Author: Shilpa Rana

THE BIGGER THE AGE DIFFERENCE, THE SHORTER THE MARRIAGE

There are numerous factors which can affect a relationship. Some of them are income levels, age difference or commitment etc. With the help of different researches and studies, it was concluded that age difference can also emerge as one of the factors for divorce and for creating odds in an relationship. Studies have concluded that, the greater the age difference between couples, the greater is the chance of ending a marriage and having divorce. Different studies were conducted for understanding the situation of marriage in different age intervals . According to different studies, couples having one or less than one year age difference have only 3% chances of getting divorced. If there is a difference of 5 years then the risk increases to 18%. And if the age difference is 10 years then the risk factor is 39%. This rate keeps on increasing with the increasing age gap. Couples who have less age gap have lesser chances of getting divorced and ending the marriage than those with someone who is very young or old as compared to the other. Individuals who are close in age belong to the same generation and have similar mindsets and outlook towards society and life. This provides a strong foundation to the relationship. These people have similar cultural references and taste, life experiences and will be achieving milestones in the same time. According to different findings, the chances of ending a marriage is highly reduced if marriage is done with the person having same age.

SMALL GAPS : Researchers have found that the couples having small age gaps have less chances of getting divorced. That’s not to say those marriages will not end in divorce. They certainly could. But the age difference would not be the reason for the divorce.

LARGE GAPS :The problem arises when the age difference is higher and the bigger the gap there is between people’s age, the more likely they are to end in divorce.

Changes happen slowly. The marriage may feel to be successful in the starting but the feeling change with time if there are unsuitable conditions. And in case of large age difference, it is seen that the people of more age feel to be more satisfied than the younger one and this eventually pushes the couple to divorce. People find themselves in different places and phases of and in life. If one thinks about his career or good health while the other will be focusing on retirement or declining health due to old ages. Despite the age differences and perspectives, people also have similar feelings and must have felt the happiness but in the similar way there will be numerous differences also. While examining or understanding any relationship it is necessary to understand both the partners. Relative ages of spouses affect if the husbands will leave their wives or the wives leave the husband and mostly it is found that the older spouses are left by the younger. Hence, spouses start to look less appealing and the thinking styles differs more and more as he or she ages, and it is absolute age that is driving divorce.

WHAT MAY BE THE REASONS BEHIND INCREASING NUMBER OF DIVORCES ?

The society went through number of shifts in attitude and behavior over the past 80 years and with all these shifts and transitions, the definitions, meanings, lifestyle etc. of people and the life events have also changes. There is change in the beliefs of the people and the meaning of marriage is also redefined and beliefs relating to marriage have also changed significantly. Marriage requires lifelong commitment and is dependent on an individuals fulfillment and satisfaction. With all these shifting’s, the stigma related with divorce has also been eliminated.

With the help of qualitative and quantitative studies it had been seen that there are number of reasons for divorce and some of the major reasons for divorce are lack of commitment, infidelity, and conflict/ arguing. And the most common final straw is domestic violence, infidelity and substance use. In recent decades, there is an increase in number of divorces. The increasing number of divorce is related to various social aspects.

  1. LACK OF PROPER COMMUNICATIONS : Communication is very important when we’re interacting with someone and bad communication can have many impacts on a marriage. It is important to clarify each other’s meanings and concerns, otherwise, it will lead into suspicion, mistrust and arguments and many times it can affect the marriage severely. Arguments in any relationship is not a bad thing and can have healthy results but they can have bad impacts due to lack of communication.
  2. LACK OF COMMITMENT : According to various studies, the major reason behind divorces is the lack of commitment. The commitment gradually erodes until there was not enough commitment for sustaining the relationship and also due to negative events such as infidelity.
  3. ABUSE : When there is abuse in a marriage or in a family then divorce is the best ending and result possible. In some cases it is the husband. While there are some spouses who are able to end and overcome abuse and sometimes with the help of involvement of in laws and elders, the issues can be solved. But everything depends on the attitude and mindset of the person in relationship.
  4. INFIDELITY : Infidelity is considered as a critical turning point in a destroying a relationship and majority of couples end their relationship if they are cheated and due to infidelity. In some cases it is also seen that couples overcome this challenge and find strength to stay together.
  5. ADDICTIONS : Addictions can be in many forms. It can be in the form of alcohol, gambling etc. In many cases it was found that the addicted partner can recover from it and the marriage can be continued but if there is no change and recovery from addictions then it is best for the spouse and children to separate and see if progress is possible. Depending on the circumstance, it can be decided what to do and when to do.
  6. WOMEN’S INDEPENDENCE : Women have become more independent over these years and they are no more dependent on anyone and are no more mere housewives. Women have now become financially, socially, physically and mentally independent and this affects the old aged mentality of many people who believed that women have only one function to play that is nurturing the family. Besides so much advancements, there are many people who have still been hesitant to see women’s progress. And there men who cannot see the progress of women. There are ego clashes which cause dissatisfaction in marriage and lead to divorce.

THE BUYING DECISIONS

Buying and shopping is something, which if preferred my everyone, belonging to all age groups. The buying decisions of men and woman depend on their habit and lifestyle. Habits and lifestyle drive most decisions and it is important for companies to study these habits for understanding the buying decisions of the purchasers. Companies try to focus and study the initial buying decision to gain advantage of them before their decision is overruled by their habit. This ensures that their products and things that they are selling is the beneficiary of the habits of the consumers.

Consumer Buying Process

There is particular buying process through which a customer has to go before purchasing anything. This process is called as Customer Buying Process (also called a buying decision process). This process shows the journey of a customer before buying anything. And it is important to understand this journey to align the products and strategize the entire process of product advertising selling accordingly.

Following things are focused while understanding a buyers mind:

  • Initial Stimulation of a Need : Companies spend millions of dollars each year to motivate the buyers for purchasing their products and for motivating them to buy the products which are healthier, wealthier, attractive and safer. That’s why, coupons, discounts and sales are also provided. These mainly attract the purchasers. Many purchasers tend to change their habits and lifestyles which further change and shift their shopping habits.
  • Influence of Third Parties: Third parties are mainly friends, peers or authority who have influence on the habits and lifestyles of people. This further affect the selection of products. Word of mouth marketing is considered more because it provides honest reviews about different products. It is considered to be more trustworthy than individual advertising. That’s why companies try to seek and attract customer endorsements and enlist celebrities as product spokespeople to help gain the attraction and purchasers.
  • Personal Evaluation : Decisions for buying one product as compared to other similar products is influenced by a number of factors and it includes packaging appeal and the convenience of payment. This process of choosing one product over another helps in making better decisions and better choices.

Hence, consumers should be aware of their habits which are the major deciding factors while purchasing anything. Evaluating and objectively determining every purchase is considered to be impractical and not preferable. Sometimes the outcomes are more critical and there can be significant differences in their price, quantity, quality, durability and utility etc. And for a successful result it is important to make rational purchasing decision.

Shopping always makes us feel good. Even after buying something, the excitement of trying them immediately after getting home excites a lot and in my case, I always have a feeling of achievement after buying a product that I like. We all know that sense of pleasure and joy when be go through different stores and buy something that we want…. It can be a new shade of lipstick, or a hardware or furniture or electronic item or pair shoes or anything else. This is called a retail therapy and it has also been studies scientifically. Scientific studies of retail therapy have shown the effectiveness of buying and shopping something which we need or want.

HOW SHOPPING CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY ?

Many people find happiness, excitement and pleasure while doing their favorite activity. Some people find happiness while shopping. It might be clothing, books or dresses, hardware’s, machines etc. and the point is not what is being [purchased but the fact that shopping brings happiness and pleasure to them. Shopping can be seen as a kind of therapy for many people ( as long as they don’t waste their money in buying unnecessary things which can bring problems in future). Shopping can help in many ways.

According to a study, which was conducted in 2014, it was found that retail therapy not only brings happiness and joy but it can also fight sadness in a lot of different ways. According to studies, sadness is generally associated with a sense where it can control someone’s life goals and outcomes and bring discouragement and embarrassment. But while shopping, the control over your own choices, necessities and needs can be brought back. By shopping one can restore the feeling of personal control and autonomy. Purchasing the things that you like and personally enjoy help in being more effective (up to 40 times) in giving the sense of pleasure and joy.

There are different ways by which shopping can bring you happiness:

DE-STRESS

While having stressful lives, people often try to find some leisure period and some activities which will make them feel lively and stress free. Stress can cause many mental illness such as depression or anxiety etc. and can also have harsh impact on physical health as well. But when people shop, they get an opportunity to forget everything all stressful things and focus on a particular task. Shopping is not an mindless activity because it required concentration for selecting good products and bargains. While buying something we need to compare them with other similar products and find out which product best suits our interest and needs. The stressors in life have less impact on you when you don’t think about them and thus it you get the opportunity to heal. Shopping will provide you a break from all stresses and worrying and will even help you to come with some solution.

IT TAKES MIND OFF THINGS

Online and offline shopping require concentration and taken time to decide the bet product and most suitable product and when you think about what you want or need and try to find the most appropriate item for meeting your requirements, your mind gets diverted from the stresses in your life.

BOOSTS CONFIDENCE

Perfect pair of shoes for your outfit can make you feel amazing because you feel complete and confident about what you’re wearing. The same goes with everything which is around your and which you use. It gives you the compliment: Yes, you’re amazing ! Its not just the wearing or thing being used which helps you, but it’ll also give a big confidence boost when you feel satisfied about what you’re wearing and using.

CONTROLLED

While shopping, the purchaser is the one who will make all the decisions. If you feel that everything is out of your control, then you can go for shopping and this will help you in relieving your stress. Shopping provides complete control which doesn’t happen to be in every aspects of your life. So, when you get the opportunity then you should grab it. Once again, this will boost your confidence level and a day of shopping or retail therapy will remind you that we can make things right. Researches have found that, shopping decisions help us to have the sense of personal control over our environment and help to overcome sadness.

#5 GET TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH FRIENDS

In today’s busy world it is very difficult to meet and hang out with your loved ones and favorite persons and a shopping trip is the perfect opportunity to get everyone together and have fun. Shopping is something which gives more happiness and joy when done with friends or people you love. Time spent with our favorite people will make you feel more happy and good.

Following tips can be included in you shopping trip to make it more exciting and enjoyable:

  • Include lunch or dinner in the plan (or even breakfast if you’re shopping in the morning)
  • Include movie or some cocktails to relax if you get tired
  • Hangout in your friend’s house and try out the things that you’ve purchased.
  • Spending time with your friends and people you love is a great therapy and when this is done with shopping, then it will make the life more good.

#6 GRATIFYING

In shopping, Gratification comes in two forms:

  • Instant Gratification, which means seeing something that you need or want and then buying it.
  • Delayed Gratification, which means seeing something that you want and not buying it right away and saving up money for buying it and returning home and expecting to buy it some other time.

#7 IMPROVE SELF IMAGE

The way you present yourself to the world is one of the important factors which determine the image which will formed about you in others mind. Effectively creating the image that you want will make you feel good and you can shop according to your own style and image that you want to show to the world. You can buy something wither in online or offline mode to add on or perpetuate your image.

Every time you’re buying something, you are adding to your image and this will make you feel more confident about yourselves.

#8 REFRESHING

Everyone wants to have something and new things now and again. You can shop to enhance your look and image or new look to your room or wardrobe. Shopping always incorporates some thing new into your life and always feels refreshing.

#9 IT BRINGS CHANGE

We do shopping when we want to change anything in our life or want to add something new into our life. This may be because of some life event or we want people to see us differently etc. There are numerous reasons to do shopping and can change their life and outlook towards life.

So there you go and next time when you’ll be feeling down or sad, then boost your mind and spirit by shopping your favorite things with your favorite people.

Tell me your experiences from your last purchase in the comments…

WHY MEN ARE BUYERS AND WOMEN ARE SHOPPERS ?

Men and women differ from each other in many aspects…. They have different perspectives, motives, actions, thinking and rationales etc. and like everything has certain exceptions, similarly women and men also have exceptions in them. Based on such differences and similarities, the companies try to appeal their customers for buying their products and they design everything accordingly, like product design, advertisement, store design and layout etc. Everything id designed in such a way that the consumers are attracted to them. As per studies, it has been concluded that women only make more than 85% of the consumers and influence over 95% of total goods and services purchased. Women are considered to be more sophisticated when it comes to shopping and take longer time while purchasing anything.

MALE BUYERS

  • While purchasing anything, men try to analyze the use of products first. They try to understand how the products will be used, who will use it, time period of usage for products, which features are necessary and what is offered with different price ranges.
  • With the growth of e-commerce and technological advancements, it has been seen that in current days men’s are preferring to buy things online than in offline mode. It was also concluded through various researches that, men’s are more likely to compare and research about product online more than women.
  • Women generally shop considering the future needs but men tend to purchase things when the need is immediate and it has also been seen that men’s are less likely to compare or take advantage of discounts, deals and offers.

WOMEN SHOPPERS

Women shoppers can be categorized into 4 types:

  • Influencers: One third of the women try to influence by the society by highlighting different trends, varying fashion senses and ways of fashion. They tend to be planners, organizers and mostly spend money on quality products and products that belong to latest trends.
  • Equilibrium or Balanced: One-third of the total women consumers belong to this category and are the group of stable and balanced women’s who are in continual state of equilibrium. They know that everything has time and and amount to be spent. They tend to purchase classic things that are long lasting and may or may not be trendy.
  • Shopping as errand : Women belonging to this category mainly treat shopping as errand or chores, rather than fun experience or adventure. They tend to trustworthy and lifelong customers because of their loyalty. They like hassle free shopping experiences and like men, they are more practical, responsible and loyal customers.
  • Super Shoppers: Women belonging to this category are super shoppers, who constantly try different things, trends and fashion styles. These are the customers who are wanted by companies more while producing any new product.
  • Cultural Artists. Representing slightly more than 1 in 10, women in this group are considered the “super shoppers,” constantly trying different things and starting new trends. They are the group companies actively seek for new products.

Women are considered to be better shopper than men and they are more willing to invest their energy and time in necessary research and comparing products.

ONLINE EDUCATION: EXHAUSTION FOR STUDENTS RATHER THAN KNOWLEDGE

Specially for students of age 4 to 9 years

Everything has a positive and negative side. Similarly, online classes has both positive and negative sides. On one hand, the e-education and online classes have emerged as a solution for the educational crisis in current pandemic and thanks to these technological advancements which helped the students to continue their education. But on the other hand, online learning has numerous negative consequences also. In this article. we will try to identify and understand some these negative consequences and effects of online learning.

Due to pandemic, everybody lost many things, everyone’s life and lifestyle have changed and society has been altered but the there’s a huge impact of this pandemic is on the children’s of age group 4 to 9. These children’s should be learning new thing now, exploring and playing and making friends but all these things are nearly impossible for them in current situation. The pandemic forced the kids to moveout from the learning zone with which they were acquainted, like a classroom and are setup in the completely opposite scenario, where the students have missed many essential part of their education. The sudden transition of education from classroom studies to online learning will also have a huge impact on them. However, the new generation is very internet savvy but the e learning has certain limitations. Online learning comes with many challenges that has many impact on the students.

The main issue here is the lack of consistency… Children are more attentive and curious to learn things when they were in class but in this online learning scenario, the consistency of these children to be focused on studies and concentrated decreases. A students interest to answer the questions and clear doubts is more in classes but this is reduced in online learning. The willingness of a student to get his or her doubts cleared and participate in the class decreases due to the lack of one to one reaction with the teachers.

Reduced Concentration and Self Discipline… The major limitations that the students are currently facing in the online learning is reduced concentration in the class and self discipline. A school classroom provides the complete atmosphere which boosts the interest and concentration of students to learn. And such environment and structure which is effective for learning is not present at home. This classroom atmosphere give the best environment to student where they can learn, complete their assignment. Homes lack such things and as a result of which students struggle to finish their homework’s and assignments, lack of motivation and lower goals for themselves. This also discourages the students to do better in academics and explore new things.

Reduced Interaction with Peers… In addition to lack of motivation to study, the very important part of a child’s school life is also missed. This is their interaction with friends. Schools provide a neutral environment for students where they can study as well as enjoy. There is scope of social interactions which aids in developing many new skills such as understanding people of different personalities, setting boundaries, learning cooperation and empathy etc. These skills are very important for the students as it helps them in socializing with others. But such facilities cannot be provided in the homes due to the current pandemics. Because of this the students get isolated and a sense of isolation can emerge in them.

Health Hazards of Online Teaching… Online learning required continuous focus of screens which has many physical health and mental health hazards. The increase in screen time is one the major concerns and disadvantages of online learning. Some students may also develop bad posture and physicals problems. It has serious impacts on the eye sight of the students also.

TRAVELLING…

In simple words, Travelling can be defined a transporting or moving from one place to another. Travelling can be an awesome source of education as if enhances the exposure of people to different places, different types of environment, surrounding and people etc. Travelling provides away by which people can share their knowledge and can also be a source of income and an individual can learn many things from travelling.

LEARNING DIFFERNT LANGUAGE: Travelling provides a way to connect with others and visit different places. By commuting to other places and communicating with the native citizens provides an awesome opportunity to learn their language and the interest of the travelers to do so also increases, as they get a chance to interact and enjoy more. Learning a new language helps the travelers to understand them better and make new friends in different areas. Learning a new language gives you an opportunity to learn something new and different and helps you to be creative. Learning the native language can help in a number of ways while traveling. It makes helps in connecting with the local people and helps you to be confident with the help of proper lingual skills and interact with the people smartly.

LEARN HISTORY : Every city or place has its own history and culture which makes it unique from other places and this identity is inherited. A person gets to know about that place and its history by travelling. People get to know about the stories, amazing tales etc. related to that place from the locals which makes the experience more thrilling.

INCREASE YOUR FRIEND CIRCLE: Making new friends is the best part of travelling and make the journey even more enjoyable and interesting. You can make new friends, hang out with them, spend quality time and learn many new things. The current advancement in digital media and communication helps to stay in touch with them. It helps people to understand people of different personalities, nature and behavior. This will help in exploring their places and can also be your guide and can make the tour really effortless and easy.

LEARN NEW SKILLS : Travelling helps in providing new skills by increasing your experience and exposure to different areas and cities. All these new skills and exposure will help you in long run.

ENJOY NATURE : Travelling shows different sides of nature and its beauty. It increases your exposure to beautiful natural spots and places. The world is full of amazing places and excitements. Different places show different sides of nature. There are lot of things that you have not seen yet and travelling helps to explore and find the beauty of nature.

UNDERSTNADING PEOPLE : After living for a few days will help in finding few people who will like you and will be friends. In this way you will be able to learn a lot and understand people of different regions.

There are number of reasons to travel… Travel can be a real fun and can be a source of education and business. On the basis of someone’s financial situations, travelling can be planned.

MENTAL HEALTH: THAT DRIVES YOUR WELL-BEING

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

–World Health Organization (WHO)

DEFINING MENTAL HEALTH

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Mental Health as ” A state of well-being which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Mental Health includes many aspects, like psychological, social, emotional well-being etc. and plays a vital role in determining how a person thinks, feels and acts. Mental health helps in determining the stress level of a person and thus can help in reducing it. It helps to relate people with others and make choices. It is important at every stage of life and affects the life in numerous ways.

If a person had mental health problems, then its thinking, mood, behavior, actions etc. will be affected to a great extent and can cause problem in society. Some of the factors that contribute to mental health are :

  1. Biological Factors: Genes or brain chemistry
  2. Life Experiences: Trauma or abuse
  3. Family history of mental health problems

UNDERSTANDING THE RELEVANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health is an essential and vital component of health and mental health is similar to the condition, where there is no mental disorder or disabilities. A person with sound mental health is able to realize his or her duty and responsibilities and is capable to cope with the stresses of life which are normal and can work productively, With this the person can efficiently contribute to his or her community.

Mental Health is fundamental ability of an person to think, respond, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life. On this basis, we can say that, it is very necessary to preserve, conserve and protect a persona mental health because it can affect other individuals around them, the society, their community and the world itself.

FACTORS DETERMINING MENTAL HEALTH

Numerous factors affect a persons mental health and they can be social, biological and psychological. For example, violence and social pressures can mentally disturb a person.

Poor mental health can affect the way a person responds to others and to the society. It can lead to social change, stressed work conditions, gender discrimination, social exclusion, prejudice, unhealthy lifestyle etc. There are specific factors which can affect a persons mental health and can make people vulnerable to mental health problems and disorders.

PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH

Different ways to promote mental health:

  1. Socio economic empowerment of women for increasing their access to education, schemes etc.
  2. Early Childhood interventions for providing proper infrastructures which will be child sensitive.
  3. Programs targeting vulnerable people of the society; like migrants, minorities etc.
  4. Mental health promotional educational centers and mental health interventions at work.
  5. Social support for elderly people.
  6. Poverty reduction and social protection to the vulnerable group.
  7. Promotion of rights, opportunities and care to everyone having mental disorders.
  8. Violence prevention and community development programs.

UNDERSTANDING GOOD GOVERNANCE

“GOOD GOVERNANCE SHOULD BE LIKE AIR. IT’S EXISTENCE NEED NOT BE DISCUSSED BUT IT’S ABSENCE WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE”

Nowadays the terms “Governance” and “Good Governance” are being used widely. Major reforms, actions, changes and even donations and institutional activities are basing all their rules and regulations which will help achieve “good governance”.

WHAT IS GOVERNANCE ?

Governance is the process or system by which entities are administered or directed and controlled. It is the process of decision making and the process of deciding the actors who will be involved in the decision making process and implementation of decisions.

The concept of “governance” has been used from past many years and can be used in several contexts such as international or national governance, corporate governance, local governance etc. One of the major actor of governance is “government” and other actors involved in the process of governance are NGOs, private bodies, landlords, research institutes, religious leaders, political parties, military etc.

GOOD GOVERNANCE

The term “Good Governance” originated from the report entitled ” Governance and Development” which was published by World Bank in year 1992. The World Bank defined Good Governance as “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development”.

Thus, good governance is an approach which aims in creating a system which finds justice and peace and ensures the protection of individual’s human rights and liberties. Good Governance is measured by 8 characteristics : Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Oriented, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency, and Accountability.

Good Governance is a process of governance that considers the views of minorities and vulnerable groups of society and minimizes corruption while taking decisions thereby boosting the economy.

REFERENCES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

  1. The importance of Governance is clearly highlighted and explained in Indian Constitution which is based on – Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic for attaining democracy, rule of law and welfare of people.
  2. The Sustainable Development Goal q6 also describes the linkage between improvement of governance, inclusivity, participation, rights and security.
  3. The Bhagavad Gita also provides numerous indications of good governance, leadership, dutifulness and self realization.
  4. According to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, “Good governance is ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law; strengthening democracy; promoting transparency and capacity in public administration.” He also said that “Good Governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development”.

PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

Principles of Good Governance
  1. Participation: Participation by each section of the society irrespective of their gender, social class, caste, income etc. The participation of the individuals can be through direct or indirect (through other institutions or representatives) mediums. Participation is an crucial part of governance because it brings forward the major concerns of the society, the issues as well as in identification of potentials of the area.
  2. Rule of Law: It ensures fair and legal frameworks and methods being used in the governance and enforces impartially. This requires full protection of human rights, especially of the weaker sections and vulnerable groups of the society. For this the law needs to be impartial, uncorrupted and judicial.
  3. Transparency : Transparency in a process or system or governance ensures that all the decisions, actions and enforcements are taken only after considering the governing rules or laws or regulations. It signifies the availability of information’s to all the stakeholders and the people who will be affected by the actions or enforcements.
  4. Responsiveness: Good Governance requires timely actions and processes and tries to serve all the stakeholders within a reasonable time frame or specified time frame.
  5. Consensus Oriented: Good Governance requires different interests to sum up into a broad consensus to show the best interest for the community and society. It is necessary for developing sustainable human development and the only way by which cultural, social and historical diversity can be preserved.
  6. Equity and Inclusiveness: Equity and Inclusivity ensures that all the members of the community or society are feeling free to put forward their concern and idea. Nobody should feel excluded. Equity and Inclusivity is highly important for minor or vulnerable groups because it is very important to give them the opportunities to express their issues and ideas for improving and maintaining their well being.
  7. Effectiveness and Efficiency: The results or outcomes of the processes should satisfy the needs of the society and should make the best use of available resources, without exploiting them. It is necessary to identify the potentials and weaknesses of the society or community or area before coming up or implementing any solution. All the outcomes and results should within desirable time frame and should be the best decisions for the welfare of the society.
  8. Accountability: It is one of the most vital requirements of good governance as it ensures that all the stakeholders (government bodies or private institutions or civil organizations or NGOs etc) are accountable to the public. Who is accountable to whom depends on the actions or decisions which are taken in the organization.
What makes Good Governance different from Bad Governance

CONCLUSION

From the above discussion it is clear that “Good Governance” is the most ideal form of governance but it requires transperancy, accountability and intelligent form of governance which makes it more difficult to achieve. For achieving good governance, a system much be uncorrupted, bias free and free from prejudices.

Thus, there is a need to reform and reformulate strategies for restoring good governance. The government should focus on the principle of : “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas” which will guide the way to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

WHAT MAKES 18 JULY A SIGNIFICANT DAY ?

18th July marks the birth of an iconic figure who vanquished South Africa’s apartheid system. The great personality who fought for human rights and was an international peacemaker. This person who played a very vital role in shaping the society and conserving the human rights was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

 “It is easy to break down and destroy.
The heroes are those who make peace and build.” 

 – Nelson Mandela

ABOUT NELSON MANDELA

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. The main focus of his government was on knocking down the apartheid regime by fostering racial reconciliation and tackling institutionalized racism. Nelson Mandela is an iconic figure who was an human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience and an international peacemaker. He is that great personality who vanquished South Africa’s apartheid system and was the first democratically elected president of free South Africa. Nelson Mandela was born Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela in Transkei, South Africa on 18 July, 1918. His strategy was to bring change through Legal Revolution but not through actual violence. He began his journey towards by following the path of non-violence, later embracing violence, and then adopting a non-violent approach for negotiation and reconciliation.

ABOUT NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY

Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) is celebrated in honor of Nelson Mandela, the former South African President, on his birthday, that is on 18 July. This day was declared officially by the United Nations in November 2009 and the first Mandela Day was thus held on 18 July 2010. There are many other groups who celebrated this day before 2010 also, that is from 18 July 2009.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared 18th July as “Nelson Mandela International Day” for paying tribute and for recognizing his contributions for achieving and promoting peace and freedom. Mandela Day reminds us that “Each individual has the potential and power to bring a positive change, transform and ability to make an impact.”

MESSAGE OF MANDELA DAY CAMPAIGN

Nelson Mandela fought for peace and harmony. He fought for bringing social justice for over 67 years. This day urges the people of Mother Earth to fight poverty and promote peace, reconciliation and cultural diversity.

While establishing this international day, UNGA recognized the values and dedication of Nelson Mandela for serving the humanity. He constantly fought for democracy and for promoting cultural peace throughout the world. Some other values for which he fought are:

  1. Conflict Resolution
  2. Race Relations
  3. Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
  4. Reconciliation
  5. Gender Equality
  6. Rights of Children and other vulnerable groups
  7. Fight against Poverty
  8. Promotion of Social Justice

The contribution of Nelson Mandela to the society can never be measured and his works remind us that “Everyone has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better!” Mandela Day is one such occasion which urges all to take action and inspire change.

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE NELSON MANDELA DAY ?

Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated every year to remember the legacy of a man who shaped the present with his fight for 67 years and provided a better world and society for the future generation. Nelson Mandela changed the 20th century and helped shape the 21st century and future of the world. This day exhorts us to renew the values and principles of Nelson Mandela and to take actions for building a better society.

E- EDUCATION: AN EDUCATIONAL REVOLUTION

E–education or e–learning is the delivery of education or training by electronic teaching methods like computers or laptops etc. E- Education means Schools on Web and it consolidates virtual classrooms, laboratories and integrates it with your other enterprise applications. These now supplement the face – 2 – face class room and commonly known as Blended Learning. It is the learning experiences from the online information sources. This E-Learning approach helps the students know, makes them understand how to research more and the students can preserve their online resources posterity. It helps the teacher to provide better materials for the students by doing research on various topics and subjects. It normally works over the internet and provides numerous tools such as for assessment, communications, collaborations, uploading of content etc.

Schools On Web help in connecting people with each other and provides new ways of communications and collaborations with the help of all kinds of information’s being provided by it. The aim is – Learning without Limits- anytime, in any place, and at any pace. It provides a platform where students and parents are connected, administrators are empowered and teachers are inspired.

E- Learning

The technologies of web collaborations helps in real time access to subjects or instructors or topic matters directly from the PC of users. The key communication/ participation tools are: e mail, chat rooms, whiteboards, journals etc.

Some of the key benefits are:

  1. Enable the teaching od new or existing courses wuthin virtual classrooms
  2. Interactive sessions which can be recorded
  3. Effective evaluation of virtual classes
  4. Provide instant accesS
  5. Generate academic reports
  6. Enables to track the progress of individual learner

Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning stimulates experiments and boosts the dimensions of interest, involvement, imagination and interaction by virtual laboratories, scenario – based learning activities and tests of different concepts. All these can be incorporated into various teaching approaches as pre-labs, as alternatives to textbooks home work and individual or group activities.

Some of the key benefits are :

  1. Highly Interactive Platform
  2. Provide Learning by Doing
  3. Ensures and promotes high level of cognition and retention
  4. Safety and Security is ensured
  5. Simulates real-life environments

Management System

E-Learning helps in managing fee structure, fee submission, generation of time table and management, library management and other reports. Web based Institute Management software is designed which enables better interaction among students, teachers, parents and managing body. Thus, it helps in customization of the system for respective needs at a reasonable cost.

COVID 19 and E – Education

Countries are at different points in their COVID 19 infection rates and worldwide there are nearly 1.2 billion children in 186 countries who are getting affected by school closures due to the pandemic. With such sudden transition and shift away from the classroom many problems and issues have emerged across the globe. In such situations, online learning and e-learning approaches have emerged as solutions and in response to significant demand, many online learning platforms have also moved forward for offering free access to their educational services. With the help of e-learning and online teaching initiatives many issues which were being faced in the field of education have been sorted out but still there are still lots of problems which are associated with the availability of proper infrastructures etc. at each and every corner of the globe which can enable each and everyone to access the facilities of e-learning.

PATTACHITRA: AN INDEGENOUS FOLK AND TRIBAL ART OF ODISHA

Pattachitra or Patachitra is the ancient traditional and indigenous cloth based painting technique of Odisha and is highly known for its intricate details. The word Pattachitra is derived from Sanskrit words, “Patta” meaning canvas and “Chitra” meaning painting or picture. Thus, Pattachitra is painting which is done on canvas and makes use of rich colors, creative motifs and designs for mythological narratives and folktales.

Pattachitra is a traditional and popular art forms of Odisha, India and is inspired by Jagannath and Vaishava. The specialty of the painting is that, it uses colors that are natural and are fully made by Chitraakaras or Odiya Painter. The tradition of Pattachitra painting is more than thousand years old and is still practiced in the state.

HISTORY OF THE ART FORM

The arts inscribed in “Pattachitra” resemble the ancient murals of Odisha and Lord Jagannath is taken as the source of the art form. The artform mainly shows the religious centers of Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar region and the best works of the artform are found in and around Puri and especially in village of Raghurajpur. Other such regions were the artform is still being practiced in Paralakhemundi, Chikiti and Sonepur. The color schemes used in the artform are similar to the color schemes of deities of Puri. The wooden statues of the three deities of Puri are covered with cloth and are painted with the four limited colors of red, yellow, white and black. These deities also have their traditional art and painting which shows their life events and different tales and these are as old as the deities themselves.

Some of the popular tales or themes that are depicted in this art form are “Thia Badhia: A Depiction fo temple of Jagannath”, “Krishna Lila: Enactment of Jagannath as Lord Krishna and his powers displayed during his childhood”, “Panchamukhi: Depiction of Lord Ganesh as a five headed deity” etc. These themes are the soul of the art form and are the true reason behind the existence of this artform. The artform requires unbending concentration and careful craftmanship and it takes nearly five days of work for completing the art and it may take long or shorter period onnthe basis of the complexity of work and labour required.

Pattachitra showing Krishna Lila
Pattachitra showing Thia Badhia
Pattachitra showing Panchamukhi

THE MAKING OF PATTACHITRA

Making of Pattachitra

While making Pattachitra following steps are followed:

  1. Making the Patta : Done with the help of tamarind paste and my soaking tamarind seeds in water for three days and then are crushed to make paste which is called Niryas Kalpa.
  2. Holding the two pieces of cloth together with the tamarind paste and coating a powder of soft clay to make it firm.
  3. After the cloth becomes dry, it is polished with rough stone followed by wood or smooth stone until the surface becomes smooth and leathery.
  4. The canvas is ready for being painted.
  5. Preparing the paste using naturally available raw materials to being about indigenous paints. This is the most important step in preparation of Pattachitra.
  6. The root of Keya plant is the most common ingredient used for making the brush and then the cloth is painted.

WHAT MAKES PATTACHITRA SPECIAL ?

Pattachitra Wood Necklace

Pattachitra painting is a disciplined art form and the makers always stick to the use of natural products only for making Pattachitras. They have certain rules the follow and abide by while making an artform and end up creating remarkable paintings that depict emotions, tales, history, culture etc. and the Chitrakars try their best to being the most accurate expression through the use of the rich colorful motifs.

Pattachitra has came a long way and has gone through large number of transitions and the chitrakaras have painted on tussar silk and even on palm leaves. Wall hangings and showpieces are also being created. And all this is done by strictly following the rules and these have remained intact throughout generations.

Pattachitra Wall Hanging

URBAN ECOSYSTEM AND URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

URBAN ECOSYSTEM

UNDERSTANDING URBAN ECOSYSTEM

Urban Ecosystem is the ecological system which is located within an urban area or a city or town or any densely populated area. Urban Ecosystem is the amalgamation of the urban population, its built infrastructure along with its surrounding environment and the interactions between them. It can be seen as a modern way by which adaption can be promoted and guidance can be provided for ecosystem approaches for planning and management of urban areas and their ecosystem. By this the effectiveness and efficiency of the amenities and services being provided for the people can be improved.

URBAN ECOSYSTEM

NEED TO UNDERSTAND URBAN ECOSYSTEM

  1. As of the current situation, more than 54% of world’s population is residing in urban areas (2017) and is projected to reach nearly 66% by 2050.
  2. Urban areas occupy only a small portion of land as compared to the total land available but the amount of global energy consumed by them is huge and is nearly 67 – 76%.
  3. Industrial activities are one of the most widely practiced activities in urban areas and they consume nearly 80% of residential water and 80% of woods.
  4. With the increasing percentage of population residing in urban areas the chances of deterioration of urban ecosystem also increases.
  5. The expanding urban areas convert the  biomes into residential, industrial, commercial, and transportation areas.

STRUCTURE OF URBAN ECOSYSTEMS

Urban Ecosystems consist of 2 elements:

  1. Biological Elements : In the biological components in includes plants, animals and other life forms of life and in addition to that, it also includes the human population, their demographic characteristics, their institutional structures and the socio economic tools that they employ.
  2. Physical Elements : The physical component mainly includes buildings, transportation networks, modified surfaces (e.g., parking lots, roofs, and landscaping) and the environmental alterations etc . 

CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN ECOSYSTEMS

  1. In comparison to other ecosystems, urban ecosystems are more warm because of high built up areas which reduces the infiltration of rainwater and show high amount of surface run off.
  2. The amount of chemicals, pollutants and heavy metals and other man made organic compounds is also more concentrated in these areas.
  3. The biological community found in different urban areas and urban ecosystems is similar, which is mainly attributed to the structural similarities in urban areas like infrastructures, buildings etc. and due to introduction of different types of activities and characteristics in urban areas for satisfying the needs of the population.

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

As the percentage of people residing in the cities is increasing, the need of understanding the human – nature interactions and the evolution of their interaction and relationship also increases. With increasing urbanization, the complexities, adversities and nature of this relationship increases and keeps on changing.

Urban Sustainability is the approach that aims to reduce the reliance of cities on other means and modes for satisfying its need and to power itself by making best use of the available renewable sources of energy. By this practice, the carbon footprint, ecological footprint and extent of pollution caused by the cities and urban areas can be reduced. This can be done by efficiently using the land, using the compost obtained from material, by switching to zero waste strategy and waste – to – energy concept. By this the cities impact on micro and global climate change will be reduced.

SOME STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

  1. Urban Gardening
  2. Using Sustainable Approaches in construction of buildings
  3. Sustainable Landscaping
  4. Investments in Downtowns
  5. Food Forest

BRITISH INFLUENCE ON URBANIZATION IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION

India shares a long history of urbanization, with Indus Valley Civilization dating back to 2350 BC as its first stepping stone towards urbanization. After this and post-independence period, with the emergence of Planning Commission, India witnessed the urbanization which it had never seen before. And this period marks the progression and flourishing of urbanization in India. However, cities in India have been urbanized in number of phases. The urbanization history in India has 5 different phases (given by historians) :

  1. The Pre – Historic Period (Indus): 2350 – 1800 BC
  2. The Early Historic Period (Aryans and Dravidians): 600 BC – 500 AD
  3. The Medieval Period (Mughal): 600 – 800 AD
  4. The British Period: 800 AD – 1947
  5. Post Independence Period: 1947 – till date

URBANIZATION IN BRITISH PERIOD

The British came to India in 1858 when India was one of the most urbanized nations due to Mughal supremacy. But in the early phase of British rule, Indian cities witnessed decline in the level of urbanization and during the later phase of British rule, the Indian cities regained the lost importance and new towns and cities emerged and newer urban form was added to existing cities.

Fort St. William in Calcutta is one of the best examples of factories constructed during British Era and fortified for protection.

URBAN DECLINE IN 19TH CENTURY

The main reasons for urban decline during the British Period were:

  1. Lack of interest in British in economic development, prosperity and growth of India and their negative attitude towards the traditional industries of India which were present during that period.
  2. The alteration of urbanization in India due to the industrial revolution in England.
  3. The diversion in existing trade routes due to sudden growth and building of rail networks.
  4. Disrupted monopoly in trade especially in port towns.

BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO URBANIZATION SCENES IN INDIA

  1. Emergence of three metropolitan port cities which emerged as leading colonial cities (Calcutta, Bombay and Madras).
  2. Creation of hill stations and plantation settlements.
  3. Modification of urban landscape in existing cities.
  4. Introduction of civil lines, camps and cantonments.
  5. Improvement in connectivity through railways.
  6. Enhanced scope of industrialization.
  7. Improvements in urban amenities and urban administration.

CONCLUSION

British era had both positive and negative impact in India but the extent of positive changes is more. The process of urbanization and building of new cities can be seen as the breaking of the continuum. During British Period, the Indian cities emerged as the focal points of urbanization and westernization. The westernization brought by the British Period continued to guide the destiny of urban elite in India. It helped in transforming the agriculture as a means of commerce by introducing new crops like indigo, tobacco, coffee etc. Thus, British Era can be seen a the period when India came across fundamental economic transition, mechanized industries and developed connectivity through railways and foreign trade. But the British Era didn’t consider the rural – urban conflict which increased the gap between urban and rural areas of India.

Thus, it can be concluded that British rule had definitely been useful in providing the foundation of development and urbanization to India. As per Census 1941, which is the last census before Independence, India had 49 one lakh cities and 2500 urbanized towns. So, when this urbanization is compared to previous trans, it can be seen that the urbanization attained zenith during the end of British period as compared to past events.

žIn 1941, which marks the last census before independence, There were 49 one-lakh cities in India and in all round 2500 urbanized towns. Urbanization attained zenith during end of this period compared to entire past events.

CITY RESILIENCE TO FIGHT COVID 19

The urbanization level of cities is increasing and with this the population and critical infrastructures in the city also increases, thereby increasing the exposure and vulnerability of cities to acute stresses and long terms shocks like cyclones, floods, pandemics etc. Currently the cities are battling with the greatest challenge to mankind since second world war and most dangerous health calamity, i.e. COVID 19. Cities are the areas having maximum concentration of population and are the nodes of development, hence there’s a need to combat the effects of COVID – 19 and it is important to find a way by which the cities can be developed more sustainably, with more resilience and livability.

WHAT IS COVID 19 ?

The name COVID – 19, originates from ‘Corona’ for CO, ‘ VI’ for Virus and ‘D’ for Disease and ’19’ represents t=its year of occurrence. The pandemic started from the Wuhan city of City in December 19 and within couple of months it became the global health emergency. The pandemic has not only affected the public health but also demobilized the global economy, impacts on environment and governance as well.

Image showing the different modes by which COVID 19 can be transmitted

WHAT IS RESILIENCE ?

Generally, Resilience is defined as the capability to recover from difficulties. In context of city, Resilience can be defined as the ability of an city to Prepare for, Respond to and Recover from any acute stress or long term shock. While dealing with the resilience of a city, the opportunities and threats provided by the difficulty is analyzed and initiatives are taken accordingly. In order to reduce the vulnerability of cities from getting affected by the disaster or hazard, pandemics or any other threat, the city’s capability to resist and recover from these risks is mandatory.

NEED OF RESILIENCE

  • For ensuring and increasing the safety and well being of the citizens and the environment, cities need to be made more resilient and prepared for addressing shocks and stresses.
  • There are many ways by which the resilience of cities can be enhanced and these w2ays can be determined by comparing the COVID 19 with other such health risks and various ways in which problems were caused can be determined. With the help of this the different interventions and recommendations pertaining to specific ways can be decided and the resilience can be enhanced.
  • Resilience plays a major role in shaping governance as well because it provides way for trustworthy leadership, responsive community organizations and also neighborhood design which can facilitate social connections. Resilience enhances physical and social infrastructures that helps the people to protect themselves and the society.

CONCLUSION

Resilience is all about learning from previous experiences and generalizing them those lessons to solve new problems. COVID 19 has provided many experiences for the people by altering the entire living schedule of humans and the experiences learned from this pandemic can be used while preparing for the future pandemics and other health, social and economic threats. In some way or other, COVID 19 has been following the previous pandemics and hence required months of restrictions in travel and isolations, which created and is still creating numerous social, economic and domestic problems for citizens, households, businesses and communities. To answer all these issues and to combat such pandemics the cities need to be resilient. To improve resilience, the communities need to be aware before hand , emergency response programs are required and proper initiatives for contagion control is also a mandatory step. Along with such measures, adequate housing for all citizens and physical and mental support to the sufferers and isolated people is also necessary. In case of designing aspect, the homes and quarantine centers can be designed in such a way that they could reduce the stress with the help of adequate space and proper lighting and ventilation. Along with all such initiative, global threats are needed to tackled with proper international cooperation and by learning from the best practices and approaches for handling such situations.