Public Health & Health Systems
Public health law, health system management, digital health infrastructure and global health governance.
Academic leadership · Research · Public policy
Professor of Public Policy and Management & Chairperson
Prof. Sigamani
Panneer
PhD, PDF (USA), D.Litt., FRSPH (UK), Raman Fellow (UMN, USA)
Advancing public policy, public health and governance through interdisciplinary research, academic leadership, mentoring and institutional collaboration.
Special Centre for the Study of Law and Governance
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Research-led policy.
People-centred impact.Jawaharlal Nehru University · New Delhi
People-centred impact.Jawaharlal Nehru University · New Delhi
25Years Professional Experience
250+Institutions where expert lectures were delivered
150+High-impact publications, including books and journal articles
10+Super-funded research projects
30+Academic collaborations and networking
20+Journals — editorial board, peer review and associate editor roles
200+Invited scientific presentations
20,700+Approx. participants reached through training and community programmes
About the professor
Research, teaching and public policy in conversation.
An interdisciplinary academic profile connecting health systems, governance, social development and institutional capacity building.
Prof. Sigamani Panneer is Professor of Public Policy and Management, and Chairperson of the Special Centre for the Study of Law and Governance at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
His academic and research work spans public health management, health policy, public-private partnerships in healthcare, occupational health, labour welfare, public administration and social development. He has more than 150 high-impact publications, including books, journal articles and edited volumes with national and international publishers.
He has held academic leadership roles at the Central University of Tamil Nadu, including Dean of the School of Behavioural Sciences, Head of the Department of Social Work and Coordinator of the Centre for Happiness. His visiting and research assignments include the University of Minnesota, Jishou University and Tianjin University of Finance and Economics.
Professor & ChairpersonSpecial Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, JNU
Postdoctoral Research FellowshipSchool of Public Health, University of Minnesota, USA
Doctoral & Higher DegreesPh.D., M.Phil., D.Litt., MSW and M.A.
Academic MentoringPostgraduate, Ph.D. and postdoctoral scholars
Areas of expertise
Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary areas of work
Research and teaching interests drawn from the specialization areas listed in the CV.
Public Policy & Governance
New Public Management, regulatory and multilevel governance, state–society relations and policy analysis.
Climate & Disaster Risk
Climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, pandemics and growing inequality.
Labour Welfare & CSR
Occupational health, informal-sector workers, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance.
Workplace Happiness & HRM
Human resource management, happiness at work, leadership, teamwork and organisational development.
NGO & Social Development
Non-profit management, social welfare management, evidence-based interventions and community engagement.
Research & projects
Selected research initiatives
Examples of completed and ongoing projects documented in the curriculum vitae.
01
Whole School Approach to Safeguarding Adolescent Mental Health in India
Cluster randomized controlled trial in collaboration with NIMHANS and academic partners. ICMR-funded; project period recorded as 20 October 2026–19 October 2030.
Ongoing · Co-Principal Investigator02
Indo–US Knowledge Initiative in Environmental Health Sciences
Collaboration with the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, funded by the University Grants Commission.
Project Director · Academic Administration03
Health & Safety of Women Workers in the Informal Sector
Research on beedi rolling in Tamil Nadu and construction work in New Delhi, funded by ICSSR.
Completed · Project Director04
Occupational Health Infrastructure in India
Research project assessing and prioritising needs for occupational health infrastructure, supported by the University of Minnesota.
Completed · Co-Principal InvestigatorThe projects and roles above are summarised from the submitted CV. For the complete project list, funding details and research record, refer to the official academic profile and scholarly links.
Scholarly work
Books & selected publications
A selection of book and edited-volume titles listed in the supplied CV. The complete bibliography is available through the academic profiles below.
2025 · EDITED VOLUME
The Changing Trends of Vector-Borne Diseases to Climate Change
Edited volume addressing the relationship between vector-borne diseases and climate change.
Bentham Science Publishers
2023 · EDITED BOOK
Child Centric Disaster-Risk Reduction: Priorities, Preparedness and Resilience
Work focused on child-centred disaster risk reduction, preparedness and resilience.
Bloomsbury
2019 · EDITED BOOK
Health, Safety and Well-Being of Workers in the Informal Sector in India
Lessons for emerging economies, with a focus on worker health and safety in the informal sector.
Springer Nature
2021 · EDITED BOOK
Maternal and Child Health Care in India
Edited volume on maternal and child health care in the Indian context.
Bloomsbury
2020 · EDITED BOOK
Public Health Challenges of Tropical Diseases
Moving towards universal access, as listed in the supplied publication record.
Bloomsbury
2019 · EDITED BOOK
Children of Incarcerated Parents: Experiences and Impacts
A source book documenting experiences and impacts for children of incarcerated parents.
Bloomsbury
Academic profile
Appointments, education & recognition
Selected academic roles and qualifications from the curriculum vitae updated 6 November 2026.
Academic appointments
Current
Professor & Chairperson · JNU
Special Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
2025–2027
Honorary Visiting Expert
The Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed to be University.
2024–2025
Honorary Visiting Research Fellow
INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia.
2022–2023
Dean · School of Behavioural Sciences
Central University of Tamil Nadu; previously Head, Department of Social Work and Coordinator, Centre for Happiness.
2013–2018
Visiting Research Professor
School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, USA.
2006–2016
Department of Social Work · Jamia Millia Islamia
School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi.
2004–2006
Faculty of Management Studies · University of Delhi
Research in collaboration with the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague.
Education & fellowships
D.Litt. · 2025Assam University, Department of Social Work.
Ph.D. & M.Phil. · JNUPublic Health / New Public Management in Healthcare.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship · 2013University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, USA.
Fellow, Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH)London · 2022 and 2026.
Fellow, Royal Society for Arts (FRSA)London · 2022.
Raman Postdoctoral FellowshipObama–Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative · 2013–2014.
Academic & public policy engagement
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Consultation requests can be made in areas aligned with the professor’s documented academic, research and professional development work.
✓Research methodology, research design and proposal development
✓Academic writing, publication strategy and research ethics
✓Public policy, governance and public health systems
✓Faculty development, leadership and institutional capacity building
✓Workplace happiness, HRM and organisational development
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For academic engagement, collaboration and networking; public policy review and analysis; and happiness and well-being programmes.