Probable Essay for mains 2011

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Bridging the gap between the rich and the poor in India Terrorism and World peace End of corruption in India: A future reality or a utopia? Environmental hazards on the Earth Need for transparency in India Administration

Sample Essay: Annas lokpal vs. government lokpal

annas lokpal vs. government lokpal Satyagraha can rid society of all evils, political, economic, and moral.Satyagraha thrives on repression till at last the repressor is tired and the object of Satyagraha is gained.Satyagraha does not depend on the outside [for] help; it derives all its strength from within....The method of Satyagraha requires that the Satyagrahi should never lose hope, so long as there is the slightest ground left for it- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Gandhijis theory of Satyagraha was revived when a country-wide peaceful agitation against corruption gained momentum under the leadership of a 73-year old civil activist Anna Hazare. With thousands of dissenting aam aadmi flooding the streets in support of the Citizens Ombudsman Jan-Lokpal Bill (JLP) over the Government Lokpal Bill (GLP), the nation throbbed and a renaissance has begun within Indian democracy. However, most of the agitators do not cognize what JLP contends. Although the movement reached its destination half way on 28th August, 2011; when Parliament adopted a resolution to include three crucial demands by Annaa Camp i.e. inclusion of lower bureaucracy, appointment of Lokayukta at the State level and incorporation of a Citizens Charter under GLP, it becomes necessary to know where exactly the two bills diverge and also to analyze significant points of their differences. One of the most debated points is the inclusion of Prime Minister within the ambit of the Lokpal. On one hand where GLP includes. Another important point of difference is the Selection procedure and composition of Lokpal members. JLP provides for an independent Search Committee consisting of retired constitutional authorities (like judges, eminent IAS officers etc.) to shortlist potential candidates. The Lokpal chairperson and members are to be b selected from this shortlist by an independent Selection Committee. The Selection Committee shall comprise of two politicians, four judges and two retired constitutional authorities, minimizing the scope for government interference in the selection process. On the other hand GLP provides for a panel of 10 members, 6 of whom are politicians, 5 of whom are from the ruling party, to select the Lokpal members. Even the Search Committee which searches for eligible Lokpal members shall be selected by the same panel. Undoubtedly, such a panel will facilitate the Government to appoint its own people thereby reducing the role of the Lokpal to a mere puppet. The two Bills also differ on the point of accountability of the Lokpal. Where on one hand JLP makes the Lokpal accountable to the people, by giving them enough freedom to lodge a complaint in the Supreme Court and seek removal of a corrupt Lokpal, GLP makes the Lokpal accountable to the Government wherein only the government can seek removal of Lokpal by filing a petition in the Supreme Court. Such concentration of power will not only give a licence to the government to appoint inefficient and corrupt Lokpal but will also defeat the very purpose of enacting a citizens ombudsmen bill which aims at greater citizen participation. With respect to allegations or complaints of corruption against Lokpal Members, the JLP provides for a comparatively better machinery by establishing an independent authority to address such complaints contrary to the provision laid down in GLP which makes the

Lokpal itself the concerned body to hear cases against its own staff. That will do more harm than good as it may not only prejudice the mind of the Lokpal but also induce inherent corruption. The dismissal of a corrupt public servant under JLP is proposed to be carried out by a bench of the Lokpal which shall hold open hearings and decide whether to remove the official or not, after the completion of investigations and filing a case in a court for prosecution. Whereas under GLP such dismissal is left to the minister of the concerned department. Like a relay race requires a chain of participants and the efficient and timely exchange of a baton, corruption also involves chain of corrupt officials and the exchange of gains arising out of such collaboration. In almost all such cases, the ministers are found to be beneficiaries at some or the other level which renders justice impossible. A good legislation is one with simplified procedure, effective remedies and most importantly speedy justice. Keeping this in mind the JLP proposes to set up Special benches in the High Courts to expedite the appeal cases of corruption. To our dismay this provision is not accommodated in the GLP.With regard to the tapping of phones, the required permission is to be granted by Lokpal Bench under JLP while under GLP approval of the Home Secretary is needed. So the next time you spot Richie-Rich hobnobbing with the Home Secretary, do not be surprised if he comes under the scanner and exits dirt-free. JLP intends to enact not only a corruption-free legislation but also a fearless and secure platform for its citizens. It is for this very reason, that protection is provided to the whistleblowers, victims and witnesses of corruption. It is indeed unfortunate to note that no such protection is provided under GLP. According to the Government, protection for whistleblowers is being provided through a separate law. But the said law is so incompetent that it has been badly trashed by the Standing committee of the Parliament itself last month. The much debated aspect of establishing a Lokayukya at the State level which would probe into corruption cases of State level ministers, MLAs and State Government officials has also gained victory after the government nodded in approval for the inclusion of this provision in the GLP. With corruption spreading its wings, even the NGOs have not been able to keep themselves out of this ditch. Although JLP intends to bring only government-funded NGOs under its ambit, the Government intends to have jurisdiction over all the NGOs in the country, be it small or big, registered or unregistered. Delegation of authority has been considered as the key for effective management worldwide. A similar structure is also made under the JLP where Lokpal members will only hear cases against senior officials and politicians or cases involving huge amounts rest cases shall be heard by other officers of Lokpal. On the other hand, the GLP provides that all work must be done by the 11 member team of Lokpal which is likely to result in unnecessary piling up of cases. The method of inquiry into the cases of corruption also differs in both the bills. Under JLP, the method would be the same as provided in Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). After preliminary enquiry, an FIR will be registered. After investigations, case will be presented before a court, where the trial will take place. On the contrary GLP seeks to amend CrPC in order to provide special protection to the accused. After preliminary enquiry, all evidence will be provided to the accused and he shall be heard as to why an FIR should not be registered against him. After completion of investigations, again all evidence will be provided to him and he will be given a hearing to explain why a case should not be filed against him in the court. Such a process would not only severely compromise all investigations with easy availability of evidences at every stage but would also disclose the identity of the whistleblowers thus threatening their security. Such a dim-witted process is unheard of in criminal jurisprudence. Another heated point, which has now received governments consent is the creation of a Citizens Charter, which will specify which work to be done by which official and in how much time. Violation of the Charter will attract a penalty and shall be deemed to be corruption. In the light of the above mentioned differences and taking into consideration the seriousness of growing corruption in our country, it is necessary to enact a Draconian legislation rather than a feeble and toothless one. As citizens of the largest functional democracy, it is our duty to not let the Government give any false illusion of creating an anti-corruption law. We hope the Government sticks to its promises for the inclusion of three crucial demands put forward by Camp Anna as discussed earlier. Democracy is a system by the people, for the people and of the people, and therefore today

more than ever, the words of the Mahatma resound loudly in every Indians heartbeat ..Be the change that you wish to see...

Globalization will kill Small-Scale Industries in India

Globalization is the metamorphosis of the individual nations into an integrated entity by means of their interconnection on an economic, social and cultural level, fuelled by easy transport and communication among them. It is the modern renaissance that makes ideas, goods, services, trade, technology and culture permeate into the entire geography of the world thus turning it into a global village. While globalization is a large scale phenomenon, small scale enterprises are a local phenomenon but having effects of dimensions as large as its global friend and foe. Friend- because both globalization and small scale industries are the two wheels of the vehicle of economic growth and prosperity; foebecause some argue that given the developing nation that India is, Small Scale Industries(SSIs) can suffer and strangulate to death by the fierce competition put up by globalization. Let us observe and decide. Micro and small scale enterprises have existed in India since ages in the form of traditional skills and knowledge based products made by people for the self sufficiency of rural India. Today as per the government definition, An industrial undertaking in which the investment in fixed assets in plant and machinery whether held on ownership terms on lease or on hire purchase does not exceed Rs. 10 million, can be categorized as small scale undertaking. After independence, the Indian government made various laws to help revive and flourish the SSI because of the employment potential it had at a low capital cost. It needed mediocre technical knowledge and minimal infrastructure to set up. Thus it was and is the most ideal form of employment opportunity for both the urban and rural population. It not only encourages entrepreneurship among people but also makes them self reliant. Govt. funding, support and intensive promotion has aided people to participate more in this successful phenomenon making SSI the second largest employment sector after agriculture. It forms about 45-50% of our exports. The products also form a large percentage of our domestic market too with SSI producing a number of products like confectionaries, spices, beverages, natural essence oils, dyes, sports goods, wooden furniture, glass, ceramic and earthen wares, cotton and woolen knitted products, silk and synthetic wear, leather shoes, bags, garments and novelty items, plastic items, survey instruments, auto parts, clocks and watches, musical instruments, lab chemicals, basic metallic and non-metallic mineral products. They are the dynamic sectors of our economy. It also leads to the preservation of many traditional and indigenous skills and products our country is famous for. It is the road to rural industrialization and rural urbanization thus creating a regional balance. India was self reliant and self sufficient but with the march of the world towards industrialization India found its closed policy of trade leading to an impending economic crisis. The main reason behind this was the focus of efforts on heavy industries and lack of it on the consumption goods. From 1991 India witnessed a major change as the govt. introduced liberalization, privatization and globalization reforms to pep up the economy. Soon the world realized what a big 1billion-population-market India was. They brought their goods to India which were mass produced and therefore cheaper and of better quality than the local goods. They started challenging the SSI and thus posed an end to them. Further with the introduction of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the MNCs were facilitated with areas with liberal economic and trade laws, round the clock facilities and concessions to enhance foreign investments and promote exports. This endangered the existence and survival of SSIs. But this is not the complete picture. A lot of foreign entrepreneurs who do not have the time or funds to build the infrastructure for their own manufacturing unit in India engage a number of SSI owners to produce goods for them in a short span of time and sell them to cater to the international demand. In other words they outsource the manufacturing to the Indians. Thus it leads to more labour absorption and growth of SSIs. Many of the SSIs have turned into LSIs this way. Also the demand for SSI goods will never finish as a lot of their products are not lucrative options for the MNCs. For example, the incense sticks or agarbatties, bangles, pickles, etc. are not a catch for LSIs but have a constant demand and thus SSIs have a great opportunity in identifying such areas. So it can be said that both globalization and SSIs are the essentials of Indian economy and India must make efforts to promote, sustain and aid both in a fair and unbiased way. A fruitful measure would be

to reserve certain goods for production exclusively by the SSIs and their intelligent outsourcing by the govt. to ensure maximum benefits. Also the govt. should advertise the indigenous goods worldwide so that the foreign folk also go in for the ethnic items produced here like khadi, silk, wool, statues, gems, ornaments, etc. as these represent the traditional art form and culture of the region. As far as the financial aids are concerned, the govt. is doing good work to make things simple and possible for the interested individuals by funding and financial support. Also the setting up of institutes for technical training and skill enhancement of the workforce is helping in a big way. While globalization has put us on the map of superpower countries, SSIs have empowered the common man to walk with the same stride as the big-wigs. For India to be a superpower, it is must make efforts to strengthen each and every thread of its economic fabric to make the flag of its success fly high

Is the media of today upholding good journalistic standards?

It is said that media is the fourth pillar of the democracy, because it keeps the people aware about the political turmoil on one hand, and it pressurize the political leaders to show accountability to the people on the other. Today, in India the face of media has changed a lot and in-fact many times it has proved its efficiency. The media is actively involved in the national level affairs relating to the social justice, law and order, constitution and many other things. Many times the media has played an extremely positive role by creating a public opinion towards a thing. Recently in the campaign of social activist Anna Hazaray, media played a big part in making the campaign a success. There are many other examples when the media played a great role in providing justice to the people as like in the case of Jessica Lal murder, if the media had not given the case so much of hype there were hardly any chances that the culprits would have got the sentence of life. Moreover many times certain scams were uncovered by medic through sting channel operations, although the legality of these operations might be altogether different debate but still they did some social good by it. But only on these facts we cant conclude that the media of our nation has touched the height of high journalism. Media of nation can only be said to be of high standard when it is aware of its societal responsibilities and it is actively involved in it. But in this regard I would rather say with great sorrow that media of our nation has failed in its duty towards the country. It is correct that the media has been successful in giving itself a professional touch according to the changing conditions of globalization, but on the other hands it could not maintain a fair functioning of its duties towards nation at large. The truth is that even when the hype of media results in positive yields, those incidents are not a product of the consciousness of media for the society at large but instead a part of their strategy to create reputation and money. As like the case of the death of Jessica Lal was given so much hype by the government, but in rural areas everyday thousands of people are killed , many types entire families are killed but our media hardly take those incidents with that seriousness with which it takes the case of Jessica and alike. In several states many people are dying because of hunger and malnutrition, but such things never get enough attention from the fourth pillar of our democracy. One the one hand at regional level many agitations are taking place, which are even continued from years but they got never justice from the side of media as like Sharmila is agitating from years to improve the plight of the people of North-East, but the media never give it enough attention. Although in todays time media needs to be professional, because fund raising is very necessary for it to function properly but with the professional touch it has to focus on social issues even if they are not so profitable. In rural India many NGOs are working for the welfare for poor, removal of literacy and many other social causes, and if they would be help through media in their campaign then it can bring drastic change in the plight of the people. When the big projects are created and people are replaced without adequate compensation, media should be actively involved in showing the plight of those people to the public, but it hardly happens. Because ultimately the true goal of the journalism to make good to people, and media should always keep this point in mind.

In this regard there is also a responsibility on the government that it should not unnecessarily interfere in the working of the media. The independence of media is a very necessary aspect of its fair functioning, and moreover it is guaranteed under ar. 19 of the Constitution of India, which ensures freedom to speech and expression. In the past many time the political leader had pressurized the media to achieve their own political ends, and hindered the emergence of high level journalism. Political leader are required to understand the importance of reporting by media, and they must give the journalists and editors sufficient safeguards against the criminal and unsocial elements. In conclusion I would rather say that to achieve the high level of journalism the media is required to be oriented towards the problems of the people. It is required to impartial and independent in the reporting of political incidents. It is required to be more concentrated on social issues as like suicide by farmers, rural development, social movement, displacement, land acquisition etc. After shameful incidents of bribing in Parliament people are losing faith in the democratic structure of nation, and media can play a great role in bringing back this trust.

Pakistan is serious about their efforts in eradicating terrorists from their soil?
There are many who believe that the killing of Osama Bin Laden is a big victory against terrorism. It is too hard to believe. Instead, we can say that it is a moral victory that has come too late. Current world of terrorism, Bin Laden hold no significance. As we can see that the public rising against dictators, all over the Arab countries and with no support from Osama Bin Laden and his ilk he has been relegated to insignificance. Osama Bin Laden as everyone knows, had the grave responsibility of having spread division and hate among people, causing the deaths of an innumerable number of people and exploiting religion for these purposes. Understandly, there havent been much hue and cry over his killing in the Arab world save for a few commemoratory demonstrations by fringe fanatical groups. Big terrorist names only act as inspiration, the actual groups at the ground level mostly work independently due to logistical problems. Terrorist groups derive massive support from governments and secret agencies and they are basically tools in the hands of these governments and heir spying agencies. Therefore, killing one leader here and there doesnt mean that the problem of terrorism go away or that will be the end of terrorism. There has to be an international consensus regarding how to deal with such regimes. Unless this is done no amount of terrorist extermination is going to provide a solution and we will keep on living in the contemporary fearful atmosphere. Besides, the current muslim generation must seeks freedom, liberty and economic prosperity through peaceful demonstrations and not through violence. Since terrorism may exist in many forms, we also need a clear definition of what exactly is terrorism so that it becomes easier to deal with them. Terrorism for one instance can be justified resistance for another like many groups are fighting against unjust governments and despotic rulers. Just because you are taking up arms against a government, it doesnt mean that they are an international terrorist group. Take the case of Maoist insurgency in some parts of India. There is lot of known collusion between various mafias, industries and government departments / divisions and that is because of their exploitation to the local people, looting them, depriving them of their lands and resources and if they rise their voice murdering them. When the law that is supposed to protect you begins to exploit you, there is no platform available where you can voice your dissent and hence you have no option to take up arms. It may be noted that blowing up buildings and buses (public & private property) and killing of ordinary people, policemen and army men in the name of a justified struggle is not excusable. What I try to elaborate that the difference between a resistance and on act of blowing up a huge residential or business premises. I do agree that there are arguments and counter arguments in every cage as it already happens. As a part of resentments, the extremists of any kind killing the innocents people by bomb explosion / firing is not at all a way to achieve their ultimate goal whatever it may be. Suppose if they target a corrupted minister or officials to some extend their action may be justifiable but ofcourse, I am not supporting

extremism in any form. There are civilized and uncivilized, moderate and extremist terrorists who does not know how, when and where to draw a line. Needles to say that there is no balanced analysis of the reasons why terrorism grows up and the world is allowing a fertile soil for the cropping up of terrorism. People often say that the ideology of Islam breeds violent Jihad and terrorism but at the outset it can not be agreeable. Most of the Muslim terrorists were misinterpreted the word JIHAD or they dont know JIHAD is what? For various reasons beyond our imagination of the ordinary people and to safe guard the self interest of governments / leaders of each nations, there were state sponsored terrorism by giving arms, ammunition and millions of money. There are murderers and fanatics in every religion and not only in muslim religion. It is unbelievable that the Americans took more than two years to hunt down Osama Bin Laden. If their efforts were sincere and realistic, they could have him within two months. Here it is well remember that unwanted war and mass destruction has been imposed on multiple countries in the name of hiding /finding him.In order to contain and destroy terrorism, the international community needs to realize the actual cause of terrorism and what sort of support various groups of terrorist derive from governments. For example, the way America has been closing their eye to Pakistan sponsored terrorism in India and off course, it smells some deep rooted conspiracy whatever may be the cause. Therefore, we need to come out of such dualism and hypocrisy and come straight to the point. The muslim community all over the world needs to be more vociferous against the violent elements amidst the community just as they have risen against their dictators. They must understand and aware that terrorist shouldnt be an act of valour and terrorist must be treated as criminals and hence families supporting them must face shame rather an incite awe. Whenever and whoever want to glorify terrorism, please think of Russia where they had take hundreds of school children hostages and forced them to take of their closes or the innocent Jewish family butchered during 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Before doing such kind of brutal actions, just one minute think what does those innocent peoples mistake. Is it a mistake that they have born as a Jewish / Hindu etc. Then how can these uncultured terrorist justify for what reasons they were killing the innocents? It is very difficult to change a cultural ideology but community leaders must make a start somewhere on an emergency way. During Friday prayers every week, they can exhort them to distance themselves from violent and elimination of terrorist thinking from their mind and soul for ever. This goal can not be achievable tomorrow or within an year but it is a long term goal and may take many decades to show some results. In India the governments are spending millions of rupees for paying the Mullas / Mukrees who teaches Quraan in the madrasaas. So if they give good advise to their believers, that will be a commentable deed to the nation and the people who like peace as well. The short term goals must be employ a zero tolerance policy against countries abetting and supporting groups in the name of Jihad and freedom struggle. Indigenously, the justice system must be made stronger and effective. For instance, if the Indian State / Central government doesnt go into the root cause of the Maoist insurgency, then the UN must interfere. When you start killing your own people, then it is no longer a question of sovereignty and internal matter. Therefore, it has to be a multipronged approach strengthen domestic justice system and implement a zero tolerance policy against countries breeding terrorism. Then only the problem of terrorism can be solved.

Empowering Women Rebuilding the Society

To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves.-Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. In India, today, women appear to rule the roost. India as a nation is revered in a feminine form i.e. the Bharat Mata, the first citizen of our country presently is a woman, many important government posts are occupied by women and educated women are pouring into the professional workforce with profound implications for national and multinational corporations. However, ironically, these are accompanied by news about dowry killings, female infanticide, domestic violence against women, sexual harassment, rape, illegal trafficking and prostitution and myriad others of the same ilk. Gender discrimination prevails in almost all areas, be it social, cultural, economic or educational. An effective remedy for these evils needs to be sought in order to ensure the Right to Equality guaranteed by the

Constitution of India, to the fairer sex. Gender equality facilitates the empowerment of women. Since education begins at home, the upliftment of women would be accompanied by the development of the family, the society and in turn, would lead towards a holistic development of the nation. Among these problems the foremost that needs to be addressed is the atrocity committed against females at birth and during childhood. Female infanticide i.e. killing of the female child is still a common practice in many of the rural areas. Further female foeticide is common in some parts of India, despite the passage of Prenatal Diagnostic techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act in 1994. In case they survive, they are subjected to discrimination throughout their lives. Traditionally, since sons are thought to take care of their parents during old age and daughters are considered a burden because of dowry and other expenses that have to be incurred during their marriage, female children are neglected in the matters of nutrition, education and other important aspects of well-being. The Sex ratio in our country is abysmally low. It was only 933 females per 1000 males according to the 2001 census. The Sex ratio is an important indicator of development. Developed countries usually have Sex ratios above 1000. For instance, the USA has a Sex ratio of 1029, Japan 1041 and Russia 1140. In India, Kerala is the state with the highest Sex ratio of 1058 and Haryana is one with the lowest value of 861. During their youth, females face the problem of early marriage and childbirth. They are not cared for properly during pregnancy leading to many cases of maternal mortality. The MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate) i.e. the number of females dying during delivery per one lakh persons, in India is 437(as in 1995). In addition, they are subjected to harassment for dowry and other forms of domestic violence. Further, at the work place, public places and elsewhere, acts of violence, exploitation and discrimination are rampant. Various steps have been taken by the government to prevent such abuses and to empower women. Criminal laws against sati, dowry, female infanticide and foeticide, eve teasing, rape, immoral trafficking and other offences relating to women have been enacted in addition to civil laws like the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939, the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and other Matrimonial enactments. The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act has been passed in 2005. A National Commission for Women (NCW) has been set up. Other measures by the government include provision of reservation in representation and education, allocation for the welfare of women in the five year plans, provision of subsidized loan facilities and so on. The year 2001 has been declared as the women empowerment year by the Government of India and 24th January as the National Girl Child Day. The 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill, popularly known as the Womens Reservation Bill which seeks to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies has been a highlight in the recent times. It was passed in the Rajya Sabha on March 9 th 2010. Though well intended, it can have little, if any, tangible consequences for the real empowerment of women since it does not touch upon the core issues which plague them. The solution must envisage a twopronged attack, on the one hand, on tradition which is responsible for assigning a low status for women in the society and on the other hand, the outrages perpetrated against them. The proposed Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill, 2010 is a good move in that direction. Mass campaigns need to be organized especially in the villages in favour of survival of the female child and provision of human rights for her, including education and health. It is essential to dispel the ghosts of the past and place women on an equal footing with men in order to pave the way for their empowerment, social, economic and educational. Empowering women and thus rebuilding the society would take the nation on a path of greater development, as Swami Vivekananda says, Countries and Nations which do not respect women have never become great nor will ever be in future .

Communal harmony and the internal security of India are interlinked

Communalism is the loyalty to a sociopolitical grouping based on religious or ethnic affiliation rather than to society as a whole. It is an ideology which takes three forms or stages, one following the other. The first stage starts with a belief that those who follow the same religion have common secular interests, that is, common political, economic, social and cultural interests. The second stage is characterized by the notion that in a multi-religious society like India, the secular interests of followers

of one religion are dissimilar and divergent from that of the followers of another religion. In the third stage it is believed that the interests of the followers of different religions are mutually incompatible, antagonistic and hostile. The communist ideology in India went through all these stages during the freedom struggle against the British. The hard earned, precious independence of India was won after decades of glorious struggle but along with a bloody, tragic partition that ripped apart the fabric of the emerging free nation. Thousands of lives were lost from both the sides, that of the Hindus and the Muslims in the communal riots and being left with no other alternative, a separate Muslim state of Pakistan was conceded. India was made a secular country with provisions for protection of minority communities. Despite precautionary and preventive measures having been taken, the communal legacy still continues. At the time of freedom and partition, it was believed by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru that partition was a temporary phenomenon and once the communist fervour subsides, a United and strong India would be formed. However, contrary to their expectations, India and Pakistan stand apart as separate nations and the fraught question of their bilateral relations remains unsolved till date. The disputed State of Kashmir has been ravaged by violence, civilian casualties, damage of property, curfew and the resulting disruption of normal life. Communal problem, which is the root cause, with all its social, political and economic ramifications remains unabated even today and bedevils the State. With the passage of time, the path taken by communalism has changed. Earlier it was the large scale communal riots, now it has taken the route of terrorism. Bomb blasts and shooting attacks have rent asunder the major cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad and others. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands were maimed and devastated. Authorities blame terror groups ranging from Islamic insurgents of Kashmir to the Hindu terror groups in Maharashtra. Whatever the reason or religion behind such activities be, the loss is to humanity as a whole. All the religions basically preach love and the feeling of brotherhood towards fellow beings. It is only the parties with vested interests that sow the seeds of communal hatred and violence in the minds of people. The mullahs of the Islamic world and the mullahs of the Hindu world and the mullahs of the Christian world are all on the same side. And we are against them all. Arundhati Roy India is a developing country, and the fourth largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. The vision of our national leaders is to make India a developed nation and an economic superpower. However, the internal security of the nation is a pre-requisite for the attainment of this vision. As long as the communal tensions inside the country do not ease, the internal security of the nation cannot be ensured, despite the strength of the army or paramilitary employed to control the situation. Once the communal tension inside the country subsides and India becomes internally secure, then the problems in the bilateral relations between the twin nations of India and Pakistan can be smoothly dealt with. In order to strike at the base, that is, to bring about communal harmony, there must be harmony in the minds of the people. Aaman ki aasha is a voluntary initiative taken to improve Indo-Pak relationship. Similar voluntary organizations that encourage communal harmony should come up. Minorities complain that they are looked upon as aliens and trouble-makers in their own land and the Majority community in turn puts the blame on the Minorities. Mental revolution among people, considering the fellow citizens as brethren is essential to bring about communal harmony in the country. The communal harmony thus attained is a sine-qua-non for the internal security of the country. Only when the internal security is ensured can the nation embark on the path towards development and economic advancement. Recently, the Allahabad High Court gave its judgement regarding the Ayodhya controversy, dividing the disputed land into 3 parts and distributing them among the three contesting parties involved, the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Central Board of Waqf and the Ramlalla Virajman. The peaceful air that surrounded the country following the verdict, bodes well for the nation.

Indian Education System: concentrating on lucrative careers or developing intellect

At approximately 65% literacy rate, India lags much behind other developed and developing economies in terms of adult literacy. Hence much of the governments policy effort is towards universalising primary education and boosting the admission rates to secondary schools and graduate colleges. However in this debate, an aspect emerges whether the Indian education system truly fulfils the objective of education or rather it just helps people meeting their needs of a decent lifestyle. The true goal of education transcends much beyond just awarding degrees to students. Education aims to develop the intellect of the learners. It seeks to free the human being from parochial mindset. Education is not just a tool to earn money to make the ends; it is the way to liberate the mind and soul of a person. The real product of a true education system is a rational mind which works towards building an intellectual society. India is home to brilliant minds with immense potential. However the education system has not been able to produce many intellectuals. The inability of the system to nurture great minds is quite disheartening when the number of researchers in India is compared to countries such as USA, Finland. While India produces 46 PhDs every year per one lakh students, almost 4000 doctorates wear the laurel in USA every year. Even China has left India far behind; so much so that we could only produce two indigenous noble laureates. However the blame cant only be placed on the education system or the government policy towards it. Education, being the face of the society, reflects the impact of the social, cultural and economic phenomena of the society. The flawed government policy of not offering any incentive to higher research carries a large chunk of blame for this. India simply does not have the educational infrastructure to promote research oriented education. Successive governments have given little thought to it and instead focused their energies on improving the literacy rates. Development of intellectual requires a highly conducive environment with the unequivocal support of a willing state. While an engineer or a doctor earns tens of thousands rupees per month, a PhD student gets meagre stipend. Though the motivation of developing intellect does not come for money, it is certainly required for his subsistence, as hertzbergs motivationsatisfaction theory suggests. Because of unavailability of technological opportunities, thousands of students move to USA, UK or Australia for higher studies; some of them turned out to be leaders of innovation in future. That justifies the fact that we have no dearth of potentials, it just needs to be nurtured in a proper environment with incentives. The education system tends to promote competition among the pupils instead of developing their aptitude. It is highly focused towards scoring marks in examination rather than building concept. The methodological study approach ends up making the students disenchanted and the degree is used just a tool to enhance the academic profile. It is a greater impediment to skill development. Lack of interaction with industry keeps the research study aloof from the recent trends and makes higher studies unimpressive. Continuous communication with industries helps the researchers understand the emerging trends and develop their intellectual capabilities to seek answers to the recent issues. Absence of definitive policy for promoting innovation is also a barrier to students following their innate desire for higher research thereby developing ground-breaking ideas. India is yet to place an intellectual properties right law in place. However government policy is not the one reason for lackadaisical attitude among the students towards research oriented studies. The education system, being a much broader aspect than literacy, is heavily influenced by social, cultural and economic phenomena of the society. In order to perform their social duties, people tend to take up jobs at early age, get married and settle down. A rigorous research oriented study sometimes demand complete devotion from the students. Due to less returns in the initial stage, people tend to discourage their wards from taking up research as a carrier option and instead want them to settle down with lucrative career option which is valued as a social status. Family constraints sometimes force the students to abandon their aspirations aptitude development through higher studies. As teaching is no more a prized profession, the best minds are not available to encourage deeper thinking among students. Along with that the availability of easy money in lucrative careers has played against people developing their intellectual tracts.

Earning money instead of developing intelligence is now treated as the yardstick to measure success. But the society is not entirely at fault for this. Indian society is in a transition state where sudden availability of opportunities is helping thousands of poor families to middle class. While their disposable income has seen a sudden increase, they want to play it safe. The Maslowvian theory of motivation suggests that people tend to want to fulfil their immediate survival needs before climbing up the hierarchy of motivation to achieve their intellectual capability. Only professions such as engineer, doctors, MBAs are values in Indian society as they offer a fat package and a decent lifestyle. When compared to western education system, one can easily notice the difference. Their social, cultural value tend develop the trait of independent thinking which is basic to develop interest for deeper understanding of a subject. Instead of limiting a students options, their education system offers wide range of choices to select their areas of interest. Our technological education does not give due to importance to courses of humanities and vice versa. It limits a persons ability to think beyond what is obvious. Whereas American universities offer auxiliary subject which a student can get credit from along with his or her major. At one side social constraints discourage students to take up research work, at the other hand the economic liberalisation in 90s not only opened the Indian market to the global players; it brought a sea of opportunities to India. Boost in Indian exports, IT & ITes outsourcing, financial reforms created lot of job opportunities for educating Indians. The fat money offered by those sectors attracted the young Indians to those jobs which now fulfilled their dream of a good lifestyle. Most of the huge numbers of technological and management institutes opened after the economic liberalisation aim to cater to the industrys requirement and instead of imparting education to the students they just end up being a grooming schools for them. The institutes focus on job placements rather than research publications. All their education is revolves around placing their students in lucrative jobs rather than inculcating analytical ability among them. But everything is not lost. The institutes like IISc, IITs, and IIMs continue to produce minds who have been contributing to the cause of our country. The government now plans to consult IITs to make the Ganges river basin pollution free by 2020. Anna University students have launched a nano satellite called ANUSAT. The future of a society, state lies in innovation, new ideas and ground-breaking approaches. And only the intellectual can champion the path of innovation. An independent original thinker is the only one capable of creating new opportunities for the society. Recent government policy changes in higher studies are a welcome step for this. Programs such as establishment of model universities, Nalanda Asian University, promoting higher medical research in IITs will help India to establish a knowledge based society. As India progresses in her journey from a developing country to a developed state, the need of developing intellect will continue to assume more importance. While the society much change its attitude towards education, change in government policies are fundamental for changing the formers outlook. Because intellectuals can create jobs with lucrative careers but a lucrative job does not guarantee development of intellect.

Poor and Rich Gap in India (Attitude towards the life is solution)
Gap between poor and rich is a big issue in India. It has been in the list of main agenda of most of the big political parties in country and even now it is listed in the agenda but unfortunately there are not much progress in this regard although government and some NGO are actively taking part on activities, which are really very good to push the poor people status forward. In Economics term poor is the person who has less purchasing power and the rich is one who has more purchasing power. A person with less purchasing power is deeply affected because he cannot afford Goods and services which rich can afford and its safe to say without that he cannot changes his life style and standard of living. Poor rich gap can be in different forms some of the fields where the gap exist are Educational, Income, Life style, Housing requirement, food needs are the name of few. By above description it is clear that is most of the area poor are lagging. From long back poor people have been ignored by the government but ignoring poors and their demands is not the solution because with poverty not only poor suffers but country suffers as well. Poverty is one of the big hurdles

in the way of Indian Economy. Poor people lives in mostly village area and in cities for the search of job. Government has done so many attempts for resolving this Gap all the plans some of them was the part of Five year plans and excellent concepts from the highly educated personalities but because of corruption it was not implemented in a way it could be, as a result it is taking so much time if everything would have done properly it could not be worst then today. Economic inequality: As they cannot afford the higher education people in this class are depend on their physical strength to earn and usually Labour class people works on factory or some other organization. There earnings and there purchasing power is extremely low and they are victim of the inflation in true sense. Lack of education and awareness about the things make them sick because they truly avoid the heath aspects of life or may be because they cannot afford the good stuffs and quality foods. Today situation is different and today the question is if government initiatives are great and helpful for poors then why are we not able to solve this problem from so long? If government is giving free education with the food then why the literacy rates in this segment is not measurable, if there are initiatives for free vaccination then why people are dying in big numbers. In my view only one will answer all these question and it is Lack of awareness and Motivation Only money is not the problem even Indian government is spending so much money on the poors and there are schemes like Employment guarantee scheme under which they get guarantee of having 100 days work with the best wages available and rice and others food commodities are available in very low cost for people who comes in below poverty line. So money is not the problem and even policies which provide money will not be sufficient to solve this problem permanently. What is missing is motivation people in low class are not motivated they are not able to maintain the label of motivation because they dont have clear goal defined for their goal there thinking is biased by their financial position. Until and unless we motivate the people and make all the basic facilities available to them its impossible to remove this problem from the society. Now the question is can we motivate others and the answer is absolutely not. Yes because motivation is an action one cannot act for others they have got to act for themselves, but inspiration is thinking and when thinking changes it reflects in the behaviours and which is long lasting and more permanent. There is some philosophy which experts think is useful to reduce the gap between the poor and rich person. Marxist philosophy is one of them according to this philosophy all the money should be distributed based on their material production capacity, in short it should be distributed equally and its required to remove the political inequality from society. But most of critics say this does not support so many principles on logical ground. I still feel India should improve its human capital we are still lagging in this area, A human which can generate the capital in measurable quantity is known as Human Capital. The countries where most of the people are educated are known as knowledge based country Ireland is known as knowledge based country because they are expert in using their education to improve the economy. We should learn lesion from them. Improvement in Human capital and programs to make poor aware about the facility that government is offering to them so that they come forward and get the benefit of it could be a good heads up. Programs from government side should be organized to motivate the poor people. There are no gap between poor and rich in actual sense, we have to make them believe and we have to take our poor brothers with us.

Science and Human Happiness

Ours is the age of science. The contribution of science to hum happiness is by no means small. Borders of human knowledge have been pushed forward in all directions. Man's working capacity, in all fields has enormously increased. It is by virtue of scientific knowledge that m has performed stupendous tasks. Man has explored the bottom of the oceans, conquered the high mountains, stepped on the moon and now hopes to set foot on the other planets also. Science has given sophistical instruments to man for research and the deadly weapons of offence a of defense. Transport and communication have become extremely easy. Time and distance have been almost annihilated. Radio, TV and now Internet have made it possible to know many things of the importance that happen in any part of the globe. Radio, television, cinematograph provide entertainment a knowledge. Two powerful agents steam and electricity has revolutionized the world. The two grand servants, electricity and steam have accomplished mammoth tasks for men. Electricity is working wonders. Electricity is a magic-hand maid. It has given in our hands lamp of Alladin; with the help of it we run our water coolers, water heaters, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, radios, televisions, typewriters, printing machines, computers and numerous other important and useful machines. Science has helped save labour, time and money. Science has helped us to fight against diseases. Sources of this far 'incurable' diseases have been successfully encountered with. Science has enabled the blinds to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to talk, the lame to walk - science has made the birth easy, death difficult; life comfortable; pleasure more pleasant. Painless and bloodless surgery has already become a practical possibility. Sulpha drugs, streptomycin, penicillin, aspirin etc. have reduced human suffering to a great extent. Birth and death have already been brought under control. Science and life have become synonyms. Blessings of the science are numerous. We are born and we die under the shadow of science. Science is our eyes, ears, nose, throat, lungs, hands, feet and all. Science has its darker side too. The banes and the boons of science balance each other in wellbalanced pens of a scale. Science has contributed to human comforts greatly, but what is the contribution of science towards happiness? It is very doubtful as science has made life - human life 'happy'. Not only human life but science has also made the life of even animals, the so-called lower creation, happy. Comfort can be misnamed happiness. Science has made life happier but comfort is not happiness and comfort means the annihilation of all incentives to work. Human life has been so much mechanized that had we been able to walk about rather than being carried about, lifted about, dragged about, flown about, pushed and jolted about, and rocketed to and fro, life could have been happier. Science has turned man into machines, robots - working, eating, seeing, hearing mechanically. We have given ourselves away for this 'sordid boon' of science. Nothing is ours. Science has brain washed us, it has 'brain drained' us. We human beings are human machines. If a part of the body, human or animal, is disfigured, mutilated or amputated, "don't worry", the doctors say. Artificial limbs, foot, leg; arm can be attached to the body to replace the damaged one. The exterior or interior parts that cannot be manufactured synthetically or artificially, an identical part from another human being or even of an animal can be transplanted. A kidney, an eye, the liver, a lung,

and even the heart can be and has also been transplanted. Science can give new hearts in place of old ones. Though science has made possible the replacement, transplantation or even exchange of heart, yet science has not been able to bring about the "change of hearts" which is essential agency which remains as 'unfulfilled' as ever. Here science has failed - science has failed the scientists. Science is the ethics, the religion of the atheists

How to write Essay on Corruption?

Introduction: If two or more persons meet together and start talking about the present society of India, they soon come to the conclusion that every system, every institution of India is infested with corruption. Corruption has become so common in public life that people are now averse to thinking of public life without this phenomenon. Meaning: But what does Corruption actually mean? Corruption means perversion of morality, integrity, character of duty out of mercenary motives (e.g. bribery) without regard to honour, right or justice. In public life, a corrupt person is one who bestows undue favor on someone with whom; he has monetary or other interests (e.g. nepotism). Simultaneously, those who genuinely deserve those things as their right remain deprived. Not a New Phenomenon: Corruption in public life is not a modern phenomenon. It was prevalent in the political and civic life of even Maura period as has been discussed by Chanakya in the Arthassastra. (Give other examples) But it is only recently that Corruption has become remnant in our public life. People no longer protest against corrupt practices, fight injustice or express any shock when big scandals are exposed. Also corruption is not uniquely Indian phenomenon; it is witnessed all over the world (USA, Japan, Italy, etc.) Forms of corruption in India: Explain bribery, nepotism, theft and wastage of public property, dereliction of duty etc. Extent of Corruption: Start with a hospital where a child is born and move further on to education system, career opportunities, political system, judiciary, law and order, other day to day activities till post modern report and crematorium. Results of Corruption: Individual sufferings, people lose faith in the existing system, prevalence of chaos and anarchy, society disintegrates, country becomes weak, foreign invasion may occur Causes of Corruption: It is a vicious circle. Start with those politicians, who run the state, come down to higher officials then to the lowest rung of bureaucratic hierarchy. Lastly, come to the general people. Who elect the corrupt people as their representatives and expect special favors from them. How to Eradicate Corruption:

A comprehensive code for ministers, members of legislature and political parties, - and such code should be strictly enforced; judiciary should be given more independence and initiative; law and order machinery should be allowed to work without political interference; a voluntary organization at national level should be established to break the vicious circle Conclusion: Our entire system is bound to collapse if we do not rise the occasion and face the glaring truth with courage, foresight and patience

2634 words essay on Food security in India

Food security is access to enough food by all people at all time for an active and healthy life. In the past concentrated efforts were made to achieve food security by increasing food grain production. Thanks to the impact of green revolution though, it was limited to same crops and too in limited states. To ensure easy access to food at household level, government monopolizes grain management and subsidized food gains. Paradoxically, India attained national food self-sufficiency 35 years ago yet about 35% of its population remains food insecure. Low incomes and high food prices prevent individual food security. Another aspect of Indian food security situation is that after over three decades of operation, public distribution system meets less than 10% of consumption of PDS grains rice and wheat by the poor. At the global level, poor harvest coupled with rising demand has led to and overall increase in food prices. Unfavorable weather conditions in parts of Europe and North Africa, together with worst ever drought in Australia put stocks of major food crops, especially wheat, at record low levels. Tight supply pushed up the prices of wheat to unprecedented heights, significantly affecting food inflation across the globe including India. Surging food grain prices and worsening global supplies are now bringing the domestic food crisis to the boil. The crisis has been building up for sometime. The food grains yields of India farmers are not going up. Grain output has been stagnating for over a decade and there is a growing gap between supply and demand. Attaining long-term food security requires the raising of incomes and making food affordable. To ensure food security for the vulnerable section of the society a multiple pronged stately is to be evolved. To begin with all the existing social safety net programmes need amalgamation and should focus on vulnerable and underprivileged regions and groups. The existing anti-poverty programmes may be made more transparent with better government that minimizes leakages and benefits from such programmes. Simultaneously, agriculture needs to be reformed by improving incentives, incentives, increasing in vestment etc. So that production of traditional and high-value commodities can be increased. Unfortunately agriculture is in the grip of poor performance. Traditional sources of augmenting income are ceresin. Production environment is changing it is not dominated by small holders. With the shrinking land holdings, their sustainability and viability can not rely solely on production of food grains. To augment their income, small holders need to diversify their production and crops. Ten years after the dismantling of the universal public distribution system systems, the statistical jugglery of the targeted food distribution system actually excludes millions of poor in both the BPL and APL categories. Targeting is linked to neoli9beral policies that seek to limit, if not eliminate, the governments welfare responsibilities.

The denial of the right to food for a large section of the Indian population reflected in increased malnourishment strutted growth, ill health and loss of energy and therefore productivity is an issue that deserves more national attention. If countries agree to be graded in terms of provision of food security to their citizens, India would rank along with Ethiopia at the lower end. The United Nations childrens fund report that tone out of every tow children in India in malnourished confirms the lopsided priorities of successive governments at the centre that seek to narrow fiscal deficits by reducing food subsidies. Until 1996, India has universal PDS. There it introduced the targeted system with the mistaken notion that the infirmities of the PDS should be curbed and that it would enable subsidized grain to reach those who actually needed it. India now has 10 years of experience of the targeted (into APL and BPL households with access to foodgrain at different prices) and further targeted (into BPL and Antyodaya households) system. Last year, the planning commission did an evolutions of the PDS and found that 57% of the poor hand been actually excluded from the BPL system. Earlier the Abhijit Sen committee had also come up with similar findings, pointing to the utter failure of the targeted system, and suggested a return to the universal PDS. For these schemes is a major problem. If only those who are officially identified as poor can have access to food, then clearly the method has ensured accuracy. The prevailing method of identification is entirely unsatisfactory. There are two sets of estimates. The estimate that is linked to allocations of foodgrain is made by the planning commission. According to a replay given in parliament, the present concept of the poverty line is based on the per capita consumption expenditure needed to attain a minimum amount of calorie intake out of food consumption along with a minimum amount of not-food expenditure in order to meet the requirements of clothing, shelter and transport, among other things. This is based on the methodology suggested by the Lakdawala committee in 1993 and the population projections of the registrar-general of India as of march 12000. Shockingly, according to the current assessments, it works out to around Rs. 11 an adult a day clearly; this is not a poverty line but a destitution line. Earlier foodgrain allocations were not linked to poverty line assessments but were open-ended depending on past utilization by the states. The linkages came along with the targeted system. This creates another anomaly. The rural development ministry has set of programmes for BPL families. According to current estimates, 6 crore households in India come under the BPL category. That such a large number of people are earning less than Rs 330 a month is shocking enough. But what is cruel is that anyone earning above this meager monthly income is classified as APL and excluded from the right to subsidized foodgrain. The very words Above Poverty Line misleading because they include a vast section of poor who have been denied their entitlements through statistical fraud and jugglery to serve a neoliberal agenda. The need for subsidized food grains for a wider section of people is also reflected in increased off take. While the off take in the Antyodaya system is around 90%, showing the desperate need of people for cheap foodgrain, the off take for BPL has doubled in the past few 73.67 lakh tones to 228.45 lakh tones in 2005-06 out of an allocation of 273.20 lakh tones which constitutes 83%- of the allocation. As far as APL is concerned, the off take is much lower not because people do not need the grain but because for several years there was not much difference in the APL price and the market price. The central issue price for wheat is Rs 7.50 a kg. For rice the price range is from Rs 10 in Gujarat and Maharashtra for a kg to Rs 9 in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

As current market prices of foodgrain have shot up, the demand for APL foodgrain will definitely increase but the poor offtake of the grain in the demand for APL foodgrain will definitely increase but the poor off take of the grains in the past few years is being cited by the government to cut allocations, precisely when people require it more. Since rise procurement is reportedly up by around 28 lakh tones, it is possible for the central government to replace wheat allocations will rise at least for the time being in consultation with the states. Instead of taking such a step, the Centre is proposing a cut in allocation. The demand for a revision of poverty assessment also needed. Secondly, the neglect of foodgrain production consequent to the new agricultural policys emphasis on export-oriented cash crops is a major reason for current shortfalls in wheat production. The third Issue is that of procurement of wheat. Wheat deficits to the extent of 29 lakh tones below the buffer stock norms leading to imports for the first time in decades are a result of the deliberate policy of the government to cut down procurement on the one hand and encourage private trade on the other. Big farmers who could hold on to their stocks would have benefited from the higher price offered later, but the bulk of the peasantry sold their produce to traders at price below the Rs 700 offered three week too late by the government, the FCI had been given the same leeway as private trade, then the present dismal record of low procurement could have been avoided. Shockingly, the government offered the Indian farmer almost Rs 100 less than what it paid foreign trades. The concerning of the stock by private trade has permitted wheat hoarding, which has pushed market prices up by Rs 5-6 a kg. Decades of building a food security system can be wiped out by such neoliberal ideologies that undermine the principal of self-reliance. Besides, it reflects a naive belief that international prices will remain static whereas clearing international trades are waiting to maximize profits through wheat imports as higher, price to India. Further, a dangerous concession by way of lowering of phytosanitary standards in the quality of wheat is also being planned- This must be opposed strongly. India can spend thousands of crores to protect itself through nuclear might but can render itself completely vulnerable by losing its greatest achievement, the backbone of sovereignty----- food self-sufficiency. With this approach, the situation on the rice front could follow a similar disastrous pattern in the future. It also raises the question of whether it is appropriate to combine the Agriculture Ministry with the food and Public Distribution Ministry. Fourthly, the FCI is being weakened systematically. The employment schemes of Government, which offer part of the payment in food grains. Play an important part in the provision of food security, through inadequate. The move to cut back on this component will also cut down on the real wages of the worker. With the current high prices of wheat and other essential commodities, What the worker grains in cash is less than what he/she has to pay for his/her foodgrain needs in the market. What needs to be done is improve the system whether of procurement agencies, the fair price shops or the methods of distribution but not to destroy them. But that is what the Food and Public Distribution Department seems to be proposing. People centered reform requires a return to the universal PDS. During periods of high inflation in food prices, governments must provide a basic minimum quantity of food grain and other food items at low prices through public distribution systems to low-income, food-insecure, and vulnerable populations. In India, the ostensible purpose of the Targeted Public

Distribution System (TPDS) was to take food to the poor; in practice, it has resulted in the large scale exclusion of the poor and food-insecure from the public food system. Recent evidence from a report titled Public Distribution system and other Sources of Household Consumption 2004-5 (GOI. 2007), which presents data from the 61st Round of the National Sample Survey (NSS), establishes that targeting has led to high rates of exclusion of needy household from the Public Distribution System (PDS) and cleared deterioration of coverage in States like Kerala where the universal PDS was most effective. Let me illustrate with evidence from rural India. The recent report of the National Sample Survey gives us an insight into the magnitude and nature of this exclusion from the PDS. At the all-India level, 70.5 per cent of rural households either possessed no card or held an APL card. Since household with APL card are effectively excluded from the PDS, the majority of rural households in India are excluded from the PDS. The NSS Report also allows us to classify-by caste, occupation, land ownership and consumer expenditure category-the household that are excluded from the PDS. The NSS maintains five types of rural households, based on information on source of income; selfemployed (agriculture), self employed (non-agriculture), agricultural labour, other labour and other households. We focus on agricultural labour, since manual agricultural labour households are undoubtedly among those most in need of access to the PDS. The all India average indicates that 52percent of agricultural households either had no card or an APL card. The corresponding proportion was 96 per cent in Manipur, 68 per cent in Rajasthan and Assam, 71 per cent in Bihar and 73 percent in Uttar Pradesh. Can 70 per cent of agricultural labour households be considered as ineligible for the PDS? There were only four States in which two thirds or more of agricultural labour households were not excluded from the PDS (that is, held a BPL or Antyodaya ration card). These States were Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura. Secondly, we examine the social back-ground of households, focusing on Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Treble households. We have selected only those States where the rural Scheduled Caste population is more than 10 percent of the total population. In rural areas, there is known to be substantial degree of overlap between the Scheduled Caste status, blandness and poverty. The NSS data shows that 70 per cent or more of Scheduled Caste households had no card or an APL card in rural area of Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Utter Pradesh. Among these states, only Punjab is a cereal-surplus State. At the all-India level, 60 per cent of the scheduled Caste households in rural areas were effectively excluded from the PDS. States with a lower degree of exclusion of Scheduled Caste households were Karnataka (27 per cent excluded), Andhra Pradesh (31 per cent), and Kerala (38 per cent). A large number of households belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, Again, do not have access to the PDS: to illustrate, 90 per cent of rural Scheduled Tribe households in Assam, 79 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh and 68 per cent in Chhattisgarh were excluded from the PDS. Surprisingly, the North Eastern Sates did not perform too well on this count (though again there may be a problem of data quality). There were only four states - Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat and Maharashtra-where more than 50 per cent of rural Scheduled Tribe Households had received a BPL or Antyodaya card. The NSS report classifies households by the extent of land they possessed. It is not noted that land possessed refers to all types of land and includes agricultural land, homestead land and nonagricultural land. It is not surprising, then, that a very small proportion of households are reported as landless. I have therefore grouped together the two categories of landless.

Again, the conclusion is that a very high proportion of landless and near landless household did not possess BPL or Antyodaya cards (86 per cent in Sikkim, 80 percent Goa, 79 per in Uttar Pradesh. 76 per cent in Haryana, 75 per cent in Jharkhand, and 74 per cent in Uttaranchal, for example) and were thus effectively excluded from the PDS. In striving for efficiency by means of narrow targeting households that should be entitled to basic food security through the PDS have been left out. The data from the 61st round of the NSS make it quite clear that a high proportion of agricultural labour and other labour households, of households belonging to Scheduled Caste and the scheduled Tribes, of households with little or no land and households in the lowest expenditure classes, are effectively excluded from the PDS today. The exception is Tamilnadu, which is the only State to have introduced a universal system of PDS, with rice available at Rs. 2 a kilogram to all house-holds irrespective of the type of ration card. The only immediate remedy to the problem is to make the PDS universal again, and to ensure that a monthly ration of basic food commodities including aging, pulse and oil is available at affordable prices to all households.

Essay on distribution of national income

Distribution refers to that branch of Economics, which analyses how the national income of community is divided among the various factors of production. This is known as functional or factor distribution. On the other hand, division of national income among individuals of a country is called personal distribution. Mircro theory of distribution refers to pricing of factor services or functional or factorial distribution. The price of a commodity and a factor of production depend on the demand for and supply of a commodity and a factor. But there are two differences between commodity pricing and factor pricing. Demand for a commodity is a direct demand, which is governed by marginal utility of that commodity. But demand for a factor of production is a derived demand and is governed by marginal productivity of that factor. Moreover, demand for a factor of production is a joint demand, which is not true in the case of a commodity. Firms demand for factors as they use them in the process of production. The demand for factors is influenced by the demand for the final product, quantity of other factors price of other factors and value of the finished product etc. Marginal productivity theory states that the income of a factor depends on its marginal productivity. Productivity of factor may be expressed in terms of physical productivity and revenue productivity. Marginal product (MP) of a factor is the addition made to the total product (TP) due to the employment of an additional unit of that factor. Marginal physical product (MPP) refers to physical unit of a factor produced by the employment of an extra unit of a variable factors. Symbolically, MRP = MPP * MR. Under perfect competition MRP = MPP x price. Average revenue product (ARP) is the revenue earned by the employment of each unit of the variable factor. Under perfect competition, a firm will employ. Various units of a factor up to the point at which the price said to the factor is equal to its marginal productivity. The producer goes on constantly substituting dearer factors by the cheaper factors till the marginal productivity of different factors become proportional to their prices. The assumptions on which the marginal productivity theory is based are criticized because they are unreal like perfect competition, perfect mobility of factors, homogeneous units of a factor, etc.

The nature and features of the supply of factors like land, labour, capital, and organization are not similar. The higher the remuneration given to the factors, the higher would be their supply. The supply curve of an industry, therefore, for a particular factor will be upward sloping. Land is a free gift of nature. It is characterized by fixity in supply, immobility, heterogeneity, nil supply price. Its fertility is original and indestructible. Labor is featured by perish ability, heterogeneity, relative immobility etc. Capital is the produced means of production which is characterized by non-permanence, productivity etc. All producers goods are capital. Capital grows our saving. Capital is that which helps further production. All developing countries are labor surplus but capital scarce countries. Poverty has been responsible for the slow growth of capital in all developing countries like India.

Brief note on the development strategy adopted by the Government of India

Strategy refers to the methods adopted for attainment of a specific objective. Strategy of development, therefore, deals with the long term policies formulated to attain the stated objectives of the Five-Year Plans. Strategy refers to the methods adopted for attainment of a specific objective. Strategy of development, therefore, deals with the long term policies formulated to attain the stated objectives of the Five-Year Plans. This strategy also determines the pattern of investment in the economy to achieve the national objectives. In the Indian-context, the planners had to make a proper allocation limited resources among different desired sector in order to reduce the volume of poverty and increase the production and productivity of the economy. The development strategy adopted during the initial days of planning had three principal components. These are (i) To build a strong base for long-term growth (ii) To give priority to industrialization; and (iii) To lay emphasis on the growth of capital goods industries in stead of consumer goods industries. (iv) To assign priority to Public sector. (i) Sound Base for Long-term growth: There was no strategy of development as such in the First Five Year Plan, though it emphasized the agricultural sector including irrigation and power. But the Second Five Year Plan stressed to create a sound base for long term economic development. This long term growth is very much essential to reduce the incidence of poverty in the rural sector. Prof. Mahalanobis, the real architect of the Second Plan argued to achieve a long term growth through rapid industrialization of the economy. (ii) Top Priority to Industrialization: Indian economy was primarily an agricultural economy at the eve of independence with a semi-feudal structure. The basic objective was to change this structure of the economy through rapid industrialization. Hence in the Second Plan the strategy was to achieve growth through emphasizing

the industrial sector. These industries are required not only to increase the volume of production and productivity but also to employ the thousands of unemployed youths of the country. (iii) Development of Capital-goods industries: While advocating for industrialization, Prof. Mahalanobis preferred capital-goods industries with both forward and backward linkages to accelerate the pace of economic development. Industries like iron and steel, coal, heavy machinery heavy chemicals had to be promoted for quick industrialization. These industries would provide opportunities for further industrialization by use of their output and by-products. Growth of these heavy basic industries would help in promoting infrastructures like power, transport and communication. (iv) Role of Public Sector: The investment strategy assigned importance to the public sector as the huge amount required for the purpose could not be arranged by the private entrepreneurs of the country. Further, the objective of socialistic pattern of society can be achieved through this growth of public sector and the growth of monopoly power in the economy can be controlled. Hence the planners attached importance to the public sector in the investment strategy of the Second Plan. The strategy of development adopted during the second plan is known as Nehruvian model of development. This model with minor modification continued to shape the development till the New Economic Policy announced in 1991. However, in the process of planning, special poverty alleviation programmes like integrated Rural Development Programme, Minimum Needs programme, National Rural Employment Programme were adopted to combat with rural poverty and uplift the weaker sections of the society.

Chief methods of amending the constitution of India

The process of amendment of the constitution of a state depends upon the nature and character of its constitution. If the constitution of a state is flexible it may be amended in the ordinary legislative process by the ordinary legislature of the country. The best example of a flexible constitution is the British constitution, which can be passed, amended or repealed by a simple majority of the Parliament. A rigid constitution cannot be amended in an ordinary law-making process. There is always a special machinery for effecting amendment in the constitution. Generally speaking, there are four different methods of constitutional amendment in the case of a rigid constitution. Firstly, a rigid constitution may be amended through popular referendum. A proposal for constitutional amendment in this case is first of all passed by the legislature and is then referred to the vote of the people. It is deemed to be passed only when majority of the voters have approved of it. This method of constitutional amendment is applicable in Switzerland, Australia and some states of the U.S.A. In Switzerland voters also have the right to propose an amendment. Fifty thousand voters or more may make such proposal. Secondly, federal constitutions may be amended by an agreement of suitable majority in the federal legislature and the legislatures of the federating units. The method prevails in the U.S.A. where the

constitution can be amended with the approval of two-thirds majority of the Congress and threefourth of the states. Certain parts of the Indian Constitution can be amended only when a proposal for constitutional amendment is passed in each House of the Parliament by a majority of the total membership of each House and by a majority of not less than two- thirds of members present and voting and when the same is ratified by the legislatures of not less than half the states. Thirdly, constitutional amendment may be affected by a different organ created for this purpose. The U.S.A. is a typical example. The constitution of U. S. A. provides that an amendment may be proposed by the Congress by two thirds majority voting separately or by a convention called by the Congress at a request made by at least two-third of legislatures of States. The amendment proposed thus must be ratified either by three-fourths of the legislatures of the states or by conventions if three-fourths of the states, elected specially for this purpose. Lastly, a rigid constitution may be amended by ordinary legislature under certain prescribed conditions. As for example, most parts of the Indian constitution can be amended by two thirds majority of the members present and voting coupled with absolute majority of each House. In France, a proposal for constitutional amendment is to be made and passed by the two Houses of the legislature, i.e., the Senate and Chamber of Deputies sitting separately. An amendment thus proposed and passed is to be ratified by an absolute majority of the members of the two Houses in a joint session sitting at the National Assembly. Points to Remember A flexible constitution can be amended in the manner in which ordinary laws are amended. There is always a special procedure for the amendment of a rigid constitution. The following methods are generally employed: 1. A proposal for constitutional amendment passed by the legislature 'nay be referred to the popular vote. 2. A federal constitution may be amended by an agreement of suitable majority in the federal legislature of the federating units. 3. The constitutional amendments may be effected by a special organ constituted for this purpose. 4. The constitution may be amended by a suitable majority in the legislature.

Is Democracy a Success in India ?

A democratic state is a social organization in which freedom has been rendered secure by the removal of all social obstacles in the way of enjoyment of freedom by the individual. In this sense, the functions of the state are the elimination of the possibilities of social chaos and the creation and maintenance of social, economic, political and other types of order. Democracy"government of the people, by the people and for the people" implies certain standards of understanding, education and tolerance. It is not simply a form of government but also a form of State and society, a method of regulating life and social structure. Of course, it implies self-determination, independence from control by any extraneous authority. It also implies social equality, absence of privilege and preference, fundamental rights for all. It necessitates a democratic temper, a spirit of accommodation, unadulterated secularism and full freedom of expression and of the press. It is the

surest guarantee against arbitrary rule, despotism and unbridled, autocratic power; it is the most dependable assurance of justice and individual freedoms. In recent years, democracy in India has come under heavy strains and stresses which are like dark dismal shadows over the set-up. Things have come to such a pass that people have started posing a baffling question"Is Democracy in India a success or is it in reality a failure?" The stresses cannot be described as altogether new, or unexpected, or unwarranted. Our founding fathers of the Constitution were aware of them but they entertained a fond hope that in course of time, the difficulties would be smoothed out and democracy would triumph. But all hopes seem to have vanished. Let us analyze the major impediments to the success of democracy. The Parliamentary Democracy in its present form has been brought into India by the British. It is the logical outcome of our contact with Western civilization during the last couple of centuries, but when we view this democracy in the context of our cultural background it appears to be purely incongruous or contingent. The social and political past of India is entirely, autocratic and antidemocratic, whereas the religious and spiritual heritage of the country calls for the broadest-based democracy. This position of contrary tendencies is a. potent threat to Democracy in India. Another inescapable difficulty in the way of Indian democracy is India's geographical situation on the map of Asia. All along her frontiers, India is surrounded by countries on all sides which have in large or small measure some kind of autocratic ruleAfghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma3 Indonesia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and even the communistic China. India the last bastion of democracy in Asia is having a real tough time surrounded by autocratic ideals. Thirdly, there can be no real democracy where there are gross and all-too-glaring inequalities of various types and in almost all spheres of life. Even official circles concede over the past three decades the social and economic disparities have deepened and that a substantial part of the national dividend and allotted funds have been mopped up by or benefited the economically better-offsections of society. To the large sections of people who live in poverty and privation, democracy conveys little meaning; it only fetches a derisive smile. Fourthly, because of the inequalities, there are glaring injustices and distortions. There is no justice for the poor, the weak, the helpless and the under-dog. As Jawaharlal Nehru said, a social structure which devices the common man in the street full opportunity for progress stands self-condemned. And, with equality inequality is closely linked political status, or political inequality. Thus, India is not fit to be described a full-fledged democracy. Fifthly, as long as there are religious, or caste, or class wars, ruthless massacre arid persecution in the name of communities arid clan, and racial and other social prejudices, there can be no real democracy in India. The protagonists of democracy must hang their heads in shame on hearing of Bhagalpur blinding, gang-murders of rival caste groups in U.P. and Bihar, the communal notes in U.P. and Gujarat, and the violence situation over linguistic issue in Punjab, Assam, and the South. This virus of caste and communal hatred is bound to eat into the vitals of democracy in India. Another grave risk to the growth and success of democracy in India is its illiterate electorate. Democracy presupposes an intelligent-electorate. Unfortunately, the masses in India are still illiterate, clamorous and highly irresponsible, so often duped by agitators and crafty politicians and easily swayed by money power, false promises and other tactics. Adult franchise without adult education is a grave menace to democracy. Seventhly, in this land of ours, our democratic state has become the sole guardian of the common man. The individual is not left with sufficient initiative to maintain his dignity by his own efforts. Things naturally boil down to this there is repression and suppression of the people's rights, both by the upper classes and castes in rural areas and cities and by the police acting 'suo motto' or under

orders of the supposedly 'popular' government. Demonstrators against injustices and unjust orders, or delay in redressing wrongs and grave injustices are ruthlessly lathi-charged, tear-gased and even fired at. This hinders democracy. Eighthly, what sort of democracy do we really have, or are we going to have in the midst of horrible, often immense and unimaginable poverty and unemployment? When poverty and unemployment assume serious proportions, they result in a violent eruption of riots, disturbances, looting of grain shops, bank robberies etc. Surely, this is not conducive to healthy democracy. Ninthly, there is the pollution caused in Indian democracy by money-dominated politics. Politicians thrive on grossly tainted funds. Winning elections by all means is essential to political success. This needs black money and this presupposes the presence of black-marketers, smugglers and business magnates. This reduces democracy to a farce. Again, democracy takes a back seat, and sometimes becomes a casualty, where corruption and graft become the order of the day. Despite all the fanfare of the anti-corruption drive, the indispensable evil of corruption prevails everywhere, from the very top to bottom. The common man is so fed up by the farce of democracy and the nude dance of sheer money-power and corruption that he often argues that "democracy is a show of the rich, for the rich and, of course, by the rich". Yet another cause of the failure of democracy in India is the lop-sided functioning of party-system in India. There can be no question of justice, equality and fair play when rival political parties are not allowed to function freely and where political regimes run by parties other than 'the ruling party at the Centre are discriminated against in respect of grant of funds, favors, economic and political, not excluding Government grants. This has been the sad experience of State governments in the Punjab; Karnataka, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and now Haryana. Lastly, the very existence of democratic decentralization, 'unity in diversity' is imperiled when regionalism, linguism provincialism, parochialism, or say-separatism raise their heads. Secessionists occasionally raise a question about the legationary of the existing government. They contend that the top leaders and those others in power are not the real representatives of the people. This goes against the democratic ideal of cohesion and integration. Thus, democracy in India is endangered by a number of factors that are geo-political, social, economic, inherent and even anti-national. Formal democracy is too weak to function properly in India. If we really want that this forty-one-year old seed of democracy, which has started rotting even as a spront to grow into a healthy tree providing font and healthy shab, we should nurse it zealously and carefully. Eternal vigilance is the price not only of liberty but of the Indian democracy as well.

India As The Emerging World Power

India is an ancient land where innumerable civilizations thrived. It is a country which, has withstood the ravages of time and upheld its identity as an independent, self-reliant nation. India is a land of diversity, where variety is the spice of life. A country that is the abode of over 1/6th of the global population, it is a nation that is vibrant with the dream of its people. India of the 21st century is not just a nation, but a dream-a vision of countless souls aspiring to belong to a strong, self-reliant, powerful and developed nation. In the beginning of 1990-91 the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was forced to declare that "our coffers are empty" and India was forced to pledge its gold to borrow the scarce forex. But in

2004 Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh in his Independence Day speech said, "From being a borrower, India today lends money to poorer nations". The economic growth rate is poised to touch the figure of 8 percent even as the world economy has slumped. Once empty coffers are now bulging with about $139 billion foreign exchange. This year India's growth rate could outstrip China's, according to Asia Week and prove more sustainable. From far off Silicon Valley to home base Bangalore, Indians are big in global software development. India has also made stupendous progress in the entertainment industry and Bollywood is no less than Hollywood. India's core institutions, from an independent judiciary and a feisty free Press to a massive minimum nuclear deterrence and always a political military, are anchored by roots more than half a century old. There is mounting support for India to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. India could well be looking forward to metamorphose from being a regional player to a global player in the decades ahead. This year, India strongly contended for holding the 2010 Commonwealth Games and won the bid in the face of a strong contender like Canada. The country's scientists plan to launch a moon probe (Project Chandrayaan). Then there is the brightest jewel in India's crown: its firm adherence to democracy. Put all this together and the surprise is not that India is gore crashing the elite Super Power Club but that it did not happen earlier. In order to belong to a Super Power Club, the country must be amongst the front ranking nation in the fields like Economy, Defense, Science and Technology and Information Technology so as to play a leadership role in politics and diplomacy. International Monetary Fund and World Bank appreciated India's annual growth rate of 6-7 percent though there is a scope for further improvement. Solid economic base acts like a 'shock absorber'. This 'shock absorber' reduces the impact of adverse developments on the domestic front. Goldman Sachs report on global economics (October 1, 2003) that, "If things go right, in less than 40 years, Brazil, Russia, India, China- the BRICs economies together could be larger than G-7 in $ terms." At present, we are one of the major South Asian powers, both economically and militarily. In fact, the latest World Investment Report released by UNCTAD clearly indicates that India possesses a great potential to challenge China economically in the near future. Our country today is having virtually all types of industries from bicycle to aircraft. Foreign investors are very ready to grab Indian markets. In fact, our country is among the top ten hottest destinations for foreign investors. Investments by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) during 2003 crossed the $7 billion mark-more than double the previous high of $3 billion recorded in 1995. India has also attained considerable progress in the field of Education and ranks second in the world, with more than50, 00,000 students enrolled in higher education. Our universities and educational institutions have earned international acclaim within a short span of their inception. We are in a position to challenge the world power through brainpower and mind power nurtured in our schools, universities, IIT's and IIm's.

Just browse the mind-boggling statistics and it might send a chill down the spine of any country or anyone who is not happy about India taking a leap forward. India has 5 lakh engineers, 2.5 lakh doctors and 75 lakh graduates. The Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Tony Blair said that, "The two Asian giants, India and China, would take away more UK services and manufacturing jobs if Britons remained poor-skilled and under-educated." No wonder India has become the back office to global corporations as a waking BPO giant that has made the US administration jittery, forcing it to bring a law against outsourcing. India is also the centre of cutting-edge research, the global original equipment manufacturer of auto ancillaries and the preferred supplier of infrastructure erection- construction skills. Science and Technology is racing ahead, discovering new avenues. Implementations and improvisations are being carried out day-by-day, improving the living standards and finding solutions for problems, which were never thought to emerge in the near future. Starting from tissue culture we have traveled up to cloning products, whereby the carbon copies of life are produced for future use. Gene therapy has started giving a new lease of life to patients suffering from incurable diseases. Genetic engineering has amassed invaluable depth of knowledge in all walks of life. The 21st century is going to reap the fruits of these developments. Especially in the production process of proteins. Science and Technology has advanced immensely and Indians rule the roost in Information Technology (IT). It is not the much published IT and BPO sectors alone in which we have demonstrated our excellence but also in diverse other fields too. By investing overseas from Sudan to Sri Lanka, firms like ONGC and IOC are transforming themselves from domestic oil giants into multinational energy majors. India has also begun to commercialize indigenously developed satellites, Defense equipment and peaceful nuclear products and technologies, which is a distinct imitation of Super Power syndrome. Buoyed up by the communication revolution at home, India is prepared to share its knowhow with other countries. During his visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, out Hon'ble President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam announced an ambitious $50 million Programme to connect all the 53 countries of the African Union by the integrated satellite, fibre optics and wireless network. India's offer of a "connectivity mission" among the African nations shows the true potential of India. Can anyone imagine the highly plural nature of Indian society where one finds people of different ethnic stocks, religions and languages? Fifty- eight years on, Indian democracy has proved successful despite the fact that critics had doubted the success of democracy in India, handicapped by resource crunch, overpopulation and illiteracy. General elections in India are the largest exercise in adult franchise taking place anywhere in the world. Elections in India have become a model for many of the developing countries in Asia and Africa. If India is to become a world power, we should start playing a proactive role at various international meets (like we did at the recent WTO meeting in Cancun, Mexico). We should increase our participation in various activities at the world level. Our presence should be substantial and visible to all and if need be, we should register our presence forcefully and not just get sidelined.

In the tricky trade negotiations, India sought to articulate the voice of the Third World blocking the efforts of the rich countries to formulate a trade regime that suited the interests of the Western countries at the cost of billions of poor living in Asia, Africa and Oceania. We have come closer to the countries in the South-East Asian region and after an India- ASEAN Summit, on December 22,2003, India, Myanmar and Thailand agreed to kick off the first phase of $700 million 1,360 km trilateral highway linking the three nations. The Vision 2020 Report, prepared by a committee headed by Planning Commission member, Mr. S.P. Gupta, visualizes that by the next 15 years, the country's 1.35 billion people would be better fed, better dressed and better housed, healthier, more educated and living longer than any generation in the country's history. The committee also envisions quadrupling of the per capita income if the country if the country maintains a growth rate of 9 percent per annum and the population growth rate of 9 percent per annum and the population growth comes down to about 1.6 percent per annum. "Assuming that India achieves this quadrupling of per capita income by 2020, it would attain a level of development far higher than where China is today, and on par with upper- middle income countries such as Argentina, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa," the report says. India is on its way to become a self-sufficient military power with "The Self-reliance Mission in Defense, 1995-2005". We do have large number of military force. We are a fair strong power since we have one of the largest armies in the world. In recent past the country managed to expand the reach of its Navy and Air Force. Our ships are sailing around the world. We have sent our forces in different countries of world for peacekeeping purposes. After Iraq war the US constantly sought the help of Indian Armed Forces, which in itself shows the capacity of Indian military. The eminent historian, Mr. Arnold Toynbee once Lacknow ledged India's greatness and its relevance to the entire human race in these words: "It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a Western beginning have to have an Indian ending. At the supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of salvation of mankind is the Indian way: Emperor Ashoka and Mahatma Gandhi's principles of nonviolence and Shri. Ram Krishna's testimony to the harmony of religions." Given the size of the country, given its size of population, given its endowment of resources, given its diversity and endowment of skilled labour there is no reason India cannot be a Super Power. Our major concern is to develop the economy. And if once we succeed in developing the economy other things will follow. Japan is one such example. Management must be efficient, good and systematic. The road map to become a Super Power is that it does not bypass the majority. In the mixed economy like ours balance is a must. Targeting certain areas for the development simply mean narrow vision. Indian Diaspora spread across the four corners of glove has brought laurels for the country excelling in every conceivable field. According to a recent survey by a German magazine: "There are 3.22 millions of Indians in the US (1.5 percent of population). Yet 38 percent of doctors and 12 percent of scientists in the US are Indians. Thirty-six percent of scientists, 34 percent of Microsoft employees and 28 percent of IBM employees are Indians. You may even find Indians in the US President's core strategic teams as well as in the

Pentagon and the Bell Lab. It is not very surprising to find Indian business leaders in billionaires' Club and business organizations in the Fortune List. Whatever the field, spiritual or materialistic, India and Indians can set the farthest goals and reach them if they are propelled by strong will power and faith in themselves. When you become a model of excellence, which can ignore you? For there is nothing better than the best. And we have shown to the world that India and Indians can do it! But all that glitters is not gold. There is another India that has become static, sector wise and state wise. How are we going to solve the other chronic problems such as urban and rural poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, child labour, and exploitation of women, rampant corruption and the like? Corruption should be looked upon as the AIDS of our system. AIDS comes out of uncontrolled indulgence in sex. Corruption is nothing but financial rape and financial adultery. India can be said to have reached the top of the world only when we erase the dividing line between the haves and have nots. But this dividing line can be erased if there is a strong political will among all concerned the political class, the bureaucracy, the corporate world and the community itself.

Indian Youth and National Reconstruction

It is an undeniable fact that the youth constitute a vast reservoir of energy, especially in a country like India with a population of more than 100 crore. Out of this total, those falling in the 15-30 age group constitute 40 percent. This means that nearly 40 crore young men and womena stupendous man power by all counts indeed, are available for handling various tasks of national reconstruction. History bears out the undesirable fact that all great movements of nation-wide importance have succeeded on the strength of massive youth power. In India, the epoch-making Indian National Movement could gain momentum and shake the very roots of the British Raj only when the youth were harnessed in it. Over a decade ago, Mao Tse Tung, the famous Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, relied upon youth power to usher in a great Cultural. Revolution. The Chinese youth enacted a memorable drama of national reconstruction. The same is the story of the French Revolution. Large parts of West Europe and North America were swept across by massive waves of youth and student power. In India several top-ranking leaders have paid homage to youth power and have regarded it as an inexhaustible reservoir of human resources. 'Catch their young' has been the motto. Mahatma Gandhi once saul, "Young man. claiming to be the fathers of tomorrow, should be the salt of the nation. If the salt loses its flavor, wherewith shall it be salted?" The elders, including statesmen, expect India's youth to do vote their energies to the task of reconstructing India in accordance with the long accepted ideals. There is little doubt that given the right lead and guidance, India's youth can create a new society by eliminating the evils, making good the flaws and deficiencies and facilitating the reinstatement of the highly cherished moral values of the East. In addition to this they can lay the basis for reconstruction in all spheres-social, economic and political. This begins with uplifting the rural masses in particular from the state, of stagnation as a result of the shackles of decayed traditions and superstitions senseless customs, ruthless exploitation by the greedy landlords and ineffective and retrograde official programmes.

In the social arena, the youth can help the rural masses who are gripped by the wily village leaders, crafty priests and other religious men who revel in supper situations. They can do something to broaden the 'horizon', of the village-folk. Social emancipation and reconstruction involves tackling the dowry menace, illiteracy rumoring of caste and clan prejudices, checking corruption, elimination of untouchability and other discriminatory practices, besides child marriage and ill-treatment of widows. These tasks seem formidable and arc bound to meet with rebuffs. But a little patience and perseverance on the part of the youth to make headway. The task of economic reconstruction of the country is admittedly complex and the enlightened youth can make a significant contribution in it. It includes expediting development by facilitating implementation of the various programmes drawn by the Central and the State Governments. They can introduce the modern outlook to agriculture and industry and bring about the 'Green' and the 'White' revolutions, India's youth policy aims at promoting governmental and non-governmental effort in implementing various programmes. During the last forty years of India's independence, various youth programmes have been started in the country with a view to involving the youth in national reconstruction. In 1948, the National Cadet Corps was launched to create awareness of the youth in national defence and to ensure their active participation. In 1969, the National Service Scheme was started to promote social consciousness, a sense of responsibility as well as a sense of discipline and dignity of labour among youth. With this view special camps were organized; 'Youth against Famine', "Youth against Dirt and Disease', 'Youth for Afforestation and Tree Plantation' and 'Youth for Rural Reconstruction' etc. Since 1981-82 economic -development programmes have been taken by NSS volunteers. During 82-83 about 5.5 lacs students participated in various commendable programmes. Parallel to the NSS are the Nehru Yuvak Kendras which are innovative multi purpose institutions. The basic purpose of this scheme is to enable such youth to help the process of rural development and popularize national objectives. At these centres, vocational training is imparted for selfemployment and social service. Then, there is the National Service Volunteer Scheme, launched in 1977-78, which provides opportunities to graduate students to involve themselves on a voluntary basis in nation-building activities for a specific period on a whole time basis. These volunteers are generally engaged in promoting adult educational programmes. In this connection, exchanges of visits by youth of different regions of the country have been helpful. In the political sphere too, the youth can help in cleansing the Eugean stables. The entire political system is infested with opportunism, nepotism, corruption, deception, fraud, intrigues and shrewd tactics. Most of the political parties have no clear far-sighted goal and no well-thought-out programmes of national reconstruction. The leadership is in the hands of senile octogenarians, power-hungry and unwilling to make way for the younger generation. Fortunately, India now has a young Prime Minister in Shri Rajiv Gandhi. He is Anxious to clear up the mess that has accumulated over the years and to ensure an honest, credible regime. The youth can play a significant role by strengthening his hands. Admittedly, the young men and women of today are disgruntled and frustrated on many counts. The internal strife, graft all round, double talk, frauds, chicanery, political opportunism, deception, deeprooted corruption and an air of distrust among the young and the old are among the causes of unrest among India's youth. Several institutions, like joint-family system, are disintegrating before their eyes. To make matters worse, there are social injustices and the unwillingness of the old fossils to step down and make way for the young people. However, there is no room for frustration and giving up; they should be brought round by patient endeavour.

The role of the youth for national reconstruction became even more relevant in 1985 which was celebrated as the 'International Year of the Youth' with the basic themes of 'Participation, Development and Peace'. In the years to come, the role of the youth in India and other developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, in the task of national reconstruction is going to become increasingly more significant. The challenges are immense, and the youth, as a well-regulated wave of power can sweep through the country and meet these challenges competently, and life the country to heights of progress.

Short note: Manufacturing Industries (India)

India is a developing country in the world. Dense population, lack of resources, slow momentum, shy capital, lack of technological know how, etc. have kept India's industrial development at low level. However, a breakthrough has been achieved in the recent times. Cotton Textile Industry. China is the leader in cotton textile manufacturing. India is second in the production of fabrics after China. The USA, Japan and most of European countries have excelled in this industry. Woollen Textile Industry. The CIS, China, Japan, the UK and the USA are important for manufacturing of woollen textiles. India's woollen textile industry is in poor state of development. Silk Textile Industry. Japan is the leading silk textile producer in the world. It produces two-thirds and China one-fifths of world's raw silk. India's position is not very sound because most of its raw silk (90%) is used by the handloom industry. Rayon Textile Industry. Japan is the world leader in rayon textile production. Other producers are the USA, the UK, Italy, Germany, etc. India enjoys a high reputation in the development of rayon textile industry in the world. Jute Textile Industry. India is the leader in jute textile industry. Annually, it produces one million tonnes of jute goods. Bangladesh ranks the second largest producer in the world. Both India and Bangladesh have a monopoly in this industry. West European countries are minor producers.

Iron and Steel Industry. India has a well developed industry. There are 8 countries which produce more than India's steel production. China produces 6 times that of India, CIS about 10 times and the USA 5 times of India's production of steel. Machine Tool Industry. The leading producers are the USA, Germany, France, the U.K., Britain, Sweden, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Russia and Japan. India, China, Australia and South Africa also have well developed machine tool industry. Petro-chemicals, plastics, chemicals, agricultural machines, textile machines, engineering goods manufacturing, automobiles, electrical goods, photographic, electronic, tele-communication equipment, fertilizers, fishing vessels, rail engines and coaches, mining equipment etc. are manufactured in a number of countries of the world. The leading manufacturers are the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Japan, China, Korea, Australia, South Africa and India. India has attained proficiency in manufacturing a long list of industrial items. These are manufactured in different parts of the country. Manufacturing of Military hardwares like armoured vehicles, guns, tanks, radar, fighter aircrafts, halicopters, naval ships, submarines, gun boats, explosives, ammunition etc. are carried on in the USA, the UK, Germany, Sweden, France, Russia, China and India. Information Technological equipment like computers, T.V, radio, wireless and other sophisticated electronic goods arc manufactured in the USA, Japan, the U.K., Germany, France, China, India, Australia etc.

Role that India has Played for the Promotion of World Peace
India's sincere efforts in maintaining peace in the sub-continent have been reflected several times through its relations with neighbouring countries. In this regard, a special mention of the IndiaPakistan Declarations from time to time highlighted the peace and understanding between the two countries. Simla Agreement was another effort of settling disputes in peaceful manner. As a member of SAARC, India has embarked on a programme of comprehensive economic cooperation through the dynamic South Asian countries. The Constitution of India through the directive principles of state policy directs the government to promote International peace and seek peaceful settlement of International disputes. India has been playing significant role in promoting world peace through the United Nations. Indian armed forces helped in the maintenance of peace in Korea, Egypt and Congo. It has been participating in the activities of the UN agencies, like ILO, UNESCO, and UNCATD.

5 consequences of failure of redistribution of land in India

The failure of land redistribution programme resulted in an inequitable distribution of land in the village economy and accentuated the gap between the rich and the poor. The following are the consequence of such a failure. (i) Poverty and deprivation : Land is the biggest productive asset in the countryside. The unequal distribution of land, therefore, resulted in concentration of land in a few hands, while a large number of people were landless and without having any productive asset to engage themselves. According to 1991 census, 74.6 million people are landless labourers having no land to cultivate. Further, they do not get regular employment particularly during the lean seasons. All these have resulted in mass poverty and deprivation from a minimum standard of living. (ii) Unemployment and Under-employment: A large number of people in the rural areas are landless. They do not find any avenue to engage themselves during the year. These landless labourers and marginal farmers remain unemployed as agriculture has become overcrowded. During the slack seasons these people sit idle and are unemployed and under-employed. (iii) Inequality of Wealth and Income: Inequality in the distribution of land has also led to inequality of wealth and income. According to a survey by R.B.I., 1981- 82, about 8 percent of rural households have assets more than Rs. 1 lakh each sharing 46 percent values of total assets. On the other hand, 39 percent of rural households had total assets less then Rs. 10,000/- each sharing only 5 percent value of total assets. By the end of the 7th plan 12 percent of rural people are landless and 66 percent of them are marginal farmers having less than 2.47 acres of land. As the distribution of land is unequal, the income that flows from the land also concentrates in the hands of a few big farmers, (iv) Adverse effect on development: The landless and marginal farmers own physical labour. If land will be provided to them they will cultivate with much interest and great vigor. This would have helped in increasing agricultural productivity and accelerating the pace of economic development. The big farmers only leased out the land without taking any care. This had affected the development of agriculture and development of the economy at large. (v) Growth of capitalist Farming: Big farmers were able to invest more for using modern inputs like HYV seeds, chemical fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides. The productivity in their field became high and they earned a surplus and made a huge profit. This helped in the growth of capitalist farming in the Indian economy.

Notes on Welfare Programmes for the Old Peoples in India

1. Introduction
It is the fundamental obligation of the State in terms of Article 41 of our Constitution to provide assistance to the aged and pension benefits to the employees after their retirement by their employers. The year of the aged (1990) though celebrated in our country with great pomp and show, our government has done precious little for the upliftment of the status of the aged community. The determination of old age is naturally linked with the average life expectancy. The United Nations had adopted International Plan of Action at the World Assembly of Aging at Vienna during 1982. According to UN projections, in the year 2025 a projected 1.2 billion elderly people will be living in the world; 71% of them are likely to be in developing regions.

2. Welfare Programmes for the Aged Old Age Homes

The old-age home is a residential unit for at least 25 poor destitute aged persons of 60 years and above. Aged persons coming from lower-income groups and middle- income groups of society, in desperate need for shelter, can also be considered for admission in these Homes, subject to thorough inquiry and discretion of the voluntary organizations concerned. Day Care Centres for the Aged Assistance to voluntary organizations is given for maintenance of day-care centres for at least 50 persons in urban/slum/rural/tribal areas. The aim of these programmes is to keep the aged integrated with their respective families and to supplement the activities of family in looking after the needs of the aged. Mobile Medicare Services for the Aged Under this programme, grant is provided to voluntary organizations, which have experience and expertise in providing medicare services to the aged in rural/urban/ slum/areas. Non Institutional Services for the Aged Under this programme, a social worker is appointed to provide for services to the aged like legal counselling assistance for supplying pension, GPF, HRA, Income Tax, Bank Services etc. The scheme of assistance to Panchayati Raj institutions/voluntary organizations for construction of Old Age Homes was launched during 1996-97. International Year of Older Person 1999 is being observed as the International year of the older persons. The population of older persons 60+ in India ranks the fourth largest in the world and by the end of the present century; it will be second only to China.

3. Categories of the Aged

The aged can be divided into two categories : (i) those who have retired on attaining the age of superannuation from the government or organized sector and are entitled to pensionary benefits and (ii) those who have reached the age of 60+ and are drawing public assistance in their old age for their" survival. Article 309 of the Constitution stipulates that Acts of the appropriate Legislature may regulate the recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services in connection with the affairs of the Union or any States. The benefits available to government servants at the time of their retirement/superannuation are the pension and is governed by Central Civil Services (Pension) Rule 1952 Scheme (for non-industrial staff except railways) and the contributory Provident Fund Scheme (for industrial staff and is governed by the Contributory Fund (India) Rules, 1962)

4. Voluntary Organizations for the Welfare of the Aged

(a) Help Age India It was established in 1978 for the cause and care of the elderly people with its head office in New Delhi. It sometimes uses the services of NSS volunteers for events like painting competition, debates etc. and collection of funds to provide facilities to the elders. "Adopt a Granny" scheme is intended to provide rehabilitation at the doorsteps to the elders living under poverty line. (b) Age care India It is a premier national voluntary organization - for the welfare of the aged people in the country registered on 18th November 1980 as non-political, non-profit, secular, charitable, educational, cultural and social welfare organization under the Societies Registration number XXI of 1860. It has four types of membership viz. (a) founder members; (b) life-members; (c) associate members; (d) temporary members. It has been celebrating Elder Day on 18th November every year since "1981 to honour senior citizens above 80 years of age, to give them social recognition and respect.

5. Government Schemes for the Aged

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a Central Scheme of Assistance for the programmes relating to the aged from November 1992. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to voluntary organizations for establishing and maintaining of day-care centres, old-age homes, and mobile-Medicare units as well as for supporting and strengthening noninstitutional services for the aged.

6. Five-Year Plan and the Aged People

Programmes for the Elderly will be taken up in the IX-Plan to ensure well-being and continued participation in the community. Efforts will be made to reach/disseminate information regarding various welfare measures and special concessions being extended to the 'Senior Citizens', so that the rural elderly can also come forward to enjoy these privileges along with their urban counterparts. In extending housing facilities, the concept of 'Sheltered Homes' for the lonely /destitute Elderly will be explored with the help of private and public agencies as well as the NGOs. Protection will be provided against the dangers of life and property; abuse and exploitation of older persons.

Brief note on Employment generation in India

Employment generation has been one of the important objectives of development planning in India. The problem of employment is closely interlinked with the eradication of poverty. There are three main aspects of the employment problem in India. They are the problem of proportion of labour to total population, problem of productivity of labour and problem of unemployment and underemployment of labour. These three aspects are interrelated. There is low rate participation of labour in India. Low rate of employment among women is a striking feature in India. There has almost been no change in LFPR (labour force participation rate). The dependency rate is quite high in India. Problem of unemployment and underemployment is the chronic feature of the Indian economy. It is the main cause of poverty in India. Unemployment in India is mostly structural. The rate of unemployment is different in different states. Sector wise unemployment in India is rural and urban unemployment. Urban unemployment is of two types viz, industrial unemployment and educated unemployment. Rural unemployment is more than 70% as rural population is more than 70% of the total population in India. There are various types of unemployment in India. They are seasonal, structural, frictional, technological, involuntary and disguised. The productivity criterion refers to disguised unemployment. It is mainly found in agriculture. It is a kind of underemployment. It involves both zero marginal productivity of man hour and zero marginal productivity of labour. It implies too many persons on too little land. Educated unemployment is one variant of open unemployment. It is mainly due to the defective educational system. Underemployment is one variant of open unemployment. It is mainly due to the defective educational system. Underemployment may be visible or invisible. The ratio between unemployed workers and total labour force is called unemployment rate. Low productivity of employment is the third aspect of the employment problem. Productivity of labour in India is low due to many factors. The essential of the employment policy is to increase production, control population growth, reform the education system, emphasize cottage and small scale industrial units to tackle the problem of seasonal, frictional, structural, technological and disguised unemployment and effectively do manpower planning etc. There have been various schemes to solve the problem of educated unemployment. A series of anti poverty employment programmes like PMRY have been launched for the solution of the problem of educated unemployment. Poverty and inequality are interlinked. Poverty can be defined as subsistence, inequality and externality. In the absolute sense, it relates to subsistence. It relates to the minimum standard of living. In the relative sense, poverty means difference in the relative standard of living of the people. It relates to inequality in the level of living. We in India are mostly concerned with absolute poverty. The concept of poverty line has been used to know the extent of poverty in a country. People below the poverty line suffer from absolute poverty. Control of population growth, higher economic growth and income redistribution etc. are the most important measures of eradication of poverty. Various anti poverty measures have been taken during the plan period starting from the first to the 9th five year plan. Various special anti poverty employment programmes. Like JRY, NRY etc. have been launched from time to time. Various social security measures like NOPS, ESIC etc. have been launched. Inequality exists both in developing and developed economies. Economic inequality is one of the causes of mass poverty, Inequality is basically due to mal distribution of national income. There are three forms of economic inequality. They are inequality of assets, inequality of income and consumption and regional inequality. These three major forms of inequalities are inextricably interlinked and reinforcing. Inequality and poverty are also interconnected and like poverty inequality is also bad. Suitable measures should be taken with a view to reducing existing economic inequality if not removing it.

Short essay on the The Peninsular Rivers of India

There are two types of rivers in the Peninsula: 1. Eastward Flowing. Rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery etc. 2. Westward Flowing. Rivers like Narmada, Tapti, Periyar, etc. There are many reasons why the rivers in the Peninsula flow in opposite directions: (a) The Formation of the Arabian Sea. In olden periods there was no sea to the West of the Western Ghats. Land existed where the Arab Sea lies at present. The Western Ghats were a water divide area from where rivers originated and flowed to the east and the west. Due to the endogenic forces the land west of this water divide subsided and sea replaced it. (b) The Subsidence to the North of the Peninsula. When the Himalayas in the Tethys Sea arose, the Peninsula as a whole was little affected but faults were created. The Narmada and the Tapti began to flow in these trough faults. As the slope of these faults was westward, the rivers flowed towards the west. In fact many faults were created and rivers filled them with their sediments. The rivers descending the Western Ghats in the west have a steep slope. These rivers have created a large number of physical features. When these rivers meet the sea, waves and currents take away the sediment brought by the rivers. This is why these rivers do not make deltas. Some Characteristics of Peninsular Rivers. As compared to the Himalayas the Peninsular part is very old. The rivers of this plateau have reached their mature stage. This is why the rivers have a mild slope, shallow valleys and lateral erosion. Peninsular Drainage System. The main rivers are the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery. (1) The Mahanadi River This river originates from the Bastar Hills in Chhattisgarh. It makes a delta in Orissa and meets the Bay of Bengal. It flows in M.P and Orissa. Its length is 857 km and its drainage area is 132 thousand sq km and covers the States of Maharashtra, M.P, Bihar and Orissa. The left tributaries of the Mahanadi are Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand and lie.

Out of these tributaries the Sconath has the largest catchment area. The right hand tributaries are the Jonk, Ung and Tel. The catchment area of the Tel is about 22.8 thousand sq km. Important Features. Hirakud dam has been constructed over the Mahanadi. Thus rivers have created floods in the Chhatisgarh basin. Some canals have also been constructed which provide irrigation facilities. The main canals arc the Mahanadi Canal, the Tendula Canal and the Kurang Canal. The Brahmani River descends down the Chotanagpur plateau and meets the Mahanadi in its delta. The main tributaries of this river are the Sankh and Koel. Another river Baitarni rises in the Malaygiri Hills and meets the Brahmani and these together join the Mahanadi delta. (2) The Godavari River It originates in the Nasik district of Maharashtra State. It passes through Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and forms a delta in the Bay of Bengal. This river is 1,500 km long. Its drainage area is 312 thousand sq km. The catchment area lies in Maharashtra, A.P, Karnataka, Orissa and M.P about half of the drainage area lies in the Maharashtra. On account of its mild slope and mature stage it is called the Old Ganga. Its main tributaries are the Prawara, Puma, Manprabha, Pen Ganga, Wain Ganga, Wardha, Prauhita, Indravati, Manar and Sabri. Important Features. Before reaching the Eastern Ghats, the river is narrowed in Andhra Pradesh within a distance of 32 km and makes a gorge near Pelawaram. After emerging from it, it spreads. Near Rajamundari it becomes 2,750 m wide. Here Anient dam has been constructed. (3) The Krishna River This river originates from near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra State. This place is only 64 km away from the Arabian Sea. This river makes a delta close to that of the Godavari and meets the Bay of Bengal. Its length is 1,400 km and the catchment area is 259 thousand sq km. It passes through Maharashtra, Karnataka and A.P Its tributaries are Koyna, Varna, Panch Ganga, Dudh Ganga, Ghat Prabha, Mai Prabha, Bhima, Tung Bhadra, Musi, etc. Important Features. Near Nagarjuna Sagar, two canals have been constructed which have proved very useful for irrigation purpose. Near Vijaywada, the river passes through a 1,170 m high gap of gneisses rocks. (4) The Cauvery River This river rises and descends from the Brahamanpjin Hills in Coorg district of Karnataka Statc.This river makes a delta at the Bay of Bengal. The total length of this river is 800 km. It passes through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states.

Its catchment area is about 88,000 sq km and exists in Kerala as well. Its right hand tributaries are Lakshmantirtha, Kabini, Suvaramati and Bhawani, whereas left Side Rivers arc Heranjji, Hemavati, Shimsha, Ankavati, etc. Important Features. Many dams have been constructed in order to control floods. The Cauvery has surrounded the two islands of Karnataka namely Sivasamudram and Shirirangpattanam (both in Karnataka). There are many waterfalls down Sivasamudram. These waterfalls are useful for generating power and have helped in boosting economic growth of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. (5) The Narmada The river rises from the Amarkantakapeak (1,057 m) of the Maikal Range in M.E It makes an estuary with Gulf of Khambat near Bharauch. Its length is 1,312 km and its catchment area is 93,000 sq km. Its basin nearly 90% lies in M.E and about 10% in Gujarat. It flows from the east to the west. Its direction of flow is against most of the other rivers of the Peninsula. Its tributaries are small. Only Orsak is 300 km long. Other tributaries are all smaller than 200 km in length. Important Features. The river flows in a rift valley which is situated between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges. Its narrow course in Bheda Ghat down Jabalpore in the marble rocks and in the smoky waterfalls of Kapildhara is fabulous. Here the river makes a fall of 23m. (6) The Tapti River It originates from the Multapti (Multai) of the Satpura range and debouches in the Gulf of Khambat. It is 721 km in length. It flows parallel to the Narmada River. Its catchment area is about 65,000 sq km. It passes through M.E, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It flows from the east to the west direction. The Puma is its main tributary. Its left side tributaries are the Girna, Bori and Panjhara and right sided tributary is Aner. Important Features. It forms a narrow stony valley between Khandwa and Kharjjoon in M.E It passes through a fertile area 32 km long near Burhanpur. (7) The Mahi It originates in the Mehd Lake (545 m) situated in the western part of the Vindhyan range. It also debouches into the Gulf of Khambat. Its length is 560 km. This river passes through M.E, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The catchment area of the river is 34,842 sq km. Before debouching into the Gulf of Khambat, the river flows for about 532 km to the South. The river does not have any tributary worth the name.

(8) The Sabarmati River It raises in the Aravali mountains and falls into the Gulf of Khambat. It is a small river- about 300 km long. It passes through Rajasthan and Gujarat. It flows south and south-west ward. Its catchment area is 21,674 sq km.