SUPERVISION OF MANAGEMENT

Supervision is an important aspect of the directing function and it involves the managerial task of observing the subordinates at work to ensure that they are working according to plans and policies of the organization, keeping the time schedule and supervision also includes helping subordinates to resolve their work problems. Managers at all level are in direct contact with subordinates and oversee their work performance and the top management supervises the work of middle-level managers, who in turn supervise the first-line managers or supervisors and the first-line managers are in direct contact with the operatives and thus, all levels of management are generally engaged in supervising the work of their immediate subordinates. According to R.C. Davis “Supervision is the function of assuring that the work is being done in accordance with the plan and instructions”. Supervision includes the following three elements:

  1. Commanding
  2. Guiding
  3. Controlling

This is the reason why, “Supervisors are known as a friend, philosopher, and Guide of workers”.

ROLE OF SUPERVISORS

Supervision has special importance only at the lower management level and the question which is now required to be discussed is to what role does a person working at the managerial level, the supervisor play in the organization.

1. Supervisor as a key man

 In every organization, the work of putting the plans into action is done by non-managerial staff who works under the guidance of a supervisor but however, at this level, even a little carelessness may cause the closure of the organization and that is why the supervision is referred to as the key man in the organization.

2. Supervision as a middle man

   In the organization, the supervisor plays the role of a middle man and he acts as a link between the higher-level managers and him workers, and his main job is to prepare a co-operative atmosphere among the two parties in order to facilitate the achievement of the goal of the organization.

3. Supervisor as a human relation specialist

A supervisor is likely to face a number of problems related to human behavior, for which one has to try and find out solutions and he can do so only if he is a human relation specialist.

FUNCTIONS OF SUPERVISOR

1. Planning the work or schedule activity

The supervisor is a low-level manager and he is required to study and analyze the work of his department and decide what, where, which, why, and by whom the work is to be performed. He has to chalk out daily and weekly program and he has also to arrange the raw materials, machines, tools, and equipment and the successful supervisor is an efficient planner.

2. Achieving the target

It is the most important duty of the supervisor to achieve the target prescribed for his department by the management and this can be achieved if the supervisor enables the best possible use of the available resources of the department towards the desired goal.

3. Enbaling standardized output through instruction and guidance

It is the supervisor, who ensures that the actual performance corresponds to the norms and standards laid by the management and the supervisor must satisfy himself as to the quality of the output and he should concentrate on both quality and quantity of goods. 

Opacity in PM Cares Fund putting lives at risk: Rahul Gandhi….

The Congress on Sunday accused the government of ‘wasting’ the lockdown by not ramping up health infrastructure and procuring ‘substandard’ ventilators that are crucial for critical COVID-19 patients, with Rahul Gandhi charging that ‘opacity’ in the PM Cares Fund is putting lives of Indians at risk.

Using the hashtag ‘BJPfailsCoronaFight’, Gandhi tweeted, ‘PMCares opacity is: 1. Putting Indian lives at risk. 2. Ensuring public money is used to buy sub-standard products.’

He also tagged a news report about a private firm providing substandard ventilators, procured using the PM Cares Fund.

The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund was set up in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged a ‘scam’ in the purchase of ventilators.

‘The ‘Ventilators’ Scam! Out of Rs 2,000 crore allocated for 50,000 ventilators, only 1,340 ventilators delivered till 23rd June. No open tendering. Inferior Quality. Purchase Price of Rs 4 Lakh instead of quoted price of Rs 1.5 Lakh per ventilator,’ he said in a tweet.

Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh questioned the government why only 1,340 ventilators could be procured till June 22 whereas it had placed order for 50,000 on March 31.

At a virtual press conference, he expressed concern over the rise in coronavirus infections in the country and accused the government of ‘wasting time’ by not utilising the lockdown period to ramp up the health infrastructure.

He said the actual procurement is against the claim made by BJP president J P Nadda that the country will have 60,000 ventilators by June-end.

Vallabh also alleged ‘confusion and delay’ in ordering ventilators, ‘financial impropriety’ and lack of transparency in spending PM Cares Fund, and supply of ‘substandard’ ventilators.

With a record single-day surge of 24,850 coronavirus infections and 613 fatalities, India’s COVID-19 case load zoomed to 6,73,165, while the death toll due to the disease climbed to 19,268 on Sunday, according to the Union health ministry.

With this, the country has recorded over 20,000 cases of the infection for the third consecutive day.

According to Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world, India is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the US, Brazil and Russia and at the eighth position in terms of the death toll due to the disease.

‘The way the corona cases in the country are rising, it is worrisome. I pray that the peak comes soon and this country is freed from the virus,’ the Congress spokesperson said.

‘Lockdown was a pause button and it should have been used to ramp up health infrastructure. But the government has wasted time and has indulged in mismanagement in procuring ventilators.

‘As per the government, only 1,340 ventilators have been procured till June 22, whereas the BJP chief claimed in a virtual rally that the country will have 60,000 ventilators by June-end. Why so few ventilators have been procured in more than 2.5 months. Who is responsible,’ he asked.

The Congress leader also said Rs 2,000 crore was allocated from the PM Cares Fund for procuring 50,000 ventilators with each costing around Rs 4 lakh, whereas a company is supplying ventilators to the government at Rs 1.5 lakh only.

‘Does the PM Cares order of 50,000 ventilators include 40,000 ordered by the government earlier. Where has the PM-CARES money gone and why is there an abnormal delay in procuring them…. Has PM Cares opted for open tendering to ensure transparency in government procurement. The PM Cares funds are also public funds,’ he said.

Alleging that substandard material and ventilators are being procured by the government from some private players, Vallabh asked, ‘Why the government is compromising with the health of people by bringing substandard material.’

He said in the interest of people of our country who are struggling to get out of these challenging and difficult times, the Congress would like to know the answers of questions which are directly related to the well being of citizens of our country.

The opposition leader said in the interest of people who are struggling for their health, the government should answer the questions raised by the Congress party.

He said neither is the government answering questions on the border tussle with China nor is it coming out with facts on the coronavirus pandemic.

‘The Prime Minister and the Health Minister should reply to these questions raised by us in the interest of the health of the people of the country,’ he said.

Vallabh hoped the government would look into the concerns raised by the party. ‘We can’t tolerate the iota of confusion, corruption and mistake at these critical times when the number of COVID-19 patients are every day breaking the record of the last day,’ he said.

COVID-19 vaccine: Britain nears deal for 60 million vaccine doses from Sanofi/GSK, says report…

Britain is close to agreeing a 500 million pound ($624 million) supply deal with Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline for 60 million doses of their potential COVID-19 vaccine, the Sunday Times reported.

The newspaper said that Britain was considering taking an option to buy the vaccine should it work in human trials, which are due to begin in September.

Sanofi was not immediately available to comment on the report, while a spokesman for GSK declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for Britain’s business ministry, which is handling Britain’s supply of potential COVID-19 vaccines, said talks were ongoing with different parties about access but did not confirm if the Sanofi/GSK project was among them.

‘The Government’s Vaccines Task Force is actively engaging with a wide range of companies both in the UK and abroad to negotiate access to vaccines,’ she said.

‘Appropriate announcements of these arrangements will be made as and when agreements with any of these companies are finalised and signed.’

Sanofi is working on two possible COVID-19 vaccines, one of which uses an adjuvant made by GSK to potentially boost its efficacy.

Its timeline for clinical trials is behind the likes of Moderna Inc, the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca Plc, and an alliance of BioNTech and Pfizer Inc, whose projects all grabbed headlines by moving to human trials as early as March.

Sanofi and GSK have both said they are prioritising quality over speed in developing a vaccine.

The torture culture in India needs to end now

Just the individuals, including the Bar, the media, common society and understudy gatherings, can ascend against torment rehearses.

At this point, everybody has known about the deplorable passings of P. Jayaraj and J. Benicks, a dad child couple in a modest community in Thoothukudi. Jayaraj, 58, was captured by the police following a squabble with them on keeping his child’s cell phone shop open infringing upon lockdown rules. After Benicks was additionally arrested, the two were cruelly whipped to death.

Being seen as blameworthy of the ‘offense’ of keeping a shop open during the lockdown would have customarily conceded Jayaraj and Benicks a limit of just three months of detainment. The story, tragically, doesn’t end with the police alone. Before the two men kicked the bucket, the police looked for their remand, which an appointed authority sitting in a court complex precisely appears to have in truth, while never observing the two men, or appearing to scrutinize the reason for their remand. The arrangement of occasions, beginning with the barbarous lockdown requirement strategies and finishing up with the totally abhorrent and altogether avoidable passings, is an indication that we are living with a totally violated arrangement of law authorization.

Endemic to police culture

The Tamil Nadu Police has gained reputation throughout the decades for utilizing unbearable strategies for law implementation. During my residency as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, a few cases in such manner were brought to the court. Be that as it may, this issue isn’t confined to Tamil Nadu alone. Torment is, truth be told, a vital piece of police culture everywhere throughout the nation. Without a doubt, it would not be out of order to contend that this culture in India today is suggestive of the mercilessness of the provincial police powers that we are so quick to overlook.

Official information additionally acknowledge that police torment is a reality, yet the nature of such information is consistently suspect. The inescapability of police torment is best comprehended in the convincing case found in reports made by NGOs and onlookers throughout the years, including by the Asian Center for Human Rights, Amnesty International and People’s Union for Democratic Rights.

The information on torment show that it isn’t just a fundamental piece of India’s policing society; in certain examinations, (for example, fear cases), it is treated as the focal point. The truth of the matter is that the current laws encourage such torment, for example, through the acceptability of admissions as proof under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which proceeds repaired as the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act. Shockingly, policing has additionally not mainstreamed the move up to more current innovations, similar to DNA examination, which can legitimately affect law authorization rehearses.

What some have named as India’s “open mystery” is tread lightly around in the worldwide field. The official situation on state-supported or state-embraced torment can be found in a 2017 statement by India’s then Attorney-General. In his initial discourse in Geneva at the nation’s all inclusive intermittent audit at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Attorney-General summoned Gandhi and Buddha, expressing that “India… believe[s] in harmony, peacefulness and maintaining human nobility. In that capacity, the idea of torment is totally strange to our way of life and it has no spot in the administration of the country. ” This would be a typical case of bad faith, if at any point.

Without a doubt, the culpable officials in the Thoothukudi case are being indicted, and some pay will likewise be paid to the casualties’ families. Be that as it may, such piecemeal activity isn’t what is required. What we truly need is an acknowledgment that torment is endemic and a fundamental issue, and the main answer lies in severe legitimate structure that is lined up with and focused on the standards of worldwide law under the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) to which India has been a signatory since 1997, and a watertight requirement instrument that dissuades such practices.

Indeed, even before India marked the UNCAT, our Supreme Court had achieved magnificent statute featuring the numerous issues with the nation’s torment culture. In Raghbir Singh v. Province of Haryana (1980), the Court was “profoundly upset by the wicked repeat of police torment bringing about a horrendous panic in the psyches of basic residents that their lives and freedom are under another danger when the watchmen of the law gore human rights to death. ” These assumptions were returned to in Francis Coralie Mullin v. Association Territory of Delhi (1981) and Sheela Barse v. Territory of Maharashtra (1987), where the Court denounced savagery and torment as violative of Article 21. This understanding of Article 21 is reliable with the standards contained in the UNCAT. The UNCAT intends to forestall torment and different demonstrations of savage, cruel, or corrupting treatment or discipline far and wide.

In spite of the fact that India marked the UNCAT in 1997, it is yet to confirm it. In 2010, a feeble Prevention of Torture Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha later sent it to a Select Committee for audit in arrangement with the UNCAT. (I, as well, showed up before this council in 2010 after retirement from legal office). Be that as it may, the Committee’s suggested law, submitted in 2012, never fructified, as the then UPA government permitted the Bill to slip by. In 2016, Ashwani Kumar, a senior backer and previous Union Minister of Law, looked for the sanctioning of a torment law by means of a Supreme Court request. By 2017, the Law Commission had presented its 273rd report and a going with draft torment law. Be that as it may, the Supreme Court excused the request on grounds that the legislature can’t be constrained to make a law by mandamus; settlement sanction was a political choice; and that it was an approach matter. A second request on the issue documented by Mr. Kumar likewise met a similar destiny as the first.

This dismissal was an indication of the Supreme Court betraying its own sublime statute, and its endeavors to help law-production previously, regardless of whether in utilizing the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women to change the law around work environment inappropriate behavior; or standard global law in ecological cases; or the privilege to protection — this long and differed list is brilliant of a proactive Court that considers itself to be liable for pushing Parliament into authoritative activity.

EndTortureToday

Neither the Home Ministry nor this legislature is probably going to take up the torment law. To be sure, the way where the torment bill has been dealt with uncovers a double-crossing of the individuals of India by progressive governments. There have been open doors for a long time to sanction a law on torment, yet they have been contemplatively dodged. State conference likewise has no significance. It is clear that all legislatures appreciate the state of affairs, where the police are utilized as an apparatus for self-conservation. Any disequilibrium isn’t politically alluring.

As crippling as this may appear, everything isn’t lost. There is a lot of motivation around us. Days after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in the U. S. , when a cop held him in a 8-minute-46-second-strangle hold, the #BlackLivesMatter development rose, with numerous Indians joining in as well. The development, drove by the individuals, began a national discussion in the U. S. on policing, including radical changes, for example, defunding and incapacitating the police. Seemingly we need a people’s development at home too that will realize the important administrative changes that the Law Commission has proposed, and that urges organizations to #EndTortureToday. Just the individuals can ascend against these practices, similarly as they are doing in different pieces of the world. Furthermore, by individuals, I incorporate significant partners like the Bar, the media, common society and understudy gatherings. Each of these have significant tasks to carry out in realizing the change we need to see. It is simply a matter of who chooses to get the mantle first.

How to ensure Master Plan Implementation

 Implementation of plan proposals has direct implications on urban growth and development. For this, a vibrant, robust and coordinated network of institutions and information system is essential for full utilization of available financial and other resources judiciously. Besides, a set of tools are needed to implement plan properly. These tools include legal protection of plan, regulatory measures of land use controls, i.e., land and zoning regulations, building regulations etc., controls on development activities and capital enhancement programmes. Other subordinate tools like tax policy, township policy, land acquisition, institutional reorganization, incentives for public-private partnerships etc. must be attuned to the goals and objectives of the master plan. 

Further, the plan constantly need its translation into socio-economic and investment programmes. However, spatio-temporal variations in availability of planning tools and their limitations should be recognized during preparation of plan to ensure its successful implementation. For instance, land use zoning or compulsory purchase of land may well exist on paper or in legislation but are not effective in practice. Such exercise enhances effectiveness of master plans and their implementation on ground level. 

The execution of master plan is carried out either by municipality or corporation. For execution a team of experts in Engineering, Architecture, Public health, Sociology, Economics, Finance etc. headed by a Town Planner is required. After the master plan is accepted and approved by the concerned authority, the steps to be taken will be 

  1. To fix the broad policies in connection with various proposals. 
  2. To prepare the list of the urgent works according to their priorities. 
  3. To prepare the detailed estimates of work of top priority. 
  4. To prepare a financial programme. 

It takes many years to complete the works contemplated in the master plan. The cost is also very high amount. So the expenditure will have to be distributed over several years. Moreover, several modifications will have to be made as such no final estimate is made in the initial stage. The most important part of master plan is the reservation of land for road system, open spaces, and public amenities, which cannot be provided for at a later date. Once it is finalized, no building should be allowed to construct which will upset the street system. 

Following inputs from preceding stages and prevailing statutes, a seamless plan implementation schedule must be prepared for development plan. It should contain roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, resource mobilization framework and phase‐wise implementation schedule for planned project activities. The key aspects to be covered in the Implementation framework should be in line with aims, objectives and prioritized projects and schemes. Implementation framework may include the following: 

  • Priorities of projects and research 
  • Phasing of developmental activities 
  • Proposal for land resource mobilization 
  • Investment strategy and promotion 
  • Institutional set‐up 

1) Priorities 

Classify various projects identified as a part of development proposals by priority as under 

  • Essentials (Top priority)
  • Necessary (2nd priority)
  • Acceptable and desirable (3rd priority) 
  • Deferrable (4th priority) 

Projects and research should be identified by phases and implementing agencies (including private and corporate sectors) to be given as per the institutional setup. 

2) Phasing 

Development plan should advisably be in phases of 5 years to coincide with the state five year plans. The targets set for each phase can be assessed as the mid‐term review against the achievements at the end of each phase. For greenfield area phasing could include a ‘zero’ period for approvals, institutional set‐up, initial land pooling and revisiting any strategy. 

3) Proposal for Land Resource Mobilization 

Implementation mechanism detailing approaches for land polling and development in lines with the suggested mechanism in the state perspective plan. 

4) Investment Strategy 

Proposals for fiscal resource mobilization including: 

  • Internal revenue 
  • Grants and aids 
  • Institutional finance 
  • Market borrowing 
  • Private sector finance 

5) Institutional Setup 

 To clearly provide Stakeholders’ role and responsibility and organisation chart.

“Agriculture” is the most healthful, most useful and most noble Employment of man.

Agriculture is the foundation of manufactures, since the productions of nature are the materials of art. -Edward Gibbon

Agriculture plays a critical role in the entire life of a given economy. Agriculture is the backbone of the economic system of a given country. In addition to providing food and raw material, agriculture also provides employment opportunities to very large percentage of the population. 

The main source livelihood of many people is agriculture. Approximately 70 % of the people directly rely on agriculture as a mean of living. This high percentage in agriculture is as a result of none development of non-agricultural activities to absorb the fast-growing population. However, most people in developed countries do not engage in agriculture.

Contribution to National revenue
Agriculture is the main source of national income for most developing countries. However, for the developed countries, agriculture contributes a smaller per cent age to their national income.

Agriculture was the first occupation of man, and as it embraces the whole earth, it is the foundation of all other industries.
–Edward W. Stewart

Significance to the International Trade Agricultural products like sugar, tea, rice, spices, tobacco, coffee etc. constitute the major items of exports of countries that rely on agriculture. If there is smooth development practice of agriculture, imports are reduced while export increases considerably. This helps to reduce countries unfavorable balance of payments as well as saving foreign exchange. This amount may be well used to import other essential inputs, machinery, raw-material, and other infrastructure that is helpful for the support of country’s economic development.

The agriculture we seek will act like an ecosystem, feature material recycling and run on the contemporary sunlight of our star.
-Wes Jackson


The growth of agricultural sector contributes to marketable surplus. Many people engage in manufacturing, mining as well as other non- agricultural sector as the nation develops. All these individuals rely on food production that they might meet from the nation’s marketable surplus. As agricultural sector development takes place, production increases and this leads to expansion of marketable surplus. This may be exported to other nations.
The main source of raw materials to major industries such as cotton and jute fabric, sugar, tobacco, edible as well as non-edible oils is agriculture. Moreover, many other industries such as processing of fruits as well as vegetables and rice husking get their raw material mainly from agriculture.

Agriculture is the great art of directing and aiding nature in the performance of those functions which were designed by Providence for the comfort and subsistence of man.
–Lewis Cass

Since agriculture employs many people it contributes to economic development. As a result, the national income level as well as people’s standard of living is improved. The fast rate of development in agriculture sector offers progressive outlook as well as increased motivation for development. Hence, it aids to create good atmosphere for overall economic development of a country. Therefore, economic development relies on the agricultural growth rate.

An agricultural life is one eminently calculated for human happiness and human virtue.
–C. L. ALLEN

From the twentieth century, intensive agriculture increased productivity. It substituted synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for labor, but caused increased water pollution, and often involved farm subsidies. In recent years there has been a backlash against the environmental effects of conventional agriculture, resulting in the organic, regenerative, and sustainable agriculture movements.

Agriculture for an honorable and high-minded man, is the best of all occupations or arts by which men procure the means of living.
-Xenophon

In spite of many commercial options coming up, many rely on agriculture for their income. Agriculture is a nature-friendly and most peaceful method of livelihood. It is a very reliable source of livelihood for mankind and also one of the honest sources of incomes. Many people from developing nations rely on agriculture for livelihood. Some people involved in other business or jobs still have agriculture as a side business. Agriculture does not limit to cultivation and farming alone. It also extends to dairy, poultry, fisheries, sericulture, beekeeping (honey insects), etc.

These are also dependent on agriculture cultivation in some or other way. Farming becomes more profitable when combined with these alternative methods.

Agriculture, manufactures, commerce and navigation, the four pillars of our prosperity, are the most thriving when left most free to individual enterprise.     

Thomas Jefferson

IQ tests and their history

Intelligence, it is what set us apart from our primate ancestors. Human evolution led to the emergence of anatomically modern humans, beginning with the evolutionary history of primates—in particular genus Homo—and leading to the emergence of Homo sapiens as a distinct species of the hominid family, the great apes. Now since intelligence is a major factor in the distinction of humans from all other animals, we must understand what intelligence is. Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. And in order to measure a person’s intelligence we need a method to scientifically determine the amount of intelligence factor a person has which is usually measured in terms of IQ.

Photo by Startup Stock Photos on Pexels.com

In 1905, psychologists Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon designed a test for children who were struggling in school in France. Designed to determine which children required individualized attention, their method formed the basis of the modern IQ test. Beginning in the late 19th century, researchers hypothesized that cognitive abilities like verbal reasoning, working memory and visual-spatial skills reflected an underlying general intelligence or g factor. So, Simone and Binet designed a battery of tests to measure each of these abilities, and combine the results for a single score. Questions were made for each age group and a child’s score reflected how they performed relative to others in the same age group. Today a score of 100 is the average of a sample population, with 68% scoring within a 15-point radius. However, both then and now there is no single agreed upon definition of general intelligence. Which left the door open for people to use the test in service of their own preconceived assumptions about intelligence. What started as a way to identify those who needed academic help, soon became a tool to sort people in other ways, often in service of deeply flawed ideologies. One of the first large scale implementations occurred in the US during WWI when the military used IQ tests to sort recruits and screen them for officer training. However, that time people believed in Eugenics, the idea that desirable and undesirable genetic traits could and should be controlled in humans through selective breeding. This was a deeply flawed idea as it linked intelligence as not only fixed and inherited but linked to a certain race. This belief and results from IQ tests gave forth a wrong theory that certain races were superior than others, thus creating an erroneous intelligence hierarchy of ethnic groups. This not only influenced science but also policies in many countries. In 1924 Virginia ordered forced sterilization of anyone with low IQ scores, a decision that the supreme court of US upheld. We all know what happened in Nazi Germany due to such prevalent ideals, authorization of murder of children based on low IQ scores. Following the Holocaust and the Civil rights movement, the discriminatory usage of IQ tests was questioned on moral and scientific grounds. Scientists began gathering evidence as to how our environment impacts our IQ.

Today, IQ tests employ many similar design elements and types of questions as the early tests, though there are better techniques to identify potential bias in the tests. And due to many failed applications in the past they are no longer used to diagnose psychiatric conditions. And psychologists still use IQ tests to identify intellectual disability which can be used to determine educational support, job training and assisted living. As Alan Alda said “Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart”.

FAREWELL OF FOREIGN FANTASY: 59 CHINA APP BANNED

 “ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU , ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY”

In the wake of the face-off with Chinese forces on the India-China border in Ladakh, and a violent clash on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, the Indian government on June 29 banned 59 apps of Chinese origin, citing data security and national sovereignty concerns. These include popular ones such as TikTok, SHAREIt, UC Browser, CamScanner, Helo, Weibo, WeChat and Club Factory. And they are try to steal our details from their country originated app which we are using. Please don’t doubt on our patriotism. We can do everything or anything for our country. Do not dare to look at our country.

Why were the Chinese apps banned?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in a press release asserted that it had received “many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India”.

The Ministry said it had decided to block the 59 apps to safeguard the “sovereignty and integrity of India”, invoking powers under Section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009.

The government also said that several citizens had reportedly raised concerns in representations to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) regarding security of data and loss of privacy in using these apps. In addition, the Ministry said it had also received “exhaustive recommendations” from the Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.

And while the government did not name China openly in its action against the apps, public comments by officials including Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology and Law and Justice — he asserted that the ‘digital strike’ was done “for safety, security, defence, sovereignty & integrity of India and to protect data & privacy of people of India” — signalled that it was aimed at Chinese economic interests.

How large is the user base in India for these banned apps?

Estimates by Sensor Tower show the video-sharing social networking app, TikTok, for instance, has seen about 611 million downloads in India over the app’s lifetime, while estimates of active users vary with the highest pegged at 200 million. According to media reports, file-sharing tool SHAREIt has about 400 million users. Statcounter places the Alibaba-owned UC Browser second in India market share at 10.19%, after Google Chrome (78.2%). Other reports estimate its user base at 130 million.

How will users be affected?

Installed apps may continue to exist on mobile devices. But now that the latest versions of the apps have been removed from Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store, users will not be able to access updated versions in future. If a notice goes out to internet service providers asking that data flow from these apps be halted, that could impact the functioning of existing, installed apps.

How does the ban affect Chinese app providers?

The potential loss of advertising revenue impacts app-makers. Tik Tok’s parent ByteDance Ltd. recorded a doubling of global revenue to $17 billion in 2019, over the previous year, with $3 billion in profit.

Its India business may have yielded only $5.8 million in revenue for the year ended March 2019, but with quicker user adoption more recently, the stakes seem to be getting higher. When TikTok was banned briefly in India last year on the grounds that it reportedly promoted pornography, the company had told a local court that it was losing roughly $15 million a month due to the ban, according to a Reuters report. The app had subsequently been permitted to operate.

How children are being portrayed in media?

Media is the mirror of a society. It portrays the existing condition of a society. Media like movies, advertisements and news stories emphasize the lifestyle of people living in a particular area. Not only does it portray, but media can even manipulate the audience as it creates huge impact on people. It can lead the people to think in a structured way. It is true that “media tell us what to think about”. Thus, representation of all things in the media has to be taken into great consideration. People are likely to believe whatever the media want them to. At times, it gives a completely different and fake representation of everything. Representation of children in media can be taken as an example. The media has convinced the world that children are supposed to behave in a particular way, neglecting the fact that it cannot be true always.

Today, every child has been exposed to media in many ways. Advertisements, Movies, Magazines, Social media platforms etc. have been opened to anyone irrespective of their age. Children are now free to engage in the media world just like the adults. So, it can be said that media not only influence or affects adults but children also. It creates a huge impact in molding a child’s attitude as children can see how they have been represented in the media. It has been noticed that media is a powerful tool in creating and manipulating perceptions of audience towards anything that they represent. So, it is very much important to portray them in the right path.

Since, children belong to an inferior and minor community in the media world, they have been exploited in many ways. They are represented in more a negative way. It is a true fact that children are being under represented in the media more than being portrayed positively.  This negative tendency can be seen everywhere in the world irrespective of the cultural diversity. They have always been represented as inferiors or dependents. Children are always given the tag of ‘cuteness’. The whole purpose of being present in an ad or movie is to just to remain cute. Media under estimate the capabilities of children by considering them as a cute creature. Most of the advertisements and movies portray this type of stereotype, where children remain cute and inactive. They are always guided and controlled by elders. It gives a false assumption about kids to the society that children can’t do anything on their own.

It is hard to believe that, this negative portrayal are done on the basis of gender also. The representation of child in terms of gender is quite stereotypical. The portrayal of girl and boy child are very much different in the media. Boys are always presented as active, noisy and even wild whereas in the advertisements that features girl child, girls are quieter, their actions are slow paced and general atmosphere will be softer. The girls are more likely to present in stories about child abuse, ads about beauty products and household activities. On the other hand, boy child is being appeared in ads related to automobiles and sports. Ads are less likely to focus girls who are active in sports. Girl children are mostly associated to craft related items and boys are associated to games and sports. The representation of children influences the children themselves and their attitudes and views on their own roles in the society. It also creates a huge impact on adults and their opinions about the children. So, it is extremely important to represent the children in the right way.

THE POWER OF PEN

The POWER of PEN

Ideas have an impact far more powerful than we imagine. We all wish to express our ideas, and it is the ‘power of the pen’ which helps us express. Who could think that such a small instrument would take such a big space of human life?

When a child, a teacher, a book and a pen come together, they change the world. The teacher using the book directs the child towards self-discovery. A pen gives his innocent dreams the wings and these dreams, hence, see the light of the day. A writer gets to write a new chapter. For him, this pen is everything. He pours all his emotions via a pen on a blank page. This pen becomes the tongue of his mind. A painter gives colours to his imagination. His perspective is serenely painted on a canvas. Anyone who sees it is mesmerized.

In the giant game of construction, some bravely choose a pen. What they create reflects the victory of man’s genius. An architect impeccable shapes homes, giving shelter to many. Cities are constructed based on plans penned by developers.

A hero’s dying wish is that people acknowledge his bravery; not concoct stories which never existed. His pen conveys his heroics. This pen reflected his power. People now know how he served his nation.

In this era, one must learn to protect oneself with the pen, not with the gun. We have journalists who do this for us. They protect our interest when they lift their pen. They give us news with their pen. They keep us updated with the happenings in the world.

In the hands of a doctor, a pen prescribes medicine and saves someone’s life.

Life is given to words with the power of the pen where the spoken words have no place, the written one’s triumph.

The declaration of our independence and its sovereignty was written using a pen without which there would be none of its existence. An actor lifts his pen for an autograph. Design created by this object gives his name value.

Swords are short and sharp, but a pen, the pen is sharper.

The pen is so powerful that if it goes in the hands of a liar, he will not only tongue the false but also deceive by writing.

For some, a pen is as important as a beak is to hen.

A teacher finds it magical for it is she who sees the textures and tone that a mere pen point produces in an exam paper. Lives are created and destroyed in that examination hall. If the pen works you pass and if it doesn’t you fail the test.

This is the ‘Power of Pen’. Let us embrace it and shape a better world together.

The Italian marines case gets more interesting!

The Italian marines’ case meets with a frustrating end, as India loses right to preliminary.

The long journey for equity for the two Kerala anglers shot dead by Italian marines from the Enrica Lexie around 20. 5 nautical miles off India’s coast in February 2012 has finished in disillusionment. A worldwide discretion court has decided that India doesn’t have locale to attempt the marines, who, it held, were qualified for insusceptibility as they were following up for the benefit of a state. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague conceded that the two India and Italy had simultaneous purview in the issue however presumed that the marines’ insusceptibility blocked India’s ward. In support of India, the PCA found that the Italian vessel had disregarded the privilege and opportunity of route of the Indian fishing vessel under UNCLOS, and that the activity, which caused loss of lives, property and mischief, justified remuneration. It requested that the gatherings counsel each other on the remuneration because of India subsequently. All the more altogether, the PCA dismissed a key contention by Italy that India, by driving the Italian vessel into its region and capturing the marines, abused its commitment to help out measures to stifle robbery under Article 100 of UNCLOS. This may imply that the intervention court didn’t see the episode as one identified with robbery by any stretch of the imagination. The episode had caused national shock as the open saw these as wanton killings, because the conditions demonstrated no endeavor by the fishing vessel at robbery. The fishing vessel was inside the nation’s Contiguous Zone and it was very certain that the offense justified capture and arraignment under local law.

With the theft point precluded, an ordinary preliminary was all together. The Union government ought to have assumed control over the arraignment and guaranteed a brisk preliminary. In any case, as legitimate knot were being sifted through, and India was managing the discretionary aftermath, the marines figured out how to get requests to leave the nation. The Supreme Court decided that solitary the Center, and not Kerala, can indict the marines. A greater legitimate issue, which caused more deferral, came later. The National Investigation Agency conjured the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act, 2002. This caused a conciliatory furore as it accommodates capital punishment. The EU took steps to force exchange sanctions. Eventually, it took effort for these charges to be dropped. The PCA’s honor, which is conclusive and has been acknowledged by India, is a tremendous misfortune for the desire that the two marines would confront a criminal preliminary in India. At long last, Italy prevailing with regards to removing the issue from India’s hands. It should now follow through on its duty to have the marines attempted under its household laws. The takeaway for India ought to be the exercises, in the lawful and discretionary spaces, that can be drawn from the experience.

TEACHING EXCELLENCE IN INDIA

PC: Creator: nzphotonz | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

We have so many students studying in so many educational institutions but is everyone receiving a quality education? It we are striving for excellence; we must define it clearly. It means different things to different people. One can say that creating, imparting and disseminating knowledge to generations with increasing quality implies excellence. The quality of education in any school has to be useful, but India is far from that school. We always talk about private schools. There are more than 70% of students in government school s, and the need is to get trained teachers to educate them. Several students are full of passion, and they have aspirations. There are so many issues that prevail in government schools.

Underprivileged students go there, and they complain that teachers don’t come and infrastructure is miserable. The number of toilets is increasing, but the number of functional toilets is still poor. Same goes for drinkable water as well- taps are increased but not functioning correctly. These children dwell in rural areas and are not from well-to-do families. To progress in life, they somehow do self-study, manage to get a tutor who teaches for a paltry sum and somehow clears class 10. The poor’s children get enrolled late, and even after that, they do not develop an understanding of subjects. A need for bridge course is felt in all schools to see that all gaps are filled regarding subject knowledge. We must understand that even though private schools are in a better education providing position today, excellence can exist anywhere, and we hear about success stories from government ones as well.

Even the poor now want to send children to private school. They believe that if they are in a private school or can learn English then, that gets them the passport to a bright future. Our government introduced the quota system in private schools to address this issue, but it is clear that it is not a solution. Do we need to bridge the gap between private and government schools, or do we privatise education completely? A private school, if it has the significant infrastructure, must accommodate such children and be fit for them in terms of imparting education according to their level. In private schools, many emphases are given on exam result, which is essential, but they need to put equal focus on other skills too. They are looking at skill development also as conceptual education isn’t enough nowadays, but the centre must increase more. Sports, technological advancement, globalised conduct and other curricular develop a child entirely and make for a true representative of modern India.

Even for private schools, there is an issue of access to high-quality education. Only a person studying in topmost school or college will be exposed to that excellent knowledge; while students of their schools, who are not enrolled in that top place don’t have access to it. Unfortunately, our school curriculum is hopelessly outdated. Had the schools been teaching how to study through cell phones and laptops ore, the information provided by top schools would be in their hands. If a student feels like learning something today, he should have access to that particular piece of information that he seeks. Technology is that classrooms create a big difference. If excellence is available somewhere, then through technology, we must bring it to students.

Let us not forget that teachers play the most critical role in bringing excellence; in reality, not every teacher joins this profession out of love and passion; circumstances to have a force on people. Still, every teacher must stay committed to ensure excellence in their work and students. There is undoubtedly a disconnect between industry and education. No matter how conceptually strong a student is, once he goes to the industry, employers require to train him according to their needs. We need a system which prepares us for work-life as well. The education system must cater to the real-life challenges and demands of life. Only a few get into top institutions, and how can the system meet the challenge of creating a platform for more students? Investment in education is critical as we need more quality institutions to meet the demands of rising population. We need to ensure that as we grow more institutions, we also maintain high quality.

Moreover, India needs its best students to compete with the world’s best with cutting edge knowledge. We must produce role models and become magnets for outsiders. We boast of having Indians as the best minds of the world; they are heads of big companies in the world. Ironically, there is no electricity or internet in many villages. So many Indians can make India a superpower if only they would get a fundamental requirement of education and the internet will play a massive role in shaping a bright rural India. The government must ensure that these should reach the common man in all the parts of rural India. If there is a successful model available anywhere, then that has to be emulated. We must take advantage of technology as today the learning process is undergoing tremendous change. If the students have access to quality education, then the students will contribute more to society, and everyone will prosper.

Super Long train “SheshNaag”

representational pic.

Recently, on 2 july, Indian Railways has created record starting the train “sheshnaag” in south east central zone of railways.

the train is 2.8 km long, longest ever in India. It consist of 251 wagons which are pulled by four electric locomotives, fitted in between.

This is a freight train. Indian Railways trying to move multiple freight rakes together as it helps in saving the transportation time and also help in the decongestion of the rail route.

Earlier, on 30 june the South East Central Railway zone operated ‘Super Anaconda’when it attached three rakes of freight train together.

Importantly, the Indian Railways reached this feat on a day when it achieved 100 percent punctuality for the first time ever.

The Indian Railways said in a release that on Thursday (July 2, 2020), it achieved 100 percent punctuality of trains for the first time in history as 201 trains that that run on this day reached the destination on time. 

Prior to this India Railways has achieved 99.54 percent punctuality of trains on June 23 with the delay of only one train making it the second-best rate after today.

The Indian Railway Ministry said, ”First time ever in the history of Indian Railways, 100% punctuality of trains achieved with all trains on time. Previous best was 99.54% on 23.06.2020 with one train getting delayed.”

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING IN SCHOOLS?

Military training in schools.

Any training on a person adds various skills. Some people want the central government must consider this proposal seriously and implement it in educational institutions. Many children are unable to decide what to pursue in life, and when they experience the hardships on military turf, this idea will be clear. Minimum military training is essential and broadens the mindset and toughens it. In a way, it is vocational training. India may get potential officers while will strengthen the armed forces in future. The defence of the country is left alone in the able arms of troops, and with this compulsion, we can also participate in it. The education improves national morale, health, builds up character and even the ability to face hardships.

People who serve in the army stay away from family for a very long time. When the children of their country join them in the training arena, they will get a morale boost. It will be an incredible feeling when so many children come and are with you. At a place, so many children from different backgrounds will share common space and air. This will bring Indian closer, and the walls of difference will get lower. The children need patriotic reinforcement, and this idea will also foster discipline in them. They will be more team spirit, orderliness and respect for one another when exposed to the adventures of training. Once a student receives basic training and wishes to volunteer, the military will get a trained volunteer. Indian girls will develop defensive skills and become stronger physically.

However, the Indian military is not equipped with the necessary infrastructure and number of officers to take on a significant population of a school child. Even if training institutions and academics are established, it will take much time for them actually to take place. They will require much money for maintenance and upkeep. Even if a decision in favour of this is made, it should be done for students above the age of 18 years and not for school-going children. The rigours of training may be too much for a school going child to handle, and also the mind is better prepared for this at a decent age of 18 years. The government has checked the feasibility, affordability and practicality of it. This is practically impossible for now. We do not have resources which are adequate to fulfil wants of everyone, and now we are asking for a further hole in the pocket of the government. India is a democratic set-up; people are free to choose their professions. Compulsion is respect for military training; it is felt, will go against the democratic ethos.[1] The anticipated benefits of imparting military training to all the youth will not be commensurate with the expenditure involved in such an effort. This would translate into unmanageable figure and will also be a significant drain on the limited resources of a developing country.

We are not prepared for it at the moment, but we can always inculcate the knowledge on a curriculum or introduce it as a separate course.

[1] Pradip R Sagar, Centre may not be in favour of Military Training, availabe at: https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/03/17/centre-may-not-be-in-favour-of-compulsory-military-training.html.

Deep Down You Know When It’s Time to Let Go

“Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.” ~Daphne Rose Kingma

One of the most challenging things in life is knowing when to let go—when to let go of a job, a relationship, a belief, a repeating thought, a situation… fill in the blank.

Most of us have defaulted to safety, which often means procrastinating and generally feeling stuck. While there’s nothing wrong with safety—it is, after all, one of our basic needs—we must learn to discern what is truly safe and what is safe for the sake of comfort and conformity, the latter of which ultimately leaves us feeling depleted.

“Safe” is a subjective term. What feels safe to you may not feel safe to me. For most of us, the unknown feels unsafe, yet as you may have heard, the magic happens when we surrender to the unknown. Chances are, if we are seeking more, longing for more, yet feel paralyzed to move because we feel “safe,” we are probably stuck.

I recently experienced one of the most challenging transitions of my life when I let go of a long-term relationship. It didn’t happen overnight. It all began with a nudge and a deep knowing that I felt stuck, yet all the outer signs evidenced a “good” relationship, and my mind wouldn’t let go of the idea that there was nothing “wrong” with it.

By societal standards, I shouldn’t have been complaining or contemplating, but I believe we all really want one thing: to thrive and experience change when it’s necessary for our evolution and joy.

Resistance and fear will try to tell us a whole lot of stories about why we should be grateful and stay put, but if there is an inkling, a nudge, a quiet inner voice that keeps nagging and telling us it’s time to go, then it’s time to release and move on. Even though letting go may not immediately make any logical sense, listening to that voice can bring new, fulfilling experiences.

This phase in my life has taught me that life is all about flow and movement, and that living, truly living, means that we are constantly changing and evolving. Living means being called to practice detachment to make room for new energy.

I also learned that when we don’t listen to that inner voice that says it’s time to let go, and sometimes screams it loud from our heart and gut, life will conspire to make us move, whether we want to or not.

If we wait long enough and dismiss our deep truth, life will make sure that truth comes out one way or another. Events and circumstances will happen that will cause us to move, and sometimes cause us to move at a rate that we did not expect or plan.

The biggest lesson for me was, do not wait for life to force you; check in daily and connect to the deep truth that overrides logic and analysis and simply nudges you along.

This isn’t easy when the voice of fear is loud and untamed.

Letting go is part of the human experience, but there are ways to minimize the impact of transition if we are mindful. Here are some actions I took and lessons and insights I learned during this transition that helped me embrace letting go. These can apply to any situation that requires letting go.

I took inventory of all the gifts from my relationship and sat in gratitude.

I reflected on how I could have shown up differently and more authentically.

I took responsibility for what I had contributed to the situation.

I promised myself that I would never betray my inner voice.

I embraced alone time often.

I constantly asked myself, “What do I need in this moment?”

I allowed myself to mourn and grieve whenever those feelings arose.

I allowed myself to have hard days and was extra gentle with myself during those moments.

I asked myself what part of me needed to heal so that I could hear my inner voice and override the fear-based thoughts that keep me stuck.

I indulged in a self-care routine and opted for activities that felt nourishing.

I kept a daily promise to myself, no matter how small it was.

I surrounded myself with people I love and with whom I feel safe.

I traveled and welcomed the energy of newness and curiosity,

I hugged myself a lot—it is so nourishing!

I got comfortable with patience and surrender—two great lessons that I needed to learn.

I embraced the unknown.

I learned that you can love that job, that person, that circumstance, and still feel a deep urge to move on.

We are all worthy of feeling fulfilled and nourished; that is the point of life

Sometimes, we just grow apart from that person, thing, or circumstance. It’s that simple, don’t fight it.

It is never about blame or shame; it is always about experience and experiencing life right where you are and where you are nudged to go.

It’s okay to say goodbye and still feel love and gratitude.

Nothing is ever wasted. Every experience has a meaning in your life.

Everything has a season—sometimes the season lasts a minute, sometimes it lasts years, but eventually there is a new season on the horizon.

Here is the thing, if we don’t listen to the voice that is asking us to let go, then we will never know what beautiful blessings await us on the other side—in the unknown. Our minds cannot possibly conceive what lies ahead.

I had to make room for new love and new energy, two elements I longed for daily. I had no idea what my life would look like, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that with newness comes great curiosity and joy.

If resentment, wonder, curiosity, longing, stuckness, and boredom seem to keep circling in your mind, it’s time to take inventory and ask yourself a very hard question: Is it time to let go?

Even if you don’t feel any “negative” feelings but feel a nudge, a knowing pushing you forward, listen and listen with your heart.