Sarah GeorgeAssistant Professor

Sarah George

Assistant Professor

Vidwan Profile

https://krvia.irins.org/profile/298049

Interests

Dissemination of knowledge is a collaborative task and not the sole responsibility of a single individual. Knowledge is relevant to all our lives and so are diverse opinions and interpretations that fundamentally sum up the learning experience. Sarah's teaching experience in the subjects of Humanities and Research Methodology has always centered around the importance of the dialogic approach to learning, which in turn has helped students engage in a critical discourse over ideas, theories and concepts that have enhanced their analytical and research skills.

Pedagogy

Urban transformations leading to social inequalities, exclusions and creating unequal access to governmental schemes and services in urban areas has largely governed Sarah's area of research and perusal. Her academic interests are therefore concerned with: 1) Developing a keen understanding and analysis around issues pertaining to social identity and conflict and its interactions with civic practices through policy making and 2) Contributing to the dissemination of knowledge that would enable the working together of citizens and policy makers in evolving viable, feasible and sustainable measures which would in turn benefit urban spaces in ensuring long term economic development and political stability.

Milestones

The Right to Information Act was introduced in 2005 to empower the citizens of India by ensuring Governmental transparency and accountability. It was also supposed to be used as an effective instrument to curtail corruption. Sarah worked as a research assistant in Mumbai on “Urban Poor, Corruption and Right to Information Act in India” which was conducted by a team of Doctoral students from the Department of Political Science, Yale University in 3 cities viz. Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The research analyzed the impact and the outreach that the Right to Information Act had on the urban poor. It also examined if the RTI was being misused in its intent and purpose by Government officials especially when dealing with the everyday problems of the urban poor.