About the Department

Objective

The Centre was established out of a liberal grant of Rs. 21 lakhs from the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. M.G. Ramachandran, during the Post Centenary Jubilee Celebrations of the University of Madras in 1983. In 1986 it was named as The Centre for Anna Studies and, in 1989, in order to focus attention equally on Anna studies and Public Affairs, it was renamed as Anna Centre for Public Affairs. The Centre focuses on teaching and research at different levels on subjects and issues involving the public such as empowerment and emancipation, the environment and public governance, political and administrative processes, and social development. It conduct research on the ideas of Anna, research involving Public Affairs, Policy Studies, Disaster Management, Extension Studies, Good Governance, Empowerment of Women and the Rural Poor, Environmental Studies, opportunities of rural students, training programmes for elected representatives of local bodies, self-help groups, and NGOs. The Centre periodically organized the training programmes for elected representatives of Panchayat Raj and Urban bodies and AIDS awareness programme among the students of affiliated colleges and university departments. Currently the Centre is concentrating on Post Modern Development Administration. The Anna Centre also periodically organizes workshops and seminars for updating research on those topics.

Placements

The alumni of this Centre are occupying various positions:

• In Print and Electronic Media - TV - Dailies both National and Regional
• In Administrative Department of Corporate Sector
• In BPOs & Call Centers, Mobile Service
• In USA, UK, France, Arab Countries, etc.
• In Government Departments

More Government officials like IAS, IPS, Class I cadre got their Ph.D. from this Centre.

• 16 Faculty in affiliated colleges did their Ph.D. on Part-time basis
• 36 Ph.D. holders of the Centre have been selected through Teaching Recruitment Board as Faculty in the Government Colleges  

Activities of The Centre on Panchayati Raj

• Our activities are being organised jointly with Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, The Hunger Project, UGC and Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education.
• After the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts, the Anna Centre for Public Affairs has directed its focus on evaluating the transformation process of the working of Panchayat Raj and Urban Governance in Tamil Nadu.
• Conducting research at grassroots level - Governance, Administration and development
• Organising Training Programmes for capacity building of local body leaders.
• Extending suggestions to Government in policy making and implementation
• Developing documentation Centre for Researchers and Local Body Leaders
• Working in Collaborative Research Models for rural and urban development
• Conducting training and consultancy programmes for elected dalit and women leaders in the local Government Institutions to function effectively
• Conducting Periodical Seminars/Conferences/Workshops are being conducted on current important aspects that affect people/society - research papers are available for policy makers and administrators