Third Sector Research Group, India (TSRGI) is a group of academicians and practitioners who are interested in research on and practices of Third Sector Initiatives. Started in 1992 and with 58 individual members, the group has seriously engaged in negotiating Third Sector issues both at the levels of research and practice. The group firmly believes that, given the impact of the global changes on the social, political, cultural and economic fabric of our society, there is a case for one to seriously engage in Third Sector Initiatives. With this background the group is currently involved in theorizing Third Sector in the context of India. The group is also engaged in empirical studies, evaluation of third sector institutions and consultancy for such institutions and initiatives.

Over the past ten years, TSRGI has emerged as a cohesive research group with researchers from all the southern states of India getting together and taking up series of studies. Although a number of scholars are engaged in research related to third sector, the research on Indian Third Sector Initiatives needs theoretical clarity and a huge empirical database. Further, given the multi-disciplinary nature of intellectual engagement required to do research on Third Sector, scholars from various disciplines need to work together. TSRGI is committed to facilitate the above activities.

Objectives

TSRGI endeavors to pursue the following specific objectives within its informal setting.

1. To strengthen the network of researchers on Third Sector in terms of number, variety and geographical coverage.

2. To establish linkages with the TSOs and other third sector research organizations, both at national and international level. This arrangement on continuous basis helps the group to be more focused and responsive in terms of its intellectual and research engagements.

3. To initiate extensive empirical research to strengthen the database on the variety of TSOs operating in India.

4. To theorize Third Sector by considering the following issues: The nature, working and typology of TSOs in India; evaluation of western paradigms and assessment of their suitability in Indian situation; analysis of the context of emergence of TSOs in India; location of the social, political and economic space occupied by TSOs in India; understanding of the relation between state, civil society and TSOs; and development of third sector paradigm that reflects social reality in India.

5. To publish common interest and research articles and books on third sector in India to popularize third sector initiatives and research on them.

6. To undertake consultancy activities to help the third sector organisations carryout their activities more efficiently.