Inventory Control System Essay

This study is established towards gathering and developing strategies that could solve the inappropriate inventory system of 7-eleven Sto. Rosario, Angeles City Outlet. The researchers established Trend analysis (regress over time) and Basic Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) to solve problem of inappropriate inventory management. The findings of this study revealed the problem on the current inventory management system that is evident in the product overstocking and under stocking problem of 7-eleven. Forecasting demand may improve the ordering quantity every time they place an order and EOQ may result in the significant savings for the company. The Story of Convenience Shopping 7-eleven pioneered the convenience store concept way back in `1927 at the Southland Ice Company in Dallas, Texas. In addition to selling blocks of ice to refrigerated food, an enterprising ice dock employee began offering milk, bread and eggs on Sundays and evenings when grocery stores were closed. This new business idea produced ideas that satisfied customers and increased sales, and convenience retailing was born. The company’s first convenience outlets were known as Tote’m stores since customers â€Å"Toted† away their purchases and some even sported genuine Alaskan totem poles in front. In 1946, Tote’m became 7-Eleven to reflect the stores’ new, extended hours 7 a.m until 11 p.m., seven days a week. The companu’s corporate name was changed from the Southland Corporation to 7-Eleven, inc, in 1999. Each Store focuses on meeting the needs of busy shoppers by providing a broad selection of fresh, high quality products and services at everyday fair prices, along with speedy transactions and a clean,safe and friendly shopping environment. In year 2004, 7-Eleven located at Sto. Rosario Street Angeles City was established under the management of Edgar Nucum who was the first manager under corporate group of the Philippine Seven Corporation. However, on May 2, 2005, the said business was turnover To Mevin Teopaco because of the conversion of the establishments from corporate to franchisee  Mr. Teopaco who took the business through formal application and training on how to run the business. He is responsible for ordering, buying and maintaining inventory, hiring and training employees, as well on payroll, cash variation, supplies, certain repairs, maintenance and other controllable in store expenses. The company’s mission is t offer time-conscious customers a full range of products and services that meet their ever-changing daily needs through quality, speed, selection and value in a safe, friendly and pleasant environment. And their vision is to â€Å"become a recognized leader in providing time-conscious consumers with a full-range of products and services that meet their ever-changing daily needs. We will be the customer-preffered convenience store by exceeding customer expectations through quality, speed, selection, and value in a safe and pleasant environment, treating our employees with dignity and respect, recognizing our franchisees and suppliers as business partners, being a good corporate citizen. Achieving our vision and continued growth will provide our shareholders with a beter than competitive return on their investments†. Inventories are ordered on a daily basis and delivered through central distribution located in Pasig City. Inventories are individually monitored thorugh monitoring sheet report, sales and ordering are incorporated at SAS System that link to POS (Point of Sales). Although Mr. Teopaco had special training in managing the said business, still sometimes he experienced and encountered different problems related to operation such as inventory losses. Such problem is caused by different factors. This problem arises when the management encounters discrepancy in the delivery of the products. However, there are products, which the store provides but not salable. Such products sty longer in the store and become spoiled. Which are referred to as bad merchandise or BM. In effect, the company experience losses on inventories because such scenario usually happens in the store. Since the store is open 24 hours a day and the security system of the store is not that fully implemented, there are customers who shop lift from the store especially â€Å"out-of-sight† and small products. Sometimes the management could not trace those products until they make an inventory count. Another thing is that some employees do unnecessary things in the store like eating some of the products or keeping them. In such case, inventory losses happen. The occurrence of these different factors led to the existence of a current  problem, which need to be monitored and evaluated by the management in order to achieve the desired objectives of the said company. The Current Situation on the Inventory Management of 7Eleven The main problem 7Eleven is currently facing is the inventory losses as shown on Figure 1. This problem exists because of different factors that the management should eliminate or if not, at least minimize. Such factors are the theft and shoplifiting that result to lesser sales or profit, and obsolescence of the products that result to high inventory sales. Unavailability of the prodcuts results to stock-outs and lower sales because customers tend to patronize competitor’s products. The second factor that led to the afordeimentioned problem is inefficient employees. Inefficient employees can occur just like not performing their duties well and sometimes by concealing merchandise in a purse, pocket, or bag and removing it from the store. It can also occur by stealing cash, allowing others to steal merchandise, eating the goods and sometimes some employees do not punch other products sold. Employee theft can sometimes be charges as embezzlement due to be trusted fiduciary status of the employee. Being inefficient employee can also result dissatisfied customer. All of these methods lead to loss of inventory(shrinkage) and/or profit for the merchant. Preventing employee theft and being irresponsible is a constant challenge for the store. The store knows that it must put systems in place to prevent or deter internal theft. To be effective, loss prevention systems must be designed to reduce the opportunity,desire, and motivation for employee theft. Basic loss prevention steps involve good procedures for hiring, training and supervision of employees and managers. Procedures that are clearly defined, articulated, and fully implemented will reduce opportunity, desire, and motivation for employees to steal. For others, the only barrier to dishonesty is the fear of being caught. The employee thief risks being fired, arrested, jailed, and paying restitution. The other cause of the said problem is the inefficient inventory control system.With this, inventories are not properly controlled which results to a high percentage of spoilage or expiration of some products. When an inefficient valuation is assigned to the inventory, it may end up having higher inventory expense. Moreover, it will be costly on the part of the store. To determine the cost to be associated with the inventory, a physical inventory must be taken in order to determing the number of units present. Then, the costs are attached to each item in the inventory. When dealing with the inventories, cost should be interpreted to mean the sum of all direct or indirect charges incurred in bringing an item of inventory to its existing condition and/or location. The store have a price tag or a universal product code, it is acommon practice to take the physical inventory at the store from these price tags and codes it can determine their inventory. Maintenance of inventory losses may result in lost sales and disgruntled customers. The last factor is the lack of security control system because of limited employees that wil oversee the inventories specially those that are not visible. In effect, shoplifting and theft arises. Technology alone will not eliminate retail theft. Store who wants to reduce losses should also Strive to provide good customer service and promote high job satisfactions levels among its retail sales associates. Stores that utilize security technologies generally have lower overall inventory shrinkage than those retailers who do not. Technology also allows employees to focus more time on assisting customers and less on patrolling the aisles. Inventory is considered the current asset to the store because it will normally be sold within the store’s operating cycle.   All of the said causes result in inventory losses and lead to different effects, such as, lesser profits/sales, dissatisfied customers, and stock-outs. These are not beneficial to the company so the management need to find ways on how to overcome the causes that lead to the above effects.

Elie Wiesel’s Changes Essay

In the memoir, Night, we discover how Elie Wiesel, one of the minority of Jews to survive the holocaust during World War II, identity changes in response to his concentration camp experiences. The war had been raging for two years and was about to enter Sighet. The Germans believed in the Aryan race and attempted to commit genocide on the ‘lesser’ races, particularly Jews. The separation from Elie’s loved ones and the horrible conditions of these camps affect Elie immensely. Elie is affected in the following ways: physically, emotionally and spiritually. Through the brutality witnessed, acts of selfishness, the death of his father and the loss of his faith Elie changed. The Holocaust had changed him into a completely different person. The greatest change to Elie Wiesel’s identity was his loss of faith in god. Before he and his family were moved to the camps, Elie was a religious little boy who cried after praying at night. After a few days in Auschwitz, a concentration camp, Elie Wiesel heard about the crematory and the fact that the Nazi’s were killing the sick, weak, and the young. In his first night in the camp, Elie experienced his first crisis of faith. â€Å"Never Shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever†¦ Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my god and my soul and turned my dreams to dust.† Later, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, Elie was not able to celebrate the New Year with the other Jews in the camp. When the Rabbi said â€Å"Blessed be the name of the eternal,† Elie thought â€Å"Why, but why should I bless him?† In these quotes, Elie’s frustration and anger is directed towards god because he has no one else to blame. He is appalled by everything happening around him, and cannot believe the god he spent all his time praying to was letting this happen. Elie’s faith in god waned while he was in the camps. Since Elie used to be a religious Jewish person, losing his faith changes his identity.

Schools & Society Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Schools & Society - Research Paper Example Family is universally accepted as the basic unit of society. Hence in understanding culture, studying family life is important. Specifically, the study centres on family structure, roles, and ideals. Similarly, studying their holidays and festivals is also important, because this manifests their beliefs and values. In fact, holidays which could be religious, political, or cultural in nature are observed because people find some things important, memorable, or sacred on them. The primary interest of the study here is to understand the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ in order to know their beliefs. Lastly, studying their language is also important because this manifests the diversity of the culture and the origin of the people. Here, the study generally centres on the questions of ‘what’, ‘who’, and ‘from where’. B. Two Cultures Studied 1. South Asian Indian Culture India, as described in India’s official government portal, M y India My Pride (2012)– a secondary source for the study of the Indian culture – is among the world’s oldest civilizations with rich culture and heritage it has gained from its more than 4000 years of existence. Comprised of 28 states and seven territories, India, according to a secondary source for the study of the Indian culture, Zimmerman (2013), is unsurprisingly South Asia’s largest single nation. Its society is sharply hierarchical, known for its caste system. Hierarchy, as explained by Jacobson (2004) – the primary source for the study of the Indian culture, is determined mainly by gender and age. Hence, the male is higher than the female and the older male is higher than the younger male. Hierarchy is very evident not only in caste groups but even in family and kinship groups. It is based on this hierarchy that family members are accorded with respect. The high regard of Indian family in hierarchy makes family in India more fascinating. Fa mily life. Traditional Indian family structure is best described as closely knitted, extended, and patriarchal. Indians regard the family to mean not only the father, mother, and siblings as commonly understood, but also their grandparents with all of them living under the same roof, working, sharing common income, eating, celebrating, and worshipping together. As the family further expands they divide into smaller units and become joint families continuing the same patterns of family life. (Jacobson, 2004) The father heads the family. This does not simply mean that the father is the bread-winner of the family. Rather to Indians, this also means that the male family member sustains the extended family. Hence, a married Indian male brings home his wife to be part of his natal household. Thus, the wife has to live with her in-laws together with her children. This also means that the transition of leadership goes from the father to the eldest son, and not to the mother. While the eldes t male heads the family, his wife is in-charged to supervise their daughters-in-law and younger children. Thus, the older generation takes good care of the younger generation, which the latter repays in return. Such family roles put boys at higher esteem than girls. Besides, marriage in Indians is traditionally decided by the socio-economic status of the girl. (Jacobson,

Content Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 21000 words

Content Writing - Essay Example Qualified writers should provide you an easy going clear understanding. All of the produced papers for you would be top ranked for its sound and smoothed knowledge base. Student would find opportunities to explore their career choices with biology background, which would cover a variety of topics in the papers. For your all coursework needs --XXX--- would be your right choice. Before enter college courses a lots of students may choose career paths. It is mandatory to complete all a levels before entering college. So students have to face too many written examinations. They also required submitting written assignments at this stage. Thus you can easily depend on us for you any of your assignment coursework, essay or dissertation. Coursework of biology has designed with two parts for each year. Exams held twice in a year scheduled in May-June and December- January. At this stage Students have take other general subjects like AQA biology coursework, A2 biology coursework, AS biology coursework and GCSE biology coursework. All subjects’ area papers needed written in a particular format. Thus students needed to have very quick, easy and cost effective solution and guidance to bring successful outcomes; practically ---XXX--- can guarantee you this service. Our Writers will provide you all additional information and progress every thing thoroughly sufficient research. They are often connected with many different educational institutes, databases and libraries in the UK, which is mostly difficult for students to use. On the other hand in recent days plagiarism is a burning problem in educational arena. For plagiarism some institutes are very serious and don’t bother to cancel a students certificate. But when you engage our writers for your assignment, you can keep your self-free from these hedgers. For grading assignments must be completed with satisfactorily researched, proper referencing and document format

LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

LAW - Essay Example Trademarks could be any combination of words, names or symbols that are used in commerce as brand names, tag lines, slogans, non-functional and distinctive packaging and labeling designs, etc. to indicate the source of a product or service. Only non-functional elements are protected by law as trademark rights Functional aspects of a product or service are covered under patent law with a limited term of protection whereas trademarks are not limited in term (except by nonuse) (Trademarks Basics, n.d.). The law that protects registered trademarks and trademarks registration in the UK is the Trademark Acts of 1994 as amended (Intellectual, n.d). In addition, the European Union has implemented regulations to harmonize the laws of trademarks among its member states, including the United Kingdom (The trademarks, n.d). If a trademark is not registered, the original creator does not necessarily lose all rights to his works. Under UK common law, it is possible to take civil action. To make a s uccessful claim, the owner must prove that the mark belongs to him, that the alleged owner has built a reputation using this mark and that he has suffered some damage because of the unauthorized use (Ibid). Trade marks can also be protected in the United Kingdom via common law rights established under what is called "passing off." The "passing off rights are established by the use of a brand and the establishment of goodwill (Registering, 2008). However, it is preferable to register a mark, as opposed to relying on common law passing off rights, as you have to prove that you have established goodwill to succeed in a passing off action. Also, passing off rights can be limited to a local area, whereas a UK Trade Mark registration automatically covers the whole of the UK (Ibid). The doctrine of Common law â€Å"passing off† works in a way that the owner of a mark can acquire some rights without registering his mark. A trader who uses a mark acquires â€Å"goodwill† in ass ociation with that mark. â€Å"Goodwill† has been defined as the quality, which causes a customer to go to one particular trader rather than any other (Ibid). The owner of a trademark can sue another trader who uses that mark in such a way as to confuse the public into believing that his goods are those of the owner of the mark. This is a â€Å"passing-off† action (The Basics, n.d.). At common law, a trademark is obtained by adopting and using the trademark, in association with goods or services offered for commerce ( Larson, 2003).. The mark must be placed in actual use before protection is available. Once the mark becomes associated in the mind of the public with the particular good or service, the common law trademark is established. Ordinarily, the geographic scope of the common law trademark is limited to the area of use. The three fundamental elements to passing off are reputation, misrepresentation, and damage to goodwill, which are sometimes known as the classi cal trinity, as restated by the English House of Lords in the case of Reckitt & Colman Ltd v Borden Inc [1990] 1 RPC1 341 1 (the Jif Lemon case) (Passing n.d). Passing off does not recognize them as property in its own right, but prevents one person from misrepresenting his or her goods or services as being the goods and services of another person or the plaintiff in infringement proceedings. The law of passing off is designed to prevent misrepresentation to the public

Critically evaluate how international retailers can achieve Assignment

Critically evaluate how international retailers can achieve competitive advantage through customer service - Assignment Example Customer service offers competitive advantages of improved customer satisfaction, increased customer loyalty, improved brand image, and increased sales and profitability. The 7P elements are also important in enhancing competitor advantage. The 7Ps are: price, product, place, promotion, people, process, and physical environment (Kotler, 2011). In the analysis of Tesco’s F&F brand, the most important element of the 7P is People. People are the main drivers of customer service at F&F. They communicate with customers in order to enhance effective customer service. They also respond effectively to the requests and complaints of customers. Tesco recruits highly qualified employees with good customer relations skills. The leading online retailer in UK is Amazon while the worst retailer is Ryanair (Integrated Retailer, 2014). In overall, there has been a fall in online customer satisfaction in UK, falling from 74 to 73 on a 100-point scale (Integrated Retailer, 2014). Amazon, the best online retailer has a score of 84 while Ryanair, the worst performer had 60 points; all in terms of customer satisfaction. Amazon targets buyers of various retail products while Ryanair targets airline companies. Amazon has segmented its customers geographically and in terms of affluence. On the other hand, Ryanair does not seem to have a good segmentation because it targets all airlines without identifying any segment. These examples show how customer satisfaction through customer service is an essential element in achieving competitive advantage. Customer service, social responsibility, and sustainability are closely related concepts that retail companies should consider in order to improve their customer satisfaction. Customer service entails serving customers through delivery of goods, listening to their complaints, helping them with their problems, and understanding them. Generally, customer service

School Law and Public Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

School Law and Public Policy - Essay Example The aim of this research paper is to clearly assess the manner in which the policymakers can take the voices of educators under consideration. It is for this purpose that a case has been selected for evaluation. In specific, the paper will present a comparison and contrast of the options including strike by the educators or political action course to get representation in the process of policymaking. In order to backup the comparison, references will be taken from legal clauses, past literature, The purpose of this section of the paper includes a number of past cases where educators have either used the method of strike or political action course to make sure that their representation is taken under consideration. Herein, it should be marked that among the major educational changes that have occurred in different societies of the world, Peru holds a revolutionary approach towards in educational reform as its history. The approach that was undertaken by educational policymakers of Peru was political action course. Following the Education Reform Commission, the military forces applied Universal Diversified Secondary Schooling (ESEPs). The fact remains that the educational policymaking undertook the opinions of the educators under consideration for which a proper assessment method was implied. As a contradiction, the reform could not bring necessary changes and ultimately turned out to be a complete failure (Haddad & Demsky, 2010). Another case that can evaluate in this context is from Jordan where educational policymakers brought change as a result of declining economy. With the help of UNESCO, several educational plans were administered in Jordan. The fact remains that these policymaking processes could not take the role of educators into consideration for which the change was not being assessed as expected. It is

David Sedaris and Projecting Sexual Orientations Through Speech Research Paper

David Sedaris and Projecting Sexual Orientations Through Speech - Research Paper Example The opening of the report consists of the information about David Sedaris as a writer. Writers generally write about their experiences. As an essayist and a humorist, David Sedaris chronicles his experiences and more, in order for the people to get entertained. His works can be satirical and deadpan, or maybe even exaggerated. Whatever the style is, David Sedaris is a chronicler of life. And his life, whether you want to admit it or not, is really interesting, and that makes it very readable. But then again, David Sedaris is not a very special man. In fact, he is too much like the rest of the world, which is why many people read him. But the fact remains that he is sure interesting enough in order for the person to have such interesting experiences – experiences that lead the readers to enjoy a funny, vicarious experience. Why is this so? Why is David Sedaris genuinely interesting to the rest of the world? David Sedaris is an American writer, first and foremost. Most of his wo rks focus on his experiences on being American: being American in America (as he recalled in â€Å"End of the Affair† in the book Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, for example), being American in Paris or being American in Japan, or wherever it was he went (such as the essays in When You Are Engulfed In Flames). He offers a different take on being American, and this is largely due to his colorful personality and his ability to appreciate reality. His works are funny largely because of the people around him which can be quite rambunctious and funny, all because they differ than most people. But generally, the observations made by Sedaris as an American are quite useful for the traveler, as they can actually use the information as tools for insight, as the self-deprecating humor can actually highlight the flaws on has for being who he is, which in this case, is being American. It offers non-biased, non-judgmental reflection on how it is to be an American, especially abro ad. Add to the fact that he is a smoker, and how it means to be a smoker. Experiences which relate to being a smoker can be largely found in the book, When You Are Engulfed With Flames, especially being a smoker in foreign countries like France and Japan. But then his earlier work always through references to smoking, especially with his family: his mother and sisters are all smokers. This time, smoking is not preached as good or bad, it just is smoking. His being a smoker adds dimension to his persona, to his experiences. He is also not rich. He came from a working class family. His essays revolve on his experiences as a struggling writer. He was a cleaning guy in New York for some time. He was also an apple-picker once, just to take a stab at romanticism. Although they were not struggling as a family, his experiences as a young man (or boy) trying to make ends meet are hilarious. There is this essay where he talks about how obsessed he was at being rich. He was constant dreamer. T hat’s for sure, and his constant to be part of something grad, something that most people are not privy to, makes him a very good vessel for many who would also like to try his antics, but couldn’t. But he also suffered some tics. Maybe they were developmental tics at the time, who knows. In Naked, there is an essay called a â€Å"Plague of Tics†, casually making his experience with tics accessible to

Stranger than fiction- argument essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Stranger than fiction- argument - Essay Example Despite Harold refusal to listen to the narration, he heard one verse from it that changed his perception towards the narration. The verse changed everything making him begin searching for the meaning (French 5). However, he did all these not knowing that the simple act would cause his death. The simple narration from the author made Harold do all within his means to escape death. He went to a psychologist who confirmed to him that he suffers from schizophrenic; however, he refused that to be suffering from such ailment (Scott 4). Hence, he went again to seek advice from a professor of literature, Hilbert, who questioned him and left to configure if he is in a comedy or tragedy (Ebert 6). The author knew that he would be hitched in case he is in comedy and die in case he is in tragedy (Ebert 8). From the above short synopsis of the movie, it is evident that there are many things, which the video has not explained, and they leave the reader in a dilemma. The reader has to guess the events, which transpired some of the actions witnessed in the book that the book ought to have explained or gave a sequence to their occurrence. For instance, it is not clear and explained how Harold came to find himself in the book authored by Karen as one of the characters. Although the main protagonist heard voices that he did not understand the meaning, they would not be a justification for his appearance in the book. Similarly, the author of the book spoke to him in a special way, which also does not guarantee his appearance in the book as one of the characters. Therefore, there are many things that the movie left hanging without proper timeline of how they came to take place. Therefore, the rest of the essay will talk about the developments of events in the movie and ways different activitie s and approaches of the author that influenced Harold and the rest of the characters in the

How does new technology affect education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How does new technology affect education - Essay Example Currently, the education sector is experiencing a rapid transition whereby different disciplines are embracing Tablet PCs as well as similar pen-based gadgets. This is to enhance both teaching and learning processes, which is contrary to the past whereby their respective modes encompassed physical interaction between the student and tutors. Evidence of the emerging impact of new technological knowhow was quite evident in 5Th workshop held in Virginia in 2010. This was through varied presentations by different intellectuals whose information comprises this book. For the past eight decades in 20Th period before 1980s, educated worker’s curve depicted an upward trend. However, the demand for them was not that high as compared to the current state, which is the contrary. Due to high education before 1980s, this prompted to the emergency of numerous people who were well off, hence becoming the richest region globally. However, that trend currently has ceased whereby due to the rapid technological change states are facing the shortage of skilled labour force. Introducing technological knowhow to children is of great importance in ensuring they are ready to tackle other varied aspects during their education. This is especially in tackling varied subjects as well as doing researches at a later period, which is more beneficial compared to when they learn of using technology later. However, this takes the effort of well trained tutors in the mode of implementing technology as per the children or student’s capability, which Casey outline in this book. Implementing in this case encompasses considering 90 activities, which Casey advocates in this research for each child starting from as early as three years. The source offers detailed information meant to equip any learning person with necessary studying and leadership skills. The former skills encompass confidence, creativity and being able to navigate the constantly evolving environment due to emergent

The Art of Sacrifice Essay Example for Free

The Art of Sacrifice Essay Sacrifice, the concept of giving up something valuable as a means of gaining more desirable things or preventing evil, is a fascinating art that has long intrigued humankind. In particular, two American texts have captured the essence of it , The Great Gatsby by F.S. Fitzgerald and the 1999 movie American Beauty directed by Sam Mendes. Both texts closely explore the responsibility of an individuals relationship with his or her society for the sacrifices the individual makes; from the disillusionment of the American Dream to how the characters are affected or destroyed by it. In the world of Jay Gatsby and Lester Burnham, ideals and values are defined by their society. More specifically, theirs is a consumer-driven society, resulting in false values which place importance on materialism and hedonism, disregarding morality and spirituality. In The Great Gatsby, these values are embodied through the juxtaposition and repetition of West and East. The Mid-West of America and West Egg, where Nick and Gatsby originate and inhabit, represent moral integrity, spirituality and innocence in contrast to the East Coast of America and East Egg, where the Buchanans live, which are full of self-indulgence, material wealth and moral decadence. The function of the characters is to enhance these values depending on where they come from, Mid-Western Nick for an example is a self-described moral person (I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known) but Tom Buchanan from the East is portrayed as a ruthless, racist womanizer who is careless in using and letting other people clean up the mess [he] had made. Similarly, the opening scene in American Beauty is of a high-angle pan across a picturesque suburb and then a cut to an equally picturesque large house with a neat lawn and beautiful rose beds. This quickly highlights the concept of a social ideal to strive for, as Lester Burnhams house is portrayed as the epitome of American homes with its perfect white walls and bright red door, and it is promptly linked to consumerism through the means of his wife Carolyn, who is a competitive real estate agent she sells this American Dream, leading to the social notion that if you have money, then you can have anything. All the se techniques are used to emphasize the major role of society in defining social values and aspirations. Therefore the individual, in an attempt to gain happiness and fulfillment, will strive for the values that society imposes. They adopt the social ideals and then make sacrifices in order to achieve them. Since the first glimpse of Carolyn cultivating a perfect red rose in American Beauty, it has become the symbol for her. Like the outwardly perfect rose, she is seen as the modern-age successful businesswoman who has it all the perfect family, the perfect house, the perfect job, all reflecting her philosophy of in order to be successful, one must maintain an image of success at all times. However, like these perfect roses, she has no scent thus no soul, and instead she uses the roses as a substitute for genuine emotion and affection. The starkest example is found in the first Burnham dinner scene where the closest thing to warmth comes from the scarlet color of the centerpiece roses as everything else in the frame, Carolyns family included, are cold and sombre due to the predominance of shadows, blue hues and lack of friendly conversation. In this way, she sacrifices real feelings for surface appearances. This makes her similar to Daisy in The Great Gatsby who, in choosing Tom over Gatsby twice, makes the sacrifice of love for social status and material possession. She endures Toms blatant infidelities to achieve the comfort and respectability that the consumer-driven and superficial society demands and like Carolyn, places emphasis on outwards appearance with her wish that her daughter would be a fool thats the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. Even Gatsbys sense of ideal is no more or no less than which his society can offer him. Everything about Jay Gatsby is based on what James Gatz believes that society would find attractive as he does not enjoy his own wild parties, which shows that he does this for the sake of a socially accepted image rather than personal taste, that he is the advertisement of a man not the actual man himself. Indeed Gatsby adopts societys false values and he uses other mens desires as his standard of value a reason why he found Daisy so appealing in the first place, many men had already loved Daisy it increased her value in his eyes. However it must be noted that not all characters are like the aforementioned in their sacrifices, as no matter what the society dictates the ability to choose still lies in the power of the individual. While society may have itsb  guidelines of social acceptability, it is up to the individual whether or not to follow the guidelines. Nick, the voice of The Great Gatsby, is initially attracted to the wealth and glamor of the East but upon realizing that it creates a frantic, aimless lifestyle without substance nor spirituality, rejects it in the end. This milestone is marked by Nicks return to the Mid-West, which is symbolic of his rejection of the superficiality, materialism and amoral disposition of the East and his embracement of the traditional, wholesome values of the Mid-West. In American Beauty, Lesters encounter and resultant obsession with Angela makes him realize the emptiness of his life and he remembers the things he wants again, I feel like Ive been in a coma for about twenty years, and Im just waking up. He then sacrifices and rejects social expectations for his own happiness as he sees the illusion of the American Dream and how his family has lost their way in attempting to follow it. One of the ways Lester tries to capture the remembered joy of his youth is through the purchase of a sports car, a 1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car that I always wanted and now I have it. I rule! The Firebird is a symbol of his rebellion against suburban expectations and also one of power at the beginning of the film, Carolyn drives Lester everywhere, conveying his lack of drive, but with the Firebird, he drives himself to places he is in control of his own life once more. This echoes the power that all individuals have in making their own choices in life. Yet the choices that an individual makes reflect the relationship between him or her and their society. How the individual perceives the nature of their society is displayed in their choice of sacrifice, and it is also synonymous with the amount of control left in themselves that is not handed over to society. Carolyn, who is the embodiment of American materialism, has literally sold her soul for it, that is given up all her power and individuality to social expectations. She sacrifices morality and principle for success, and is preoccupied with maintaining this image of success with her expensive house and immaculate rose garden. Indeed, in the midst of an intimate moment with Lester, she stops it because of her fear of spilling beer on a four thousand dollar sofa upholstered in Italian silk which shows the extent to which she esteems materialism and societys values over her own  desires. In contrast, her daughter Jane is able to see what is truly important and rejects the society she lives in, as evident in her choice of unattractive clothes which are predominantly black the color of teenage rebellion. Hence she sacrifices the values of her family for her own values and she maintains her uniqueness and inner beauty. This is seen first dinner scene where Janes face in lit up by the candles whilst her parents faces are in the shadows. The light implies a halo around Jane and makes her a spiritually more worthy character than her parents, a beauty that the boy-next-door Ricky does not miss. In the The Great Gatsby, Gatsby unwittingly entraps himself to an endless pattern of imitation for he has allowed society to take over him, stripping him bare of individuality apart from his dream. Therefore, because he finds social acceptance so vital in winning the approval of Daisy, he sacrifices anything undesirable which is everything about poor Jimmy Gatz. He turns himself into the wealthy Jay Gatsby, a Platonic conception of himself and in fabricating his personal history and constructing an ideal image out of magazines, Gatsby loses his real self. While his dream may be pure and redeemable, he bases it on social superficial values and materialism which means that when the dream is destroyed and he fails to attain Daisy, he is already spiritually dead for all his superficiality becomes insignificant and pointless. In the final moments of his life, Nick envisions Gatsby realizing the hollowness of his life, his lack of true self, having lost along the path to his dream, a new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air. The word choice of ghosts is significant for that is what Gatsby really has become, for he is simply an actor with no true body or identity of his own, having lived his life according to societys values not his own. Therefore the relationship between an individual and society is an important determent in the extent of sacrifices they make. In the end, it is the relationship between the individual and his or her society which is ultimately responsible for the sacrifices he or she makes. Separately, the society and individual make up only two influences, and are not the actual causes of the sacrifice the society defines values and dreams, of which the individual has the choice to try and strive for. Rather it is the complex dynamics between the two that triggers the sacrifice.  Individuals who adhere to and revere social standards will make the greatest sacrifices to achieve socially orientated goals. If the goals are unworthy or false, the individual may however lose themselves spiritually along the way. But individuals who rebel against society and oppose social values will consider those goals as undeserving and their sacrifices for it will be little to none. Indeed, these individuals will sacrifice social expectations for personal happiness and values instead. Through the characters in The Great Gatsby and American Beauty, Sam Mendes and F.S. Fitzgerald seem to imply that this latter way is better and yields more fruitful results. Bibliography: Commager, Henry Steele. The American Mind: An Interpretation of American Thought and Character Since the 1880s. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1950. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribners, 1925; New York: Cambridge UP, 1991. Novel.

The Turkish Soap Operas Media Essay

The Turkish Soap Operas Media Essay Why do people at the last past years prefer TV shows? Why do people have different thoughts about tv shows? . May be because they are express their daily lives and affecting their behavior. also as they introduce different cultures of different societies., the soap operas and TV series are the most discussed nowadays TV shows People argue about Turkish soap operas that spread nowadays on Arab TV, the aim of that research is the airing of these soap operas and its effects in Arab countries people on the social, religious, tourism and cultural levels, while others disagree with that operas that it causes problems such as women rights and romance in Arab world What is a soap opera? And what is the difference between a soap opera and a traditional TV series? according to Dorothy Anger in her book Other Worlds: Society Seen Through Soap Operas is a long TV series more than hundred of episodes, these TV shows are present culture style , life style , traditions and educational life of the societies, but the traditional TV series are short ones. They do not exceed thirty episodes and they have many details than soap operas. The history of TV series in the Arab world is in relation with the Ramadan series. There are some Arab TV series which like soap operas as layaly elhlmiya that attract the Arab viewers for years at different seasons waiting to know what the next action.. Fadi Ismail says in the article Turkish Soaps Bubbling in the UAE that were trying to see if there are new story lines. This means that people need a new stories that affect their daily life related to their life style and their cultural experience. According to the viewers demands, people responsible for TV shows starts to express new shows that is connected with peoples real life ,Layal Abu Rahal expressed in her article Noor, A Soap Opera to Test The Moral Compass that Arab men were fascinated by the Turkish actress Noor and women were also fans of the Turkish actor moaned. Turkish soap operas and TV shows which began recently to be showed on the Arab TV channels, Ismail says we saw an opportunity in turkey. (Qtd in Abuzeid The opportunity is based on the high percentage of people watching the soap operas and the dramatic story lines as well. It was a hit success when the first Turkish soap opera started showing on Arab TV. Percentage of people watching it started to increase People became addicted to it and even it became a kind of turning point in their own lives. People in Arab world get attached to the characters, events and the new style in the Turkish soap opera. They are affected by their new culture. They are also influenced by the Turkish people. They start search the differences between Turkish society and the enclosed Arab society. People start to express their own opinions, defending their thoughts and ideas. There are positive social effects that appear in the Arab society due to watching Turkish soap operas such as the effect of it on Arab women.. They believe that those Turkish soap operas are the best, as they have things which we dont have in our Arab society. As a result to these soap operas some women recently became aware of their rights. Some women started to look for themselves on the levels of business and financial life, while other took the side of liberal life searching for freedom. In the Turkish soap opera the women appear as model of liberal independent women who have their own career and job, financial freedom and even their own houses far away of their families. They reflect the ideas of Turkish women in freedom in Islamic society. Arab women stated to take Turkish women to encourage themselves never stop fighting for their lives that they believe in. Women in Arab world have the courage to loud her voice as They look at the Turkish women as an example of free women, although they are Muslims living in Islamic society too. Women compare the male characters of Turkish soap operas to their men in Arab society. They are full of love and romance and not harsh in their decisions, Arab women started to compare every thing as female characters and to look over many problems that we lack. On the social level, the Arab women are not the only ones affected by the Turkish soap operas, but the whole family as well. The Arab families watch the two series Noor and Lost Years and notice the family gatherings of Turkish families and they are close to each other. The reason that leads Arab families to compare themselves to Turkish ones Muslim society tooand they much of arab culture. Where family members are living all in one house. These features seem to be a part of their Arab society. Also on the social level, the Turkish society has a liberal view that is not present in the Arab society. The dressing code which Arabs have stress on it. Turkish people wear whatever they wanted with no limits or borders. They looks good and they are fashionable society . Tamiko says in the article Noor, Has a Turkish Soap Opera Fueled Change for Women in the Arab World? that Noor fashion knock-offs were snapped up in boutiques. The Arab people are impressed by this look so they started to take what suits them and live with Turkish style . The latest effect of Turkish characters of soap operas on Arab society is that the statistics refers that the newly born babies named after the stars increased in the Arab world. Tamiko discussed in his article that the number of Arab babies named Noor and Muhanned is doubled. This reflects the major effect of Turkish soap operas on our Arab countries Not all the social effects on Arab society are positive ones. People in Arab society some negatives of the Turkish society. People believe that Turkish society isnt the best but they have also some defects such as There is a lack of segregation between men and women, which dont appear in Arab society traditions. Married women are allowed to have male friends and that is legal and the relation between men and women at work. Another aspect which raises the anger of the Arab world and its against the religion is the allowable informal relationships between male and female. They are allowed to live together without marriage These features dont match our Arab culture and habits. This is refused on the social level not only on the religious level. Also one of the major negative effects is that incites crime. It has been shown in the soap operas. The crime appears to be an ordinary thing to the society according. Respected society figures are kidnapping people in order to fulfill their aims from their enemies many types of crimes such as stealing, drug dealing by high authorities and even the presence of paid assassins.. Abu-Rahal expresses the presence of crimes and threats of kidnapping with a big rate in those soap operas. This means a perfect proof of social disorder. Among the positive social effects of the Turkish soap operas on the Arab society, there are positive cultural effects. They are main methods to introduce a new culture to the Arab society. It is an image of the Turkish society, thoughts, ideas, traditions and habits, They are trying to give the world image about turkey modern civilized country and its fight against all its national and international problems which might be a kind of smartness of the Turkish people.. May be they mean to raise the attention about turkey and give themselves a higher rank in world. . Arab tourism is affected heavily by those soap operas. The number of Arab tourists visiting Turkey is doubled, the number of flights targeting Turkey is doubled The Turkish diplomat Yasin Temizkayn points that the number of Saudi tourists visiting Turkey never increases more than forty thousands, until the soap operas are showed, which raise the number of tourists up to one hundred thousand this year (qtd in Mokhtar). The Arab tourism companies increased the amount of their money invested in Turkey. Increase of air lines in turkey. The ambassador says we used to have only two flights a week from Riyadh to Istanbul, today we have four air bus flights a day and they are all packed. (Qtd in Zawawi) The number of Arab people learning Turkish language increase and the Arab sociologists direct their attention to Turkish society figuring positives and negatives. Despite the hit success of those Turkish soap operas, they appear to be a double edged weapon its a kind of entertainment that targets its damage towards the religious beliefs and moral ideas. It disturbs the peace of the Arabic social and religious. Arab denies the way Turkish people behaving against all the religious and personal ideas. They almost break the major rules of the Islamic religion. People start to ask said in articles how they could have sex without marriage. How that is socially accepted although they are supposed to be an Islamic society? And its said that it is fatal mistakes against whole Arabs. On the other hand, this contradiction causes damaging thoughts and results in the Arab society. That is not the only problem but its wine that became something ordinary and that is reused habit that breaks every rule that put by god against his religion. And negative aspects like adoption of kids to be legal their kids and the abortion all of that which is considered an Isl amic crime, repeated several times in those shows. All these contradictions and fatal mistakes are an evidence are showed on air to be ordinary in that society and confirmed by different social and governmental authorities. Worth by his article assures that when he stresses on the point of drinking, informal relationships and abortion. He discusses briefly the major differences between Arab people and Turkish People. Responsible religious authorities refuse the shows and. religious People start to look at these shows as evil ones spreading immoral and refused ideas,. They try to protect the Arabs society from bad aspects informal relationships, , abortion, drinking ,adoption and independence freedom of women and her dress. voices begin to protest against what was happening in the Arab society addiction of these shows. Mokhtar discusses The grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheik Abdul Aziz Al-Sheik, has condemned Turkish soap operas, which have charmed millions of people across the Arab world, and prohibited people from watching them. Al Sheik was referring exactly to the most two successful shows Noor and Lost Years. Some religious views ban watching these shows and apply certain a legal punishment on the Arabic channels. Worth points that the high cleric of Saudi, Sheik Luhaidan, gave his permission to prosecute the owners of those TV channels. Some take serious decisions banning the shows and stop showing it on Arab TV. Tamiko reflects that point saying Did the viewers listen? Nope the fans of that TV shows increased and even the channels showing it increases private and local. After the discussion of the positive and negative ideas, values of that Turkish tv and its affect on Arab TV channels. some people liked that TV shows and other hated it from the first sight and said its something far from our culture and some people became neutral they like positive aspects and hate negative ones although religious people banned it but it still addicted by people . The question is the Arabic addiction these shows will continue forever? And what are its far consequences? The end statement may be you stay neutral influenced by the culture and benefit from the positive side only and dont look for the negative one.

Assessing Development And Democracy In India Politics Essay

Assessing Development And Democracy In India Politics Essay A strong centred democracy has been at the heart of Indian nationalism since independence with its many languages, religions, ethnicities. In adopting the Westminster parliamentary system, India substituted the monarchy for an elected President and a legislative body consisting of a bicameral structure that includes a lower house the Lok Sabha  and  an upper house the Rajya Sabha  Ã‚  [2]  . India is now the worlds largest parliamentary democracy, some 714 million people were eligible to vote in last years election  [3]  . Members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected every five years with representation divided among Indias States, and seats apportioned  according to population. Members of the lower house the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by the legislative assemblies of the federal States and the President nominates twelve members to the Rajya Sabha based on distinguished reputations in the realm of the arts, sciences or public service  [4]  . The president is elected to office for a five year period by members of both houses. All citizens over the age of 18 years, regardless caste or religion are eligible to vote and turnout has stabilized at approximately 60%, which is particularly high by international standards  [5]  . Under Jawaharlal Nerhus (the first prime minster of India) nationalist ethos encompassing non alignment, socialism and secularism, the latter was the intended safe guard for religious minorities from majority rule. In an affront to the notion that democracy is a Western luxury that developing countries cannot afford  [6]  , Indias body politic has remained markedly stable since independence, a notable exception in post colonial states. It is also viewed as an anomaly because of its incredibly diversified social strata and its ability to continue functioning as a democracy (Kothari 2005). There is no distinction for basis of citizenship along ethnic, religious or caste lines nor has there been any religious qualification for holding office. There has not been any significant state intervention to abolish the caste system  [7]  , although untouchability was made illegal in the Constitution  [8]  the system has been left undisturbed. Independence and the adoption of democracy has however not resulted in any state-led political agenda of social reform, by in large society has been allowed to reform itself in a laissez faire way. A proportion of parliamentary seats and a percentage of public sector jobs were/are however reserved for members of  Other Backward Castes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs)  and  Scheduled Tribes (STs). This reserve falls under Positive Discrimination (PD)  [9]  . Bhimrao Ramji  Ambedkar (a member of the untouchable Mahar caste), provided the Dalits with their first real hope of transcending caste discrimination (Luce, 2007), ensuring that equality along caste lines was enshrined within the Constitution  [10]  . While caste disparity has not yet been alleviated in a substantial way, it has given the Dalits a feel for political mobility  [11]  . Constitutional provisions. As regards Indias post independence economic policy, it adopted a model of self-sufficiency and import substitution  [12]  . Influenced by the Soviet example of a mixed economy it turned its back on trade and foreign capital imports on the premise of being a self-sufficient industrialised nation  [13]  .This failed to take capitalize on Indias early start in modern industry  [14]  , with it rehashing many of the industries which were already in place but which, were in its view tainted by imperialism. As a result industry suffered (Bhagwati, Desai and Sen, 1997). Restrictions on interest rates, subsidies to inefficient industries, taxation on movement of agricultural commodities, and perks to labour etc., all resulted in slow growth and employment, and continued poverty and inequality. With slow growth of jobs in the private sector, government jobs became much sought after, a trend which has persisted even now (Luce, 2007). Elections then became the means to access the fruits of patronage, with plebeian groups organizing around their caste and regional identities. Thus it can be argued that the slow growth with a leaning towards elite jobs, and social conservatism has strengthened caste, regional and religious loyalties. With continued slow growth and poverty levels unabated discontent grew and protests mounted from tribal, dalit and lower caste groups, unhinging Indira Gandhi and leading to the Emergency. Amid mounting pressure over her failure to remove poverty Indira Gandhi suspended democracy in 1975 declaring a national state of emergenc y. The Emergency The mixed economy combined the worst features of capitalism and socialism (Das, 2006). Mrs. Gandhi called for a committed bureaucracy that would be openly socialist, this tainted the neutrality of the civil service and lead to a sharp increase in corruption. She was also responsible for nationalising the banks and insurance sectors, in the name of the poor she handed control of finance to an unreformed civil service. Indias banking system became wholly inefficient which drastically raised the cost of capital for everyone. At this time she also presided over unpopular large-scale sterilization as a national form of birth control and many fell victim to her large scale slum clearance programmes. The activism of associational groups during this time advances the argument that Indias civil society should be the engine for democratisation. With the Swadeshi model, Indias average per capita growth was half that of the developing world which was as a whole was almost 3% from 1950 to 1980 (D as, 2006). The protectionist and anti-foreign sentiment that drove it to the brink of bankruptcy just over a decade ago when it had only three weeks of foreign currency reserves in its coffers. Many of the leaders that ruled India after the British left in 1947, like Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi, feared further influence of foreigners and established a practice of strict self-reliance, known as swadeshi. These governments subsidized many Indian industries, never allowing foreign companies to compete and thereby never allowing its own industries to excel. Such subsidies have long been a drain on the countrys economy, accounting for as much as 14 percent of its GDP. As a result of such protectionism and subsidies, many industries within India have remained stagnant. Indians are incredible farmers who could likely rival the U.S. in agricultural production. But the government doesnt allow people to own more than 18 acres. This is driving out many productive producers. The 1980s Following the election of the Janata party and the ousting of Indira Gandhi and emergency rule a new India emerged one which was no longer administered along old elite lines. Single party dominance was restored during the 1980s with the return of Congress to power. Mrs. Gandhi reinvented the Nehruvian vision maintaining the rhetoric of socialism but changing the content. Her time in office saw a relaxation of the economic self-sufficiency ethos and socialism or dirigisme was backed up by international borrowing. Economic institutions like permit-license Raj remained intact and there was no relaxation of domestic economic policy in parallel with foreign borrowing  [15]  , it did however lead to higher growth  [16]  . The Green Revolution was also now routinely yielding good harvests alleviating the necessity to import food  [17]  . With better prospects in the private sector the appeal of public sector jobs began to wane somewhat. Significantly secularism was increasingly compromised under Mrs. Gandhis populist accommodation of Hindu and Muslim orthodoxies. This created room for meeting the next explosion in subaltern demands which V P Singh tried to accommodate by undertaking to implement the Mandal recommendations. As India had not restructured its economy, its autarchic orientation continued and this meant that insufficient export income was generated to pay back the foreign debt. The economy crashed as it became unable to service its debt  [18]  . The liberalization reforms 1991 is a significant date in modern Indian history. It is difficult to gauge whether Indias political or economic conditions have changed more since that date. Under the balance-of-payments crisis of 1991, the Congress-led government pushed for greater economic transformation and reform. This heralded the end of the mixed economy, self sufficiency as a model was abandoned. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (the then finance minister), argued that macroeconomic stabilization had to be reinforced by reforms to make the decision-making and operational environment of firms more market-based (Varshney, 2007). Indias growth and economic trajectory since the introduction of reforms is extraordinary not only because it has taken place in the context of a democracy but also in so far as it has adhered to a unique development model  [19]  . Its economy is based on domestic consumption rather than exports, is focused on services rather than low-cost manufacturing as was the case in many of the Asian Tiger economies, (despite Indias enormous low-cost labour reserve which would naturally lend itself to labour-intensive manufacturing)  [20]  . India has taken advantage of the skills of its educated middle-class in boosting its services sector which now accounts for more than half of its GDP  [21]  . In this regard the reforms have effected mainly an elite and the educated middle class. Growth hasnt been employment intensive on the whole, between 1993/94 and 2004/05 the rate of employment growth declined significantly to 1.85% from the previous 10 years when it went up a little over 2% on average. Similarly there has been a fall in the growth of real wage rates. Indias development model is now much more dependent on the corporate sector. It has been losing regulatory controls such as the license permit quota raj and has embraced international openness to a greater extent. The private sector has been the principal driver of growth. Indeed the most successful sectors have been those in which the government has been absent. Prosperous despite the state (Das) Nihelani. The economy grows while the government sleeps. With the ever increasing role of the private sector as the driver of Indian growth, there is an obvious requirement to balance the needs of the citizens with those of the private  business. The imperatives of economic liberalization and globalization require diminishing the role of government in overall national activity, posing a dilemma for New Delhi (Perkovich, 2003). While democracy provides the long-disadvantaged an opportunity to mobilize and compete for control of government, unregulated private markets do not, potentially i ntensifying political conflict (Perkovich, 2003). It is however the private sector that offer the greatest potential to create jobs and drive economic growth. Due to liberalisation, the Indian economy has improved dramatically. The reform process has registered a 6 percent average annual growth rate for nearly a quarter century Over the last three years, it has grown at over 8 percent annuallyIt is hard to escape the impression that market interests and democratic principles are uneasily aligned (Varshney, 2007). The opening up of Indias economy and the embracing of globalisation has proved irreversible  [22]  . Combined with the implementation of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission this period also heralded the demise of Congress hegemony, to the extent that coalition government has now become a pillar of Indian politics. One-party dominance is gone  [23]  . Rise of Plebeian Politics and Coalition Politics Indias body politic has moved from being dominated after independence by elite English-speaking urban, majority upper castes politicians to a now more plebeian political thrust. The social makeup of participation has moved distinctly downwards towards the rural lower castes. The turnout in villages is higher than in urban India  [24]  , the odds of a scheduled caste citizen voting were 2.3% higher than the national average. The greatest increase in voting has taken place in tribal constituencies (Varshney, 2000). In this way caste as well as religion, have materialized as the fundamental base of support in Indian politics. Caste groups are however often as bitterly divided amongst each other as much as they are with Brahmin and upper caste groupings  [25]  . OBC, SC ST parties total vote share is significantly lower than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or Congress, but they are enough to force through concessions in coalition government. Despite the disunity of political parties it is fair to say lower-caste politics are now a permanent fixture with preserving the existing system of patronage-based subsidies being the raison dà ªtre of many lower-caste political parties (Luce, 2009). In many ways the motivation for many SC/ST parties is not to abolish caste disparity but gain leverage over each other. Despite Ambedkars call for annihilation of the caste system, it has remained, and became further entrenched. Increased competition in electoral politics in which Dalit votes make a big dif ­ference has prompted both the BJP and Congress to woo the Dalit vote  [26]  . They are a minority in every state and in most command between 10% and 20% of the vote  [27]  . Indeed Dalits have formed successful political parties, such as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is now in power in UP, and also have nationally known leaders, including UP Chief Minister, Mayawati, who it was suggested may even have been positioned as a potential Prime Minister  [28]  . It is fair to assert caste disparity is firmly embedded in the Indian body politic. India modernisation and liberalisation, have thus witnessed the country become less secular and more ethnically divided than before, entrenching caste and religious divisions instead of facilitating the demise of caste and communalism. India is an increasingly Hindu nationalist country as opposed to a secular socialist democratic republic. With this we have seen a clear increase in incidents of political and communal violence, most vividly played out in the caste wars in Bihar, Hindu Muslim violence in 1992/1993  [29]  and again in Gujarat in 2002  [30]  . The overarching ideology of Hindu nationalism poses a new challenge. Nehrus vision of secularism, socialism and non-alignment is now on its last legs, if not dead already, while the BJP Hindutva vision is gaining more and more momentum  [31]  . BJP vision. INDIAS DEVELOPMENT MODEL DEMOCRACY Development is by definition and practice a radical and commonly turbulent process that is concerned with far-reaching and rapid change in the structure and use of wealth, and which-to be successful it must transform. (Leftwich, 2002) Democratic politics as it is now in India is that of compromise, it is consensual, conservative and incremental in the change it brings about (Leftwich, 2002). Indias has not adopted the same development of those in its neighbourhood the Asian Tigers  [32]  . While India is a democracy the Asian tigers development all had either autocratic or very restrictive political systems in place. None of them had labour rights or labour rights were very restrictive  [33]  , free trade unions  [34]  or a free press  [35]  . It is worth noting also that unlike India on the whole the Asian Tigers have a far more homogenous population  [36]  . Some scholars argue that democracy is needed to keep a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious country like India intact (Desai). Indias rapid economic growth in the context of a democracy is on the whole without parallel. Evans (2001), however warns against any assumed symbiotic relationship between democracy and human rights. While democracy can endorse equitable development, the goals of democracy and equity should be considered largely independent. Deficiencies in accountability and checks and balances have led to many democracies degenerating into havens of corruption, where the powerful always triumph  [37]  (Eapen 2004). Indeed the relationship between democracy and development is often problematic, in this sense developing countries often accuse proponents of democracy of placing the democratic cart before the economic horse (Mahbabani , 1992). Leftwich (2002) argues that democracies have great difficulty in taking rapid and far reaching steps to reduce structural inequalities in wealth, whether they be based on class, colour, ethnicity, religion or a combination of them. The objectives of competing groups in a developing country like India are often simply to capture public resources and engage in destructive types of corruption and accumulation to enrich their faction (Khan 2002). As we have seen with the upsurge in plebeian politics in India, by legitimising and intensifying contestation between essentially unproductive groups, democracy can make destructive rent-seeking worse (Khan 2002). This can also be applied to India as discussed with patronage being the rainson detre for many caste groups, and the rise of Mayawati for example, using her power to increase her own faction. Indias experience also illustrates that democracy has encumbered development in a number of ways. Short term pandering and handouts to the electorate has impeded long-term investment, particularly in physical infrastructure, which has been to the determent of Indian economic growth development  [38]  (Bardhan, 2006). To the disgruntlement of international financial institutions and credit rating agencies, Indias treasury maintains considerable budget deficits, in the certain knowledge that holding back in government spending could end a coalition(). Neither can democratic systems such as India push thru economically beneficial legislation amid rival parties jocking interests, in the way that autocratic regimes can, particularly pertinent in Indias case (). Nor does India have the option of engaging in policy experimentation open to it, in the way that China has done, as the risk of the consequences of failure at the ballet box are too great. Democratic incumbency is another significant drawback to Indian development  [39]  . Elections have become Indias institutionalized political common sense (Varshney 2005). Essentially no one party remains long enough in power to follow through on policy reform and implementation. Singh was voted out at the beginning of the Early 2000s, the BJP came in and now Singh is back and the threat of being ejected from government makes it worse. Coalition further exasperates this difficulty. The same is the case with corruption and the crime/politics nexus (Desai, 2002 Luce, 2007)  [40]  . The importance of openness in democratic politics is apparent when considering Sens argument that democracy, because it circulates information better, has been more successful in the prevention of famines in India  [41]  . The study is frequently considered in looking at the advantages of democratic systems more generally. Sen argues that democracies allow the poor to penalize or vote out governments that allow famines to occur thus placing a greater impetuous on political representatives to prevent the root cause. He also argues that democracies are better than autocracies at disseminating information from underprivileged and isolated to the central government, owing to political rights such as the freedom of the press and freedom of speech. The level of literacy is fundamental to this argument however, and literacy rates in India are relatively poor. Also highly significant is to who the journalistic discourse appeals to. In India the media generally addresses the upper class and educated middleclass, as the vast majority of the poor and most marginalized are illiterate. It can be argued too that with this same section of Indian society, whom the media primarily address are those who are reaping the rewards of Indias economic prosperity, and who are thus to a large extent placated. The discontent expressed within the media may well be falling on deaf ears  [42]  . Bhagwati (199%) reminds us that it is the views that are expressed, be they those of the rulers or the ruled that is of paramount importance over the actual freedom of the press. Conclusion India certainly affords its citizens more freedoms than China, but it is hardly a liberal democratic paradise (Crossette 2010). Democracy have been the putty that has held India together  [43]  (Desai ). It is however erroneous to equate a multi party democracy political system with high quality institutions. Politics in India has become more consensual and less elitist but at the same time more corrupt and self-serving. Coalition and patronage politics of social factions have combined to make government expenditure a variable outside political control. Castes and religious divisions are used like pawns in the electoral game. Political power is the route to the rewards of patronage for communities which have little chance in the liberal market order for economic gain. By resorting to political patronage, caste disparity has become further entrenched. No major observer denies that India is a democracy, but particularly in states like Bihar where corruption, criminality, murder, and kidnapping heavily taint the electoral process, it is an illiberal and degraded one  [44]  . The decline of secularism and socialism, the rise of liberalism and religiosity, the persistence of nationalism as a force. BJP. On the other side Congress, has pledged it will pursue inclusive growth, clarifying that inclusion will come when growth rates remain sustained at a high level and as long as it takes to make the laudable goal feasible of public expenditure on education, health and welfare. Their strategy operates on the premise that inclusion is an end goal and cannot happen simultaneously with the growth process. The worlds largest free market democracy. Indias economic growth in the context of a democracy is on the whole unprecedented. But it is increasingly questionable as to whether democracy is the variable in Indias strategy to sustain economic growth and development? Opening up to the free market has sharpened marginalisation and inequality, certainly in Indias case the structures of political power, are being propped up by corporate tycoons and powerful lobbies, the risk being this leads to the democratic political process being hijacked and corrupted. Thus the imperatives of democracy and development  require that civil society have to remain constantly alert. Very much a trickle down, rising tide lifts all boats model as opposed to a bottom-up mechanism. Only about 10 percent of Indians have benefited from all that development and progress. Indias development has no meaning for the vast majority of Indians. It is instructive to take note of the issues that the GOI attempts to deal with, the methods they use to address them and the problems they choose to ignore. Governments have chosen to consistently act with deliberation and resolve to support the cause of economic powerhouses. In many cases these have caused direct conflict with often some of the most vulnerable communities. Often the state chooses to be oblivious of the constitutional rights of these communities in its policies and their implementation. Through policies that consistently choose to represent economic interests even at the cost of constitutional rights, the democratic Indian State is losing its credibility. Indias development drive has called into question the credibility of Indian democracy. Crucially Schedler draws a distinction between electoral democracy and electoral authoritarianism based crucially on the freedom, fairness, inclusiveness, and meaningfulness of elections (Schedler, 1998 Diamond, 2002).

A Comparison of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen Essay -- English Liter

A Comparison of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen ADVANCED ENGLISH LANGUAGE ESSAY Of the many authors to emerge during the nineteenth-century, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen were among the few who would make a lasting impression on the literary world for generations. Hard Times, often referred to as Dickens’ ‘Industrial novel’ and Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have been much read and well-loved classics for many years. It is the purpose of this essay to compare and contrast the different worlds depicted in both Hard Times and Pride and Prejudice. It will also look at the literary development between the early and late nineteenth-century. The essay will end with the examination of the stylistic characteristics of each author. In the world depicted in Hard Times, workers are treated as little more than interchangeable parts in the factory's machinery, given just enough wages to keep them alive and just enough rest to make it possible for them to stand in front of their machines the next day. The town in which the story is set is called Coketown, taking its name from the ‘Coke’, or treated coal, powering the factories and blackening the town's skies. It is a large fictional industrial community in the north of England during the mid-nineteenth century. In Chapter 5 of the novel, Dickens describes the town as having buildings and streets that looked the same with red brick but were forever masked with smoke. The reader is told that the town looked like the ‘painted face of a savage’ and ‘serpents of smoke’ trailed out of its factories. It is easy to imagine the sunshine struggling to break through the thick smoke. The lives of the workers were monotonous and hard as they lived in ‘a town so sacred to ... ...ast, Miss Austen’s very finely written novel of Pride and Prejudice. That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life, which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with.’ (Watt, 1963). BIBLIOGRAPHY Allen, W. (1954) The English Novel, Dutton, New York Allen, W. (1960) The English Novel, Pelican, London Bygrave, S. ed. (1996) Approaching Literature: Romantic Writings, The Open University Gray, M. and Gray, L. (2001) York Notes Advanced: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, York Press, London Page, N. (1985) Macmillan Master Guides: Hard Times by Charles Dickens, Macmillan Education Ltd, London ("Romanticism (literature)," Microsoft ® Encarta ® 98 Encyclopedia.  © 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation.) Watt, I. Ed. (1963) Jane Austen: A Collection of Critical Essays, Prentice-Hall Inc, USA A Comparison of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen Essay -- English Liter A Comparison of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen ADVANCED ENGLISH LANGUAGE ESSAY Of the many authors to emerge during the nineteenth-century, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen were among the few who would make a lasting impression on the literary world for generations. Hard Times, often referred to as Dickens’ ‘Industrial novel’ and Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have been much read and well-loved classics for many years. It is the purpose of this essay to compare and contrast the different worlds depicted in both Hard Times and Pride and Prejudice. It will also look at the literary development between the early and late nineteenth-century. The essay will end with the examination of the stylistic characteristics of each author. In the world depicted in Hard Times, workers are treated as little more than interchangeable parts in the factory's machinery, given just enough wages to keep them alive and just enough rest to make it possible for them to stand in front of their machines the next day. The town in which the story is set is called Coketown, taking its name from the ‘Coke’, or treated coal, powering the factories and blackening the town's skies. It is a large fictional industrial community in the north of England during the mid-nineteenth century. In Chapter 5 of the novel, Dickens describes the town as having buildings and streets that looked the same with red brick but were forever masked with smoke. The reader is told that the town looked like the ‘painted face of a savage’ and ‘serpents of smoke’ trailed out of its factories. It is easy to imagine the sunshine struggling to break through the thick smoke. The lives of the workers were monotonous and hard as they lived in ‘a town so sacred to ... ...ast, Miss Austen’s very finely written novel of Pride and Prejudice. That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements and feelings and characters of ordinary life, which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with.’ (Watt, 1963). BIBLIOGRAPHY Allen, W. (1954) The English Novel, Dutton, New York Allen, W. (1960) The English Novel, Pelican, London Bygrave, S. ed. (1996) Approaching Literature: Romantic Writings, The Open University Gray, M. and Gray, L. (2001) York Notes Advanced: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, York Press, London Page, N. (1985) Macmillan Master Guides: Hard Times by Charles Dickens, Macmillan Education Ltd, London ("Romanticism (literature)," Microsoft ® Encarta ® 98 Encyclopedia.  © 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation.) Watt, I. Ed. (1963) Jane Austen: A Collection of Critical Essays, Prentice-Hall Inc, USA

The Cat Walk :: essays research papers

â€Å"Oh my God! It is awfully dark!† screamed Britney as she tried to quickly make her way through the incinerator. She felt a brisk chill on the back of her neck as she heard her predator drawing closer and closer. Her body quickly stopped as she slammed into the catwalk railing. Her heart was pounding and her feet staggered as she pulled her body up the 50 foot catwalk. The stairway started to sway as the person following walked onto the steps. Britney kept running into cold metal as the catwalk twisted and turned around the building. She figured she must be getting near the stairs when she felt a violently stern hand grab her neck. The man had caught her and she lost her breath. Desperately screaming, he picked her up by her hair and her legs, and lifted her up over the railing. Britney tried to grab for anything as she fell. He heard her scream, then a blood curdling snap, and then silence It is 9:45 a.m. when Anthony Streets arrived at the Glen Oak Recycling center. Police and forensics already made their way through the incinerator, checking the smoke stacks, burning pits, control rooms, and machinery for clues. â€Å"Take a break, guys. Let me have a look around for awhile.† This was Anthony’s first case on his own, since his 15 year partner had died unexpectedly. â€Å"Mr. Streets. The girl worked here on weekends. She was 26, from California. We already contacted the family. Three other people used their key cards yesterday; Betty Thompson, Chris Moore, and Devon Moore. All are on their way here. Betty Thompson and Chris Moore were on the time sheet to work yesterday.† â€Å"Thank you Officer Becker. Now please ask your men to give me my space. Thank you.† Anthony examined the place of death first. It was obvious that Britney fell, by the way her neck was broken and by the way she was sprawled on the icy concrete floor. Blood was smeared, so he could tell the murderer touched the body to make sure she was dead, but there were no fingerprints found. He then went to search the cat walk. As Anthony attempted to ascend the catwalk, he felt a cold hand touch his shoulder. â€Å"Excuse me , are you a cop? The police department called me down here. What is going on?† As Anthony caught his breath, he asked, â€Å"And you would be who?† â€Å"The name is Moore.

Caste Discrimination Essay

Caste systems are a form of social and economic governance that is based on principles and customary rules: Caste systems involve the division of people into social groups (castes) where assignments of rights aredetermined by birth, are fixed and hereditary. The assignment of basic rights among various castes is both unequal and hierarchical, with those at the top enjoying most rights coupled with least duties and those at the bottom performing most duties coupled with no rights. The system is maintained through the rigid enforcement of social ostracism (a system of social and economic penalties) in case of any deviations. Inequality is at the core of the caste system.  Those who fall outside the caste system are considered â€Å"lesser human beings†, â€Å"impure† and thus â€Å"polluting† to other caste groups. They are known to be â€Å"untouchable† and subjected to so-called â€Å"untouchability practices† in both public and private spheres. â€Å"Untouchables† are often forcibly assigned the most dirty, menial and hazardous jobs, such as cleaning human waste. The work they do adds to the stigmatisation they face from the surrounding society. The exclusion of ‘caste-affected communities’ by other groups in society and the inherent structural inequality in these social relationships lead to high levels of poverty among affected population groups and exclusion from, or reduced benefits from developmen t processes, and generally precludes their involvement in decision making and meaningful participation in public and civil life. The division of a society into castes is a global phenomenon not exclusively practised within any particular religion or belief system. In South Asia, caste discrimination is traditionally rooted in the Hindu caste system. Supported by philosophical elements, the caste system constructs the moral, social and legal foundations of Hindu society. Dalits are ‘outcastes’ or people who fall outside the four-fold caste system consisting of theBrahmin, Kshatriya, Vysya and Sudra. Dalits are also referred to as Panchamas or people of the fifth order. However caste systems and the ensuing caste discrimination have spread into Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and Sikh communities. Caste systems  are also found in Africa, other parts of Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and in Diaspora communities around the world. In Japan association is made with Shinto beliefs concerning purity and impurity, and in marginalized African groups the justification is based on myths. Caste discrimination affects approximately 260 million people worldwide, the vast majority living in South Asia. Caste discrimination involves massive violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It is often outlawed in countries affected by it, but a lack of implementation of legislation and caste-bias within the justice systems largely leave Dalits without protection. Videos – Cases of Caste Discrimination Click here to see a Playlist from IDSNs YouTube Channel with a selection of videos dealing with cases of caste discrimination and the consequences of this. Understanding ‘Untouchability’  A comprehensive Study of practices and conditions in 1589 Villages Caste-based discrimination is the most complex human rights issue facing India today. To date, the tools used to assess its status have been divided by discipline—human rights, legal and social science. Although significant contributions toward understanding untouchability have been made in each of these areas, it is difficult to comprehend the scope and pervasiveness of the problem without combining the tools of all three. We have spent the last four years compiling quantitative, comprehensive and reliable data exposing the current state of untouchability (caste-based discrimination) against Dalitsi (â€Å"untouchables†) in Gujarat, India. This report presents data on untouchability practices in 1,589 villages from 5,462 respondents in Gujarat on the issue of untouchability. In 2000, Martin Macwan of Navsarjan received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, initiating a long-term partnership between Navsarjan and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights. In response to Navsarjan’s identified need for an extensive study on caste discrimination, members of the RFK Global Advocacy Team from the University of Maryland/Kroc Institute at the University of Notre Dame, and Dartmouth College/University of Michigan joined the team. The objective was to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the topic in order to better drive Navsarjan’s advocacy and intervention work. In its efforts across Gujarat and India, Navsarjan has experienced first-hand that a deeper  understanding gained by intensive data collection leads to the development of more effective strategies to address the contin ued practice of untouchability. Indeed, interactions with individuals across age, caste, gender and social sectors during the implementation of this study reveal that the potential for ending untouchability may exist within two large groups of people that can be seen as sources of hope. First, a large segment of Indian society, primarily of younger generation Indians, though largely ignorant about its scope and practice, appears ready and willing to learn about untouchability and work towards its true abolition. Second, another group of people across caste, nationality and religious affiliations have become deeply concerned about the prevalence of untouchability practices viewed from the perspective of human rights. This group of activists, advocates, donors, lawyers, students, academics, politicians and ordinary citizens has developed an awareness of untouchability as an issue of civil and human rights law. The report presents both a general and multi-disciplinary view of current untouchability practices across rural areas in Gujarat (bringing together political science, sociology, law, public policy and community organizing) and provides evidence to refute the belief that untouchability is limited to remote and economically underdeveloped corners of India. The broad picture of untouchability can be used to educate Indian society about these practices and to initiate an informed national and international debate on how to address the problem. Equally important, this report presents a picture of untouchability that promotes global visibility on the continued human rights violations suffered by Dalits and provides an example to other countries on methods for identifying, understanding and eliminating discriminatory activity. We believe that a systematic approach to understanding untouchability shatters the myth that the problem is intractable. Instead, we hope that the data presented here and the understanding it generates will spark new energy and commitment to the movement to end the injustice and indignity of untouchability. (to view the full report hit the link below) Caste-based discrimination is a form of discrimination prohibited by  international human rights law. Although it may not be equated with racism, it is quite clear from several references made by several UN treaty and charter-bodies that this issue warrants due recognition as an example of gross human rights violation that needs to be taken into consideration by all human rights mechanisms available in the UN system. ICERD definintions and CERD practice on descent-based discrimination The ‘descent’ limb of the definition of ‘racial discrimination’ Article 1(1) of ICERD defines ‘racial discrimination’ as follows: Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life (emphasis added) The term ‘descent’ as a prohibited ground of discrimination springs unheralded and unexplained into the basic framework of ICERD. It is one of only two terms in this list that isn’t borrowed directly from the UDHR formulation (the other being ‘ethnic origin’, in lieu of ‘social origin’). It does not appear in any of the key pre-ICERD texts on racial discrimination. It is also noteworthy that, although included in the definition in article 1(1), the term ‘descent’ was omitted from the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in article 5 of ICERD. CERD General Recommendation No. 29 on descent CERD has confirmed its interpretation of ‘descent’, in the form of its General Recommendation No. 29 on ‘descent-based discrimination’, adopted on 22 August 2002. This General Recommendation: Confirms â€Å"the consistent view of the Committee that the term ‘descent’ in Article 1, paragraph 1 of the Convention does not solely refer to ‘race’ and has a meaning and application which complements the other prohibited grounds of discrimination†; and Reaffirms that â€Å"discrimination based on ‘descent’ includes discrimination against members of communities based on forms of social stratification such as caste and analogous systems of inherited status which nullify or impair their equal enjoyment of human rights†. From this review of CERD’s practice, it is apparent that the Committee has consciously and consistently adopted an interpretation of the ‘descent’ limb of article 1 of ICERD that e ncompasses situations of caste-based discrimination and analogous forms of  inherited social exclusion. Read CERD General Recommendation No. 29 on descent CERD General Recommendation No. 32 on special measures This CERD General Recommendation on the meaning and scope of special measures in the ICERD, adopted at its 75th session in August 2009, affirms General Recommendation 29 on Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention (Descent), which makes specific reference to special measures. The Committee also states that special measures should be ‘carried out on the basis of accurate data, disaggregated by race, colour, descent and ethnic or national origin and incorporating a gender perspective, on the socio-economic and cultural status and conditions of the various groups in the population and their participation in the social and economic development of the country.’ Subsequent CERD practice Any â€Å"subsequent practice in the application of the treaty which establishes the agreement of the parties regarding its interpretation† may also, in such circumstances, be taken into account. In the course of reviewing state party reports, CERD has expressed explicit reliance on the ‘descent’ limb of article 1 in order to address the situation of Dalits in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the UK, as well as the analogous situations of the Burakumin in Japan. CERD has also addressed situation of ‘descent-based discrimination’ in a number of other instances, even though in some of these additional cases the reliance upon the ‘descent’ limb of the article 1 of the Convention has been implicit. Concluding observations have been made by the Committee in respect of Yemen, Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Senegal, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Mauritius. Conflicts in Somalia had also been viewed by CERD as being based on descent, thus bringing them within the purview of ICERD. As CERD expert member Patrick Thornberry has argued, â€Å"whatever the argument on the relation between the specific reference to ‘race’ in Article 1 and the caste issue, there is a suggestion here that in the context of the Convention as a whole, and in particular in the context of special measures, the redress of caste disabilities finds a place.† Response by affected countries In early August 1996, CERD considered India’s consolidated tenth to fourteenth periodic reports. In this context, India sought to establish that discrimination related to caste did not fall within the scope of ICERD or within the jurisdiction of the Committee. â€Å"The term ‘caste’†, the Indian report declared, â€Å"denotes a ‘social’ and ‘class’ distinction and is not based on race.†The report expressly acknowledges that â€Å"Article 1 of the Convention includes in the definition of racial discrimination the term ‘descent’†, and that â€Å"oth castes and tribes are systems based on ‘descent’†. However, the Indian position concerning the interpretation of this term was that: †¦ the use of the term ‘descent’ in the Convention clearly refers to ‘race’. Communities which fall under the definition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are unique to Indian society and its historical process. †¦ it is, therefore, submitted that the policies of the Indian Government relating to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes do not come under the purview of Article 1 of the Convention. In the course of discussion of the report in the Committee, the Indian delegation said that India’s report â€Å"had focused on matters relating to race as distinct from other categorizations referred to in the Constitution. †¦ Constitutionally, the concept of race was distinct from caste. †¦ To confer a racial character on the caste system would create considerable political problems which could not be the Committee’s intention. In the spirit of dialogue, however, India was prepared to provide more information on matters other than race, without prejudice to its understanding of the term ‘race’ in the Convention.† A number of CERD members challenged the Indian Government’s interpretation of the term ‘descent’, and in its concluding observations CERD insisted that â€Å"the term ‘descent’ mentioned in article 1 of the Convention does not solely refer to ‘race’†. Moreover, the Committee affirmed that â€Å"the situation of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes falls within the scope of the Convention†, and went on to specifically recommend that â€Å"special measures be taken by the authorities to prevent acts of discrimination towards persons belonging to the scheduled castes and sc heduled tribes, and, in cases where such acts have been committed, to conduct thorough investigations, to punish those found to be responsible and to provide just and adequate reparation to the victims.† The Committee specifically stressed â€Å"the importance of the equal enjoyment by members of these groups of the rights to access health  care, education, work and public places and services, including wells, cafà ©s or restaurants.† CERD also recommended a public education campaign on human rights, â€Å"aimed at eliminating the institutionalized thinking of the high-caste and low-caste mentality.† Nepal has also appears to have acquiesced to CERD’s interpretation and practice in this regard. CERD has now taken up the issue of caste-based discrimination in Nepal on three successive occasions without demur from the Nepalese Government. Indeed, Nepal has volunteered substantial amounts of information concerning caste-based discrimination in its periodic reports. When Pakistan was examined by CERD in February 2009, the Government took a principled decision by engaging constructively in a dialogue with the Committee on how to tackle the challenges faced by the Government in addressing the issue of caste-based discrimination in contemporary Pakistan. CESCR General Comment No. 20 on non-discrimination General Comment No. 20 on Non-Discrimination in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was adopted by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) at its 42nd session in May 2009. In this General Comment, the Committee reaffirms CERD GR No. 29 that â€Å"the prohibited ground of birth also includes descent, especially on the basis of caste and analogous systems of inherited status.† The Committee recommends States parties to â€Å"take steps, for instance, to prevent, prohibit and eliminate discriminatory practices directed against members of descent-based communities and act against dissemination of ideas of superiority and inferiority on the basis of descent.† Caste in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights In none of the human rights instruments does the term ‘caste’ appear. Nevertheless, an examination of the travaux preparatoires of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights shows that caste was explicitly contemplated by the drafters as being encompassed in some of the more general terminology in the UDHR’s foundational non-discrimination provision. In 1948, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly was in debate over the inclusion of the word ‘birth’ in the list of prohibited grounds of distinction in what was to become article 2 of the Declaration. Mr Habib, representing India, said that he ‘favoured the use of the word ‘caste’ rather than ‘birth’, as the latter  was already implied in the article.’ Mrs Roosevelt for the United States of America, and a member of the informal drafting group, demurred to both this intervention. In her opinion, ‘the words â€Å"property or other status† took in to consideration the various new suggestions that had been made.’ Mr Appadorai of the Indian delegation in effect accepted the US and Chinese caste-inclusive interpretations of some of the more general language in the draft article. He said ‘his delegation had only proposed the word â€Å"caste† because it objected to the word â€Å"birth†. The words â€Å"other status† and â€Å"social origin† were sufficiently broad to cover the whole field; the delegation of India would not, therefore, insist on its proposal.’ It is apparent therefore that caste was acknowledged in the drafting process as being encompassed in the terms ‘other status’ and/or ‘social origin’, if not also in ‘birth’ (the specific grounds of the Indian objection to this term not being entirely clear from the travaux). To that extent, a special meaning may be regarded as having been attributed to those terms. As well as appearing in the non-discrimination provisions of most subsequent international human rights instruments, the terms ‘social origin’ and/or ‘other status’ (either or both of them) have been incorporated in the non-discrimination provisions of the significant number of national constitutions that have borrowed these formulations from the UDHR. At the same time, it is noteworthy that a number of national constitutions have put the matter beyond question so far as their domestic legal regimes are concerned by explicitly referring to caste in their non-discrimination provisions. This applies to the constitutions of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Burkina Faso. Caste discrimination: More than 165 million people in India continue to be subject to discrimination, exploitation and violence simply because of their caste. In India’s â€Å"hidden apartheid,† untouchability relegates Dalits throughout the country to a lifetime of segregation and abuse. Caste-based divisions continue to dominate in housing, marriage, employment and general social interaction—divisions that are reinforced through economic boycotts and physical violence. Working in partnership with the International Dalit  Solidarity Network, India’s National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, and the Gujarat-based Dalit grassroots organizationNavsarjan, IHRC works to hold the Indian government accountable for its systematic failure to respect, protect, and ensure Dalits’ fundamental human rights. In 2007, for instance, the IHRC issued a series of statements and a report based on its analysis of India’s failure to uphold its international legal obligations to ensure Dalit rights, despite the existence of laws and policies against caste discrimination. The report Hidden Apartheid—which was produced in collaboration with Human Rights Watch—was released as a â€Å"shadow report† in response to India’s submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which monitors implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. IHRC also participated in proceedings related to the Committee’s review of India’s compliance with the Convention and presented the report’s findings.