Political Landscape of Europe: Changing Dynamics of Populist Right-Wing Parties
Prof. M.Uma Maheswari, Professor & Head Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Madras
The academic study of comparative party organisation began with foundational comparative works, such as Ostrogorski's (1903) and Michels’ analyses of the German Social Democrats. In Europe and the US, it only became a coherent discipline after World War II. Scholarly attention has focused on Europe's expansion and integration. At the same time, electoral democracy emerged at the national and regional levels.
Right-wing populist parties have grown in Western Europe as a challenge to representative democracy amid increasing immigration. Central and Eastern Europe saw significantly more emigration. These parties performed modestly in the 2000s, but gained support in Germany, Greece, and Turkey after the 2015 refugee crisis. The main trend is growing support for far-right and far-left populists, weakening centrists.
Right-wing populist parties in Europe regularly emphasise their stances on climate change, renewable energy, and emissions reduction in their election manifestos. Their primary argument is that these policy areas are vital parts of their broader platforms and public identities, highlighting how crucial they view these issues. These practices are driven by demand, unlike their populist policies, and this could play a key role in upcoming elections if voters demand it. Among Europe's leading member states, France and Poland are represented by liberals, Germany and Spain by socialists, and only Italy by the populist right. Pushing the radical right-wing agenda signals continuity in Europe's policy landscape. In Slovakia, elections brought populist Robert Fico back as prime minister, and it is also speculated that he will team up with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán to block European support for Ukraine.
Although the Political fragmentation remained a major trend in European elections in 2024, governments are increasingly struggling to maintain stable majorities, and countries governed by coalitions will likely depend on substantial multi-party agreements. Policymaking will remain limited by minority governments (as in France), instability and internal conflicts (as in Germany and Austria), a recent coalition collapse (in the Netherlands), or reliance on small, hard-line parties (in Spain).
To navigate the emerging, uncertain social and economic landscape, right-wing populist parties must broaden their perspectives and work to foster a stable, inclusive political environment. The diverse contexts across Europe present complex challenges for populist movements. Well, currently, the driving voter sentiment to support populist leaders like Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, Norbert Hofer, Nigel Farage and Geert Wilders is that they were able to alter the established patterns of party competition in Contemporary Western Societies. The parties exert tremendous ‘ black mail’ pressure on mainstream parties, public discourse and the policy agenda. Whether these parties will pose a threat to modern constitutional democracies or inspire renewed hope for both established and evolving societies remains uncertain. The future trajectory of Europe will depend on how these dynamics unfold.
Dr. Saifuzzaman, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Kazi Nazrul University (KNU), Asansol, West Bengal
Md Rajibul Islam, Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh
Myanmar occupies a strategically significant geopolitical position in Asia, making it a focal point of interest for both India and China. Located at the intersection of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia, Myanmar serves as a crucial land and maritime bridge connecting these regions. Its direct access to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean enhances its strategic value, as these maritime routes are vital for global navigation, trade, energy transportation, and investment flows. Myanmar’s geopolitical importance is further shaped by its historical linkages, economic potential, security relevance, and abundance of natural resources, all of which contribute to its growing prominence in regional and global geopolitics. India and China both recognize Myanmar’s strategic importance and are expanding their political, economic, and strategic engagement there. From India’s perspective, Myanmar occupies a crucial position in advancing the Act East Policy and supporting the socio-economic development and security of India’s northeastern region, owing to its unique status as India’s sole land link to Southeast Asia. For China, Myanmar offers strategic access to the Indian Ocean, alternative trade and energy routes, and an important component of its broader regional connectivity initiatives. This paper aims to provide a comparative analysis of the geopolitical importance of Myanmar for India and China. Employing a descriptive and analytical research methodology based on secondary data sources, the study examines the historical context of India–China–Myanmar relations, evaluates Myanmar’s geopolitical location within Southeast Asia, and assesses India’s strategic challenges in engaging with Myanmar. The paper concludes by offering policy-oriented recommendations for Indian decision-makers in navigating regional geopolitical competition.
Keywords: Myanmar, Geopolitics, India, China, Indo-Pacific, Strategic Competition
Jithin Raveendran, PhD Scholar, Department of International Relations and Politics , Central University of Kerala.
Russia employs the CSTO peacekeeping mechanism as a controlled intervention model to police crises in its geopolitical backyard, ensuring regional stability while safeguarding its strategic influence. The 2022 Kazakhstan intervention demonstrated how Russia leverages multilateral peacekeeping as a crisis management tool, deploying forces swiftly, achieving stabilization, and withdrawing without long-term entanglement. This model allows Moscow to manage security threats under a legal multilateral framework, reducing direct liabilities while reinforcing its role as the dominant security guarantor in the post-Soviet space. However, the selective application of CSTO interventions raises questions about its credibility and long-term effectiveness as a regional security mechanism.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a regional security alliance composed of post-Soviet states, including Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Established in 2002, the CSTO functions as a mechanism for collective defence and crisis management within its member’s territories. Unlike NATO, the CSTO has largely remained a Russia-dominated security bloc, with Moscow acting as the principal factor in determining the organization’s strategic direction and interventions. Russia has historically played a leading role in managing crises in the post-Soviet space, often without leveraging multilateral institutions like the CSTO to legitimize its interventions. Moscow’s approach to crisis management in the region has consistently aimed to maintain stability while ensuring that post-Soviet states remain within its sphere of influence. The CSTO has been an essential tool for Russia to project power, particularly in situations where direct unilateral intervention might provoke international condemnation.
This paper introduces the concept of “controlled intervention” as a distinct approach to peacekeeping within the CSTO framework. Controlled intervention refers to a strategic model in which Russia orchestrates crisis responses through the CSTO, ensuring a calibrated military and political presence that upholds regional stability while preserving its influence. This model allows Moscow to manage security threats in neighbouring states without the overt appearance of unilateral aggression, thus maintaining multilateral legitimacy.
Ishaani Singh, PhD Scholar, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi
Seema Mallik, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Utkal University.
India and South Korea offer a rich comparative study, yielding insights that go beyond mere economic figures. India's democratic diversity and vastness necessitate a development strategy uniquely suited to its context. However, South Korea's remarkable transformation serves as a powerful illustration of strategic governance, relentless innovation, and a profound sense of national unity. India can significantly enhance its own development path by judiciously adopting key lessons from South Korea's experiences. This involves identifying applicable insights from South Korea's triumphant models of state-guided industrialization, its swift adoption of technological progress, its highly effective urban design approaches, the subtle yet impactful success of its strategic cultural outreach (like Hallyu), and its strong human resource development programs. This reciprocal learning process, grounded in a deep understanding of each nation's inherent strengths and ongoing hurdles, holds considerable promise for fostering a more vibrant, affluent, and globally impactful future for both India and South Korea. It underscores the principle that varied national experiences, when considered with an open perspective, can forge potent avenues for mutual advancement and elevated global standing.
Anu Bagul, PhD Scholar, Department of Public Policy and Public Administration, Central University of Jammu
Dr. Rouchi Chaudhary, Associate Professor, Department of Public Policy and Public Administration, Central University of Jammu.
The digital innovation of public administration through artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making systems requires a fundamental reconceptualization of service quality frameworks. The traditional models such as SERVQUAL, ESQUAL, the Technology Acceptance Model emerge from the domain of business and have limited applicability to the distinctive governance requirements of public service provision: democratic accountability, value creation for the public, constitutional rights protection, and collective welfare. This paper is conceptual in the nature to addresses the inadequacies of the business-based quality frameworks in a context of digital public governance, and it introduces Digital Public Service Quality 2.0, a governance-centered framework that embodies the six fundamental dimensions: transparency and explainability, algorithmic accountability, equity and inclusion, trust and legitimacy, cybersecurity and privacy, and responsive governance. Based on public administration theory, AI ethics literature, and the literature of digital governance, the framework views service quality as intrinsically linked to democratic legitimacy and institutional capacity. The paper discusses policy implications for governments working through AI roll-out, accountability gaps, infrastructure deficits, and inclusion challenges. This work adds to the literature on governance by reframing service quality discourse from consumer satisfaction measures to democratic performance indicators, providing conceptual underpinnings for the assessment, supervision, and regulation of AI-driven public services that enhance democratic institutions.
Keywords: digital governance; AI-driven public services; algorithmic accountability; public value; democratic legitimacy; service quality frameworks; digital inclusion; public administration theory.
Dr. Shankar Chatterjee, Former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR (Govt. of India), Hyderabad, India, Dr. M.I.M. Riyath, Senior Lecturer, Department of Accountancy and Finance, Faculty of Management and Commerce, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—a brainchild of the United Nations in 2015—are not just a set of random targets; they form a dynamic tapestry of 17 interwoven objectives that tackle pressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. This isn’t merely bureaucratic jargon; it’s a rallying cry for action! Countries, organizations, and individuals alike are summoned to unite their forces in pursuit of a sustainable future by the ambitious 2030 deadline. Each goal is meticulously crafted with specific targets and indicators to gauge progress. In Sri Lanka, the economic crisis started in 2019. It is the country's worst financial crisis since its independence in 1948. It has led to unprecedented levels of inflation, near-depletion of foreign exchange reserves, shortages of medical supplies, and an increase in the prices of basic commodities, thereby affecting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This research article discusses Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) issues in Sri Lanka, focusing on each goal to enable academicians, researchers, and others to explore these issues further.
Keywords: Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Poverty Alleviation, and economic development.
Mariadas Sanjay Agarapu, Research Scholar in Law, Berhampur University, Odisha
Dr. Kanakala Satyanarayana, Faculty in Economic & Law, NBM Law College , Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
This paper is written in a doctrinal approach focusing on the theoretical analysis based on the secondary data keeping in mind the legal aspects. Sustainable development is a buzz word. Achieving it within the legal frame work without degrading environment is the goal of many nations including India. Sec 2(a) The Environment (Protection) Act 1986, defines – “Environment includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship, which exists among and between water, air and land and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property. The problem of environmental pollution is a global issue. It is as old as the evolution of Homo sapiens on this planet. Population explosion, poverty, industrialization, over exploitation of non-renewable resources, advancement of science and technology etc are some of the factors, which contribute environmental degradation. In international law, a depletion of the earth’s resources through pollution that transcends territorial boundaries. Global warming creating desertification and the slow destruction of ice at the poles would be obvious examples (Oxford dictionary of law) 7th edition.
Srishti Sharma,Research Scholar at the Department of South and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda Dr. Santosh Kumar, Assistant Professor at the Department of South and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.
It is a strange paradox that dams, which Nehru designated as the “temples of modern India,” are now considered to threaten environmental sustainability and are not the ecological bargain people thought they were at first. This research questions the notion of green governance through dams. It does not neglect the benefits of dams, but at the same time, it questions whether the benefits outweigh the ecological damages. This perception study circulated a questionnaire among the residents of Himachal Pradesh to analyse the extent of sensitization needed among the masses. Additionally, it highlighted the role of government and other stakeholders, including state governments, various Indian states, and private companies, in the dam construction process. This study inferred that almost half of the population observed adverse changes in the infrastructure, such as cracks in the buildings or changes in the horticulture and quality of water, in the past 20 years, when urbanization and development paced rapidly in the state, with the construction of dams being one of the major developments. This research highlights the need for a separate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the state and the need to revisit dam policies, not only to achieve sustainability but also to incorporate economic and safety measures, which are imperative before dam construction. Although residents of the state are now openly expressing their dissent against this cause, the extent of awareness is still lacking, which is why this research will highlight the ecological struggle of the state and will aim to sensitize the masses.
Key Words- Dam Construction, Hydropower Project, Himachal Pradesh, Ecological Damage, Public Policy.
Athira T.C, Research Scholar, Public Administration and Policy Studies, Central University of Kerala
Prof. M.R. Biju, Dean, School of Social Sciences and Head , Department of Public Administration and Policy Studies Central University of Kerala.
Water governance in India has undergone significant transformation in the context of globalization, influenced by institutional reforms, market-driven policy shifts, and increased participation from international organizations. These changes have taken place amid escalating water stress characterized by diminishing freshwater resources, growing spatial disparities, insufficient groundwater regulation, and mounting ecological threats. The push for global integration has fostered frameworks that prioritize efficiency, decentralization, cost recovery, and managerial reforms. This has shifted the role of the state from that of a direct service provider to a facilitator that engages markets, civil society, and community-based organizations. However, the outcomes of these governance reforms exhibit complexity. On the one hand, the implementation of participatory mechanisms, performance standards, and technological advancements has fostered dynamism in administrative processes. On the other hand, these reforms have exacerbated social inequalities, fragmented accountability, and generated ongoing tensions between the economic valuation of water and its constitutional designation as a public good. This paper conducts a qualitative analysis of secondary sources to analyse the evolution of water governance in India from the pre-globalization era to the present. It asserts that the primary challenge lies not in a lack of policies, but rather in the coexistence of partial and disconnected reforms. The study advocates for the development of an integrated, context-specific governance framework that balances efficiency with equity, ecological sustainability, and a redefined regulatory role for the state.
Keywords: Water Governance, Globalization, Neo- liberal reforms, State role, India.
Dr.V.V.S. Rama Krishna, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.
The relationship between banks and consumers is always been an essential aspect of the financial sector. As the global economy evolves, the dynamics of this relationship continue to shift, shaped by advancements in technology, changing consumer expectations, regulatory changes, and increasing competition among financial institutions. It states about the consumer satisfaction acquired from the services rendered by the banking sector and helps in understanding the intricacies of the banker-consumer relationship is important not only for improving customer satisfaction but also for enhancing business practices and the overall financial stability of the institution. The increasing shift towards a customer-centric approach in banking highlights the importance of understanding consumer behaviour, preferences, and expectations. With a more competitive financial environment, banks are now required to focus on personalised services to retain existing customers and attract new ones. This paper has analysed on how banks can better meet consumer needs and provide enhanced value. The relationship between bankers and consumers is built on trust and transparency. Any breaches in trust can have far-reaching consequences, leading to reputational damage and loss of consumer confidence. In a rapidly digitising world, financial inclusion remains a major focus for both governments and financial institutions.
KEY WORDS: Banking sector, Consumer protection, Demographic factors, Services.
Dr. Amit Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, The Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati
The port sector contributes significantly to the national economy. In recent years, the sea-port industry in the Visakhapatnam area has witnessed an impressive development and fierce competition i.e., between the Visakhapatnam port and the Gangavaram port. Under the pressure of competition, the Gangavaram port is competing through attractive handling charges. This paper applies a Bertrand-Nash game model to estimate the equilibrium handling charges and equilibrium market share of each port in the Visakhapatnam district. The game can be divided into non-cooperative game and cooperative game. The handling prices, market share and finally the profits in both cooperative and non-cooperative scenarios are estimated between both the ports and a comparison of it is done. In the co-operative case, the profits of Visakhapatnam Port trust (VPT) and Gangavaram Port limited (GPL) is estimated to be Rs. 678.07 crores and Rs. 612.47 crores respectively and their combined profits would be Rs. 1290.54 crores which is higher than the competitive scenario where the combined profit was Rs. 841.31 crores.
Keywords: Game theory, Ports, Nash equilibrium, Bertrand model.
Ravindra Muley, C/o LIC of India, ZTC. Akrudi, Sambhaji Chowk, Nigdi - Pradhikaran, Akrudi, Pune and
Prof. G Bharathi Kamath, Department of Economics (MSEPP), University of Mumbai.
For India both as an emerging economy and a country trying to establish modern standards in all sectors needs the backup of insurance. While the role of insurance sector is paramount in providing resilience from business interruptions and shocks, the perils of fire incidents are huge and there is also low awareness about fire insurance. With rising commercial ventures as well as residential facilities, the potential demand for fire insurance will be large. The insurance companies are required to play a supportive role by providing resilience to recover economic losses and damages. Using operational parameters to understand the preparedness, performance, capacity, and capability of insurance companies (public and private companies), our analysis indicates that the private companies are now leading in this line and older PSUs need to improve their underwriting performance to compete effectively in the insurance market, for which using the reinsurance aspect strategically would help to further the resilience aspect to the society.
Keywords: Non-Life Insurance, Lines of Business, Fire Insurance, Reinsurance.
Dr. Suresh Maind, Professor, Mumbai School of Economics and Public Policy (Autonomous), University of Mumbai
Gaurav Ghadi, Research Scholar, Mumbai School of Economics and Public Policy (Autonomous), University of Mumbai.
The Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India, characterized by variable rainfall, diverse soil types, and mixed cropping dominated by cotton, soybean, and wheat, presents significant challenges for water-dependent agriculture. The Lower Dudhana basin, combining both command-area irrigation from the Lower Dudhana Dam and decentralized, farmer-managed water sources, offers a unique context to examine how access to different water sources shapes crop choice. This study investigates the influence of water resource availability on crop choice among 400 farmers in Water User Associations (WUAs) in the basin. Crop types were categorized into Cotton-based, Wheat-based, Soybean-based, and Other groups, while water sources were classified as “Forever” or “Temporary” and irrigation infrastructure included wells, tubewells, and farmponds. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests assessed associations between water sources and crop selection (Aikowe et al., 2021). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on well, tubewell, and catchment area variables constructed a Water Resource Availability Index (WRAI), capturing reliance on natural versus constructed sources (Wu, Zhuang, Liu, & Shiau, 2021; Ibrahim et al., 2023). Multinomial logistic regression analyzed the effect of water source, irrigation type, catchment area, and WRAI on crop group choice, with Soybean-based crops as the reference. Results indicate that higher WRAI values favor Soybean-based cropping, while Wheat-based cropping is associated with traditional water sources. Findings highlight the critical role of water resource availability in shaping cropping patterns and provide evidence for targeted irrigation policies and sustainable agricultural intensification in semi-arid regions.
Keywords: Crop Choice, Water sources, Irrigation Semi-Arid Agriculture, Water Resource Availability Index (WRAI), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Multinomial Logistic Regression.
Dr. Surya Rao. Kappagantula, ICSSR Senior Fellow, Department of Economics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
Dr. Sanyasamma. Siragam, Research Scholar, Department of Economics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
Happiness is considered to be an ultimate goal in life and every individual wants to be happy. Research in happiness through methodology of economics helps individuals in the society in maximizing their happiness. Why because happiness not only improves physical and mental health of an individual, but also contributes for promotion of productivity activity. Against this backdrop, the present study is proposed to carry out with a random sample of size 768 from the North Costal region of Andhra Pradesh state, considering two districts namely Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam (each district with sample size of 384). The study attempted to construct the Happiness index and also analysed the determinants of happiness. The analysis reveals that, in the aggregate sample respondents (North Costal region), about 24 per cent are moderately happy, about one per cent are rather happy or pretty happy and about 9 per cent are not particularly happy or unhappy. Thus, the analysis implies that none of the respondents are in the category of not happy and neither very happy nor too happy. Further, the analysis also shows relatively higher average happiness score in respect of Srikakulam district when compared to Visakha district. The variables namely Per Capita Income, Schooling Experience, Health Status, Rental Values, Work Life Balance, Travel and Tourism Experience are significant variables affecting happiness. Moreover, the analysis implies that male and female are equally happier, while married are relatively happier compared to unmarried and urban residents are relatively happier when compared to rural residents.
Key Words: Happiness, Factors of Happiness, Determinants of Happiness, Life Satisfaction, North Costal Region.
Dr. Nituranjan Dash, Assistant Professor in Anthropology, Khallikote Unitary University, Berhampur
Prof. Itishree Padhi, Professor in Anthropology, Ex Principal of BJB Auto. College, Bhubaneswar
As per the 2011 Census, India has around 26.8 million persons with disabilities, constituting 2.21% of the total population. The Persons with Disabilities Act, which initially recognized seven categories of impairment, was broadened in 2016 to cover twenty-one. Legal and policy measures such as the UNCRPD-2006, Sustainable Development Goals-2015, Accessible India Campaign-2015, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, the National Education Policy-2020, and India’s G20 presidency-2023 initiatives including Civil-20 and the Culture Working Group, were envisioned to safeguard dignity and rights while fostering inclusive environments for children and persons with disabilities. However, on the ground, such efforts are scarcely visible whereas an equal access, opportunities and participation in cultural and aesthetic experiences remain distant from the intended agenda that this article seeks to address. This article reflects upon the present scenario and status of children as well as persons with disabilities in the cultural sphere emphasizing museums.
Keywords: Accessible India Campaign, National Education Policy, Sustainable Development Goals, UNCRPD, RPWD Act, Policy & Practice.
Dr. Mousumi Mitra, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Seva Bharati Mahavidyalaya, Dist. Jhargram, West Bengal.
This study explores female-owned establishments in India’s Unorganised Manufacturing Sector (UMS) during 2022–23. For the purpose, the unit level data of Annual Survey of Unincorporated Enterprises (ASUSE) 2022-23 has been used. Data revealed that nearly one-fourth of these units were launched in the last three years, prompting a comparative analysis between newly established units and older enterprises. The primary objective is to examine differences in entrepreneurial behavior, resource access, and operational capacity of these two categories of enterprises. Specifically, the new entrants in the UMS and the older units are compared on the basis of educational attainment and vocational training of the owners, their engagement with digital tools and financial services. It also investigates activity level concentration of the enterprises to identify preferred manufacturing activities among female entrepreneurs. By contrasting new and older establishments, the study aims to uncover structural shifts and inform policy strategies that address the evolving needs of women in the UMS.
Keywords: ASUSE, Female Owned Establishments, New Entrants, OAE, HWE, Unorganised Manufacturing Sector.
Dr. Arunprabha Choudhary, Formerly Professor, Department of Economics Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan.
The importance of food and food industry is known to everyone. In India, food processing sector was first recognized and documented after Bengal famine of the 1870s. The British Government’s Famine Commission report and the Royal Commission on Agriculture also emphasised on the need for improved post harvest infrastructure growth and development of rural industries. Mahatma Gandhi also advocated for food processing units for rural development in 1930s.
During post independence era, especially after Green Revolution, food processing sector grew rapidly. Rice processing, wheat flour mills, milk processing, jute and sugarcane processing, oil mills etc. grew at a large pace. Till 1980s, fruit and vegetable processing sector did not show adequate growth due to low demand for processed food. In July 1988, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries was set up for rapid development of food processing industry. The Ministry, since its establishment, focused on to develop competition in food processing sector to absorb surplus labour which was working in agriculture or urban informal tertiary sector, generate Gross Value Addition (GVA) to agriculture and horticulture produce, prevent wastages and losses a perishable produce like milk, vegetables, fruits etc. Since then, the food processing industry has become an important industry in terms of value addition, employment generation, export expansion, growth of MSME sector, less requirement of fixed capital etc. The food processing sector has been termed as “Sunrise Sector” in the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12). The objective of this paper is to make an intensive study of food processing industry. The paper is organized into six sections. The section I give introduction to the food processing industry. The section II focuses on growth and importance of food processing industry in India. The section III explores the contribution of food processing industry in GDP. The section IV discusses employment scenario and scope of employment generation and FDI inflows in food processing industry. Growth potential and challenges of food processing in industry have been analysed in section V. The section VI gives concluding remarks and suggestions.
Dr. Yelisetti Ramakrishna, Faculty in Economics, Rishi Degree College, Narsipatnam, Anakapalli District, Andhra Pradesh.
Gender violence manifests itself in various forms starting with female foeticide and infanticide, sexual abuse, incest, molestation, sexual harassment at work, marital rape, domestic violence by husband and in-laws.
Government of India has enacted much women-specific legislation to protect them against violence and discrimination. Despite existence of special legislations, special protection to women, etc., the proportion of crime against women as compared to the rest of the IPC crimes has increased from 3.5 per cent in 1998 to 10.7 per cent in 2015. Torture (cruelty by husband and his relatives) occupies the first place and account for 37.66 per cent of crimes followed by molestation which is 22.40 per cent. Both these crimes account for 55 to 60 per cent during 1996 to 2015. Rape, kidnapping and abduction cases account for 22 to 26 per cent while sexual harassment, dowry death and others account for the rest.
Sexual harassment is “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature”, which has a negative consequence on where you work, or live, or receive services. It can be verbal or physical. Sexual harassment often occurs in a situation where the assault that has more power than the victim. The incidence of sexual harassment and eve-teasing are not new in India. Sexual harassment of women at workplace has adverse impact on women employment. There are 5,671 sexual harassment cases registered in India, which constitute 4.90 per cent to total crime in 1996 and it increased to 10,001 which constitute 6.48 per cent in 2015.
To sum up there is a persistent increase in all forms of crimes including sexual harassment against women. It is essential for the government and the society at large to address this issue not only for safeguarding the dignity and person of women but also to realize the Constitutional goal of gender equality. There is a need for action plan to create awareness amongst women regarding their rights for better living..
Dr. Birpal Sinh Thenua, Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology and Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra
Rag-picking is one of the dead-end jobs pursued by urban poor due to poverty, unemployment, easy access to waste or poor waste management in developing countries like India. It is one of the inferior economic activities in the urban informal sector, largely undertaken by children belonging to weaker sections of the society for their survival and for supplementing their family income and is the profession mostly dominated by children aging 10 to 16 years who do not have any other skill and thus by way of refuse collection contribute to household income or own survival. These are mainly children of slum dwellers and poor people. Some of them are abandoned or runway children. The continuous exposure to the common garbage and the hospital waste has led to various diseases.
Existing literature on child rag pickers broadly examined child labour, informal waste work and children in waste management, but little attention has been paid on to localize social realities, safety perceptions, health risk and human rights violations experienced by the child rag pickers. The present study focuses on seeking to bridge this research gap by conducting a sociological investigation of child rag pickers of Agra city of Uttar Pradesh highlighting the socio-economic and familial background, occupational risk, health and hygiene and violation of human rights.
Key Words: Rag pickers, health and hygiene, child rag pickers, occupational hazards, protective measures.
Amritha S., Research Scholar, Department Of Economics, University Of Calicut
Dr. Haseena V.A, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, MES College, Mambad
India continues to rank 118th in the World Happiness Ranking, which includes 147 countries. The world Happiness Report is being released as part of the UN’s celebration of the International Day of Happiness on March 20th. Data for the report is collected from individuals through a ladder-based evaluation system by recording their responses on the life satisfaction scale. The variables used to evaluate Happiness are GDP Percapita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. The happiness score is likewise determined by those previously mentioned indicators. According to the world happiness report, happiness is determined by trust, social connections, shared meals and communal kindness.
Happiness is a topic that spans many disciplines. It is defined in different ways in each subject such as psychologically, philosophically, economically, and sociologically. Philosophers throughout history have described happiness as a great good and the ultimate motivation for human action. But after a while, psychologists abandoned positive well-being altogether and instead tried to explore unhappiness in depth. Sociologists and quality of life researchers have shown interest in the topic of happiness before psychologists (P. Kesebir and E. Diener, 2009).
The concept of the Science of Happiness was first used by Aristotle (Arthur C Brooks, 2023), through the word Eudaemonia which means ‘good spirit’, meticulously, being able to acquire things that one feels are good makes one good. Aristotle, who firmly believes that happiness lies among the virtuous, classifies good things as follows. Wealth, fame, honour, power, and friends are considered external goods. However, life, health, good looks, physical strength, athletic ability, and dexterity are considered goods of the body. And, thirdly, the goods of the soul are virtue, life, projects, knowledge and education, artistic creativity and appreciation, recreation and friendship (Brooks, 2023). A study conducted by Warner Wilson in 1967 found that young, healthy, well-educated, well-paid, extroverted, optimistic, worry- free, religious, married people with high self esteem, high job morale, modest aspirations, of either sex and of a wide range of intelligence were happier. Ed- Diener summarizes in his 2009 collection “Collected works of Ed- Diener that well- being plays a major role in a happy life..
Dr. Urvashi Kuhad, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, South Campus , New Delhi
Dr. Jai Singh, Associate Professor, Department of English Literature, The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad
The theoretical framework of intersectionality popularized in the academic field by Kimberlé Crenshaw and later on by Catharine MacKinnon can be used to gauge the impact of Ambedkar on Baby Kamble’s The Prisons We Broke in particular and Dalit writing, women writing, and Dalit women writing in general in understanding the role played by intersectionality of caste and gender in their oppression. Writings and speeches of Ambedkar played a very important role in the emergence of Dalit conscious that led to the emergence of Dalit woman as a conscious subject that can be compared to the idea of “beginning” given by Claire Colebrook, which in turn is originally propounded, by Deleuze and Guattari. As per this theoretical framework being a Dalit woman is “minoritarian” (not to be confused with number of people) and “becoming” conscious Dalit subject is a move towards becoming “majoritarian” and the evolution of Dalit women writing from Baby Kamble to contemporary Dalit women writers is a testament of this transformation. In a way Sharmila Rege’s idea, that Dalit women’s liberatory project can serve as a roadmap for all other liberatory projects because it focuses of the intersectionality of caste, gender, race, class and sexuality. Dalit women’s literature is renewing for to attaining their own organism, their own history, their own subjectivity.
Keywords: Intersectionality, Dalit Mahila Samiti, oppression, marginalization, patriarchy, beginning, majoritarian, minoritarian, autobiographical narratives, feminist praxis
Dr. Ruchi Arun, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SRMSIMS, Bareilly, UP
Dr. Priyanka Kumar, Professor, Department of Community Medicine,, SRMSIMS, Bareilly, UP
Dr Amar Jeet Singh, Head, Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh
Hypertension (HTN) is a significant (3rd most important) cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factor and an important cause of premature death, around the world. Directly being responsible for stroke deaths (57%) and coronary heart disease deaths (24%) in India, HTN is a substantial burden on its public health care system. Still, in India, up to 75 % HTN patients do not have their blood pressure under control. 1-5 This implies that the public health strategies being used currently for HTN management at mass level are not working.
As a chronic disease, HTN control needs patients’ active involvement through their adherence with the prescribed investigations, lifestyle modification (LSM), and regular medicine intake. Globally, however, such adherence is less than 50%. 6 Even the medication adherence is poor due to indifference, high cost, fear of side effects, callousness, and / or complexity of the long-term prescription. Also, the awareness level of HTN patients regarding these issues is low.
It has been advocated that a theory-guided behaviour change communication approach for LSM may be tried for enhancing the self-care capacity of the HTN patients to ensure that they take the prescribed treatment. Many health care projects have tried strategies to bring about health behavior changes in people. But they often get bored by the sermons used in such approaches. An 'infotainment' communication style has been advocated for transmitting the message effectively to the HTN patients. Such direct interaction with audience has a great potential to help individualize the issue for viewers, helping them to internalize the message.7-17 For healthy LSM inculcation, the investigators earlier tried a salutogenic approach. 18-22
Only a few population-based intervention studies have been conducted involving HT control / prevention strategies in India. Innovatory drama programmes have a universal appeal. It was hence decided to examine the impact of an intervention strategy using a camp approach supplemented with nukkad natak for behaviour change communication (BCC) for enhancing the self-care capacity village of women for HTN prevention.