened at the 12thJeevika Festival. on the Menu Card’, a film that sought to bring forth concerns of social such festivals - due to the from 30 October - 1 November at Siri Fort inclusion/exclusion through food as a site and practice of caste. The ‘current political situation Auditorium, New Delhi. These screenings were followed by three panel film eventually could not be screened at the festival because it failed over the beef-ban issue’.” discussions on the concerns of ‘Law, Liberty & to secure an exemption from the certification process. With 16 international productions & 7 student Livelihood’, ‘Repeal Laws : Clean India, Clean MANOJ MATHEW documentaries, the Festival this year not only Statutes’ and on ‘Ease of Doing Business’. 25 other documentaries that explored critical socio-economic Festival Director received entries from Asia but also from other Shailaja Chandra, policy analyst and former concerns were screened as a part of the festival. parts of the world, including Europe, the United Chief Secretary of Government of Delhi; Raghav States of America, Burma, Myanmar & China. Chadha, spokesperson for Aam Aadmi Party; The festival indeed saw global participation Gopal Krishna Agarwal, National Spokesperson of and reach-a prime highlight of the event. 6 BJP and Anil Khaitan, Chairman of SNK Corp. were documentaries curated by Al Jazeera were also some of the panelists. screened at the Festival.

BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY SHORT BEST STUDENT STUDENT DOCUMENTARY & EDUDOC FILM & EDITING DOCUMENTARY CINEMATOGRAPHY DOCUMENTARY JEEVIKA FREEDOM AWARD 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 Les Derniers hommes éléphants Dancing Shoes Tyres Sagar Manav Caste on the Menu Card Sylvester Bhaiya – Last of the Elephant Men by Rishebh Batnagar by Kyaw Myo Lwin by Tanumoy Bose by Ananyaa Gaur, Anurup Khillare, Atul Anand, Reetika by Harsh Vardhan Singh By Daniel Ferguson and Arnaud Bouquet and Jogavindra S. Khera Revathy, Subramanian & Vaseem Chaudhary

36 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 37 people wins School Choice National Conference 2015 Online engagement India before 91 of Hindibhasis Launched through Azadi.me

Our portal, Azadi.me had a 35% increase in web visitors (60,236 users) and a 2.3% increase in returning visitors (from 19.4% last year).

Our social media reach almost doubled (from 41,544 in 2014 to 84,233 in 2015). Almost half of India is born after the 1991 economic reforms. To make sure that they We had over 42 media mentions and 16 understand the lessons of history, on the 25th articles syndicated in leading newspapers and anniversary of the reforms, we launched a magazines. project to bring to light human interest stories from across the country highlighting life under the license raj, as well as the crucial role that liberalization played in improving the lives I thought liberalism is of our people. The reforms were proof of the The 7th annual School Choice National Conference was leaders. The conference was streamed live, watched a byproduct of western acceptance of the value of , held on 19 December 2015. The conference brought by an online audience of more than 100 people on the ideology. But to my whose importance we need to continue to to the forefront critical contemporary concerns in same day. The event also made real-time social media “ surprise, liberal ideas were advocate. This research seeks to provide a education- particularly regarding learning outcomes, updates using #SCNC2015 giving an opportunity very much present in this country greater understanding of the long-term impact the ‘Right to Education’ and the ‘Right to Learning,’ and to those not present at the venue to participate itself. This I come to know after of liberal policy reforms as well as the value that school autonomy, making robust recommendations in discussions and debates as they progressed in subscribing and reading azadi posts. open markets have and continue to bring into for the New Education Policy. The conference was the conference. Professor Kamal Sharma, Professor Thank you.” our lives in contemporary times. The event was facilitated by 19 speakers as panelists in 4 core Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, Ms. EktaSodha, Ms. Premila organized in partnership with FICCI and Jairam thematic sessions. The event drew 250 participants Nazareth Satyanand and AmitavViramani were few of VIVEK JAISWAL Ramesh was our keynote speaker at the launch working in the field of education, including the panelists. Surat ceremony which drew participation from over educationists, policy-analysts, school principals, 120 individuals. teachers, researchers along with journalists and NGO You can watch the conference proceedings here

38 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 39 institutional wins Amplifying the Voice of Budget Private Schools The National Independent Schools Alliance and S Madhusudan (Telangana association), (NISA) was legally registered this year. It has Treasurer. CCS also partnered with Education members from 21 states representing over 36,400 World, India’s leading education magazine to rank schools and 9,354,800 students. The elected the top 25 Budget Private Schools (BPS) in their representatives are: Kulbhushan Sharma (Haryana annual survey of private schools in the country. Association), President; Rajesh Malhotra (Delhi Association), Vice president-Advocacy; Ekta Sodha You can read the complete story here. (Gujarat Association), Vice President-Quality

Institutional Wins 40 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 41 institutional wins Freedom Champions from Pakistan, India, China & more gather in Malaysia Asia Liberty Forum

In February 2016, CCS in partnership with Atlas Event highlights included speed networking Network and Institute for Democracy and designed to help attendees expand their contacts; Economic Affairs organised the fourth annual training workshops to develop skills in Asia Liberty Forum in Malaysia. More than 250 marketing, social media, and entrepreneurship; people attended the conference, representing a documentary screening of India Awakes; 28 countries: Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Hong and the Elevator Pitch Competition, in which Kong, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Australia, participants present their 60-second pitch with Tajikistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Singapore, the chance to win a prize. Think Tank Start Up Training the United States, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Japan, The winner of the Asia Liberty Award was also The training programme drew 21 individuals fledgling think tanks in Asia the tools to build a South Korea, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, announced at the conference. Nepal-based from 14 organisations representing 10 coutries firm foundation, with an understanding of what Sweden, Somalia, and Portugal. ‘Samriddhi, The Prosperity Foundation’ won the in Asia graduated from this training in February it takes to be successful in their countries and award for its ‘Econ-ity’ project. 2016. This training, under the banner of provides step-by-step guidelines to start a new the Atlas Leadership Academy, aims to give free market think tank.

42 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 43 organisational wins Organisational CCS IN GOVERNMENT EDUCATION TASKFORCE IN TWO STATES by the Government of Karnataka to engage experts in policy definition and innovative knowledge interventions for various problems of development and governance. KJA has decided Wins to undertake a policy formulation exercise to develop a holistic and all-encompassing policy for forward-looking and futuristic education – encompassing school, college, and professional- level education along with research and innovation development.

The task group also came up with a draft framework for the education policy which has been submitted to the government with the following ideas:

Karnataka Jnana • Private schools can co-exist and equally contribute in the provisioning of education, Aayoga (KJA) thus enhancing competition and choice for the future student

Parth J Shah, President, CCS was invited to • Teachers must be selected as per qualification be a member of the Karnataka Jnana Aayoga standards and on merit task group which is co-chaired by Mohan Das Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education and • Existing colleges and universities need to K S Rangappa, VC, Mysore University. Anurag take the lead in rolling out skill development Behar, CEO, Azim Premji Foundation and courses and spelling out pathways into several other well known policy makers and general education academicians are also members of this task group. KJA is a professional body established • Adoption of technology in higher education has to be maximized

44 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 45 organisational wins CCS IN GOVERNMENT EDUCATION TASKFORCE IN TWO STATES CCS Public Policy Courses part of the Formal • 80% students achieve grade - level Curriculum of three Leading Universities Delhi Dialogue competencies in grades 5, 8 and 10 as assessed by internal and third party After 18 years of conducting educational and New Delhi; Nikhil Mehra, Advocate, Supreme Commission (DDC) assessments outreach programs, seminars and courses in Court of India and the High Court of Delhi. liberal public policy for youth in India, CCS Jerry Johnson, Corporate Communication The Delhi Dialogue Commission was constituted • 90% students at school leaving stage are entered the formal curriculum of three leading Partner, ​Rediffusion Y&R; Luis Miranda, Former in February, 2015 as a policy advisory and research placed in higher education, employment, universities - National Law School, Bangalore, Chairman, IDFC Private Equity; Shreekant Gupta, arm of the Government of National Capital entrepreneurship, self employment St Xavier’s, Mumbai and National University of Professor, Department of Economics, Delhi Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The Education Task Force Juridical Sciences, to offer three to four credit- School of Economics, University of Delhi and was constituted under the DDC in May, 2015 to • Delhi to be among the top 3 states on third based courses with 30 to 40 hours academic Adjunct Professor, LKY School of Public Policy, advise the government on the overall vision for party assessments like NAS or any other and training engaging over 60 students. Singapore; Madhusudan Raj, Assistant Professor School Education, Higher Education and Skill 100 government schools to be among top of Economics at Veer Narmad South Gujarat Development in Delhi. Parth J Shah, President, 250 schools in Delhi Faculty for the course included Prashant Narang, University specialising in Austrian Economics; CCS was invited to join the Education Task force Lead, iJustice; Shubho Roy, Legal Consultant, Nimesh Mehta, Founder, Rockmetric - a user in the capacity of member and chairperson of • Participate in Program for International National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, analytics firm, and Parth J Shah, President, CCS. school education sub-committee. Student’s Assessment (PISA) in 2016 and Trends in Mathematics and Science Study The pedagogy and the literature were the best aspect of this course. Pedagogy because it truly followed The School Education sub-committee presented (TIMSS) in 2018 the Socratic method, thereby allowing each of us to contribute to the entire learning experience. And the its reform ideas to Arvind Kejariwal, Hon. CM, literature, not necessarily because all of it was agreeable, but because it introduced us to an alternative set Government of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, Deputy The sub-committee envisaged four key of reasoning to explain market and societal phenomena and an approach to solve society’s problems. It has CM and Minister of Education, Government of intervention areas: child focused learning and “definitely contributed to me refining and rethinking the way I look at public issues and has broadened my knowledge Delhi and Ashish Khetan, Chairperson, DDC. The guidance; head of school development; teacher base to reason well.” reform ideas were presented under a program coaching and capacity building; governance, titled “Student First School Excellence Program” transparency and performance management. ADITYA PATEL which aimed at “making every government On 13 April 2016, Government of Delhi launched Law and Public Policy Credit Course, NLS school in Delhi, the school of first choice in every a program to upgrade 54 government schools on community” with following 5 goals: a pilot basis. Some suggestions made by the DDC Education Task Force such as the idea that school • Every child is able to read and write by principals can lead the school development grade 3 as assessed by standardised process are included tests such as State Learning in this pilot. Achievement Survey (SLAS) and ASER Prashant Narang Shubho Roy Nikhil Mehra Jerry Johnson Luis Miranda Shreekant Gupta Madhusudan Raj Nimesh Mehta Parth J Shah

46 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 47 organisational wins Online Outreach Media Outreach 80% increase in Media Mentions 116120 85935 92655 71345

25.33% 20.44% ToTaL VisiToRs uniQuE VisiToRs 2014-2015 2015-2016 2014-2015 2015-2016

TOTAL VISITORS UNIQUE VISITORS www.ccs.in www.ccs.in

68.36% 49.76% 14.69%

Video Views Followers Page likes 2015 30413 2015 2817 2015 17972

apart from Video Views Followers Page likes 90 2014 18064 2014 1881 2014 15670 30 Media Coverage PR Stories of Events 200 Mentions Media reports are available online at http://ccs.in/media/all.

48 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 49 organisational wins Accolades & Recognition Partners We were featured in Technocrat Nandan All partners are crucial to CCS’ success. We are grateful for your continued support to help advance our sociologist Meera Mitra’s Nilekani, in ‘Rebooting mission of social change through public policy. recent book ‘BREAKING India–Realizing a Billion THROUGH: India’s Stories Aspirations’, his latest of Beating the Odds on book with co-authored Poverty’. The book contains with Viral Shah, “individual, representational suggests CCS’ voucher stories of innovation, idea to ensure inclusive endeavour, struggle and education in India. ‘success’,” and has dedicated chapters on our School Vouchers for Girls Pilot (Delhi) and Jeevika Livelihood Campaign (Rajasthan).

CCS was ranked 50 worldwide by the annual study conducted by the Think Tanks and Civil Society Program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2015. We are the only Indian think tank in the top 100 globally.

Earhart Foundation

50 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 51 organisational wins Team Development & Strategy Research Sajad S Santhosh S R Thomas Antony Baishali Bomjan Rohan Joshi Associate Associate, Advocacy, NISA Director Associate Director Sonu Kumar Academy Srijan Bandyopadhyay Aditi Agarwal Associate, Skills Voucher Samta Arora Manager Manager, Patang Program Senior Manager

Tarun Vats Ashish Seth Unnattee Eusebius Christo Shajan Senior Associate Senior Associate, Senior Associate, Patang Senior Associate, Skills Voucher Program Digital Marketing & E-Learning Operations & Outreach Advocacy Manoj Mathew Devendra Damle Amit Chandra Manasi Bose Director Associate Associate Director Assistant Manager

Ajay Kumar Jain Divya Agarwal Avinash Chandra Ujwal Batra Manager, Web & IT Associate Editor, Azadi.Me Program Assistant

Anamika Pathak Gaurav Arora Nidhi Bhalla Sadaf Hussain Asst. Manager, Accounts & Finance Associate Director, Advocate Assistant Manager Skills Voucher Program Bhupinder Singh Prashant Narang Daphne Vallado Manager, Admin & IT Manyata Malhotra Advocate, Ijustice Senior Associate, Associate, Patang Marketing & Alumni Menaka Thapa Associate, Operations Ritika Shah Associate Snigdha Verma Associate, Outreach

Usha Sondhi Kundu Associate, Web & IT

52 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 53 organisational wins Trustees Advisors Scholars

Luis Miranda Parth J Shah Amit Kaushik Ankur Shah Ajay Shah Deepak Lal Geeta Gandhi Kingdon Isher Judge Ahluwalia Chairman President IPE Global Pvt. Ltd. Careem NIPFP University of California University College London ICRIER

Ashish Dhawan Gurcharan Das Geeta Gandhi Kingdon Madhav Chavan Jagdish Bhagwati Leland Yeager Lord Meghnad Desai Shreekant Gupta Central Square Foundation Author & Public Intellectual University College London Pratham Columbia University Auburn University and London School of National University of the University of Virginia Economics & Political Singapore Science

Iris Madeira Premila Nazareth Praveen Chakravarty Reuben Abraham Madhavi Desai Consulting Independent Consultant Investment Banker & IDFC Institute Angel Investor Surjit Bhalla Swaminathan Aiyar Urjit Patel Oxus Investments Pvt. Ltd. Cato Institute The Reserve Bank of India

54 YEAR IN REVIEW 2015-16 55 Centre for Civil Society A 69, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016 (India) [email protected] | www.ccs.in