Essays

The Government of India set up an Expert Group to suggest a methodology to measure poverty. The group submitted its report in 1993 and suggested a new poverty line: Rs 49 and Rs 56, for rural and urban areas at 1973-74 prices. This line was higher in real terms by approximately 15 percent. The availability of an absolute poverty line allows comparisons across countries. But what should an international poverty line be? Over the last decade, most comparisons of international poverty have been made by the World Bank, and the definition used is a purchasing power poverty line of $1 per capita per day, at 1985 prices, The most recent publication of the World Bank, however, reports a new international poverty line of $1.08 per capita per day, at 1993 prices. This new line marks a historical first in that it reduces the original poverty line by approximately 15 percent more...

The nature of a mentoring relationship varies with the level and activities of both student and mentor. In general, however, each relationship must be based on a common goal: to advance the educational and personal growth of the student. You as mentor can also benefit enormously. There is no single formula for good mentoring, mentoring styles and activities are as varied as human relationships. Different students will require different amounts and kinds of attention, advice, information and encouragement. Some students will feel comfortable approaching their mentors; others will be shy, intimidated or reluctant to seek help. A good mentor is approachable and available. Often students will not know what questions to ask, what information they need or what their options are (especially when applying to graduate programs). A good mentor can lessen such confusion by getting to know students and being familiar with the kinds of suggestions and information that more...

'Corruption' is not an uncommon word today. Not a single field is spared of its grasp. Starting from junior levels to senior officials, everybody is corrupt these days. Now the question arises- what is corruption? Corruption is to give away your moral values and ethics in order to gain some power particularly in monetary terms. Today if you want to take admission in a school, they will ask for big donations. Authorities are not concerned with the capabilities of a child. All they want is money. People from middle class families find it hard to admit their children in good and reputed school just because of high donations and fee structure. This is a very simple example of corruption. Millions of vehicles are running on the roads. There needs to be an efficient and honest traffic police official on duty. Hut everyday lots of accidents take place. The reason is more...

It is said that Cinema is the mirror of society. Everyone needs entertainment in his life and cinema is perhaps the best medium of entertainment in the modern society. Many years back, when cinema started, it emerged like a wonderful entertainment medium. The best part was that it was in the reach of a common man. These days' people have so many things to have fun with. They go for pitches to the parties, to clubs and what not. So cinema is not the only option for them. But in the former days, people were having very less alternatives for enjoyment and entertainment. They just used to visit their friends and relatives to enjoy their days. Those days, people used to enjoy theatres also. So when cinema was introduced to the world it became a rage among people. At that time, mostly films were made to spread some message for more...

We live in an age in which companies equivalent in wealth to countries call the shots and control much of the earth's resources. Because corporates intervene in so many areas of social life, they must be responsible towards society and the environment. In India, as in the rest of the world, there is a growing realization that capital markets and corporations are, after all, created by society and must therefore serve it, not merely profit from it. And those consumers and citizens' campaigns can make all the difference. In the age of globalization, corporations and business enterprises are no longer confined to the traditional boundaries of the nation-state. One of the key characteristics of globalization is the spread of the market and the change in the mode of production. The centralized mode of production has given way to a highly decentralized mode of production spread across the world. In the more...

That formidable force that makes one believe that one needs what one usually only desires; that mind-set that is really more of an entity that sits on ones shoulder, and relentlessly  screams 'further, further', that asset that makes those who are not zealous, jealous... That is ambition. Ambition has been the backbone of every army! Through. those great ancient Egyptian wars, through Persia, through Hastings, through Waterloo, through the native American/greedy colonist battles, through the world-wars, through the Balkans, and through every other great conflict that has ever existed, each party was blessed by pure and passionate ambition...ambition to win at whatever cost necessary. Surely only the collective force of ambition found in a battle is liable to cause as much suffering and damage as has been caused by all battles that have ever been lost or won? Even the weakest, most injured warrior who persevered has been lunched not more...

Fifty-five years of development' have spurred on unplanned urbanization, extensive industrialization and the building of a series of big dams. In the process, India has landed bang in the middle of an ecological crisis. We have lost half our forests, poisoned our waters, eroded our lands and rendered millions homeless, resource less and more impoverished. Three of our cities are amongst the 15 most- polluted cities in the world. Several of our plant and animal species are extinct. Why and how has this happened? And how can the situation be remedied? What is the difference being made by government legislation and people's movements for the environment? India's entire development process has been distorted by the structure of inequality outlined above. Adapted almost wholesale from the West and characterized by unrestricted, large-scale industrialization, urbanization, consumerism and materialism, today's path towards progress is quite evidently causing severe environmental destruction and resource depletion. more...

In a developing country like India proper planning for the country's overall progress and prosperity, assumes a great importance. Planning in India derives its objectives and social promises. A Resolution of Govt. of the India set up the Planning commission in 1950. It has its credit for seventh five-year plan (1985-1990) under implementation. The seventh plan has contributed significantly to the progress of the country. The objective of seventh five year plan evolved from the common minimum programme of Govt. and the Chief Minister's conference on basic minimum services, an aggregate outlay of Rs 348,148 crore with a public sector outlay of Rs 180,000 crore ended with an average rate of growth of the gross domestic Product (GDP) at 5.3 percent per annum. Which was well above the targeted rate of 5 percent. The final year of seventh five year plan (1989-90) saw the growth of national income largely contributed more...

Democracy in India is relatively new Way of conducting the business of Govt. It is relatively new to the Autocratic history of this Great Nation. Democracy is the Govt. from the people, for the people and by the people.' It was due to the colonial rule of Britain that conscience of Indian masses well directed by the great leaders like, Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and other expressed it's enthusiastic willingness to adopt the democracy as the way of running govt. Today we have already completed more than fifty years with this very arrangement which entails the fruits of sustenance and raise of socio-political security and development for present and future generations of this country Political set up of a Country depends not only upon interstate affairs of national importance but also International relations of that country. India is rapidly developing country. Today our nation has earned a respectful position and is more...

The word 'psychology' comes from the Greek 'psyche' (or soul) and 'logos' (or study), which came to be known as the 'study of the soul'. Scientific study is a valid way of coming to an understanding of life, and can be very useful in every area of life. Science develops theories based on what is observed. It examines each theory with rigorous and scrupulous tests to see if it describes reality. The scientific method works well in observing and recording physical data and in reaching conclusions which either confirm or nullify a theory. During the mid-19th century, scholars (although at that time probably termed philosophers) wanted to study human nature with the aim of applying the scientific method to observe, record, and treat human behaviour that was deemed as unnatural. They believed that if people could be studied in a scientific manner, there would be a greater accuracy in understanding more...