On the non-random distribution of educational deprivation of children in India

The emphasis on education assumes importance given the recent recognition of human capital, human rights and human development perspectives of development. Hence educational deprivation is recognised as the primary agent of human deprivation and all necessary measures are required to ensure minimum education for every child. Such a universal recognition emanates from the given magnitude of educationally deprived children all around the world. On this premise, this is an attempt at examining the levels and inequities associated with the phenomenon of educational deprivation of children during 1990’s in India. This exercise provides a detailed exposition of the household characteristics of the deprived children based on information obtained in National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). The persistence of educational deprivation among children in India is due to socio-economic deprivation in general; however, it remains debatable but whether the remedy lies in making the schooling provision universal. This paper argues that the provision may be necessary but not a sufficient condition to accomplish the dream goal of universal elementary education. Alternatively it argues for a greater role of the state to ensure the enabling conditions in the household domain; in other words, the state has the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of all children on an equal footing. The state’s responsibility is of equal importance of that of the parents. Key Words: India, Deprivation, Educationally Deprived Children, and Child Labour, Educational Inequalities, Group Inequalities. JEL Classification : I 2, I 20, I 28, R 12, J 21, J 2

Youth employment and unemployment in India

Increase in the share of youth population due to demographic `dividend' or the `youth bulge' seems to be one of the sources of future economic growth in India. Although with increase in school and college enrolment rates, the proportion of youth in the labour force has been declining, their high proportions in the labour force indicate that the problem of youth unemployment and underemployment would remain a serious policy issue for many more years to come in India. In this context, this paper examines the employment and unemployment situation of the youth in India during the last two-and-half decades viz., 1983 to 2007-08. It analyses the trends in labour force and workforce participation rates, unemployment, joblessness, working poor, growth and employment elasticities etc. The paper also offers policy recommendations for increasing productive employment and reduction in unemployment for the youth. The poor employability of the workforce would hamper the advantages due to demographic dividend if measures are not taken to improve the educational attainment and skill development of the youth.Youth Employment, unemployment, skill development, joblessness, demographic dividend, literacy, school education, vocational training

Mechanisms of Nanomaterial Synthesis by Pulsed Laser Heating Under Fluids (PLHUF)

Metallic nanoparticles on surfaces have applications in biosensing, reaction monitoring, and solar energy harvesting etc. due their unique properties which are absent in the bulk metal. The size, spacing, shape, areal density and stability are some of the key parameters that determine suitability in applications. Metallic thin film melting in air has been investigated to produce nanoparticles as a relatively inexpensive approach with a predictable size and spacing. However, the main limitation is independent control of particle size and spacing. Recently, Yadavali and Kalyanaraman [1] showed that laser melting of Au films under glycerol lead to the independent control of particle size and spacing. This dissertation is focused on understanding of the behavior of nanoscale Ag metallic systems heated under bulk fluids. Ag thin films, irregular nanostructures, single and bilayer nanopyramids were fabricated using e-beam evaporation and nanosphere lithography then heating either by furnace annealing or nanosecond laser heating in vacuum, air and water-glycerol mixtures. Annealing of Ag/Co bilayer nanopyramids in air at temperature between 373 K to 573 K led to the discovery of the kinetic anchoring mechanism where the high surface energy and lower surface diffusivity of cobalt resulted in the Ag shape stabilization. Nanosecond laser heating of discontinuous Ag nanostructures under water produced a monomodal distribution of nanoparticles with smaller sizes than in air. High pressure gradients generated in the water vapor phase were attributed to this phenomenon. Pulsed laser melting of nanopyramids and thin films under water-glycerol mixtures produced nanoparticles with higher contact angles than in air. This was explained by the change of interfacial energies of quartz and metal surface by introduction of bounding fluids. Finally, nanosecond laser heating of nanopyramids and thin films beyond the boiling temperature of silver led to explosive vaporization in vacuum resulting in formation of small nanoparticles due to re-deposition onto the substrate. Overall, the thermodynamic properties and dispersive properties of the bounding fluid were found to play important roles in the Pulsed Laser Heating Under Fluids or PLHUF process

Educational deprivation of children in Andhra Pradesh : levels and trends, disparities and associative factors

In line with the perspectives of human capital, human development and human rights, this paper conceives education to be the basic right of children and re-christens all children who are not in school including child labourers and ‘no-where children’, as educationally deprived children. It examines the prevalence rate, trends, disparities and factors associated with the phenomenon of educational deprivation of children in Andhra Pradesh. The incidence of this deprivation is examined by using data sources available from Census and the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). In our analysis it is observed that the incidence of educational deprivation of children is coming down over the period, albeit at a slow pace. The state, during the 1990s, experienced a dramatic change in the decline in the incidence of educational deprivation of children. Children who live in rural areas, who are female by gender and belong to SC/ST social groups are relatively the most disadvantaged. It seems that the location effect dominates the gender and caste effects and the interaction of these factors affects the chances of schooling crucially. The district level analysis shows that the leaders and laggards of educational development during pre-independence or pre-state formation retained their relative positions in the early phases of post-state formation period but these positions changed by the year 1991. Few districts from the backward regions were catching up, rising to the positions of the districts in the developed region and even forging ahead. Nevertheless the regional averages show that the historical legacy of educational development/ backwardness still holds. Finally, it is observed that the phenomenon of child deprivation is a rural phenomenon closely associated with agrarian economy. Key Words: Andhra Pradesh, Child Schooling, Educational Deprivation of Children, Child Labour JEL Classification: I2, I20, I28, R12, J21, J2

When Will India Achieve Universal Adult Literacy: Status and Prospects

The present paper examines status and disparities across sub-population groups distinguished by location, gender and caste, and across, states with respect to literacy. It also explores the prospects of literacy rate in India with a modelling of simulation exercise while considering different policy interventions. In this respect it is observed that the performance of India in literacy rate is relatively poor. The progress in the literacy rate especially during the last decade is decelerated when compared to that of the previous decade. Again, rural-urban differences, gender gaps and social group disparities and regional variations across states continue to persist. The initiative for improving literacy rate through informal/non-formal adult education programmes especially in the context of National Literacy Mission and its initiative of Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) yielded very poor results. With respect to the prospects of India in meeting the EFA goal related to adult literacy are not so encouraging. It would require greater policy attention and better initiative for the improvement of adult literacy. Our simulation exercise has shown that the impossibility of achieving 100% literacy rate in the near future for the country unless there is a policy intervention through adult education programme. The exercise indicates the need for rejuvenating the National Literacy Mission (NLM) and revamped adult literacy programmes of TLC and PLP

Prospects of Employment Growth in Andhra Pradesh

The present paper examines the changes in work participation rates, participation rate in education and the growth of employment, and explores the prospects of employment growth in the state of Andhra Pradesh (India) in the scenario of declining population growth which acts as a limiting factors for the further employment growth

When Will India Achieve Universal Adult Literacy: Status and Prospects

The present paper examines status and disparities across sub-population groups distinguished by location, gender and caste, and across, states with respect to literacy. It also explores the prospects of literacy rate in India with a modelling of simulation exercise while considering different policy interventions. In this respect it is observed that the performance of India in literacy rate is relatively poor. The progress in the literacy rate especially during the last decade is decelerated when compared to that of the previous decade. Again, rural-urban differences, gender gaps and social group disparities and regional variations across states continue to persist. The initiative for improving literacy rate through informal/non-formal adult education programmes especially in the context of National Literacy Mission and its initiative of Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) yielded very poor results. With respect to the prospects of India in meeting the EFA goal related to adult literacy are not so encouraging. It would require greater policy attention and better initiative for the improvement of adult literacy. Our simulation exercise has shown that the impossibility of achieving 100% literacy rate in the near future for the country unless there is a policy intervention through adult education programme. The exercise indicates the need for rejuvenating the National Literacy Mission (NLM) and revamped adult literacy programmes of TLC and PLP

Conflicts and Development: A Case of Naxal Movement affected Warangal District in Andhra Pradesh

The presented study examines the level and pattern of development in the conflict particularly Naxal afflicted areas/regions. A case of Warangal District in Andhra Pradesh which has been the most affected district in India by the Naxal movement and its violence, is considered for the study

Synthesis and spectral studies of ternary complexes of Ni(II) and dioxouranium(VI) with 2-hydroxy-l-naphthaldehyde and some amino acids

1011-1013The 1:1:1 ternary complexes of Ni(II)and dioxouranium( VI) with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde (A) and some amino acids have been synthesized and characterized. The IR spectral data of the complexes indicate that histidine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid act as tridentate ligands while glycine, ɑ-alanine, β-alanine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, serine and threonine act as bidentate ligands coordinating through amino nitrogen and carboxylic oxygen. The electronic spectra of the nickel(II) complexes suggest that they are octahedral. An eight coordination has been proposed for uranyl complexes also

Child Labour and Schooling in a Histrical Perspective: The Developed Countries Experience

In the light of the present debate on the problem of child labour in developing countries, it is the need of the hour to look into the experiences of those developed/industrialised nations. The high incidence of child labour in the industrialised nations during the last two centuries, especially in 19th century, also generated a debate. It is hoped that a greater understanding of the history of childhood and child labour in the developed countries help us to understand, analyse and appreciate this problem in the Third World Countries such a India, better. Hence, we undertake this review of the phenomenon of child labour in the developed countries such as Great Britain, Germany, Japan and USA