Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Massive manpower crunch ails education system
It is true that a
large number of vacancies exist in IITs, Universities, colleges and schools all
over the country. But it is not due to dearth of suitable candidates alone, but
mainly because of the delay in recruiting candidates for the vacancies on regular
basis. None of the institutions take proper effort to recruitment teachers in
time, i.e. before the vacancies arise due to retirement. For instance, there
were 9 faculty members in the Department of Economics in the University of
Madras, Chennai, in the year 2006. Since then 6 Professors have retired over
the years. But the University authorities have not taken any steps to fill up
the vacancies. Similar is the situation in other departments of the University.
As a result, more than 50% of the sanctioned strength of teachers in the Madras
University is lying vacant. There is no indication that these vacancies will be
filled up in the immediate future. Similar is the situation in all other
Universities in India. The situation is not different in Central Universities,
IITs, and other such Institutions. If the Universities and other such
institutions recruit teachers in anticipation of vacancies, the problem of
shortage in manpower can be solved to a greater extent. Moreover, lack of
pension benefits for the teachers in government and aided institutions is
another reason for people taking teaching posts. Therefore, the government
should try to reintroduce the pension scheme for teachers in government and aided
institutions. As far as schools are concerned, the state governments often
deliberately keep the teaching posts vacant in order cut the expenditure so as
to divert for other purposes. Recruitment of teachers are not done
periodically in anticipation of the vacancies arising out of retirement as well
as creation of new posts. Moreover, recruitment is not only delayed but
also done on a piecemeal basis. In the case of schools also teaching positions have become
unattractive due to delay in recruitment, rampant corruption and lack of
pension benefits. Above all, low salary is
the most important factor for lack
of
demand for teaching positions. Both the Central and State governments
have to look into the above factors seriously in order to solve the
problem of manpower crunch in educational institutions. Dr.C.Murukadas,
The Times of India, 03.07.2012
What’s wrong with our education?
The educational set
up in India is at cross roads. Education in no other country in the world is as
much commercialised as in India. During the past two decades or so the central
as well as state governments have slowly
withdrawn from their responsibility to provide quality education to the
people.For nearly four decades, people
with philanthropic considerations
entered the educational arena and set up Universities, Colleges, Professional Colleges,
Technical Institutions, Schools, etc. with the motive to serve the society. But
in the recent past a new type of educational institutions have come into
existence, namely self- financing (unaided) educational institutions. Thousands
of unaided / self-financing schools and colleges (in engineering, medicine, paramedical
sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, and arts and sciences) as well as
polytechnics and industrial training institutes have come into existence during
this period primarily based on profit motive rather than service to the
society. These institutions have been promoted by bureaucrats, politicians,
capitalists, businessmen, politicians, religious heads, communal associations,
money launderers, liquor barons, smugglers, profiteers, and other such
individuals, who rarely cherish the idea to serve the society. Admittedly the
growth of such institutions has led to the commercialisation of education. These institution woefully lack
infrastructural facilities and qualified teachers. While they collect huge
amount as capitation fees and as tuition fees, the salary paid to the teachers
(including fully qualified teachers) is often a pittance compared to those
employed in government and aided educational institutions. These teachers are
not only denied proper salary but also security of service and other benefits.
As a result, a kind of informal system of employment has emerged in the field
of education also.
Most disquieting
aspect is the permission granted to so many Deemed Universities in violation of the provisions of the UGC
Act, which involved large scale
corruption by the UGC Chairman and other concerned officials, besides
politicians. All and sundry institutions lacking infrastructure facilities and
qualified staff have been granted Deemed University status, which enabled them
to become law unto themselves and loot the people. Most of these Deemed
Universities have stated all kind of courses, mostly without permission, and
loot people. Some of them have started
"branches” without the permission of UGC. They employ all kind of methods
to attract/woe students. In some cases they promise "sure pass" .
They have deployed canvassing and commission agents. One University on the
outskirts of Chennai in GST road has
been awarding pass mark/ high marks to students on payment of certain amount.
It also receives payment for attendance. The UGC seems keep silent on all such
malpractices! Why not abolish the Deemed Universities, which were created
against law?
Dr.C.Murukadas, The Times of India, Aug.5, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Impact on economy due to weak monsoonAgriculture continues to be mainstay of a large proportion of India’s population. India has about 108 million hectares of rein fed area which constitutes nearly 75 per cent of the total 143 million hectares of arable land. In such areas crop production becomes relatively difficult as it mainly depends upon intensity and frequency of rainfall. Estimates show that seasonal rainfall up to end July for the country as a whole
is 19% below the long
period average. Therefore, monsoon
deficit would cause enormous strains to the farmers in
drought hit areas. It will also affect
the overall performance of the economy. The general public will also be affected
due to increase in food inflation, which is expected to rise. Historically, droughts and widespread floods
are accompanied by rise in food prices, hunger and malnutrition. Therefore, the central and state governments
have to initiate steps to mitigate the sufferings of the farmers in
drought hit areas by proving them
compensation for the loss of crops, besides providing alternative income earning
opportunists primarily by broadening the
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Various schemes under MGNREGA such as: 1) Water conservation and water
harvesting;2) Drought proofing (including afforestation and tree plantation);3)
Irrigation canals including micro and minor irrigation works;4) Provision of
irrigation facility, horticulture plantation and land development facilities on
land owned by households belonging the SC and ST or to BPL families or to
beneficiaries of land reforms or to the beneficiaries under the Indira Awas
Yojana of the Government of India;5) Renovation of traditional water bodies
including de-silting of tanks and development;6)Flood control and protection
works including drainage in water logged areas;7) Rural connectivity to provide
all-weather access; and 8 Any other work which may be initiated by
the Government may be intensified and insulated from
corruption. Moreover the government may distribute the surplus stocks of food
grains at subsidized prices to the needy and deprived people.
Dr.C.Murukadas, Times of India, August 8, 2012 |
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Urban Poverty Alleviation Programmes
Urbanisation is a modern phenomenon. At the turn of the twentieth century,
only one-fifth of the world population lived in urban areas. At present urban
population constitutes more than one-half of the total population of the word.
Today, in some areas, especially in the economically advanced countries,
the majority of the people live in cities and towns, while in most others the majority
will be living in urban areas soon. Recently, the rate of urbanisation has become more
rapid in the less developed regions. And a greater part of the increase in world urban
population is contributed by less developed countries. Moreover, much of the
urban population growth is taking place in big cities. India is no exception to
the wave of rapid urban growth witnessed by the developing countries in the
past few decades.
While urbanisation has created serious difficulties even in the
industrialised nations, it has turned out to be virtual disaster in the less developed
countries, today. The principal force that accelerates urbanisation no longer
is industrialistion. In most of the counties in the less developed regions,
including India, there is larger urban growth than is justified by degree of
industrialisation and economic progress by the standard witnessed in the growth
of cities in the Western countries. People are pushed towards the cities from
rural areas to the already overcrowded cities. The relative “over-urbanisation”
is reflected in unemployment and marginal self employment and predominance of
the informal sector. As a result, economic conditions of a vast section of the
urban population in the less developed countries like India remain insecure.
Surveys carried out during the past decade or so indicted that one-fourth to
three-fourths of urban dwellers in these countries live in abject poverty and
squalor in an extremely deplorable living environment without access to basic
amenities and essential services. Recent data show that more than a quarter of
India’s urban population (about 95 million people) is living below the poverty.
Poverty abounds everywhere, in the big cities as well as small towns. In most
of the big cities, migrant workers are predominant among the poor. This segment
of urban poverty, of course, is the extension of rural poverty itself. Low
family income appears to be uniform features in all the cities.
The process of economic development has benefited only the upper-middle sections
of the society much more than the middle, lower-middle, and poorer sections of
society. Therefore, inequality has risen considerably over the years. As the
income earned by the poor is generally insufficient to support the family,
which is generally large, these people live in slums and squatter settlements
in deplorable living conditions and degraded environment. The numerous
anti-poverty measures have failed to make an effective dent on poverty. It is a
common knowledge that many anti-poverty measures have ended with target
setting. They continue to be in the grip of corrupt officials and greedy
politicians, who largely control much of the investment related activities on
anti-poverty programmes. In a way, poverty alleviation programmes are known for
leakage to the various intermediaries than benefit to the people.
Dr. C.Murukadas, Aug 5, 2012
Urbanisation is a modern phenomenon. At the turn of the twentieth century,
only one-fifth of the world population lived in urban areas. At present urban
population constitutes more than one-half of the total population of the word.
Today, in some areas, especially in the economically advanced countries,
the majority of the people live in cities and towns, while in most others the majority
will be living in urban areas soon. Recently, the rate of urbanisation has become more
rapid in the less developed regions. And a greater part of the increase in world urban
population is contributed by less developed countries. Moreover, much of the
urban population growth is taking place in big cities. India is no exception to
the wave of rapid urban growth witnessed by the developing countries in the
past few decades.
While urbanisation has created serious difficulties even in the
industrialised nations, it has turned out to be virtual disaster in the less developed
countries, today. The principal force that accelerates urbanisation no longer
is industrialistion. In most of the counties in the less developed regions,
including India, there is larger urban growth than is justified by degree of
industrialisation and economic progress by the standard witnessed in the growth
of cities in the Western countries. People are pushed towards the cities from
rural areas to the already overcrowded cities. The relative “over-urbanisation”
is reflected in unemployment and marginal self employment and predominance of
the informal sector. As a result, economic conditions of a vast section of the
urban population in the less developed countries like India remain insecure.
Surveys carried out during the past decade or so indicted that one-fourth to
three-fourths of urban dwellers in these countries live in abject poverty and
squalor in an extremely deplorable living environment without access to basic
amenities and essential services. Recent data show that more than a quarter of
India’s urban population (about 95 million people) is living below the poverty.
Poverty abounds everywhere, in the big cities as well as small towns. In most
of the big cities, migrant workers are predominant among the poor. This segment
of urban poverty, of course, is the extension of rural poverty itself. Low
family income appears to be uniform features in all the cities.
The process of economic development has benefited only the upper-middle sections
of the society much more than the middle, lower-middle, and poorer sections of
society. Therefore, inequality has risen considerably over the years. As the
income earned by the poor is generally insufficient to support the family,
which is generally large, these people live in slums and squatter settlements
in deplorable living conditions and degraded environment. The numerous
anti-poverty measures have failed to make an effective dent on poverty. It is a
common knowledge that many anti-poverty measures have ended with target
setting. They continue to be in the grip of corrupt officials and greedy
politicians, who largely control much of the investment related activities on
anti-poverty programmes. In a way, poverty alleviation programmes are known for
leakage to the various intermediaries than benefit to the people.
Dr. C.Murukadas, Aug 5, 2012
TMC will oppose FDI in retail
It is praiseworthy that key UPA ally Trinamool
Congress today said it is
opposed to FDI in retail. Estimates show that
India has the highest
shop density in the
world, i.e. 10 outlets for every 1000 people.
India
is emerging as one of the largest retail
markets in the world; it is
poised to become the
third largest retail market, next only to US and
Chins, in the near
future. The demand for goods and services in the
country is growing
rapidly due to high rate of population growth, fast
increase in
disposable income and rapid urbanisation. Therefore, the
potential for retail
trade is high and growing. In the past decade or
so, big retails
stores have come up on a large scale, all over the
country. Besides many Indian corporates have also
entered the retail
market, which has
caused the ruin of many tiny retailers.
Many global retail
chains are waiting in the wings to enter the Indian
retail arena. A
Company like Wall-Mart, if it enters India, will sell
everything tradable
in the retail market, which an ordinary retailer can
never imagine selling. The tiny traders will
never be able to stand the
price war created by these big retailers and
as a result they will not
be able to survive.
These persons will not be able to find jobs in other
sectors
because of lack of job opportunities.
Experiences show that
even retailers in the
organised sector will not be capable of facing the
onslaught from firms such as Wall-Mart, if and
when it comes.
Therefore, allowing
the multinational retail giants into India
tantamount to opening
the Pandora’s Box.
The major multinational retail giants expected to enter
India, once
FDI in multi-brand
retail is allowed, are: Wall-Mart (US),
Carrefour
(France) , Metro AG
(Germany), Ahold (Netherlands), Tesco
(UK), Kroger
(US), Costco (US)
ITM Enterprises (France), Edeka
Zentrale (Germany).
Many single brand
retail giants are also waiting for a chance to enter
full-fledged in the Indian retail market.
Dr.C.Murukadas, Business Standard, Aug.5, 2012
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Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's statement that the issue of allowing FDI in retail should be left to the states is condemnable. FDI in retail trade will not serve any purpose. It will do more harm than benefit the people, especially to the unorganised/informal retail sector, which is a vital source of occupation and livelihood for the multitude unemployed people of the country, besides being the cushion for those who are displaced from their occupations/employment for various reasons. Evidences from various parts of the world indicate that widespread emergence of big format retail super stores have lead to extensive ruin of retail stores/shops thereby resulting in the loss of employment and livelihood to millions of persons involved in retail trade. Research findings have exposed that large scale unemployment has proved to be social dynamite. That is, increase in unemployment leads to a series of social problems, like rise in poverty, alcoholism, domestic violence, indebtedness, suicides and crime in general, leading to a chaotic situation in the society.