Evaluation of E-Learning Program

Evaluation of E-Learning Program Chapter one Introduction Nowadays, higher education is experiencing big challenges driven by many emerging trends, among which is the introduction of the means of online learning. Accordingly, many universities all over the world are taking different moves to cope with the new requirements; some universities were established as purely online learning providers, other conventional universities launched new online programs, and some introduced online learning programmes to enhance some of their already existing programs. E-Learning redefines the teaching/learning processes and the overall learning environment. It changed the old university system to a new set of practices by introducing significant changes in the roles of its main key players; learners, faculty members, and the institution as an entity (Mendenhall, 2001). The change which e-learning brings to higher education, accompanied by its vast spreading as an accepted learning delivery mode, has been always questioned by its components who tie this type of learning to poor quality. Therefore, studying the different aspects of evaluating the quality of e-learning has been rising as an issue that is worth researching and enhancing (Kistan, 2005; Wirth, 2005). A big range of perspectives on what factors to address when evaluating the quality of e-learning has been developed. Nevertheless; most of those studies either addressed a few factors pertaining to a single aspect or dimension (Ally, 2004) or addressed multiple aspects but without looking at the e-learning institution comprehensively (Cohen and Ellis, 2004). In view of the lack of a holistic framework of factors to evaluate the quality of e-learning programs, the aim of this study is to hopefully contribute to the body of knowledge in this area, by developing a framework for the evaluation of quality in e-learning programs. Research objective: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of e-learning programs through investigating the related critical factors that have been identified by researchers and practitioners of this field. It also intends to examine the relevancy and importance of such frameworks within e-learning practise in Saudi Arabia. The study aims also at understanding how the key learners and faculty members differ in perceiving the importance of such factors on impacting on the quality of an e-learning program? Research Question: The research intends to answer in broad perspective the following questions as well: What are the factors which affect the quality of e-learning? In this question the researchers are trying to address the quality factors which affect the success of E-learning in Saudi Arabia based on 12 factors that have been addressed from the literature. How can we increase e-learning practice in Saudi Arabia? The second question to know is whats the best way to increase the number of E-learning practise in Saudi Arabia and what do learners think based on their experience. Dissertation structure: This dissertation includes six chapters in addition to its introduction. Below is a brief description of each: Chapter two; outlining the background information of the research to put the reader into the perspective of this study. The chapter includes a discussion of the emerging trends in higher education that have pushed for the introduction of e-learning and discusses broadly the quality issue in this type of learning. Chapter three; covers the literature review of e-learning, i.e. critical factors for evaluating the quality of e-learning programs. The chapter starts with identifying the distinctions between e-learning and traditional education, discusses in detail the definition of the Quality concept in higher education generally, and in specific e-learning. Chapter four; Cover the research methodology such as the process of data collection and analysis which will be used. Chapter Five; we will be describing and analysing the data and present the data gathered. Results of the analysis are then discussed. Chapter six; this chapter summarizes the study, lay out the conclusion and ends up with recommendations for future research. Bibliography Research Methodology: In this study the researcher will to collect his data by the quantitative method where a questionnaire will be designed based on the factors which have been discovered from the literature review and then will be sent to random group in Saudi Arabia. The Data later on will be analysed to show the result and the findings. Saudi Arabia Background: Saudi Arabia which is the birth place of Islam and home to Islams two holiest places, Mecca, and Medina, is located in the Middle East bordering the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. The kings official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi State was founded in 1932. It is a large Middle Eastern nation that ranks as one of the worlds leading producers of petroleum, and exports more oil than any other nation. The government is of a monarchy type and the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government, and administratively it is divided into 13 provinces, with the constitution governed according to Islamic Law. The countrys legal system is based on Sharia law and several secular codes have been introduced. Commercial disputes are handled by special committee. Saudi Arabia has an oil based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% of the worlds proven petroleum reserves. It not only ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, but also plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. It is believed that about 40% of GDP comes from the private sector and roughly 5.5 million foreign employees play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. The researcher carried out this research in Saudi for the following reasons which are described in detail. The access: as the researcher is a Saudi national and has good access to the people in Saudi Arabia where he can collect more information and find a better response rate than carrying out research in any other place. The Language: The researcher is multi lingual as he can speak Arabic and English fluently, therefore he will not face any problem in collecting the data The Information: The researcher understands the situation in Saudi Arabia which enables good research as he will not spend too much time understanding the situation and its cultural factors. The Organisation of the Education System in KSA The education system in Saudi Arabia has five divisions. They are: kindergarten for children from three to six years old, elementary (6-11), intermediate (12-14), secondary level (15-18), and university level (typically 19-24, depending on the subjects studied, and the form of higher education). The secondary stage is the final phase of general education in the Kingdom. It is a three-year period, following on from the intermediate stage. Students are admitted to this stage if they have obtained the intermediate stage certificate. Normally students follow secondary stage education between the ages of 16 and 18 years. This stage is considered the most important period in the general education ladder because students who successfully complete this stage are eligible to join any higher education institution. The administration of the education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is highly centralised. All educational policies are subject to government control and supervision by the Supreme Council of Education. Textbooks and teaching tools are uniform throughout the Kingdom. The four principal authorities responsible for education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are: the Ministry of Education; the General Presidency for Girls Education; the Ministry of Higher Education; and the General Organisation of Technical Education and Vocational Training. Conclusion In this chapter we gave a sample overview about the research and the reasons for carrying out this research such as the lack of understanding in the practice of the E-learning program in Saudi Arabia. The research is trying to develop a good understanding of this and the information of other studies carried out in similar fields of the success factors of the quality of E-learning in Saudi Arabia. Also in this chapter we have described the dissertation structure and the research questions which are going to measure the main factors for the success of learning Quality. Finally the Saudi Background has been analysed to give the reader the information to understand where the study has been carried out and why. Chapter Two Introduction: The main objective of this chapter is to put forward the point of view of this study by laying out its background information. The chapter starts with presenting the emerging trends in higher education that have lead to the introduction of e-learning. It then continues by explaining the quality issue that is associated with this type of learning. The chapter also includes an overview of the background information about e-learning in Saudi Arabia. Education An overview: According to a recent publication by UNESCO, the education sector in general comprised of all of its components including higher education is experiencing new trends that exert on it new pressures and challenges (Hernes, 2003). Those trends are either classified under demography, such as the continuing growth and increase of population, particularly young populations, migration between countries, and increase of life expectancy, or are due to globalization where nations in general and learners in particular flow across borders without limits, allowing learners to have easy access to the best universities in the developed countries. Finally, perhaps the most important trend is knowledge growth accompanied by advanced information and communication technologies which have changed forever the way information is obtained, stored, used and displayed. Despite the divide between one country and another, or within the same country, more knowledge development opportunities have been created. Information technologies offer the possibility of modularization and customization of education through the use and re-use of learning objects focusing on learners, the possibility of engaging learners more than ever and therefore changing the role of the faculty from a teacher to a facilitator. In response to the challenges described above, the growth of the e-learning programme with its different modes in higher education is apparent and best reflected by the increasing number of e-colleges and e-universities, or the increasing number of higher education institutions that introduced e-learning programs and definitely by the growth of enrolment rate among learners. A study of e-learning in the United States in 2005, suggested that e-learning is penetrating the higher education institutions both in size and breadth and that e-learning is part of the mainstream of higher education. Figures of the study showed that sixty-five percent of schools offering graduate face-to-face courses also offer graduate courses online. Sixty-three percent of schools offering undergraduate face-to-face courses also offer undergraduate courses online. Among all schools offering face-to-face Masters degree programs, 44% also offer Masters programs online. Among all schools offering face-to-face Business degree programs, 43% also offer online Business programs. The same study showed an increase of around 20% of learners enrolment rate compared to the previous year (Allen and Seaman 2005). For different reasons, those statistics do not seem to be applicable to other countries. The USA is certainly the worlds largest provider of e-learning; however the market for e-learning and lifelong learning is also growing in Europe. Moreover, the Arab world, which represents 5 per cent of the worlds overall population, has entered the 21st century with a striking statistic, which shows that it has only 0.5 per cent of the worlds Internet users. This obviously impacts on the number of its e-learning initiatives and enrolled learners in such type of learning systems (UNDP, 2002). Using Computers in Learning: These days, computers have become an important educational tool kit. Many educational organizations and training centres rely on them to deliver information and learning knowledge. However, using computers in education has a long history and is deep-rooted in the field. The idea of using computers in training first appeared during World War 2, when the US military trained farmers to use weapons and other equipment via this systematic approach (Horton, 2000). The first real use of the computer in educational organizations was seen in the 1960s, when the University of Illinois together with the Data Corporation developed the PLATO system. PLATO is a system which enabled the learning and understanding of complex subjects. Apples Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating system have since provided a standard platform on which programmers can develop training programs (Horton, 2000) Definition of E-learning: E-Learning refers to the employment of information and communication technologies to support the development and delivery of learning in academic and professional development institutions. E-Learning is used widely with other terms such as online learning, technology-mediated learning, web-based learning, computer-based learning, etc. Several definitions of e-learning have been developed reflecting the diversity in its application, used tools, and associated technologies. Whatever definition was used, the meaning of e-learning always contains two fundamental terms; Learning and Technology. In one way or another, all definitions of e-learning indicate the learning that takes place with the support of multimedia objects, the internet and technological applications as a delivery mode. One of the highly used definitions of e-learning is: â€Å"Education via the Internet, network or standalone computer; it refers to using electronic applications and processes to learn, where communication and content is delivered via the Internet, intranet/extranet, audio or videotape, TV and CD-ROM etc as appropriate (LTSN Generic Centre, 2004). A recent definition that uses the terminology of higher education institutions was laid out by Ally (2004) who defines e-learning as: The use of the Internet to access learning material; to interact with the content, instructor, and other learners; and to obtain support during the learning process, in order to acquire knowledge, to construct personal meaning, and to grow from the learning experience. According to Horton (2000) E-learning is a general phrase that has several definitions. However, the comprehensive definition that covers all aspects of e-learning is what Ruth and Richard offer: â€Å"E-learning is defined as instruction delivered on a computer by way of CD-ROM, Internet, or intranet with the following features: Includes content relevant to the learning objective. Uses instructional methods such as examples and practice to help learning. Uses media elements such as words and pictures to deliver the content and methods. Builds new knowledge and skills linked to individual learning goals or to improve organizational performance† Feature of E-learning: Eaton (2001) outlines that e-learning is characterized with the following features: Computer-mediated classrooms: faculty members and learners communicate through the computer, making face to face interaction less frequent. Separation in time between communications: communication between faculty members and learners can also be in asynchronous modes. Availability of services online: learners are not only provided with online learning experience but also with online services such as advising, registration, and library services. Distinction between e-Learning and Conventional Education: To understand the quality of e-learning requires a full understanding of how this type of learning differs from the conventional style of education and the changes it brings to higher education institutions. This section presents in a broad perspective the distinctions between e-learning and traditional education which shape higher education nowadays. Such distinctions will be taken into consideration when materializing a definition for quality in e-learning, and deciding what to be taken into consideration for evaluating the quality of this type of learning. The following areas were highly repeated in the literature as key distinctions between e-learning and traditional education: Educational Changes: McLaughlin and Oliver (2000) believe however that new technologies have a positive impact on the learning environment where more choices for forms of learning are provided to the faculty and learners. This includes the delivery and presentation of content in more flexible way and a variety of modes, the provision of interactivity, engagement, communication, feedback, and communication and collaboration tools. Weller (2000) sees that those types of new choices will facilitate the quick use of courses for easier customization and individualization resulting in more satisfied learners. Change in Faculty Roles: With the growing amount of knowledge and information every day, and the availability of a huge amount of content over the internet, faculty members will not continue to be seen as the source of knowledge, instead, according to Cashion and Palmieri (2002), faculty members are expected to direct learners where to find the most relevant knowledge and provide them with tools that teach them how to learn. Different Types of Learners: Oblinger and Oblinger (2005) have referred to young learners of today as the â€Å"Net Generation† who grew up being familiar with technological products and facilities. Internet access, computer and electronic games have been a daily activity of learners lives. Learners today have different expectations with respect to their learning styles; they prefer to experience things instead of reading or hearing about them, they expect immediate response to questions or actions, they appreciate interactivity and dialogue (Pashuk, 2005). Learners of today consider themselves as customers who demand to be served high quality services. They have consumers attitudes towards their academic program and any of its services (Wager, 2005). E-Learning institutions should be arranged to different types of learners, not only in their preferences and expectations but also in their level of variety. Change in Administrators Role: Administrators of an academic institution are usually referred to as staffs who are not participating in direct teaching or research work, their role is usually to assure that the institutions systems are running properly. Administrators are responsible to create, maintain and improve an environment that helps learners and faculty achieve their academic goals. Administrators of an e-learning institution can be involved in selecting, orienting, and preparing qualified faculty for courses, administer and manage the technological facilities at the institution, provide different types of faculty and learners support from the technical helpdesk; library services, financial aid, etc. Administrators can also be involved in the planning, quality assurance, and performance management of an activity to help the institution serve its learners better (Williams, 2003). Reliance on Infrastructure: Although e-Learning is basically about learning rather than about technology, the technological infrastructure of e-learning programs is still the critical and primary component of the education systems. E-Learning is characterized by its high independence on the validity, and reliability of its infrastructure, which has the role of facilitating and providing accessibility of the learning/teaching process and its support services between faculty members and learners (Pashuk, 2005). Institutional Demands: E-Learning institutions must set up their systems, policies and procedures to deal with issues like data security from both internal and external threats as well as copyrights from the learners, faculty and the institutional perspectives. Developing a high quality online course will not only require the intellectual contribution of faculty members, it rather involves other key team members from the same institution or from partnered institutions. Copyright issues are usually linked to revenue sharing models, especially when the course developers are contracted or granted any incentives (Mendenhall, 2001). Advantages of using E-learning Methods: As we know, traditional education requires effort, time and money that can lead to some difficulties in achieving the goals of learning. On the other hand, e-learning contributes to the spread of knowledge among people around the globe by easy, fast, and comfortable means, that helps people to attain their personal learning objectives. As a result, several educational organisations have proceeded along the e-learning approach to facilitate and improve the process of learning. In this section, several advantages of using an e-learning approach will be discussed. The author has divided the advantages into two main categories, advantages for learners, and advantages for instructors. Advantages for learners: According to Mayer (2003) he has concluded the common advantages that learners can gain from e-learning. The following list illustrates the main advantages for learners: â€Å"Learners can get the best instruction available â€Å" The wide popularity of the e-learning programme makes learning more flexible and gives freedom to learners to choose the best course available which fits their needs. â€Å"Training occurs just in time†. Web-based training is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week which allows learners to study when they need it without any conditions or constraints. They do not need to wait for training sessions or a specified time to attend. â€Å"Learners set the pace and the schedule†. Learners can study at their own time; learners can take as many lessons as they need depending on their time and their plans. For example, some of them may wish to study full-time while others prefer to study a few hours a week. â€Å"Learners get better access to the instructor†. Communication with the instructor(s) through web based e-learning systems can be more effective than the traditional classroom approach. â€Å"Training adapts to the learners style† Many different learning styles can be incorporated within an e-learning environment, and the learner is able to adapt to a style or series of styles which they prefer and in the way they feel is most efficient. â€Å"Learners get immediate feedback† There is no need to wait while for the results of the exams, or games. The results can be obtained immediately. â€Å"Learners are treated more equally† A degree of anonymity is ensured, therefore personal characteristics are not considered. â€Å"Saves money and time for learners† Hidden costs are eliminated in that here are no travelling expenses, parking fees, etc. It is also efficient for time in that almost all the time is spent on learning and no time is wasted on travelling. â€Å" Produces positive side effects† Learners are constantly improving their other skills, such as general computer skills, various internet technologies and how they apply them in their jobs. Advantages for Instructors According to Mayer (2003) the most common advantages for instructors can gain from e-learning are: â€Å"Instructor can teach from anywhere† Instructors are able to teach the course from any location in the world. All they need is connection to the internet. â€Å"Instructors travel less† Almost all the time is spent on planning, producing and publishing courses with no time wasted on travelling to attend. â€Å"Course content can be dynamic† Instructors have the opportunity to deal with course matter at any time and in any place such as home, office etc. â€Å"Instructors save time† Time consumed in preparing the course document such as handouts, having course paper printed etc., are eliminated. Conclusion In this chapter we have covered a wide range on academic study in order to understand this subject, starting with the definition of E-learning and what do we mean by E-learning, followed by another important part which is what is the difference between E-learning and Conventional education. Also the researcher has included a brief explanation concerning the history of E-Learning and the feature of E-stand and its practise. Moreover, we can see that based on the literature there are many advantage of E-learning for the learner. For example, he can study from anywhere and at any time which is the flexibility of E-learning and also there is an advantage for the instructor as he can also teach from any place and with a flexible time schedule. Chapter three Introduction: In order to understand what constitutes quality of e-learning and the critical factors that should be addressed when evaluating this type of learning, an understanding of the distinctions between e-learning and traditional education needs to be attained. Therefore the first section of this chapter is dedicated to exploring what changes have been brought to higher education by e-learning. This chapter includes a literature review for to explore what has been recognized by the researchers and practitioners of this field as key factors that affect the quality of e-learning programs and institutions, and therefore should be used to evaluate this type of learning. A list of highly rated and most repeated factors was then generated and categorized to form the basis for a comprehensive framework intended for evaluating quality of e-learning programs which will be used later in the empirical research. Quality in E-learning: A range of perspectives on what defines quality in e-learning, and what should be considered when evaluating the quality of e-learning has been developed. Some studies have addressed few factors pertaining to a single aspect or dimension, and some have developed frameworks for evaluating the quality of e-learning addressing many aspects. During those studies many different approaches were adopted ranging from surveying learners, faculty members, designers and policy makers for their views, building models for effective e-learning, and constructing camps that contextualize and debate the e-learning environment (Brennan, 2001). Despite the important contribution of each of those studies, a complete framework for evaluating the quality of e-learning couldnt be found. Developed frameworks either addressed the quality of the e-learning program with an emphasis on the classroom environment only, or overlooked some important aspects, such as the impact of the institution on the quality of e-learning programs (Cashion and Palmieri, 2002). E-Learning has been addressed by governing or accrediting bodies which developed quality standards, principles or frameworks. Such standards however, were developed to help institutions plan for their e-learning programs (Cashion and Palmieri, 2002) or as a self assessment tool, therefore they usually address in general perspective quality standards, academic standards, standards of competence, service standards and organizational standards (Harvey, 1999). According to Vlasceanu et al (2004), the definition of quality in a higher education institution differs with the changes in: The interests and needs of various types of stakeholders The institutions own inputs, processes, outputs, purpose, mission and set of objectives The characteristics and attributes of the academic world The historical evolvement and development of higher education Revisiting the changes that e-learning brought to higher education especially to the role of its fundamental stakeholders, learners, educators and administrators, it perhaps becomes logical when we look for a definition of quality as a concept, to consider these stakeholders first. For this reason, a growing literature in the field of e-learning tends to define quality of e-learning programs as the degree to which principal stakeholdersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ needs and expectations are consistently satisfied, referring to the learners and educators (Kistan, 2005). Success factors: Critical success factors (CSFs) are key areas of performance that are essential for the organisation to accomplish its mission (Rockart, 1979). Managers implicitly know and consider these key areas when they set goals and as they direct operational activities and tasks that are important to achieving goals. However, when these key areas of performance are made explicit, they provide a common point of reference for the entire organisation. Thus, any activity or initiative that the organisation undertakes must ensure consistently high performance in these key areas, otherwise the organisation may not be able to achieve its goals and consequently may fail to accomplish its mission. The term â€Å"critical success factor† has been adapted for many different uses. Familiarity with the term is often presented in the context of a project or an initiative. In this context, CSFs describe the underlying or guiding principles of an effort that must be regarded to ensure that it is succes sful. Clarity of course goals: Not surprisingly, there has been consensus in the literature that in order to assure the quality of the teaching/learning process, designing a course should start with explicit outcomes that identify the expectations from learners and the faculty from the very beginning. Learning outcomes which usually drive the effectiveness assessment process of courses should be also challenging and linked directly to the institutions overall goals and objectives. (Mayer et al 2000) faculty members have to adjust course content by selecting appropriate learning styles to achieve course goals and learners needs. Learner Interaction: Interaction is one of the most widely mentioned factors in the literature in relation to its impact on the quality of e-learning programs. (Moore, 2002) Interaction in the e-learning environment compensates for the loss of direct and face to face contact between learners and their faculty member or colleagues. Moore (1989) has identified three types of interaction: Interaction between faculty and learners, which is considered to be the most vital component that creates an effective learning environment upo

The Gender Discrimination In Pakistan Sociology Essay

The Gender Discrimination In Pakistan Sociology Essay This paper demonstrates a societal status of women and their pondering image in a perspective of social, political and economic contexts in Pakistan. The explicit spectrum of gender in different academic shapes does not rectify the comprehensive mode of subject due to lack of research and policy implementation. This thesis provides an appropriate source in the light of Islamic sharia law, cultural and uneducated state regulations towards gender understanding in Pakistan. Social injustice, economic domination by men and culturally bindings and borders make an oppressed environment for womens. Urban and rural, tribal and family moralistic restrictions amidst more and broader complications to the uplift of women in various areas of Pakistan. Women in Pakistan are living in critical social scenario and struggling to gain its level role and rights in all spheres of life. This study provides a precise shade of womens situation in Pakistan by connecting to social, political, and economic as pects of discrimination. Research needs more empirical academic work to identify issues and solutions regarding this burning topic. Chapter 1 1.1 Introduction Womens right in the world is an important indicator to understand global well-being. No society can function properly without women. Aristotle the father of political science had said that the state is a union of families and villages. Family plays a very important role in society, and makes the foundation of the state .Happy families build healthy societies and healthy societies are prerequisites of strong political order in democratic societies. A woman is an architect of society. She forms the institution of family life, takes care of the home, brings up the children and tries to make them good citizens. Her role in totality contributes to the building of an ideal family, ideal society and an ideal state. In order to build the prosperous and healthy society both men and women demand for equal rights. About half the mankind consists of women and they are treated as second class citizens all over the world, but especially in developing states they are oppressed in different sectors of life. In these developing countries one of the living examples is Pakistan which has been coming across this issue since it got independence in 1947. Womens lives are controlled and shaped by various gender discriminatory structures in Pakistan. Their contribution to the production and physical hardships are not acknowledged. A woman suffers in education, health and gender biased feeding and recreation practices. As a human being she is denied from her own identity. In some parts she is considered as commodity owned by her brother and father before marriage and then by her husband. She does not have the power to make a decision for her life. Someone else takes decisions on behalf of herself about marriage, education or giving birth to a child. In this paper I will explain the situation of women with a special focus on discrimination against them in different sections of society. What are the main obstacles in the development of womens rights. Furthermore I am also going to explain womens rights from an Islamic point of view, since this is sometimes used as an explanation or an excuse, for violating womens human rights. The essential teaching communicated to each woman in this patriarchal society where I myself grew up, is to stay a quiet viewer, even as a silent party to any unfairness done by a man. Women from 48% of the inhabitants in Pakistan. A huge number inhabits in countryside areas, where essential facilities are lacking and womens rights are mistreated. In those areas they are kept away from education, dont have access to schools and colleges and usually became victims of honor killings, rape, early marriages and gender discrimination. In remote areas, women are treated as slaves and remains under their men only as a labor force. Usually their fate will be decided by their husbands, fathers and brothers, which are often called male dominating societies. They do not have the right to make a decision concerning important aspects of lives. For instance, marriage is also a kind of business among rich and poor families; this tradition exists both in the villages and cities, which is extremely infringing on their rights to exist. In some of the areas the customary act of Swara is largely prevalent especially in Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa and Balochistan ( provinces of Pakistan), by the virtue of which, instead of giving blood money as badl-e-sulha(retribute) an accused family gives their girl or girls in marriage to an aggrieved family as compensation to settle down the blood feud between them. In this study I have used the concept of Martha Nussbaum ,, capability approach,, According to her the ten capabilities are life, bodily health, bodily integrity, senses, imagination and thoughts, practical reason, Emotion, Affiliation, Other species, Play, and control over ones environment. These capabilities are related to one another in many complex ways. It must be protected and guaranteed in order to have happy and successful life. 1.2 Aims of the thesis The topic of this assignment is discrimination, a very broad term which for this thesis have been narrowed down to,gender discrimination in Pakistan.In this study my aim is to analyze the situation of womens rights in Pakistan. How they are discriminated in different spheres of life and what are the main causes of discrimination. 1.3 Research Questions My research question is following. 1. What are the major causes of gender discrimination in Pakistan? 1.4 Methodology and material This thesis is a qualitative case study of Gender discrimination in Pakistan in order to collect qualitative data for this research I have chosen to use secondary materials such as books, internet materials, and some relevant articles related to my study. In theory. I have used the book Women and human development by Martha C. Nussbaum except from course literature. I have used the main book Al-Quran and different articles from journals. Apart from this I have also used materials from UN resources such as articles from very conventions sources from internet and data from newspaper have also been used. 1.5 Chapter Outline In this paper I start my work with a brief introduction to the field. In the second chapter womens situation in Pakistan is described briefly and some articles from CEDAW and the constitution of Pakistan is described. Furthermore the women status under sharia law has also been discussed. The subsequent chapter 3 discussess the main reasons of creating discrimination and inequalities between men and women in Pakistan. In chapter 4 I have analyse the topic and then finally I have given the conclusions with the answers to the research questions. 1.6 Theory. Martha Nussbaums Capability Approach Nussbaum presents the important ingredients necessary for living an honorable life. Her concept is derived from the Aristotle notion of human beings as a political animal and from Marx idea that the human being is a creature. She thinks that her approach is a defensible theory of justice and although a partial one and calls it the capability approach. Capabilities are important for the achievement of well-being for everyone. It helps to compare one nation to another. In Nussbaum view, the capability approach is used in analysis of women human rights. This is because the capability approach provides a social and political framework to implement the solution to the problems of human welfare. It also provides a guide for policy makers and governments ( Nusssbaum 2000, P-14). According to Nussbaum the ten capabilities are following. Life. A person must be able to live to the end of a human life of normal length, not dying prematurely, or before ones life is so reduced as to be not worth living. Bodily health. A person should be healthy, including reproductive health, to be adequately nourished and to have proper shelter. Bodily health. Must be able to move freely from one place to another, having ones bodily boundaries treated as sovereign, i.e. being able to have physical security and having opportunities for sexual satisfaction and for choice in matters of reproduction etc. Senses thought and imagination. Everyone in society has to be able to use the senses, to think, to imagine and reason. To do all these things in the proper way they all need adequate education and basic scientific and mathematical training. In order to be able to use thought and imagination everyone has the right to freedom of expression, choice of religion and free association in order to be able to search for the ultimate meaning of life in ones own way( Nussbaum 2000, p-78). Emotion. Everyone has the right to be attached to things and people outside ourselves, to care and love for those who care and love for us, to grieve at their absence, in general, to love, to grieve, to experience longing, gratitude, and justified anger. Do not harm other emotions with fear and anxiety. Practical reason. Everyone in society has the right to plain their own life in a good way without any interference from others. Affiliation. Being able to recognize and show respect for other human beings, to engage in different forms of social interaction, to be able to understand the situation of another and to have compassion for that situation. Further to have the ability for both friendship and justice. Being able to be treated as a respectable human being whose worth is equal to that of others. Protection against any type of discrimination on the ground of sex, race, religion, ethnicity etc. ( Nussbaum 2000, p-79) Other species. ,, Being able to live with concern for and in relation to animals, plants, and the world of nature,, Play. Everyone has to be able to have recreational activities and to be able to laugh and to play. Control over ones environment. A. Political. Being able to take part in political activities of their own choices, having the right of protection of free speech, association and political participation. B. Material. Being able to hold movable and immovable property, having equal property rights of possession and ownership, having equal opportunity for employment. (Nussbaum 2000, p-80). The above items on the list are interrelated to one another in many complex ways. One of the most effective ways of promoting womens control over their environment and their effective right of political participation, is to promote womens literacy. According to Nussbaum a woman who can seek work outside the home have exit option that helps them protect their bodily integrity from assaults within it. She futherly says that reproductive is related to many complex ways to the practical reason and bodily integrity. As a result this gives us more reason to avoid promoting one at the expense of the others ( Nussbaum 2000. P-81). Women do not have a chance to live a valuable life. Nussbaum thinks that this is because of lack of support for basic functions of a human life. She thinks that the capability approach serves as a good basis for a specific political conception and a specifically political overlapping consensus (Nussbaum 2000, p. 14)Â  . According to her these capabilities are very important for individuals lives and are connected to each other in many complex ways. These capabilities must be fulfilled by the government instutions especially in women casese in order to have happy and successfull life. As we see that in a country like Pakistan all the above capabilities are mostly missing in womens lives and leads them to discrimination in different spehers of life. Chapter # 2 2.1 Women situation in Pakistan Pakistani society is a male dominated society where women are isolated from different spheres of life which is perhaps due to the traditional norms prevailing in society. The status and role of Pakistani women in all aspects of life have been highly undermined. Most women in rural areas work in the fields and industries in Pakistan. It is a poor and illiterate majority, which usually lead a life of physical hardship, long hour work for which there is neither reward nor compensation (Mumtaz/ Shaheed, 1987:p-78). Most of women in rural areas have to perform double burden of domestic and outside work. Usually they get up first and last to bed. They are the first to prepare breakfast, clean the house and wash the utensils before setting out on their outside work. Although in urban areas the conditions of women are better than those of the rural, yet the old traditions and religious restraints have hindered the independent and free movement of women (Mumtaz/ Shaheed, 1987:78). The women in Pakistan are approximately equivalent to men in numbers. They live in the most diversify site of the tribal, feudal or urban culture. In Pakistan women can be an extremely qualified and self-confident professional or a diffident peasant toiling along with her menfolk. They have traditionally been expected to live under the constraints of purdah. Therefore, the analysis of womens life and status in the society cannot be adequately carried out without taking into account the importance of purdah as a constant element in everyday life in Pakistani Muslim culture. Mostly women observe Pardha while coming out of domestic environs or mixing up with other sections of society. Basically Pardha, or veil, is meant to segregate the womenfolk from the male section of the society. Women are not prohibited from working but at the same time are supposed to observe strictly the rules of morality (Hanna Papanek, p 517,518). Due to Pardha system, most of women have to take up work at home. They involve themselves in dressmaking, embroidery, knitting etc. In the areas like Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Balochistan, life is regulated and governed by strict beliefs and behavioral patterns (Fariha Razak Haroon p 5). In remote areas women do not have rights to say anything in all aspects of their lives including their marriage choice. In populated provinces of Punjab and Sindh a woman can keep her connections with her family after marriage. She can expect support from her fathers and brothers in case of separation and divorce from her husband. In Sindh and Punjab, women work in the fields with their menfolk collecting fuels and in some cases working on the construction sites shifting material from one place to another. 2.2 State violation of womens rights in Pakistan Almost all kinds of crimes are committed against women in Pakistan, including, murder, rape and gender discrimination. In 1971 Pakistani military took action on the East Pakistan now called Bangladesh in which serious crimes were committed against the civilians and especially women. During 9 month operation Pakistani military raped 200,000-400,000 women and young girls. In 2002 at 28 years old women Mukhtara Mai was gang-raped in Punjab in front of her village by the Jirga (court of village elders) decision for the alleged wrongdoing of her 12 years old brother. In 2006 in her blog for the BBC, Mukhtara tells another story of a rape victim in Punjab, Shamshad Bibi, a poor woman who was gang-raped during a visit to the famous town shrine town of Uch Shareef the police declare it to be a case of consensual sex. (Soraya Makhdoom, 2009:1) To add insult to injury the Pakistani president and Dictator General Pervez Musharraf complained that his country was unfairly portrayed a place where women were subjected to violence. The Washington post, published in an interview with General Pervez Musharraf in which he stated, A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped( BBC, 16 September 2005). According to the same paper the Canadian government and human rights activists declared Pervez Musharrafs assertion as outrageous lie: only one known rape victim, a lady doctor assaulted by a military officer had moved to Canada. That lady doctor was Khalid Shazia, working in Pakistan petroleum in Baluchistan. She was raped by an army captain in January 2005. This incident made the local Bugti tribe furious for whom such outrageous acts were against their norms and values. As a result they attacked the gas field. But instead of presenting the rape issue General Pervez Musharraf sent more soldiers and arms to guard the installation. Baloch leadership wanted justice for the rape victim. Nawab Akbar Bugti said, As long as the perpetrators of this heinous crime are not dealt with, there can be no talks. As a result General Pervez Musharraf regime killed Nawab Akbar Bugti an eighty year old leader fighting for his country Balochistan in august 2006 (Suraya makhdoom , 2009:P-1). 2.3 The CEDAW convention and Pakistan. The convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has enriched of Articles regarding how to eliminate gender discrimination against women. Article 2 of the convention states that the state party has the responsibility to assure legal protection and the laws which leads to gender discrimination should be changed or abolished (Article 2 of CEDAW). In article 3 it has been stated that the upbringing of children needs shared responsibility which means that a father should also contribute in upbringing the kids, as it is not only a mothers job. The convention states that women have equal rights as men e.g. they can work with NGOs, they have the right to cast votes, this part has a very vital role as this approach can help a countrys economic growth too. The convention has emphasized on the equal rights of women in education, sports, career and health etc. (Article 10 of CEDAW). In article 14 it has been stated that state should overlook the problems faced by rural women. This is the most relevant article from Pakistan as the rural women come across lots of problems and they do not have awareness how to deal with such problem s. Another important article is 16 which usually violated in Pakistan, which is about the marrying of women to a person of their own choice. In Pakistani society especially in pushtoon (Pakhtoonkhwa) and Balooch (Balochistan) tribes, the parents take the decision on behalf of the girl, without even asking her opinion (Aniqa, 2010 p-1). The above articles are mostly relevant for our society,which is also covered by Nussbaum in her apparaches but it is sad to say that any of the articles and approaches has not been enacted in Pakistan. Article 18 has clearly stated that the parties to the convention has suppose to report to UN within a year of signing the convention regarding the progress, whereas Pakistan joined the CEDAW convention in 1996 and has reported only once yet (May 2007) (Aniqa, 2010 p-1). 2.4 Womens rights in constitution of Pakistan In constitution 1973 of Pakistan from article 8 to article 28 describe the fundamental rights which are to be available to all citizens, men as well as women wherever they are, as well as all people temporarily or permanently in Pakistan. However the freedoms guaranteed can be curtailed or taken away by the government on the grounds of integrity of the sovereignty of Pakistan, maintenance of public order, public morality. But these restrictions can be challenged in the superior courts. The executive is bound to implement these rights and the judiciary is bound to take notice of violation and provide redress on individual complaints (constitution of Pakistan 1973 article 8 and 28). The basis of fundamental rights is laid out in Article 4, which states that it is the inalienable right (i.e., can never be taken away) of individuals (citizens wherever they may be as well as individuals currently in Pakistan) to be treated in accordance with the law. It guarantees the protection of liberty, life, body, reputation and property of an individual (constitution of Pakistan 1973 article 4). 2.5 Women Status under Sharia Law In Arabic sharia means, path, It is a position which guides all aspects of Muslim life including daily routines, familial and religious obligations and financial matters. It primarily derived from the Quran and Sunna the practices, sayings and teachings of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) It is a position which covers every aspect of life for both men and women and is incompatible with the standards of liberal Western societies and the basic principles of western human rights that include equality under the law and the protection of individual freedoms. The Shariah code gives equal roles to men and women and not contradictory roles, when women had no rights in the world it declared, And women shall have equal rights to the rights against them, according to what is equitable (Al Quran Surah Baqara 2.28). However the task assigned to both of them is not same. They have given different capabilities by their creator, and the task assigned to them is based on those capabilities. This distinction is natural and not an error which has to be corrected, this is only for the purpose to build a healthy and prosperous society. In different verses in the Quran God has discussed women as well as mens rights. Allah says, for Muslim women and Men, for believing men and women, for women and men who are patient and constant, for true men and women, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who guard their charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who engaged in best practices, for them God have forgiveness and great reward. (Al Quran Surah 33.35) Any kind of discrimination based on gender is severe offenses and are against the teaching of Quran and the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) teach the lesson of equal rights of men and women. Islam does not consider women as subordinate to men and just follow them without any reason. Women have full freedom as individual and will be asked for her practices. ( Jamal Badawi 2007, p-6). As we have discussed earlier Pakistan is a country where culture and traditions have great influence on people lives, they follow it without even caring of sharia laws. 2.5 Sharia law in Pakistan In Pakistan there is triple legal system. Which consist of the general law (state law) of Pakistan, secondly the customary law and thirdly Sharia law. In general law or in constitution the current status of Sharia law is unclear. It provides for the existence of the triple legal system, acknowledges the existence of Sharia law in Pakistan and recognizes the associated court system, but the jurisdiction of Sharia courts is set to matters of personal status and therefore does not extend to the criminal jurisdiction. This is attributed to it by the penal codes that have been adopted at the level of states. The Constitution does not explicitly state, however, that criminal matters are the exclusive jurisdiction of federal courts and it is therefore possible to address criminal matters in Sharia courts. Regardless of the jurisdiction of Sharia courts, it is possible to appeal Zina (Sex without marriage) cases on the grounds that their punishment is inconsistent with the human rights provisions of the Pakistani constitution. For instance, Chapter II Article 19 enshrines human dignity as a value of the Pakistan legal order. It seems unlikely that the public nature and prolonged pain associated with lashing and stoning sentences would be found to be consistent with the dignity provision of the Constitution (Walter, 2001). Chapter # 4 4 Reason of Women Discrimination in Pakistan 4.1 Male domination Pakistani society is mostly male dominated society. The behavior towards women is reflected like women are the males property. She has to remain under the mans control. She cannot take any decision on her behalf. In some areas of rural Sindh and Khyber pakhtoonkhwa ( provinces of Pakistan) a girl cannot decide for her marriage. Her parents have to take decision on her behalf. If she takes the decision for herself she can be killed or punished.Household responsibilities are given to them at a very young age. Taking care of others and sacrificing her rights is a part of her life and to get married is her ultimate goal in her life. In rural areas the the violence against women is considered the right of man. Usually men use their power to beat and abuse women in all spheres of public and private life. It is present in the workplace, family and in the community. Intimidates, humiliates, violence and perpetuated fear in women. As women are weak so they usually controlled by men in many sp heres of life (Allama, G.A. 1998,P-22). 4.2 Customs and laws Womens lives are usually governed by local customs rather than statutory laws of the country. Customs and tradition deny women basic rights. Access to legal rights is usually denied. The bad customs like honor killings are highly praised in rural areas of Pakistan.The law of Diyat and Qisas (retribution and family distribution of money) contains discriminatory provisions and ambiguities. The Qisas and Diyat law may encourage the murder of women by making it possible to absolve murders. Another area of discrimination against women in mostly rural areas of Pakistan is linked to the question of the age of puberty. As girls reach to puberty at an early age, they are considered mature at a younger age than boys. Therefor they receive harsher punishments for the same crimes in the same age as the boys. For instance if a young boy is found to be guilty of rape, his punishment will be less than that of a girl of the same age. In Pakistan generally men dictate women in different sectors. They want to dominate them.physical mobility of women is restricted. They are not asked in mate selection. In the name of tradition and culture a woman is told that she must be gentle, submissive, patient and forgiving. She is not allowed to go anywhere without the consent of her husband even to her parents house. Culture of oppression exists in rural areas of Pakistan. Men believe that women are inferior. They usually marry twice or thrice. This is a culture that denies their social, political and legal rights. It gives them no identity at any level (Allama, G.A. 1998,P-24). 4.3 Income disparity One of the reason of women discrimination is income disparity which has made them economically weak. Improvement in womens financial status is very important to their overall betterment. Women cannot get their rights until they are financially strong and economically independent. Women play the main role in national development. But unfortunately their role is rarely recognized. Usually women work is unpaid and even if they are paid its usually less than men. Women are not given property rights and usually husband has the control of money and property (Allama, G.A. 1998,P-25). 4.4 Role of media Media play a key role in reflecting the values and norms of ones society. It helps to change peoples views. Media shows that the women are physically weak and subordinate to men. The media are controlled by the state, electronic media especially television, have been hesitant to highlight the issue, avoiding documentaries and talk shows domestic violence, rape and incest. While highly severe incidents like gang rape may occasionally appear in the regular news bulletin. The local rural press media have a mixed policy covering women issue not infrequently with negative slant and giving far more space to barbaric and traditional perspectives and viewpoints on women. In all over the rural areas the patriarchal attitude persists in the newspaper .The media either electronic or print have the same attitude towards sexual harassment violence. If a girl is sexually abused, the entire blame is put on her clothes, on her beauty or on the the fact the she was in the street at that time, whereas the abuser act is usually justified because he was young, he was drunk and his sexuality was out of control. Thus we can say that the media also play a vital role in gender discrimination in a society (Allama, G.A. 1998,P-26). 4.5 Lack of practical implementation of rules Regulations One of the main reasons of gender discrimination in Pakistan is the lack of practical implementations of rules and regulations. The 1973 constitution of Pakistan is enriched of the fundamental rights to all citizen men as well as women. The executive is bound to implement all the fundamental rights and the judiciary is bound to take notice of violation and provide redress on individual complaints (1973 constitution of Pakistan ). Article 4 of the convention covers inalienable rights (i.e., can never be taken away). It guarantees the protection of life, body, protection of liberty, reputation and property of the individual. The above rights are also mentioned in Nussbaums capability approach. According to her theses rights are connected to each other in many complex ways and necessary to be satisfied in order to have a happy life and the government is responsible to take care of these rights. But as we see that all the above rights are mentioned in the constitution but are not practic ally implemented in Pakistan (1973 constitution of Pakistan,Article 4). Pakistan is also a party to the convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women which has enriched of Articles regarding how to eliminate gender discrimination against women. But it is sad to say that no articles of the convention has been practically enacted in Pakistan. 4.6 Islamic fundamentalism In Islamic fundamentalists think that the struggle for womens rights as a western conspiracy. They consider women as inferior and their main duty is to please men. Women have been oppressed and segregated from from different spheres of life in the name of Islamic culture. According to many Islamic scholars, the customs and traditions are un-Islamic. But fundamentalists defend them in their own way. They include the practice of honor killing which allows male members of the family to kill female members for having sexual relations without marriage. Swara is a custom in the tribal district of Khyber pakhttonkhwa and Punjab (provinces of Pakistan) under which girls are given in marriage to men of rival or tribes in order to settle cases of murder and other blood feuds (daughters and sisters of accused murders are given to affected families to release their fathers and brothers). The girl is then treated harshly in the rival clan. Islamic fundamentalists never raised their voices against these inhuman and cruel customs and traditions. Love marriage is considered a crime and sin according to the religious leader. These fundamentalists and religious parties are against the ,Hudood, laws. These were the laws introduced by the military dictator, General Zia-UL- Haq, in 1979 to viciously curb womens rights. According to theses horrific laws, a rape victim needs the evidence of four male witnesses in order to prove her claims in the court. If she fails to provide this, she will be charged with adultery (sex with her own consent) which means imprisonment for between 5 and 15 years. These laws were made by a dictator for their own interest but in the name of Islam. According to a report made by professor Shaheen, a minister during the period 1999 to 2002: 95 % of cases registered under the Hudood laws are false. Hudood laws have proved to be instruments of personal interest. These religious leaders are using religion to oppress women and other sections of society. The rise of fundamentalism is a threat to womens rights (www.socialistalternati

The Cult of True Womanhood and The Yellow Wallpaper :: Yellow Wallpaper essays

The Cult of True Womanhood and The Yellow Wallpaper Prior to the twentieth century, men assigned and defined women’s roles.   Although all women were effected by men determining women’s behavior, largely middle class women suffered.   Men perpetrated an ideological prison that subjected and silenced women.   This ideology, called the Cult of True Womanhood, legitimized the victimization of women.   The Cult of Domesticity and the Cult of Purity were the central tenets of the Cult of True Womanhood. Laboring under the seeming benevolence of the Cult of Domesticity, women were imprisoned in the home or private sphere, a servant tending to the needs of the family.   Furthermore, the Cult of Purity obliged women to remain virtuous and pure even in marriage, with their comportment continuing to be one of modesty. Religious piety and submission were beliefs that were more peripheral components of the ideology, yet both were borne of and a part of the ideology of True Womanhood. These were the means that men used to i nsure the passivity and docility of women.   Religion would pacify any desires that could cause a deviation from these set standards, while submission implied a vulnerability and dependence on the patriarchal head (Welter 373-377). The medical profession’s godlike attitude in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† demonstrates this arrogance.   The Rest cure that Dr. Weir Mitchell prescribed, which is mentioned in Gilman’s work, reflects men’s disparaging attitudes.   His Rest cure calls for complete rest, coerced feeding and isolation.   Mitchell, a neurosurgeon specializing in women’s nervous ailments, expounded upon his belief for women’s nervous conditions when he said, American woman is, to speak plainly, too often physically unfit for her duties as woman, and is perhaps of all civilized females the least qualified to undertake those weightier tasks which tax so heavily the nervous system of man.   She is not fairly up to what nature asks from her as wife and mother. How will she sustain herself under the pressure of those yet more exacting duties which nowadays she is eager to share with the man? (Mitchell 141) On the other hand, the male sector of society enjoyed mobility.   Men reaped benefits from not only the private domain, but they were also free to leave and enter the public sphere.  Ã‚   They received nurturing from women in the private arena.   The public sphere was where men enjoyed the competition engendered in the market place through which they gained their identity.

American Jefferson Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"American Sphinx: The character of Thomas Jefferson† A book by Joseph J. Ellis. Copyright 1997 Vintage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joseph J. Ellis, a historian who was educated at the College of William and Mary and Yale, is a Ford Foundation Professor of History at Mount Holyoke University. He has written four books on historical topics, centered on the time Jefferson was alive, dealing with issues and personalities Jefferson dealt with firsthand. After authoring a book on a politician such as John Adams, Ellis seems to have felt a need or want to focus on Jefferson, presumably because of his status as founding father and main contributor to the constitution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ellis’s thesis in American Sphinx can be summed up by the quote in the prologue by James Parton: â€Å"If Jefferson was wrong, America is wrong. If America is right, Jefferson is right.† However, Ellis gave the impression that he was brought reluctantly to the task of researching and writing so extensively on Jefferson. Perhaps he was spurred on by the rebirth of interest in the Jefferson legacy. In recent years, the exposure of Jefferson’s affair and subsequent illegitimate children to a mulatto slave named Sally Hemings, and Ellis’s own experience of watching another scholar of Jefferson imitate him to near perfection probably inspired Ellis to add a few more notches to his authoring resume.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The influence Jefferson has over Ellis is apparent. He began college at a school founded by Jefferson, and is fond of a statue conspicuously facing the women’s dorms on campus. His professional research and scholarship always involved some indirect influence by Jefferson.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even so, in writing this book, Joseph Ellis has taken an unbiased approach to Jefferson, never smoothing over points and incidents in which Thomas had definitely misjudged. Ellis realizes that in reality, no politician or leading figure can ever amount to the ideal of perfection attributed to some, (i.e. Jesus Christ) but stands by Jefferson in the face of heavy critics who would defame Jefferson’s name and work based on issues and or mistakes that happened in life outside the political world. I have also noticed that Ellis, when quoting other Jeffersonian authors, will contradict the reference he quoted, but will not dispu... ...wn errors, which will never be intentional; and your support against the errors of others, who may condemn what they would not if seen in all it’s parts.† (Pg. 214) Quite profound in comparison to the speeches often heard today by Presidents who would never admit to any wrongdoing. (I did not have sexual relations with THAT woman)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After his term of office was over, Jefferson led an active life in American ideals and politics. However, his life was never the same after his wife died, and many of the current criticisms of Jefferson stem from this post presidential period. It is my firm belief that Jefferson deserved no reprimand for his actions then, or now. To conclude, Jefferson has been turned into a hero to me by Ellis, and probably without Ellis intending to do so. A scholar such as Joseph warrants literary acclaim when he creates a biography that so wonderfully illustrates the life of a man to whom this nation owes so much. It is my intention to reread this book, and perhaps others he has read. Based on the fact that this is a book review, I will jump into Bill Cosby’s shoes, pretend I’m on Reading Rainbow, and sing a little song about this book.

The Importance Of Accounting In Our Modern Society

Accounting is a very important term to our modern society. It is the career for men and women who at the start have their eyes set on top positions in industry, management, government, and general business. Accounting is a basic need of every businessmen, from the operator of a filling station to the government of the United States. It†s so important to our society. None of the business organization can operate without is. They are there-somewhere-in every business. In small business, people use pen, ink and skill keep teh records. In large business, modern accounting machines are used to operate. Men and women are directing these machines in the accounting process. Wise businessmen enter business must have some accounting knowledge. Accounting is a vital element of business. It records the way a business has grown and, after analyzing figures, suggests the way it should go in the future. Furtunes are gambled on the advice of accountants. If your friend has ever operated a business and you saw him placing figures in ledgers, then you saw him doing bookkeeping. If you have worked at a service station or supermarket and have seen books with large sheets lined in green and red lying on the manager†s table or desk, you saw books of accounting. Accounting is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States It expands each time a new store, a factory, a filling station, or a school goes up, whether in a large city or a small town. In today†s society, the demand for good accountants for exceeds the supply. As our country has expanded, business and industry have become more and more complex, so control here is very important. And control depends on a great deal of the bookkeepers and accountants who can analyze figues and advise management on what should be done. They are using more scientific ways changing money, figuring change, and collecting sales taxes. Moreover, department stores and other companies now have plants and offices widely scattered throughout the country. A new set of bookkeepers and accountants, is needed at each branch. I know there are many managements supervisory, and junior or senior executive positions are bing filled by people who started as accountants because accountants have the knowledge of methods and finance and comprehension of the fundamentals of business, and accounting is the foundation of sound business. The two kinds of accountants, public accountants and private accountants serve different important functions in business organization. Business enterprises, government agencies, and nonprofit institutions, such as universities and churches more are more likely use public accountant. They offer their services to the general public on a fee basis in much the same way as do lawyers, doctors, and dentists. In addition, the larger firms have professional accountants on their staff who work for a salary, but are also considered public accountants. The two important areas, auditing and tax services are also the job for public accountants. In a single business enterprise or nonprofit organization, the main job for private accounts in to handle the finanacial records. Manufacturing or other concerns are also need accountants, in that situation, they are often called industrial accountants. In addition, accountants are employeed by all branches of federal state, and local government, including government-owned corporations. Accountants in private and government work customarily specialize in the performance of a single type of accounting service, they may do any of the types of accounting service just described above. They also tend to become specialists in a narrow field of employment such as a particular branch of manufacturing, public utilities, or transportation. Except public accountants and private accountants, there are some other general category of accountants who are taking important parts in business organizations. They are managerial accountants, controller, cost accountant, government accountant, internal accountant and teaching accountant. Each of the accountant serves different function in business organization. A company needs well-organized management. Managerial accountant is a kind of person hired by a company and trained to be a manager one day. The managerial accountant, needs to learn all aspects of the company-people, products, plants, and equipments. They should know how to handle management responsibility, and administrative skills. A company needs somebody to record its financial operating datas, and measure performance, and it needs somebody to interpret results of operations, and to plan and make recommendations for actions. Controller is this kind person of the company and is responsible for the records of the company†s operation. His or her job is not only deal with finances, but also deal with people, products, equipments and material. In addition, he or she also needs to concern about sales and profit of the company. Like the president or vicepresident, controller has opportunities to exercise imagination and judgement and to make rewarding contribution to the company. A corporation may exist many different items in managactures, and those items go hundreds of various sized and priced componenets. The sales office will have to know the production cost of each item in order ot arrive at a sales price that will contain a profit for the company. A cost accountant works on it. He studies the items one by one, figures the cost of every parts of the products, and then arrives at the production cost of each item. Organizations of federal, state, or municipal government also need accountants to help their business. Government accountants come to do a variety of financial management work. They may deal with auditing, designing and maintaining. They may do budgeting and administrative duties requiring the use of accounting information. A modern business organization needs internal accountant to see whether the assets of a business are properly protected and accounted for, that current trasactions are completely recorded, or the company†s waste and loss whether to be saved or not. High schools, colleges or universities are also need accounting professors to teach students accounting techniques. Teaching accountants, who know a great deal about accounting and has had some practical experience in dealing with persons and businesses, ready to pass along their knowledge and experiences to students and future accountants. In small schools, teachers have other duties besides their work in the classrooms. They serve as school secretaries, bookkeepers, statistical clerks, and managers in lunchrooms. In addition to the accounts mentioned above, you may also find tax accountant, a systems and control accountant, a budget accountant, or an auditor. Working people need to pay taxes. Tax is so important to our society. It†s a main financial imcome of the government. People have to pay different kinds of tax according to their imcome. For example, they need to pay imcome tax, social security tax, state unemployment tax, federal excise tax, state and local sales and miscellantous taxes, property taxes, and federal and state taxes on corportation imcomes. As an accountant, one of the job he needs to do is to hepl people to pay taxes. Taxes and accounting are intervined. In dividual tax liabilities are arrived at by an accounting process. Large corporations that pay taxes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, hire many accountants. Thus, accountant is tightly related to the tax adminatration. Accountants use skills in tax matters to help prepare people yearly report. According to the statistics, â€Å"In California, individual CPA practitioners report that around 21 percent of their business is tax work. Public accountant practitioners, who are closer to the small income earners, report that 25 percent of their business is tax work. † Especially public accountants, their large percentage of income is come from tax work. Because of the development of the modern society and increasement of peoples† income, more and more accountants are needed for tax work. Sound business needs good record, so control accountants are needed for this. They can help and advice managers to well develop their business. Some government firms and other organizations such as banks, stores, schools, churches, need auditors to operate the business. The auditor†s report will be of particular value to stockholders and creditors, since it shows an impartial opinion of the company is financial condition. For the management of the company, the auditor can often make very valuable suggestions for cutting costs, minmizing tax liabilities, and finding new ways to increase profits. Let†s look some accounting jobs in government. There are two million federal employees are working for the government , dealing with problems of population, education, transportation, national security, welfare and others. Accountants, auditors, system analysts, and budget administrators are helping to maintain the stability in modern governmental operations. United Stated is teh largest enterprise in the world today, we can imagine how complexity of the business got to be, so accountants take important parts in the operation of these business. They work for department of Agriculture, department of Commerce, department of Defense, department of Health, Edaucaiton, and Welfare, post offic edepartment and department of teh Treasury. Department of Agriculture deal with agricultural production, chemistry, economics, engineering, marketing, conservation, price support, and production adjustment problems. The department nees accountants to help its programs. The main job for accountant in this agency is to develop and maintain financial management systems, prepare and analyze budgetary and program lost statements, check costs of commercial food processors and producers, audit various operations in the office and in the field, and check records of commercial, cooperative, and state and municipal organizations participating in agricultural programs. Department of Commerce performs a wide range of operations. It gathers information about domestic and foreign industries and trade, publishes technical information for the government, and handles allocations of materials necessary to military and atomic energy programs. It†s also a place which needs accountants. Accountants here maintain regulatory and cost accounting systems, and audit steamship, railroad, and utility companies. Department of defense is an department which includes departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This department has established an ideal career program to help recruit auditors and accountants. The department needs a well-qualified accountants and auditors. Those accountants are needed to handle cost accounting, property and inventory accounting, inernal and external auditing, and budgeting. Under the department of Health, Education, and Welfare, there are Public Health Servide, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of Education, the Social Security Administration, and the Office of Vacational Rehabilitation. Those offices are located every where in the United States, so countless accountants are needed to operate in these organizations. The work mostly involves cost accounting, hospital accounting budgeting, auditing, and financial mangement. Post Office Deartmetn is another place which needs accountants assistants. This large department employs more than 560,000 persons and operates over 35,000 post offices. Besides that, it provides money-order and postal-saving services. All this naturally involves large sums of money and huge volumes of transactions. To handle it all, â€Å"The depatment has set up within its organization a Bureau of Finance, which looks after the the accounting, budgeting, cost accounting, keeping statistics and financial data, nd financial management work. † Department of the Treasury serves as the government†s banker, bookkeeper, disburser, collector, trustee, investor, lender, printer of the currency, coiner of money, supervisor of national banks, and financial advisor to the President and Congress. It†s not hard to see that each of these duties involves accounting. The Treasure Department needs men and women educated and trained in accounting, auditiing, budgeting, and financial management. Here accountants may be systems accountants, general accountants, cost accountants, internal auditors, revenue agents, bank examiners, budget and fiscal officers, management analysts, tax analysts, and public debt analysts. There are also a nember of independent agencies with which an accountant may find interesting and challenging work. There are the Atomi Energy Commission, the Farm Credit Administration, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other important commissions, an accountant can find an easy way upward to general administrative and managerial positions. There is a overseeing department is called the United States Greneral Accounting Office. Just as a company president is the top man over many men and departments below him. The department generally oversees all the other agencies of the government. This vital department is headed by the comptroller General of the United States. As the President is called the Chief Executive of the nation, you could call the comptroller General the Chief Accountant of the nation. His office, an independent agency in the legislative branch, has the vitally important job of making audits of the programs, activities, and financial responsibilities of federal departments and agencies. It even checks government contracts. Since women†s position has been improved in the U. S, accounting also opened its door to women. It can be the world of achievement for the women who is looking for a higher ststus than what is offered by ledgers and journals. Accountants in today†s society is expected to know a great deal about management, business practice and theory, taxes, cost accounting, auditing, and systems and controls. To the woman who can train these and other subjects gose the opportunity to work at the management level with executives and leaders of business. Women also have opportunities for specialization and self-employment in an accounting firm. That†s why I say accounting is the door which widely open to women, and more and more women are stepping into it. According to the statistics â€Å"By 1910, there were about 190,000 women engaged in the occapation. From 1940-1950 the increase in female bookkeepers was 37,395. An estimate, based on the 1950 census, showed 556,229 women bookkeepers compared to only 164,748 men in the same employment. The figures show women occupy a large percentage in accounting field. Accounting is every where. Non eof the business or nonbusiness organization can stay longer without it. There is no doubt that all the business require some people who have some experience or knowledge in bookkeeping and accounting. More and more employers prefer employees with some knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting. There are other some examples of accounting job are required in different business: Office Manager-accountant, excellent salary, may advance to plany controller. The Importance Of Accounting In Our Modern Society Accounting is a very important term to our modern society. It is the career for men and women who at the start have their eyes set on top positions in industry, management, government, and general business. Accounting is a basic need of every businessmen, from the operator of a filling station to the government of the United States. It†s so important to our society. None of the business organization can operate without is. They are there-somewhere-in every business. In small business, people use pen, ink and skill keep teh records. In large business, modern accounting machines are used to operate. Men and women are directing these machines in the accounting process. Wise businessmen enter business must have some accounting knowledge. Accounting is a vital element of business. It records the way a business has grown and, after analyzing figures, suggests the way it should go in the future. Furtunes are gambled on the advice of accountants. If your friend has ever operated a business and you saw him placing figures in ledgers, then you saw him doing bookkeeping. If you have worked at a service station or supermarket and have seen books with large sheets lined in green and red lying on the manager†s table or desk, you saw books of accounting. Accounting is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States It expands each time a new store, a factory, a filling station, or a school goes up, whether in a large city or a small town. In today†s society, the demand for good accountants for exceeds the supply. As our country has expanded, business and industry have become more and more complex, so control here is very important. And control depends on a great deal of the bookkeepers and accountants who can analyze figues and advise management on what should be done. They are using more scientific ways changing money, figuring change, and collecting sales taxes. Moreover, department stores and other companies now have plants and offices widely scattered throughout the country. A new set of bookkeepers and accountants, is needed at each branch. I know there are many managements supervisory, and junior or senior executive positions are bing filled by people who started as accountants because accountants have the knowledge of methods and finance and comprehension of the fundamentals of business, and accounting is the foundation of sound business. The two kinds of accountants, public accountants and private accountants serve different important functions in business organization. Business enterprises, government agencies, and nonprofit institutions, such as universities and churches more are more likely use public accountant. They offer their services to the general public on a fee basis in much the same way as do lawyers, doctors, and dentists. In addition, the larger firms have professional accountants on their staff who work for a salary, but are also considered public accountants. The two important areas, auditing and tax services are also the job for public accountants. In a single business enterprise or nonprofit organization, the main job for private accounts in to handle the finanacial records. Manufacturing or other concerns are also need accountants, in that situation, they are often called industrial accountants. In addition, accountants are employeed by all branches of federal state, and local government, including government-owned corporations. Accountants in private and government work customarily specialize in the performance of a single type of accounting service, they may do any of the types of accounting service just described above. They also tend to become specialists in a narrow field of employment such as a particular branch of manufacturing, public utilities, or transportation. Except public accountants and private accountants, there are some other general category of accountants who are taking important parts in business organizations. They are managerial accountants, controller, cost accountant, government accountant, internal accountant and teaching accountant. Each of the accountant serves different function in business organization. A company needs well-organized management. Managerial accountant is a kind of person hired by a company and trained to be a manager one day. The managerial accountant, needs to learn all aspects of the company-people, products, plants, and equipments. They should know how to handle management responsibility, and administrative skills. A company needs somebody to record its financial operating datas, and measure performance, and it needs somebody to interpret results of operations, and to plan and make recommendations for actions. Controller is this kind person of the company and is responsible for the records of the company†s operation. His or her job is not only deal with finances, but also deal with people, products, equipments and material. In addition, he or she also needs to concern about sales and profit of the company. Like the president or vicepresident, controller has opportunities to exercise imagination and judgement and to make rewarding contribution to the company. A corporation may exist many different items in managactures, and those items go hundreds of various sized and priced componenets. The sales office will have to know the production cost of each item in order ot arrive at a sales price that will contain a profit for the company. A cost accountant works on it. He studies the items one by one, figures the cost of every parts of the products, and then arrives at the production cost of each item. Organizations of federal, state, or municipal government also need accountants to help their business. Government accountants come to do a variety of financial management work. They may deal with auditing, designing and maintaining. They may do budgeting and administrative duties requiring the use of accounting information. A modern business organization needs internal accountant to see whether the assets of a business are properly protected and accounted for, that current trasactions are completely recorded, or the company†s waste and loss whether to be saved or not. High schools, colleges or universities are also need accounting professors to teach students accounting techniques. Teaching accountants, who know a great deal about accounting and has had some practical experience in dealing with persons and businesses, ready to pass along their knowledge and experiences to students and future accountants. In small schools, teachers have other duties besides their work in the classrooms. They serve as school secretaries, bookkeepers, statistical clerks, and managers in lunchrooms. In addition to the accounts mentioned above, you may also find tax accountant, a systems and control accountant, a budget accountant, or an auditor. Working people need to pay taxes. Tax is so important to our society. It†s a main financial imcome of the government. People have to pay different kinds of tax according to their imcome. For example, they need to pay imcome tax, social security tax, state unemployment tax, federal excise tax, state and local sales and miscellantous taxes, property taxes, and federal and state taxes on corportation imcomes. As an accountant, one of the job he needs to do is to hepl people to pay taxes. Taxes and accounting are intervined. In dividual tax liabilities are arrived at by an accounting process. Large corporations that pay taxes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, hire many accountants. Thus, accountant is tightly related to the tax adminatration. Accountants use skills in tax matters to help prepare people yearly report. According to the statistics, â€Å"In California, individual CPA practitioners report that around 21 percent of their business is tax work. Public accountant practitioners, who are closer to the small income earners, report that 25 percent of their business is tax work. † Especially public accountants, their large percentage of income is come from tax work. Because of the development of the modern society and increasement of peoples† income, more and more accountants are needed for tax work. Sound business needs good record, so control accountants are needed for this. They can help and advice managers to well develop their business. Some government firms and other organizations such as banks, stores, schools, churches, need auditors to operate the business. The auditor†s report will be of particular value to stockholders and creditors, since it shows an impartial opinion of the company is financial condition. For the management of the company, the auditor can often make very valuable suggestions for cutting costs, minmizing tax liabilities, and finding new ways to increase profits. Let†s look some accounting jobs in government. There are two million federal employees are working for the government , dealing with problems of population, education, transportation, national security, welfare and others. Accountants, auditors, system analysts, and budget administrators are helping to maintain the stability in modern governmental operations. United Stated is teh largest enterprise in the world today, we can imagine how complexity of the business got to be, so accountants take important parts in the operation of these business. They work for department of Agriculture, department of Commerce, department of Defense, department of Health, Edaucaiton, and Welfare, post offic edepartment and department of teh Treasury. Department of Agriculture deal with agricultural production, chemistry, economics, engineering, marketing, conservation, price support, and production adjustment problems. The department nees accountants to help its programs. The main job for accountant in this agency is to develop and maintain financial management systems, prepare and analyze budgetary and program lost statements, check costs of commercial food processors and producers, audit various operations in the office and in the field, and check records of commercial, cooperative, and state and municipal organizations participating in agricultural programs. Department of Commerce performs a wide range of operations. It gathers information about domestic and foreign industries and trade, publishes technical information for the government, and handles allocations of materials necessary to military and atomic energy programs. It†s also a place which needs accountants. Accountants here maintain regulatory and cost accounting systems, and audit steamship, railroad, and utility companies. Department of defense is an department which includes departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This department has established an ideal career program to help recruit auditors and accountants. The department needs a well-qualified accountants and auditors. Those accountants are needed to handle cost accounting, property and inventory accounting, inernal and external auditing, and budgeting. Under the department of Health, Education, and Welfare, there are Public Health Servide, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of Education, the Social Security Administration, and the Office of Vacational Rehabilitation. Those offices are located every where in the United States, so countless accountants are needed to operate in these organizations. The work mostly involves cost accounting, hospital accounting budgeting, auditing, and financial mangement. Post Office Deartmetn is another place which needs accountants assistants. This large department employs more than 560,000 persons and operates over 35,000 post offices. Besides that, it provides money-order and postal-saving services. All this naturally involves large sums of money and huge volumes of transactions. To handle it all, â€Å"The depatment has set up within its organization a Bureau of Finance, which looks after the the accounting, budgeting, cost accounting, keeping statistics and financial data, nd financial management work. † Department of the Treasury serves as the government†s banker, bookkeeper, disburser, collector, trustee, investor, lender, printer of the currency, coiner of money, supervisor of national banks, and financial advisor to the President and Congress. It†s not hard to see that each of these duties involves accounting. The Treasure Department needs men and women educated and trained in accounting, auditiing, budgeting, and financial management. Here accountants may be systems accountants, general accountants, cost accountants, internal auditors, revenue agents, bank examiners, budget and fiscal officers, management analysts, tax analysts, and public debt analysts. There are also a nember of independent agencies with which an accountant may find interesting and challenging work. There are the Atomi Energy Commission, the Farm Credit Administration, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other important commissions, an accountant can find an easy way upward to general administrative and managerial positions. There is a overseeing department is called the United States Greneral Accounting Office. Just as a company president is the top man over many men and departments below him. The department generally oversees all the other agencies of the government. This vital department is headed by the comptroller General of the United States. As the President is called the Chief Executive of the nation, you could call the comptroller General the Chief Accountant of the nation. His office, an independent agency in the legislative branch, has the vitally important job of making audits of the programs, activities, and financial responsibilities of federal departments and agencies. It even checks government contracts. Since women†s position has been improved in the U. S, accounting also opened its door to women. It can be the world of achievement for the women who is looking for a higher ststus than what is offered by ledgers and journals. Accountants in today†s society is expected to know a great deal about management, business practice and theory, taxes, cost accounting, auditing, and systems and controls. To the woman who can train these and other subjects gose the opportunity to work at the management level with executives and leaders of business. Women also have opportunities for specialization and self-employment in an accounting firm. That†s why I say accounting is the door which widely open to women, and more and more women are stepping into it. According to the statistics â€Å"By 1910, there were about 190,000 women engaged in the occapation. From 1940-1950 the increase in female bookkeepers was 37,395. An estimate, based on the 1950 census, showed 556,229 women bookkeepers compared to only 164,748 men in the same employment. The figures show women occupy a large percentage in accounting field. Accounting is every where. Non eof the business or nonbusiness organization can stay longer without it. There is no doubt that all the business require some people who have some experience or knowledge in bookkeeping and accounting. More and more employers prefer employees with some knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting. There are other some examples of accounting job are required in different business: Office Manager-accountant, excellent salary, may advance to plany controller.

Csr Activities of Hul

VIRAJ TAMHANE _____________________________________________________________________________________________ HINDUSTAN UNILEVER LIMITED Meeting Everyday Needs of People Everywhere _____________________________________________________________________________________________ CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is rooted in its Corporate Purpose – the belief that â€Å"to succeed requires the highest standards of corporate behavior towards our employees, consumers and the societies and world in which we live†.HUL's CSR philosophy is embedded in its commitment to all stakeholders — consumers, employees, the environment and the society that the organization operates in. HUL believes that it is this commitment which will deliver sustainable, profitable growth. HUL’s key CSR initiatives are undertaken with a long-term view. Initiatives that are sustainable have long-term benefits and an on going business purpose linked to them is accorded priority focus.As early as in the 1950s, HUL focused on import substitution when balance of payments was an issue. Since the 1980s, most of HUL’s investments have been in designated backward areas and zero-industry districts, spreading industrialization. HUL has revived sick industries and has developed local entrepreneurship Furthering this rich tradition of contributing to the community, HUL is focusing on health ; hygiene education, women empowerment, and water management.In addition to these important platforms, HUL is also involved in a number of community support activities, like providing audio-visual packages for basic education in primary schools, education and rehabilitation of special or underprivileged children, care for the destitute and HIV-positive, and rural development. In recognition of these initiatives, HUL received the prestigious TERI-CSR Special Award for the year 2002-03 from The Energy and Resources In stitute (TERI). As is well-known, TERI, which was established in 1974, is world famous for its commitment to and initiatives in every aspect of sustainable development.Among HUL's major CSR initiatives are: PROJECT SHAKTI – Changing Lives in Rural India Project Shakti is HUL's rural initiative, which targets small villages with population of less than 2000 people or less. It seeks to empower underprivileged rural women by providing income- generating opportunities. Project Shakti also aims to improve the standard of living of the rural community, by providing health and hygiene education. In general, rural women in India are underprivileged and need a sustainable source of income. NGOs, governmental bodies and other institutions have been working to improve the status of rural women.Project Shakti is a pioneering effort in creating livelihoods for rural women, organized in Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and improving living standards in rural India. Project Shakti provides critical ly needed additional income to these women and their families, by equipping and training them to become an extended arm of the company's operation. Started in 2001, Project Shakti has already been extended to about 20000 villages in 196 districts in 11 States – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.The respective state governments and several NGOs are actively involved in the initiative. Project Shakti already has about 6200 women entrepreneurs in its fold. A typical Shakti entrepreneur earns a sustainable income of about Rs. 1, 000 per month, which is double their average household income. Project Shakti is thus creating opportunities for rural women to live in improved conditions and with dignity, while improving the overall standard of living in their families. In addition, it involves health and hygiene programmes, which help to improve the standard of living of the rural comm unity.The project's ambit already covers about 15 million rural populations. Plans are also being drawn up to bring in partners involved in agriculture, health, insurance and education to catalyze overall rural development. HUL's vision for Project Shakti is to scale it up across the country, covering 100,000 villages and touching the lives of 100 million rural consumers by 2005. LIFEBUOY SWASTHYA CHETANA – Health & Hygiene Education Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetana is the single largest rural health and hygiene educational programme ever undertaken in India.Its objective is to educate people about basic hygienic habits. It has been developed around the insight that people mistakenly believe â€Å"visible clean is safe clean†. The programme establishes the existence of â€Å"invisible germs† and the associated risk of infection. In India this is important, because diarrhea, caused by invisible germs, is the second largest cause of death among children below the age of 5. The project will help reduce incidence of such diseases, by raising awareness of preventive hygienic practices. The campaign has been divided into various phases.In the initial phase, a Health Development Facilitator (HDF) and an assistant initiates contact and interacts with students and influencers of the community, like village community representatives, medical practitioners, school teachers etc. A number of tools like a pictorial story in a flip chart format, a â€Å"Glo-germ demonstration†, and a quiz with attractive prizes to reinforce the message are used. The â€Å"Glo-Germ demonstration† is a unique tool to make unseen germs visible and emphasize the need to adopt hygienic practices. The first interaction with students is then replicated with the rest of the community.Subsequently, follow-up visits and communication are undertaken at periodic intervals which reinforce the message and learning’s. Started in 2002, the programme has as of now covered a bout 15000 villages in 8 states — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra; it has already touched about 70 million people, imparting hygiene education to over 25 million children. The vision of this on-going project is to make a billion Indians feel safe and secure by focusing on their health and hygiene needs.FAIR & LOVELY FOUNDATION – Economic Empowerment of Women The Fair & Lovely Foundation is HUL’s initiative which aims at economic empowerment of women across India. It aims to achieve this through providing information, resources, inputs and support in the areas of education, career and enterprise. It specifically targets women from low- income groups in rural as well as urban India. Fair & Lovely, as a brand, stands on the economic renowned Indian women, from various walks of life, as its advisors. Among them are educationists, NGO activists, physicians.The Foundation is implementing its activities in association with state governments. In India, low-income families, albeit unwillingly, tend to discriminate against girl children, in providing opportunities for education and enterprise, because of resource constraints. The support provided by Fair & Lovely Foundation will help girl children avail opportunities of higher education and acquires skills in appropriate professions. Launched in 2003, Fair & Lovely Foundation seeks to impact the lives of women. This will be done through scholarships and enterprise initiatives.For career guidance, it seeks to touch millions of aspiring women and students in an ongoing programme, currently covering three states and all main metros in the country. GREENING BARRENS — Water Conservation and Harvesting HUL's Water Conservation and Harvesting project has two major objectives: a) to reduce water consumption in its own operations and regenerate sub-soil water tables at its own sites through the principles of 5R — reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and renew; b) help adjacent villages to implement appropriate models of watershed development.Water scarcity is one of the biggest crises facing India in terms of spread and severity. Water conservation and harvesting in HUL's own operations will help conserve and regenerate this scarce resource. An attendant benefit will be reduction in the consumption of energy that would have been spent in converting and using that water. The support to communities in developing watersheds will help in the economic development of areas adjacent to HUL sites. Water management is a focus area for all HUL factories. Water conservation has been made one of the key performance indicators of an HUL factory.Through a series of technology innovations and novel processing routes HUL has reduced its ground water consumption by over 50%. HUL has also applied technologies that recycle effluent water after treatment – 70% of HUL sites are now zero discharge sites. There are many other measures — Reverse Osmosis Plants and Solar Evaporation Ponds to name a few. A simultaneous benefit is saving in energy that otherwise would have been consumed in drawing, pumping or converting water into steam — HUL's energy consumption per unit of production has come down by 61% since 1996.Since 2003, all HUL sites have begun to harvest rain water. Rain water falling on factory premises is accumulated in ponds, thereby renewing sub-soil water tables. HUL is also committed to extending its efforts on water management to the larger community, and has engaged in community projects in water adjacent to manufacturing sites. The Khamgaon soap factory is located in a dry and arid region of Maharashtra and gets limited rainfall. Seven years back the factory started a pilot on ‘Watershed Management’ on a 5-hectare plot to prevent soil degradation and conserve water.The efforts have resulted in the creation of a green belt, which is the only visible green patch in the area. The 5-hectare green belt is now a veritable forest of about 6300 trees, including over 1400 ornamental plants and over 600 fruit- bearing plants. There has also been a remarkable improvement in the quality of soil, and significant conservation of water. This has been documented in a booklet, ‘Greening Barrens', so that industry, government bodies and communities adopt this widely.Encouraged by the results, HUL has extended the model to a neighboring village, Parkhed, in association with the TERI and the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation. The community at Parkhed has already constructed 37 check dams. More than 20,000 saplings have been planted during the 2003 monsoon. For the first time, villagers were able to collect water and utilize it for irrigation post monsoon. The initiative received appreciation at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development.In association with an NGO, Vanrai, HUL's Silvassa manufacturing hub (in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli) too has embarked on a long-term project of water harvesting, which aims to dramatically change water availability, taking it up to year-round availability from 4 months at present. At Karchond village, near the Silvassa site, the community has built 18 bunds. Seven of them are on a river running through the village, and 11 smaller ones at different water run-off points. This has enabled the community to sow a second crop, thereby significantly increasing their incomes.Through an Integrated Village Development Programme, the project's ambit also includes alternate income-generating activities through SHGs, forestry management, education of children, nutrition. HUL's vision is to continuously innovate technologies to further reduce water consumption and further increase conservation in its operations. Simultaneously, HUL sites will progressively help communities, wherever required, to develop watersheds. HAPPY HOMES – Special Education & Rehabilitation Under the Happy Homes initiative, HUL supports special education and ehabilitation of children with challenge. ASHA DAAN The initiative began in 1976, when HUL supported Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity to set up Asha Daan, a home in Mumbai for abandoned, challenged children, and the destitute. Subsequently, Asha Daan has also become a home to the HIV- positive. The objective in supporting Asha Daan was and continues to be to share the origination’s prosperity in supporting the Mother's mission of serving the â€Å"poorest of the poor†.Asha Daan has been set up on a 72,500-square feet plot belonging to HUL, in the heart of Mumbai city. HUL bears the capital and revenue expenses for maintenance, upkeep and security of the premises. The destitute and the HIV-positive are provided with food, shelter and medication for the last few days of their lives. The needs of the abandoned challenged children are also met through special classes of basic skills, physiotherapy and , if possible, corrective surgery. At any point of time, it takes care of over 300 infants, destitute men and women and HIV-positive patients.ANKUR In 1993, HUL's Doom Dooma Plantation Division set up Ankur, a center for special education of challenged children. The center takes care of children with challenges, aged between 5 and 15 years. Ankur provides educational, vocational and recreational activities to over 35 children with a range of challenges, including sight or hearing impairment, polio related disabilities, cerebral palsy and severe learning difficulties. These physically and mentally challenged children are taught skills, such as cookery, painting, embroidery, bamboo crafts, weaving, stitching, etc. epending on their aptitudes. The center has rehabilitated 10 children, including self-employment for 6 children by providing them with shops, and 3 girls have been provided employment as creche attendants. It has also moved to normal schools 18 children. Since inception it h as covered about 80 children. Ankur received the Lawrie Group World aware Award for Social Progress in 1999 from HRH Princess Royal in London. KAPPAGAM Encouraged by Ankur's success, Kappagam (â€Å"shelter†), the second center for special education of challenged children, was set up in 1998 on HUL Plantations in South India.It has 17 children. The focus of Kappagam is the same as that of Ankur. The center has 17 children, being taught self-help skills, useful vocational activities like making of paper covers, greeting cards, wrapping papers, fancy stationery, and napkins, brooms made out of coconut leaves, candles, and also some home care products. About 12 of the children have become relatively self-reliant by earning through crafts learnt at the center. Since inception, it has covered about 28 children. ANBAGAMYet another day care center, Anbagam (â€Å"shelter of love†), has been started in 2003 also in the South India Plantations. It takes care of 11 children. Bes ides medical care and meals, they too are being taught skills such that they can become self-reliant and elementary studies. Over 20,000 individuals have benefitted from the Happy Homes initiatives since inception. HUL is wholeheartedly involved with all four centers and will continue to be involved in the future. Among HUL's other significant CSR initiatives are: YASHODADHAMHUL has reconstructed a village in the Bhachau Taluka of Gujarat's Kachchh district. The village, which has been named Yashodadham, was dedicated to its 1100 residents in December 2002. The residents belong to Nani Chirai village, which was completely wrecked by the devastating earthquake of January 2001. Yashodadham, spread over 25 acres, comprises 289 homes. HUL has also provided a school building, an exclusive playground for children and a multi-purpose community center, including a creche, health center, and community room and village administration office.All the structures are earthquake and cyclone-resist ant. Space has been left all along the village for parks and public squares, where villagers subsequently will plant trees. Each house is of 400 sq. ft. built-up area, with running water and electricity, in a 1600 sq. ft. plot. As desired by the villagers, the design and foundation of houses and the plot size is such that they have the scope to build extra rooms in the future. HUL has constructed both an underground reservoir and an overhead tank for water.HUL, which had launched immediate relief after the quake in areas adjacent to its Kandla Exports factory, subsequently decided to reconstruct a village, which was completely wrecked. The objective was to help a completely wrecked village, because such settlements had the greatest need for help. Forty such villages were inspected, around Kandla factory, and Nani Chirai was chosen. VINDHYA VALLEY In 2002, the company took up a project in Madhya Pradesh, which will impact the entire state's rural population.The mainstay of Madhya Pra desh's economy is agriculture. Prosperity thus means increasing the income of farmers and small town and village entrepreneurs engaged in agro-processing and cottage industries. This is where HUL is contributing its expertise. It has helped the state government create ‘Vindhya Valley', an umbrella brand, and support software for its marketing, manufacturing and distribution. The state government has been substantially investing every year to finance small town and village entrepreneurs.But the lack of marketing skills and market access denied them the desired success and eventually resulted in most of these ventures becoming unsustainable. The launch of ‘Vindhya Valley', with support software from HUL, is helping overcome the impediment. It is a truly unique and sustainable form of livelihood generation. This has resulted as of now in the establishment of 20 small units, based in rural areas, providing direct engagement to about 1000 families involved in the production o f spices, honey, papad, pickles, agarbatti etc.The success of ‘Vindhya Valley has been recognized by various state governments. HUL has recently begun work with the Karnataka Government in similar projects to improve the income and quality of life of rural communities. An umbrella brand, ‘Stree Shakti', is being created for Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The initiative will generate higher sales and higher returns for the SHGs. In its business operations and in its principles and practices, Hindustan Lever thus straddles the Indian corporate world, single-mindedly identifying itself with Indian aspirations and needs in every walk of life.