Minutes of the Second Meeting (2009-10) of  the Research Advisory Committee(RAC) held under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, MWCD on 4.1.2010 at 3.30 PM.        The meeting was attended by the following:  1.     Shri D.K. Sikri, Secretary                       Chairman 2.     Shri Sudhir Kumar, Addl. Secretary                Member 3.     Dr. Sreeranjan, JS                                   Member 4.     Smt. Sudha P. Rao, Advisor (WCD)      Member             (Planning Commission) 5.     Smt. P. Bolina, JS                                   Member 6.     Smt. Sangeeta Verma, E.A.                    Member 7.     Shri Subrata Dhar, S.A.                          Member 8.     Shri P.K. Thakur, Dir. (Fin.)                            Member 9.     Shri R.L. Meena, JD                               Member 10.    Shri Sudesh Kumar, A.D., MWCD     The Secretary and Chairperson, Research Advisory Committee (RAC) welcomed the Members to the meeting. In all, four proposals were placed before RAC for consideration. Of these, three pertained to research studies and one to publication work. 2.       RAC discussed two research proposals in the presence of concerned NGO representatives. The Committee explored, in-depth, the scope of these proposals in terms of the objectives, expected outcomes; parameters of the given universe of these studies, sampling procedures and tools of data collection etc. During the course of discussions, specific suggestions were made towards refining the approach and methods of data collection. Decisions of RAC on these proposals were as under: i)       The proposal form Indian Society for Integrated Women and Child Development (ISI-WCD), New Delhi on the subject of ‘Domestic Violence Act – 2006: A Study of Implementation, Effectiveness and Barriers’ was approved ‘in principle’. However, the Organisation should revisit the hypotheses being tested and firm up the objectives, accordingly. The Organisation should submit in detail the justification (may be based on NCRB data) for selected States (districts) for the study; research methodology for selection of sample; adequate sample size and idea of the questionnaires for this study. The study may also take up States from different regions of the country. Staffing pattern for the project may also be organized accordingly.   On receipt of the requisite details, the proposal may be re-submitted for a decision by the Secretary, MWCD.   ii)    The study proposal from Guild of Service, New Delhi on the subject of ‘Survey on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Women in Jammu & Kashmir’ was considered by RAC in view of the clearance available from MHA for the proposed study. Approval of RAC was granted with a total project budget of Rs. 6,49,150 (Rupees six lakh forty nine thousand one hundred & fifty only) and six months for completion of the project.   3.       Two more proposals, one for research work from one Universal Caring Mission (UNICAM) from Imphal, Manipur on the subject of ‘Situation Analysis on Trafficking of Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation in Manipur’ and one for publication work from CSK HP Krishi Vishava Vidyalaya, Palampur could not be considered and were deferred for consideration later. 4.       The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair.   *******