Womens Role In Family. Essays - Gender Studies,

Women's Role In Family. We have had our worst time. Women, for many years were kept hidden inside the dusty den of depravity. They were not allowed to go to a school. Home was their world. Outside world were meant only for men, the bread-earners of a family. Hence, they were wrapped by such a murky life that they remained disregarded for many years. But things are different now. Women induced as much courage within themselves so as to unveil their wrap to the society. Women's liberation group and what not have emerged since then. They have a lot of demands. They want proper education for the girl child. They want status at par with men in every respect possible. But whom are they asking their demands to? Men. That's right. Men. And to me, by activating themselves through this process of liberation, they are in fact intensifying the superior contemplation of their opposite sex. There is no doubt that they have been successful to a certain extent in reaching their goals. Now women go to schools. They can now educate themselves as much as they want. If not a lot, then some are acquiring high and respectable positions in work places. But since it is a fact that even after all these accomplishments, there still exits women liberation groups, makes us think that all of women's demands are not fulfilled. And it will never be fulfilled if they continue this way. That is because whenever they are demanding something, they are actually giving men a choice. If it is fruitful to a man to educate a girl child, then he would consider it, or else they won't. In other words, women haven't really been successful in changing man's attitude towards them. So, what should they do now? I think that the best way to deal with this issue would be to make the man realize of their own importance to the society as a whole. What role do women play in the world? My mother is a woman and I can't disregard her influence on my life. She is a great person to me. And I only have positive thoughts about her. Likewise, every woman should play a key role in establishing a warm and solid link with her child so that in future when the child grows up to be a man, he would realize the importance of a mother in their household. Household. That's the word I still prefer in regard to women. Women truly plays a major role in the household. To me, a family would be perfect and happy if the man plays the role of a bread earner for the family and the woman plays the role of a household mother. Here the meaning of the word mother goes a lot beyond our typical knowledge of motherhood. She won't be the mother only to her child, rather to her family and to her society as a whole. I know that it is not very heard of in the western part of the world. But in the east, where I was born and brought up, injected within me the idea that a woman is a mother whose responsibilities lie strictly surrounding the well being of the family. And if that requires a mother to work outside the home, she should do that, not for the sake of doing it, rather for the betterment of the household she belongs. Even though it may apparently appear to be outrageously wrong to adopt my above suggestion, but, believe me, it works. I truly do not want women to enjoy less freedom than their male counterpart. Neither do I want women to be suppressed from the proper rights and privileges that our society has to offer to an individual. But, just think about it. Bibliography None Sociology

Email Lessons from Spanish.About.Com

Email Lessons from Spanish.About.Com Need a reminder to learn a little Spanish each day? Are you looking for some quick lessons, or a random sampling of what Spanish has to offer? If so, one of our email courses may be what youre looking for. Each of our email courses features useful information as well as links to lessons and/or vocabulary pages on the site. Heres what we offer: : This is our most popular email course. Each day you will receive a new vocabulary word along with its definition and an example of its usage in a sentence. Most of the vocabulary is at an intermediate or advanced level, although even beginners can benefit from seeing how these words are used in the sample sentences. Each daily installment also has links to a lesson on vocabulary or grammar. : If youre brand new to learning Spanish, this is the email course for you. We use mostly basic words, and we keep the sample sentences straightforward so that you can better see how the words are being used. Once you finish this course, youll be ready for the regular Word of the Day. : Just what its title implies, the mini-course features links to lessons in basic Spanish. By studying a few lessons each day, the beginning student will have a knowledge of the basic concepts of Spanish grammar as well as learn some of the most essential words of the language. : Each day you receive a Spanish proverb, saying or quotation along with its translation in English the following day. This series of mini-lessons lasts about six months.

Learning From Mentors Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Learning From Mentors - Research Paper Example Mentors help immensely because these are the persons who give a clear cut idea of the different ways and means through which the same question or concern could be handled in a totally different manner or perspective. What is even more imperative here is the ideology that this learning is one for the long term as it shapes up ideas, changes beliefs and turns the difficulties into areas of ease and comfort. Adult learning has always been seen as something that shall bring out a lot of value for the people, who are in dire straits; who would like to make amends with their lives in more ways than one, and find ideas to tackle the quandaries that they are stuck within. Learning that has been gained through the mentors is strategic in its disposition. This is because it takes care of the negativities that arise within an adult, and tells him how to act forthrightly. It asks of him to mend his ways within the moral constructs and allows him to learn new aspects which would not be deciphered and made understandable somewhere else. Hence a great amount of learning is being done in an online manner which is somewhat of an interesting exercise. What is even more important is the fact that this learning will not fade away with the passage of time, and continue to get bolstered as and when times change (Longenecker, 2011). This is one significant aspect that has come to the fore, and with the kind of changes happening on the global front, the learning that has been devised and transferred over the years through these mentors is all the more pivotal. The beliefs are changed, the perspectives are shifted and the entire dynamics of learning are given a complete revamp – such is the gravity of the learning variations which have been highlighted in the recent times. The role of the learner within such understandings and debates is an equally quintessential one. This is because it is his role that shall take the topic forward. If he would seem disinterested right from the very beginning, there is little one could do regarding the learning that has been gained from the mentors in the first place. It is for this reason that the mentors are given the proper credit that they richly deserve because they have been able to shift viewpoints, change perspectives and turn beliefs into proper ideologies. The adult learning mechanism is being seen as a very gigantic step towards building value for the sake of the individuals who seek to learn and thus get acquainted with the norms and routines of life. The learner shall have to properly address his fears and concerns in front of the mentor because if these are not taken care of, there will be little that one can do regarding the dynamics of the learning quarters which have come about with the passage of time. What is even more significant is how the learning quarters are being perceived by the mentors because these touch upon the basis of growth, productivity and development for the sake of the learners under qu estion (Dutton, 2003). Moving ahead with the discussion at hand, learning is usually given emphasis by the mentors who believe very strongly on the premise of bringing out value and quality for the learners. This is

American Revolution Plutocaracy or Democracy in TOWARD AN AMERICAN Essay

American Revolution Plutocaracy or Democracy in TOWARD AN AMERICAN REVOLUTION - Essay Example He writes, "The reason for the Constitution was to empower people of property over common people. Indeed, our definition of self-government and freedom have become linked, if not equated, to the interests of the corporation." (ch. 3, 'A Great Compromise,' para. 4) It is a compelling book in the tradition of writers such as Howard Zinn and America's resident crank, Gore Vidal,(1) which should be read by every citizen in this country who thinks they know what the Constitution says, who wrote it and why. The Framers of the Constitution, as Fresia points out, would have likely agreed with an IBM ad quoted in the book: "The Constitution is a political work of art . . . and . . . It's also the most important contract of your life." (Ch 1, 3 Obstacles, 1st para.) Almost every man attending and contributing to the Constitutional Convention was wealthy in land and humans, i.e. slaves. As property owners, 'better people,' these men relied on real and implied contracts to protect what they owned. A government that could not provide such protection would be no government at all. to British entrepreneurs - Peers and Knights - the right to colonize and to make money from lands in the New World.(2) As Fresia makes clear throughout his book, this right to make money became a right to govern in the New World and eventually became justification for American landowners to sever ties with England and to create their own mercantile country. What thes What these men of wealth and property wished to establish was a legal system, a government that protected their wealth. They did not wish to be subject to the whims of, as Rufus King put it, ". . . the poor and illiterate." (ch. 3, Ratification, end of 1st para). Indeed, James Madison, the 'Father of the Constitution,' wrote: Landowners ought to have a share in the government, to support these valuable interests, and to balance and check the others. They ought to be so constituted as to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority. (Ch. 3, Checks & Balances, 2nd to last para.)What has escaped many people in their understanding and reverence of The Constitution is that it is a document which was designed to secure the rights of the wealthy, the better people, while shutting out those without property or wealth. At the Convention of 1787, Alexander Hamilton put it succinctly when he said, "Give therefore to the first class [rich and well-born] a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the Second."(2) What he meant by Second was the masses or, as he once called them, "a great beast." (Ch 1, para 6) Check the Balances Of significant influence on the Constitution and the men who wrote it were the political theories of British philosopher

The CIA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The CIA - Research Paper Example The agency was established in the year 1947 through an act accented to by the then President. The National Security Act was signed by President Truman. Apart from creating the agency, this act also established the office of the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) who was supposed to be the President’s chief advisor on matters of national security as he was also the head of the United States intelligence community. The DCI was also supposed to head the Central Intelligence Agency. However, in the year 2004, the National Security Act was amended through the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. This amendment created the office of Director of National Intelligence to take up a number of roles previously carried out by the DCI. It also ensured that the Central Intelligence Agency was under a separate Director. Such agencies as the CIA are employed in performing intelligence gathering services and not the US military as these can easily lead to the declaration of wars. During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was created with the purpose of coordinating espionage activities against the Axis Powers. The CIA was thus created as a successor of this office. Basically, the CIA is charged with the responsibility of collecting information about corporations, foreign governments and individuals in addition to advising policymakers. The agency is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. In some quarters, the CIA is referred to as Other Government Agencies (OGA), The Agency, Langley and The Company. In trying to accomplish its mission, the CIA requires the deployment of high leverage technology, carrying out of research and development for purposes of intelligence. To ensure that the intelligence consumer acquires the best possible intelligence, the CIA engages closely with other agencies and organizations within the Intelligence Community and also carries out independent analyses of topics that are of concern2. The agency

The Kalabagh Dam Consequences

The Kalabagh Dam Consequences The Kalabagh dam is controversial for many reasons. A key reason has to do with the decision making process, which is highly centralized, politically coercive, and technically flawed. Regrettably, when the need is for broad-based stakeholder consultations, the existing trend is towards even greater centralization. For instance, the rotating chairmanship of the Indus River System Authority has recently been converted into a permanent appointment, provincial resolutions against Kalabagh have been given short shrift, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) has consistently ignored the matter and community concerns continue to be met with blatant disregard. Small wonder then that the political leadership in the smaller provinces and civil society are up in arms against Kalabagh. In this essay, we critically examine four contested aspects of the Kalabagh dam. These relate to: water availability; environmental impacts; food and energy; and technical and financial feasibility. The work of colleagues is gratefully acknowledged. Water availability is an over riding concern. Is surplus water available to justify the Kalabagh project? WAPDA itself the generic source has sown confusion on this issue. It cites two average flow figures: 123 MAF (million acre-feet) and 143 MAF. The first calculation is based on a 64-year period (1922-1996) and includes both wet and dry cycles. The second estimate is based on a much shorter and wet cycle period of 22 years (1977-1994). Since the total requirement (inclusive of the additional allocation of 12 MAF under the 1991 Water Accord), is calculated at 143 MAF, there is a clear short fall of 20 MAF if we use the first estimate. This means Kalabagh may remain dry every 4 out of 5 years. Even the higher flow figure (143 MAF) overlooks certain factors. The first of these is system (evaporation and seepage) losses. If such losses increased from 6.2 MAF post Mangla to 14.7 MAF post-Tarbela, presumably, they will be even higher post-Kalabagh. This would have adverse implications for inter-provincial water distribution. New irrigation infrastructure appears untenable in view of these losses, since the increased upstream off-takes would be at the expense of downstream flows. This concern is also ignored when presenting Kalabagh as a replacement for Tarbela. Tarbela is projected to lose 5.3 MAF of its storage capacity by the year 2010. Since Kalabagh would, essentially, be replacing this loss, the Right and Left Bank canals would divert even more of Sindhs allocations than they presently are. In addition, illegal off-takes would also tend to be exacerbated. Consider now the environmental implications of constructing yet another large dam on the Indus River ecosystem. A catalogue of existing degradation provides the context for future environmental impacts of dams like Kalabagh. Degradation of the Indus delta ecosystem, as a result of reduced water outflows, is already a highly visible phenomenon. The present level of silt discharge, estimated at 100 million tons per year, is a four-fold reduction from the original level before large dams were constructed on the River Indus. The combination of salt-water intrusion (some reports show this as 30 km inland), and reduced silt and nutrient flows has changed the character of the delta considerably. The area of active growth of the delta has reduced from an original estimate of 2,600 sq. km (growing at 34 meters per year) to about 260 sq. km. The consequent ravages to the ecosystem have been exceptionally severe, in particular to the mangroves, which are its mainstay. They sustain its fisheries, act as natural barriers against sea and storm surges, keep bank erosion in check and are a source of fuel wood, timber, fodder and forest products, a refuge for wildlife and a potential source of tourism. Without mangroves and the nutrients they recycle and the protection they provide, other components of the ecosystem would not survive. The direct and indirect benefits of mangroves are enormous. In 1988, Pakistan earned Rs.2.24 billion from fish exports, of which shrimps and prawns constituted 72%. Additional income is generated from fuelwood, fodder and forest products was another Rs.100/- million. Not only is this revenue at risk from mangrove loss, but the physical infrastructure required to replace the natural protection provided by the mangroves (dykes, walls) would entail enormously high capital and maintenance costs. The health of mangroves is directly linked to fresh water inflows. Releases below Kotri barrage in most years and excluding floods average 10 MAF. Of this, little or none actually reaches the mangroves. The rest is lost due to evaporation or diversions. According to the Sindh Forestry Department, about 27 MAF is required to maintain the existing 260,000 ha. of mangroves in reasonably healthy condition. This is 27 MAF more than currently available, a situation which has contributed to ecosystem instability and mangrove loss. Within the framework of the Indus Water Accord, an additional 12 MAF would be diverted for upstream dam construction including Kalabagh. This would reduce existing sub-optimal flows further and aggravate an already critical situation. A community of about 100,000 people, residing on the northern side of the Indus Delta, depends on the mangroves for their livelihood. The prevailing view is that being under privileged, such communities are prone to degrade their environment. However, it is difficult to fathom why poor communities should endanger the very basis of their existence. The more likely explanation is that community practices have not changed, but they appear unsustainable because the resource base has begun to degrade. Communities are more often the victims than the agents of such degradation are. The real culprits are water diversion; biological and chemical water contamination and large-scale commercial practices, compounded both by institutional ignorance and complicity in such practices. Mangrove loss is only one among the many manifestations of biodiversity deficits emerging along the entire length of the Indus River ecosystem. The ecosystem has been severely fragmented over time by its extensive network of dams, canals and barrages, resulting in threats to a variety of species and organisms, the most notable among them being the Indus dolphin and the palla fish. Both can be classified as indicator species, as their impending loss represents the loss of a way of life, characterized by interdependence between communities and their environment. Another myth firmly embedded in the minds of our planners is that large dams are the perfect flood prevention devices. The evidence for Pakistan shows otherwise; that its large dams not withstanding, there has been no reduction in the incidence and intensity of floods nor in the associated losses in lives, crops, livestock and infrastructure. There is no seeming pattern to the floods other than the fact that they could have coincided with wet cycles. In actual fact, the severity of flood impacts appears to have increased after the two major dams, Tarbela and Mangla, were constructed. In actual fact, the shrinking of the riverbeds due to water diversions reduces their absorptive capacity and hence enhances the danger of flooding. River ecosystems have a natural capacity to deal with floods and these natural processes provide many benefits. Flood plains, wetlands, backwaters are commonly referred to as natures sponges; they absorb and purify excess water as a hedge against lean periods. They act as spawning grounds for fish and wildfowl. The floods themselves replenish agricultural soils. Communities living around these areas adapt to this natural rhythm and use its bounty to ensure reliable and sustainable livelihoods. It has also been pointed out that dams dont prevent floods, they merely create flood threat transfer mechanisms. The solution is to work with communities, rely on their knowledge and to supplement their flood mitigation and coping strategies. Two of the most commonly cited arguments in favor of large dams relate to food security and energy. Such arguments have become increasingly compelling in the light of perceived threats to food security and the recent furor surrounding the private power projects. We examine both of these arguments in turn. Additional water from Kalabagh can enhance crop production in three ways: by irrigating new land; by enhancing cropping intensity on existing land; or through yield enhancement. The first option appears tenuous. It is claimed that Kalabagh will irrigate close to an additional million hectares of barren land, and bring Pakistan closer to wheat self-sufficiency. However, the reports of the National Commission on Agriculture and the National Conservation Strategy suggest otherwise. They indicate that available cultivable land is almost fully utilized, leaving little scope for extensive cultivation. Between 1952 and 1977, about 80% of the increase in total cropped area was due to the cu ltivation of new land. Since then, this proportion has fallen dramatically, with double cropping accounting for the bulk of the increase. The reports suggest that in addition to the water constraint a very tangible land constraint exists as well. Crop production can also be increased through cropping intensity increases or crop yield enhancements. Both are water dependent and establish an a priori justification for Kalabagh. The NCS report states that at present 12.2 million hectares of land are available for double cropping while only 4.4 million hectares are being double cropped clearly water is the constraining factor. With respect to yield enhancements, water is again required in large quantities by the high yielding seed varieties (wheat, cotton, rice, maize) and for its synergetic effects upon chemical inputs. However, a critical choice needs to be made here. Does one opt for additional water, or can the same results be achieved through improved water use efficiency? Higher water retention in the system risks aggravating an already massive problem of water logging and salinity. In fact, the controversial and exorbitantly expensive ($780 million), 25-year National Drainage Plan project has been launched to mitigate its impacts. Kalabagh is bound to add to the problem, not only in its immediate environs but also where new irrigation infrastructure is to be situated. A clearly preferred choice is to use existing water more efficiently, and to focus on the necessary institutional changes for its equitable distribution. Some of the proposed measures are canal and watercourse rehabilitation, land leveling, improved on-farm water management and, at the policy level, switching demand based management while protecting the needs of the poor small farmers. These are clearly win-win solutions as they are relatively low cost, efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly. After the recent commotion over private power, the government began to hype up Kalabagh as an alternative source of cheap and clean energy. In the process, it switched adroitly from its earlier position that energy demand had been overstated, to one where it now posits a deficiency in supply. However, the cheap energy argument is becoming increasingly untenable both financially and technically. Donors such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are unlikely to provide concessional funding for Kalabagh. This reflects their commitment to the thermal based private power projects, as well as the censure they have faced for getting embroiled in projects with major environmental and resettlement costs. And even if concessional funding was available, it is still not clear that hydel unit costs would be lower than thermal, once these costs are factored in. At this point, the whole debate appears to be moot since the government is scampering for funds to keep the economy afloat against the backdrop of sanctions. Even so, renewed policy statements suggest there is a resolve to proceed when the situation permits. Apart from the political compulsions, there is an inertial aspect to this decision as well. Institutional and financial paralysis inhibits the scope for energy conservation, efficiency improvements and diversification. The options have been identified often enough: on the supply side these are reduction of transmission and distribution (TD) losses and renewable energy development technologies (solar, wind, biomass). On the demand side, both technical and economic options exist for energy conservation. While these have been employed to some extent (tariff increases, energy efficient lighting), the efforts are a far cry from the kind of sustained initiatives launched in some South Asian countries, such as Thailand, where revamped e nergy supply systems are part of a larger network, with linkages to RD, the private sector and trade facilities. The title of a study Tarbela Dam Sedimentation Management, carried out by TAMS-Wallingford (March 1998) is self-explanatory. It shows that a de-silted Tarbela would yield the same irrigation benefits as Kalabagh, but at one-seventh the cost in net present value terms. The study states that, replacement of [irrigation and energy] benefits by constructing a new dam and reservoir down stream is feasible, but will be expensive, environmentally damaging and socially harmful. An alternative option cited is the construction of new outlets at the Tarbela Dam that will enable sediment to be flushed from the reservoir. The proposed Tarbela Action Plan is based on computer simulations of sediment flows. These simulations were designed to determine whether flushing was technically feasible and could be used to enhance long run storage capacity and to predict future sedimentation. Based on these simulations, a three phased action plan was proposed. The implementation of this plan would ensure long term and sustainable storage with only a small annual reduction in capacity. The estimated increase in retention at 6 MAF is exactly what the Kalabagh reservoir is designed to hold. Our conclusion is that the burden of proof is on those who advocate building the Kalabagh Dam. Our findings show that it is not economically, socially or environmentally viable. Also, the proposed benefits are based on faulty or misunderstood premises and, in any case, there exist in each case more viable and cost effective alternatives.

Worldwide Education :: essays research papers

Around the world, education is funded in different ways, yielding different outcomes. In Europe, the state typically still pays for the institutional costs of instruction; students pay little or no tuition, but are responsible for living costs; and most universities are public. In many Asian countries (such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines), most students attend private universities and colleges and pay the full cost of their education. Tuition is also charged in the small and relatively elite public higher education sector. In the United States, a mix of public and private institutions exists; 80 percent of students attend public colleges and universities, where they pay tuition amounting to something like a quarter or more of the actual cost of instruction, with public funds and other resources covering the rest. The remaining 20 percent study in private institutions, where students pay the bulk of the cost of education. Many people scowl at the idea of reforming to a European model of school funding, believing that the taxes would be exponentially higher. However, this is not necessarily true. In most EU countries, the standard rate of tax is 20%. The higher rate is 42% for those whom earn over a certain variable gross yearly income. Employees pay tax, similar to the U.S. system under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. This means that tax is deducted by the employer weekly or monthly depending on how frequently you are paid. If you make more than the variable gross yearly income, tax is paid at the standard rate (20%) up to the cut-off point. Any income over the cut-off point is taxed at the higher rate of tax (42%). Unlike the U.S. system or taxation, this system seems more fair, especially because you are not paying tax on any wages that are paid towards healthcare or Old Age Pension (similar to social security). One nation that set the standard for the tax outline currently used in most countries is Ireland. In Ireland, the healthcare tax is about 2% taken out of your paycheck, unless you make under â‚ ¬400 (January 2005) per week – or self-employed people with income of â‚ ¬20,800 or less per year. Also, most employers and employees (over 16 years of age) in Ireland pay social insurance contributions into Ireland's national Social Insurance Fund. In general, the payment of social insurance is required. The social insurance contributions in Ireland are referred to as PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance).

Federalism in India Essay

India is a big country characterized by cultural, regional, linguistic and geographical diversities. Such a diverse and vast country cannot be administered and ruled from a single centre. Historically, though India was not a federal state, its various regions enjoyed adequate autonomy from central rule. Keeping in view these factors in mind, the Constitution makers of India opted for the federal form of government. Though, the Government of India Act 1935 envisaged a federal set-up for India; federal provisions of the Act were not enforced. Thus, India became a federal polity with the Constitution of India. Federalism is a system of governance in which the powers to legislate is in two levels as Central and subordinate levels. Features of Federalism Federalism in India has a strong bias towards the Union Government. Some unique features of federalism in India are: * There is no equality of state representation. Representation in the Parliament can vary widely from one state to another depending on a number of factors including demography and total land area. * No double citizenship, i.e. no separate citizenship for country and state. * The consent of a state is not required by the Parliament to alter its boundaries. * No state, except Jammu and Kashmir, can draw its own Constitution. * No state has the right to secede. * No division of public services. The main features of Federalism * Provision for more than one form or government to act simultaneously on the same territory and on the same time. * Each government must have their own authority and spheres of power, though they may overlap. * Neither level of government, state or national can abolished the other. Why Federalism is Important? Federalism is important because of the following reasons: * Because of diversity, there is a division in the power of federalism (to legislate in better manner). * For better Administration. * Economic development in cultural diversity, linguistic groups, traditions, customs, natural resources. The concept is taken from U.S.A. in 1776 and at the time of U.S. government independence. How Democracy is linked with Federalism? In a democracy, the involvement of people at state level is more, as the people are free to choose their own representatives, for the people, of the people, by the people. What makes India a Federal Country? India is a vast country with numerous languages, religions and regions. The concept of federalism plays a vital role and the power sharing arrangements plays a crucial role in maintaining unity and harmony in the country. India got its independence in 1947 but it also resulted in painful partition that paved way to the formation of Pakistan. After independence, several princely states became a part of the country and the constitution declared India as a Union States. Despite the fact that the word federalism is not used or implied with Indian Union but it is largely based on the principles of federalism. All the above key features of federalism are well suited to the provisions of the Indian Constitution. The constitution of India provided two tiers of levels of governments â€Å"Central or Union Governments representing the Union of India and the state governments. Later, a third tier or level of federalism was formed and added in the forms of Panchayats and Municipalities. These three different tiers of governments enjoy separate jurisdictions and the constitution provides a three- fold distribution of legislative powers between the Union governments and the state governments. It comprises of three major lists and they are as follows: – 1. Union List: – This list includes subjects of national importance such as defence, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency. They form as the part of Union list as we need a uniform policy on these important matters throughout the country. Union or Central government can only make laws relating to these above mentioned important subjects. 2. State List: – This list contains subjects of state and local significance and state governments alone can make laws relating to subjects like police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation. 3. Concurrent List: – It can also be termed as co-existing list and includes subjects of common interest to both the Union Government as well as the State Governments. It includes subjects like education, forest, trade unions, marriage, adoption and succession. Both levels of government (Union and State governments) can make laws on these subjects. If their laws conflict with each other then the law made by the Union Government will reign and succeed. How is Federalism practiced? The success of federalism in India cannot be merely attributed to constitutional provisions but to the nature of democratic politics in our country. It ensured that the spirit of federalism, respect for diversity and desire for living together became a common goal in our country. The major reasons in which federalism has succeeded in our country are as follows: – 1. Linguistic states: – The formation of linguistic states was the first major test for democratic politics in India. There were lots of changes in democratic politics of our country from 1947 to 2006. In India, many old states have vanished while many states have been created. Even the names of areas, boundaries and states were changed during this period. In 1947, the year of independence, the boundaries of many old states were changed in order to create new states. It was done to ensure that the people speaking same language should reside in same state. It led to formation of some states that were created not on the basis of language but to recognise differences based on culture, ethnicity or geography. It includes states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. There was fear of disintegration by some national leaders in our country when there was demand for the formation of states on the basis of language was raised. Earlier central government resisted linguistic states but the experience has shown that their formation has made country more united and integrated. It made administration procedure easier and opened doors of opportunities for everybody. 2. Language policy: – Our constitution has not given the status of national language to any one language. Language policy proved second major test for India federation and finally Hindi was identified as the official language of the country. Hindi, the official language of country proved to be mother tongue of only 40 percent of India and therefore there were many safeguards to protect other languages. Besides Hindi, constitution recognized 21 another languages as scheduled languages. All the states had their own official language and much of government work took place in the official language of the concerned states. Our leaders adopted a cautious and vigilant attitude in spreading the use of Hindi in India. According to Indian constitution, the usage of English for official use has to be stopped by 1965 but many non-Hindi speaking states resented it violently and wanted to continue with English. In Tamil Nadu, the movement took ugly turn as it turned into violent agitation. Thereafter, Central government responded positively and agreed to continue with usage of English along with Hindi for official purposes. But still Government of India continues to have encouraged the promotion of Hindi in their official policy. It does not mean that central government can impose Hindi on states where people speaks their own regional languages. 3. Centre State Relations: – The concept of federalism was strengthened to large extent by restructuring of centre and state governments relationships. It also largely depends on how the leaders of ruling party follow these arrangements. In India, the same party ruled both at the centre and at the most of the states. It means that the state governments did not exercise their rights as autonomous federal units. There were occasions where the parties at centre and state were different and in such cases central government tried to undermine the powers of state government. In those days, central government misused the constitution to dismiss the state governments that were governed by opposition parties. It undermined the spirit of federalism to large extent. After 1990, there was significant changes as the country saw the rise of regional parties in many states of the country. It was the arrival of the era of coalition governments at the centre. It led to new culture of power sharing and created a respect for the autonomy of state governments. This new trend was supported by a major judgment of Supreme Court that made difficult for Central government to dismiss state governments in an illogical manner. Federal power sharing holds more significance in today’s time than in early years when constitution came into force. Conclusion There are still other subjects that don’t fall in any of these lists. These subjects are computer software that came much after the formation of constitution in India. According to our constitution, Union government has the power to legislate on these left over or untapped subjects. Generally, it is learnt that holding together federations do not give equal power to its constituents so all states in Indian Union does not have identical powers. Jammu and Kashmir has its own constitution and enjoys special status and many provisions of Indian constitution are not applicable in this state. There are some units of Indian Union that enjoys very little power and these are areas which are too small to be recognized as an Independent state and could not merged with any other states. They are referred to as Union Territories and include areas like Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Delhi, capital city of India. These territories do not have the powers of the state as Union or Central Government runs these areas with their special powers. It is not easy to make changes to the power sharing arrangements of Union and state governments as it has to be passed with both the houses of parliament with at least two-third majority. After its approval from both the houses of parliament, it has to be authorized or ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the total seats. In case of disputes about the division of powers, the High court and Supreme Court makes the decisive decision. Both Union and State governments have the power to raise resources by imposing taxes in order to carry on the government and the tasks allocated to them.

A Quick Introduction to Homeschooling

A Quick Introduction to Homeschooling Homeschooling is a type of education where children learn outside of a school setting under the supervision of their parents. The family determines what is to be learned and how it is to be taught while following whatever government regulations apply in that state or country. Today, homeschooling is a widely accepted educational alternative to traditional public or private schools, as well as a valuable method of learning in its own right. Homeschooling in America The roots of todays homeschooling movement go way back in American history. Up until the first compulsory education laws about 150 years ago, most children were taught at home. Wealthier families hired private tutors. Parents also taught their own children using books like the McGuffey Reader  or sent their children to a dame school where small groups of children were taught be a neighbor in exchange for chores. Famous homeschoolers from history include President John Adams, author Louisa May Alcott, and inventor Thomas Edison. Today, homeschooling parents have a wide range of curriculum, distance learning programs, and other educational resources to choose from. The movement also includes child-directed learning or unschooling, the philosophy made popular starting in the 1960s by education expert  John Holt. Who Homeschools and Why Its believed that between one to two percent of all school-age children are homeschooled -   although the statistics that exist on homeschooling in the United States are notoriously unreliable. Some of the reasons parents give for homeschooling include concern about safety, religious preference, and educational benefits. For many families, homeschooling is also a reflection of the importance they place on being together and a way to offset some of the pressures - in and out of school - to consume, acquire, and conform. In addition, families homeschool: to fit into parents work schedulesto travelto accommodate special needs and learning disabilitiesto provide gifted kids with more challenging material or allow them to work at a faster pace. Homeschooling Requirements in the U.S. Homeschooling comes under the authority of individual states, and each state has different requirements. In some parts of the country, all parents need to do is notify the school district that they are educating their children themselves. Other states require parents to submit lesson plans for approval, send in regular reports, prepare a portfolio for the district or peer review, allow home visits by district employees and have their children take standardized tests. Most states allow any competent parent or adult to homeschool a child, but a few demand a  teaching certification. For new homeschoolers, the important thing to know is that regardless of the local requirements, families have been able to work within them to achieve their own goals. Educational Styles One of homeschoolings advantages is that it is adaptable to many styles of teaching and learning. Some of the important ways in which homeschooling methods differ include: How much structure is preferred. There are homeschoolers who set up their environment like a classroom, right down to separate desks, textbooks, and a blackboard. Other families rarely or never do formal lessons, but dive into research materials, community resources and opportunities for hands-on exploration whenever a new topic catches someones interest. In between are homeschoolers who place varying amounts of importance on daily sit-down desk work, grades, tests, and covering topics in a particular order or time frame.What materials are used. Homeschoolers have the option to use an all-in-one curriculum, buy individual texts and workbooks from one or more publishers, or use picture books, nonfiction, and reference volumes instead. Most families also supplement whatever they use with alternative resources such as novels, videos, music, theater, art, and more.How much teaching is done by the parent. Parents can and do take on all the responsibility for teaching themselves. But other s choose to share teaching duties with other homeschooling families or pass it along to other educators. These can include distance learning (whether by mail, phone, or online), tutors and tutoring centers, as well as all the enrichment activities available to all children in the community, from sports teams to arts centers. Some private schools have also begun opening up their doors to part-time students. What About Public School at Home? Technically, homeschooling does not include the ever-increasing variations of public schooling that take place outside of school buildings. These can include online charter schools, independent study programs, and part-time or blended schools. To the parent and child at home, these may feel very similar to homeschooling. The difference is that public-school-at-home students are still under the authority of the school district, which determines what they must learn and when. Some homeschoolers feel these programs are missing the main ingredient that makes education at home work for them the freedom to change things as needed. Others find them a helpful way to allow their children to learn at home while still meeting the requirements of the school system. More Homeschooling Basics Homeschooling FAQWhat Homeschooling Really Looks Like5 Quick-Start Tips10 Positive Reasons to Homeschool

Poor infrastructure Essays

Poor infrastructure Essays Poor infrastructure Essay Poor infrastructure Essay Mozambique is still relatively poor as a country in economic terms, although it is rich in others such as copious fishing waters that are underused in the global markets due to poor infrastructure. Mozambique was lead by the Portuguese government who were ill equipped to compete adequately on an international and global level. When globalisation took off in other African states, Mozambique was left behind, and never had an industrial revolution. This meant that although there was plenty of opportunity to further develop the country and equip it with the ability to trade on global levels, other capitalist states and markets were far more advanced, with a good infrastructure that opened them up to the markets. The people of Mozambique were poorly educated, many of them illiterate, and because of this they were exploited by other nations. Many of the countries inhabitants are rough peasants and this exploitation led to a fascist dictatorship. They did not have the opportunities like other countries such as Ghana under the leadership of Nkrumah. Places like this could colonise as the leaders had skewed their colonies and economies and bequeathed more education to its inhabitants. Mozambique was never going to be able to match the massive trading powers of France and Britain, as Portugal had never prepared it to do so. Portugal had exploited it but not developed it. The idea behind neocolonisation was to allow maintenance of economic control but allowing it no input. There were no representatives around the table to help with the management of decolonisation. The only way that Portugal could decolonise Mozambique was through a bloody battle, often in a very vicious manner. The advancing system of France meant also meant that their military were stretched to the limits in trying to protect its country, but stood no chance and were often abandoned, as happened in the civil war. Prior to all this all decisions about the country had gone through the president in Paris, who operated in a Masonic way. Post-modern ideas of independence for Mozambique were hindered by the failure of the Westminster model of government, due to incompatibilities and ill equipped governments. There were often visible aspects of leaders becoming economy holders of the empire of entrepreneurship. Mozambiques problems were confounded and exacerbated by the civil aid programmes that supposedly came to help them. The growth centred approach to poverty only compounded this further. Targeted intervention was of no use as the poverty was so widespread. The average wage was well below the poverty line and there was an even harder exertion for the women to secure rewards that were commensurate with their contributions to the independence struggle. They were often given the opportunity to go to the markets with their produce but were then taxed heavily, and losing out on any sort of profit they may have made, basically a form of legalised extortion. Problems with landmines meant that the land was very dangerous to work on, with a high risk of injury or death. These also helped to slow down economic redevelopment. Many of us will remember the campaigns that were led by Princess Diana showing the terrible injuries that people had suffered through landmines detonating as they worked. There was a plea for international aid to be brought in to clear away the landmines and to give the people a fair chance to improve themselves and their towns. By implementing harsh and complicated economic pressures on its people, this is difficult enough in a wealthy modern state, the picture is even worse when we talk about African countries. The problems with a rapidly collapsing infrastructure, or as in the case of Mozambique, a non existent infrastructure, alongside its entrenched parastatal sector hostile to any change, which may threaten its interests, the problems not only escalate but become utterly formidable. In addition to this, the private sector becomes a strange amalgamation of disparate unrelated components. It consists of large multinationals, medium local sized organisations usually run by Asians, and a huge informal sector that largely comprises of peasant farmers. This means that the private sector is unbalanced and isolated to some extent. Considering all these points it is clear that there should be no rush for the imposition of multi party democracies and an unfettered market economy, even if it was possible to do so for Mozambique. Surely any change should be done gradually, with long term strategies that work alongside and slowly change the present systems. To sum up, arguments for structural adjustment policies of the International Monetary Fund, and lately on an increasing level in the World Bank, only focus on the microeconomic structures, and not the macroeconomic structures of all African countries including Mozambique. One must recognise the role played by recession in the West, due to declining terms of trade for primary products and the oil crisises. Those who believe in structural adjustment believe that the majority of african states share a common state corporatism that is economically corrosive and unproductive. Originally the motivation behind these programmes was to liberalise trade, reduce the role of government and parastate industries in the economy, and to end various subsidies to various sections of the population. It was believed that this would end the balance of payment crises and therefore promote economic growth. By the early 1990s it had been shown that this was not actually the case and that policy based lending had not acheived the intended goals. A new policy was now required to correct this, and the International Monetary Fund now decided that they needed to create a series of rational law based societies throughout sub-Saharan africa. This policy would need to make it clear that investment decisions were to be made on economic grounds, rather than on politically motivated grounds. This plainly put any emphasis of blame, due to previous policy failure, about the economic crisis in Mozambique and esoecially in Mozambique, was laregely a creation of the individual african states themselves. This removed any liability and responsibility on the west, protecting its own interests again. If there is no benefit to themselves there is a reluctance to become involved in the countries problems. The retention of these types of attitudes mean that Mozambiques problems are unlikely to see any significant change in the near future. There will be change but only very slowly as discussed earlier. In my beleif I think the Mozambique people have always been given a rough deal, and cannot see that it will change quickly, as the people who hold the power and capability to enforce change are fearful that they may lose some independance, i. e. the middle class bourguoise. The fear of a lack of control for those in the city, means that the poorer members of society are repressed continually, and because they do not have the capability or knowledge to do something about it, it is unlikely that it will change. I agree that the support given through international aid is necessary, but it should be helping the peasant farmers and the poorer members of society, not just the big boys in the city. This only extenuates the gap between the haves and have nots. Bibliography Tordoff W. Government and politics in Africa. (3rd ed) 1997. Macmillan press. London Clapham. C. Third World politics: an introduction. 1985. Croom Helm. London Chabal. P. Political Domination in Africa. Reflections on the limits of power. 1986. Canbridge University Press. London Cammack P. Capitalism and democracy in the Third . World. 1997. Leicester University Press. Leicester.. McLean. I. Concise dictionary of politics. 1996. Oxford University Press. Oxford. Webliography  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office

Current officila drug policy confused Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Current officila drug policy confused - Essay Example Later the Office of the National Drug Control Policy was set up by President Reagan and its powers heightened by President Clinton. The cost of the drug abuse and control effort has been running in hundreds of millions of dollars. (Blumenson & Eva 2002, p.34). There existed very high stakes efforts, at least going by the senior US administration decree that drugs were outlawed in the US. But as fate and private revelation would put it, some government official were also secretly participating in the vice by either funding, trafficking or facilitating its production. Earlier evidence pointed to the Iran links. The money from these was allegedly being used to fund the US foreign policy interest in some specific countries such as in Afghanistan. Some states like the California are on record for passing bills to allow for the use of cannabis as natural medicine, a move that put the law and medicine at logger heads. (Hitz 1998, p.65) In the US, even possessing a pharmaceutical drug for use for non- medical purposes is considered a felony. Today cannabis is number four on the list of the most causes of apprehension in US. But further interesting statistics show that most of these arrests are racially biased. More black and Hispanics were targeted, yet it is estimated that equal numbers and potential offenders. Outside the US territory, there have been ‘proactive’ steps towards the war on drugs with the notable invasion of Panama two decades ago, whereby its head of states was accused of being as the ring leader of the vice. Curiously still, when two groups in Columbia were positively identified to be participating in drugs, the US is reported to have sided with one and financed it to attack the other militarily. And while these two groups fought, the paramilitaries seemed to be busy engaging in the illicit vice. Sometimes back in 1986, there were strong sentiments of the Central Intelligence Agency dr ug related involvement to the extent that money from the trade was use to arm the agency. Worst news was still to come in 1988, when a senate committee reported that some member were involved in the drug menace to the extent of either financing or accepting help from the dealers themselves. Again once some traffickers were jailed, instead of the frozen funds being used to fund humanitarian effort; there was leaked evidence that these would be used to fund other dealers. (Cockburn & Jeffrey 1998, p.56) Gary Webb (1996) gave further indication of how drugs were trafficked to L. Angeles for purchase of weapons amidst strong denials by some quotas. The Wall street Journal ( January 1997) also hinted that Bill Clinton was actively trying to conceal the vice knowingly, and that he was known and in contact with one of the chief architects Barry Seal who operated an airstrip. As fate would have it, the same Barry Seal somehow finds himself a job at the CIA! And having been frustrated by senior administrator above him, A CIA Gen. Fredrick Hitz produced documentary evidence that was to attest to the fact surrounding obstructed justice, abetting of

Customer Loyalty at Ritz Carlton Hotel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Customer Loyalty at Ritz Carlton Hotel - Essay Example In his study, customer loyalty is associated will the kind of treated and services they receive. Customer loyalty is therefore seen with respect to how a customer responds to the products and services presented by the company (Lawfer 11). In Ritz Carlton industry, customer loyalty means the creation of customer satisfaction through creation of culture where customer needs is given priority through provision of high quality of products and services and good personal services by the employees of the company. He does this by making sure that the customer is made to feel valued by the company. However, as Andreassen and Lindestad state, customer loyalty is dependent on corporate image and the disconfirmation of expectations. Therefore, a company with good corporate image which puts the interests of its customers first is likely to win customer loyalty. In Ritz Carlton, a loyal customer has a lifetime worth of $ 1 million. According to Carflton, a loyal customer will try to sell a company to other customers luring them to it and that is why they are priced highly as opposed to a disloyal customer who will try to paint your company in a negative way. In Ritz Carlton`s hotel, customer satisfaction if given priority as the employees are empowered to use huge amounts of money as long as their motive is to satisfy their customers and make them happy. When a customer realizes that all her needs have been catered for in the hotel, their desire to come back for more service is boosted. The management also hires only those employees who are able and knowledgeable in meeting customer demand. Customer needs are given priority through customer orientation as they are made to feel valued. The company retains its customers through provision of high quality products and services. Ritz Carlton hotel builds customer relationships by ensuring that well trained and reputable employees are hired. The employees are trained to be customer focused and are required to