The Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development (OKDISCD) is a social science research institute located in Guwahati, Assam, India. The institute carries out research, training and policy studies on issues relating to social change, development, marginalised communities, and the political economy of North East India. It is named after Omeo Kumar Das, a prominent freedom fighter, social reformer and political leader from Assam.
| Name | Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | OKDISCD |
| Type | Social science research institute |
| Location | Guwahati, Assam, India |
| Named after | Omeo Kumar Das |
| Field | Social sciences, development studies, regional studies |
| Affiliation | Recognised research institute under the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) network |
The institute was established to promote scholarly enquiry into the social, economic and cultural dimensions of change in Assam and the wider North East region. It functions as an autonomous research body and is supported by the Government of Assam, with academic linkages to the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
It is named in memory of Omeo Kumar Das (1895–1975), an associate of Mahatma Gandhi, a participant in the Indian freedom movement, and later a minister in the Government of Assam, known for his work in tribal welfare and social reform.
OKDISCD undertakes individual and collaborative research projects, organises seminars, workshops and training programmes, and publishes monographs, working papers and edited volumes. The institute also engages with universities and policy bodies to provide empirical inputs on issues specific to North East India, including questions of development planning, ethnic relations and minority welfare.
The institute hosts visiting scholars, supports doctoral and post-doctoral research under ICSSR fellowships, and collaborates with state universities such as Gauhati University and other institutions in the region. It contributes to capacity-building among younger researchers from the North East through methodology workshops and policy roundtables.
As one of the relatively few dedicated social science research institutions in North East India, OKDISCD plays a role in producing region-specific knowledge that often complements or counterbalances national-level studies. Its work on tribal communities, frontier districts, and the political economy of Assam has been used by government departments, civil society organisations and academic researchers.