Porag Shome
Areas of Interest & Expertise
- Evolution of livelihoods in the periphery
- Market integration and social change
- Livelihood impact assessment
- Indigenous communities and work
- Designing and managing social interventions
- Designing and managing social interventions
- Multi-method research
- Community-based approaches
Biography
Porag Shome is a faculty member at the Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. His core interest lies in engaging with the complexities of socio-economic-cultural evolution experienced by peripheral communities, especially Adivasis, DNTs, and PVTGs, due to market interactions and integration. More specifically, he explores the strategies peripheral communities adopt in the wake of market integration and how they navigate socio-cultural changes.
He has a rich background in participatory approaches and action, designing and managing development project and community-based disaster risk management, having worked with multiple social sector organisations before joining the University. Porag pursues his research interests by engaging extensively in research, teaching, publishing, developing curriculum, conducting workshops and professional development programmes. His scholarship is interdisciplinary, drawing on multiple perspectives and methods.
Porag teaches courses in livelihood, project designing and management, and social interventions as part of the MA in Development programme. He also teaches in diploma and professional development programmes offered by the university.
Courses
Project Management for Development Interventions
Learn to plan, implement, and monitor social sector projects effectively
Social Interventions
Examine how individuals and organisations mobilise for social change
The Practice of Development
Learn the 'hows' and 'whats' of programme planning and designing
Social Sector Organisations: Forms and Actions
The role of social sector organisations in actions ranging from sangharsh to nirmaan and impacts at the grassroots.
Competencies for Livelihood Intervention
Creating workable livelihood interventions with greater understanding and competencies.
Professional Development Courses
Imagining Development: From Vision to Action
Connecting technical competencies in the development sector with a vision of a desired future.
Rethinking Development
The 6 day course titled ‘Rethinking Development’ provides a landscape view of the various new ways of development thinking and practice are gaining ground in India.
Tools in Qualitative Research
Gain proficiency in qualitative research using participatory research methods and case studies.
Publications
1) “Of the village, but not for the village” (2000 – 01)
A process documentation focusing on conflict resolution techniques arising due to clash of interest while managing Common Property Resources through people centered village institutions. (Published by DSC)
2) “Minimising cost, Maximising Benefit” (Co-authored in 2002)
The study focused on cost-benefit analysis of JFM program in 12 JFM and non-JFM villages across four districts of Gujarat. (Published by SPWD)
3) “Advantage – Watershed” (Co-authored in 2002)
An impact study of drought on 16 watershed and non-watershed villages across 08 districts of Gujarat (Published by DSC)
4) “Spread and functioning of JFM in the state” (2004)
A state level research study conducted in 206 JFM villages of Gujarat focusing on the spread and functioning of the JFM programme in the state of Gujarat. The study was part of the National level study conducted across 09 states. (Published by Oxford University Press)
5) “India and Disasters” (2004)
A discussion paper on disasters in India and the initiatives of Central and State government towards Disaster preparedness and mitigation. Currently being used as study material by World Bank Institute.