Archives November 2012

The Nobel Prize winning economist Professor Amartya Sen has focused international attention on the significance of fundamental human freedoms and human rights for development theory and practice. In the past, dominant approaches have often characterized development in terms of GDP per capita; food security in terms of food availability; and poverty in terms of income deprivation. Emphasis was placed on economic efficiency and no explicit role was given to fundamental freedom, individual agency and human rights. In contrast, Amartya Sen's research has highlighted the central idea   that, in the final analysis, market outcomes and government actions should be judged in terms of valuable human ends. His work has contributed to important paradigm shifts in economics and development. His approach is different from those that focus exclusively on income, growth and utility, with an increased emphasis on individual entitlements, capabilities, freedoms and rights. It has increased awareness of the importance of more...

Since 1988, the World AIDS Day is held on December I every year. It is an international day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS around the world. On this day, besides raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, memorials are held to honour persons who have died from HIV/AIDS. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements. Since 1981, AIDS has killed more than 25 million people. At present an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to mtirctroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS more...

Very often we read or hear about road accidents. The carelessness of the people adds to their number. Some accidents can be easily forgotten but it is not easy toin get a witnessed accident wherein a life is lost. Every morning I take my school bus from the bus standwhich is close to a crossing. One morning as always was waiting for my school bus when this accidentroccurred. One bus crossed the amber light just as it turned red. The traffic policeman on duty blew his whistle loudly but the bus driver did not stop. The traffic on the side roads had begun to move. Oneboy riding a motorbike seemed to be in great hurry. He moved ahead of all the other vehicles with anunexpected start. In this move he did not notice the speeding bus and before he could apply the brakes the bus hit him. With a jerk more...

There are about forty teachers in our school. They teachdifferent subjects and different classes. All the teachers’ don’t teach me but, there are some teachers who teach the middle classes. All of them are very good. They teachvery well and love their students. They are soft and don't punish the students harshly. Students too obey and respect all the teachers. Ms. rachna Sharma teaches us Hindi. She has very sweet temper. She never scolds the students. She is my favourite teacher, Ms. Sharma is an MA in Hindi from Lakhnow University. She has done her B. Ed from Delhi she had worked for a magazine before she started teaching us. She writes short stories and beautiful poems. She often writes for a magazine called Parag for young children. She is a very good story writer. She teaches us how to recite poems. She helps us toImprove our compositions. She is more...

Since Independence, the Government of India has provided full policy support and substantial public funds to create one of the world's largest systems of higher education. These institutions, with the exception of some notable ones, have however, not been able to maintain the high standards of education or keep pace with developments, especially in the fields of knowledge and technology. Over time, financial constraints with exploding enrolments, and a very high demand from primary and secondary education has led to the deterioration in the financial support provided by the Government. On top of this, an overall structure of myriad controls with a rigid bureaucracy has stifled its development. However, on the science and technology side, India has built up the largest stock of scientists, engineers and technicians. Since 1950-51, when there were only 2, 63,000 students in all disciplines in 750 colleges affiliated to 30 universities, the growth of higher more...

Peacock is a large and majestic bird. It has got a long and beautiful tail. Both the peacock and the hen have Crest. But the crest of hen is smaller in size. The main body of the cock is mottled brown in color specially; the metallic green color found on the lower neck is very attractive. Though peacocks are beautifullooking birds their calls are loud and coarse. They move in-groups and they are normally spotted in the forests, villages and nearby fields. They are shy in Nature. It feeds on lizards, snakes, grains and insects. The henlays a maximum of five eggs, which are in pale cream color. The significance of peacock is attached to cultures ofIndia, Far East, Ancient Persia, Greek and Christian. In Hinduism, the image of the god of thunder, rainsand war, Indra, was depicted in the form of a peacock. In south India, peacock is considered more...

It is said a friend in need is a friend indeed. An ideal friend possesses all the qualities of head and heart. It is Easy to befriend many but difficult to choose goodfriends. God gives us relatives by virtue of bearing born In a family, but friends we can choose. Rahul is my best friend. He has a personality andmanners that never fail to make an impression on others. His presence in a company always makes it lively. Straightforward and outspoken, he never feels shy in the company of his seniors. He respects his elders andis affectionate and kind to the youngsters. Despite his religious bent of mind and high thinkingRahul always keep himself trim by wearing decent Cloths. He never comes to the school without a tie around hisneck. He says that a physicaJy smart person is always mentally smart. His dress shows how much care he takes in more...

Each one of us has one ambition or the other in life. Assoon as we embark on the course of life, ambitions come handy. They make this course of life very easy andcomfortable. We can march on it with full confidence. An ambitious man is bound to rise in life. He willachieve something grand and splendid-He will see to It that his dreams come true. They are not "falsified". He will become a practicalman. He will put his 'dreams' into practice. Then he will not be an idle visionary or a dreamer. He will Bethe most practical. Some of us want to become doctors or engineers. Thenare still others whose aim of life is to serve the Motherland. There is no end to ambitions. So are the unlimited careers. But whatever career as per our ambition we choose we must stick to it firmly. We must not deviate. We should more...

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water by adopting a resolution. The world day for water is being observed since 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21, which calls on States to devote the Day to implement me UN recommendations and set up concrete activities as deemed appropriate in their national context. International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Each year. World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The more...

The policy of disinvestment in India has largely evolved through tin policy statements of Finance Ministers in their Budget Speeches. In the Interim budget 1991-92, it was announced that Government would dives up to 20 per cent of its equity in selected Public Sector Undertaking! (PSUs) in favour of mutual funds, financial and institutional investor! in public sector. In the budget speech of 1992-93, the cap of 20 per cent was reinstated and the list of eligible investors was enlarged to include FIIs, employees and OCBs. In April 1993, Rangrajan committee recommended to divest up to 49 per cent of PSE's equity for industries explicitly reserved for the public sector and over 74 per cent in other industries.    But the Government did not take any action on recommendations. In the Budget Speech 1996-97, as per the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), the setting up of Disinvestment Commission for 3 years was more...