Space and Culture, India
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Analysing the Socio-Economic Conditions of Waste Pickers in Uttar Pradesh
Get PDFWaste pickers pick up reusable and recyclable waste from roadsides, dustbins, and landfills and sell it to local scrap dealers to earn money to fulfil their daily needs. Waste pickers do this in very unhygienic and hazardous conditions. This study examines the socio-economic status of waste pickers working in Ghaziabad using the Kuppuswamy SES (2020) scale. For this, 200 waste pickers, including male and female respondents, participated in this study. IBM SPSS software was used to code and analyse the data. Correlation matrix and regression were used for analysis. The research found that although waste pickers are crucial to society, their socio-economic situation is among the lowest. 51% of waste pickers are from the lower middle class, and 42% are from the upper lower class. These waste pickers of our study are underprivileged, illiterate, and live in poor conditions. For a sustainable and decent living, they need the government to satisfy some of their needs, including free medical services, access to clean, fresh water, social safety, and training for alternative employment
Religious Journeys in India: Pilgrims, Tourists, and Travelers, edited by Andrea Marion Pinkney and John Whalen-Bridge (2018), SUNY (State University of New York) Press,353 Broadway, State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001. Hardcover: xiv+324 pages, ISBN Hb: 978-1438466033, ISBN eBk: 978-1438466040, ASIN: 143846603X. Price: $90.00
Get PDFViolence against Women: An Unending Social Scourge
Get PDFViolence against women is globally a stark reality. Women are affected in so many ways because of the violence perpetrated primarily by men and also, in many cases, by the women themselves. Violence against women takes place in each section of the population irrespective of their class, religion, ethnicity or any other social identity. Some legislation has been enacted in almost every country to deal with this violence committed against women. Although perpetrators of violence are sometimes punished based on the law of a particular country, it has not decreased substantially. Instead, it has taken multiple forms in different countries. This editorial aims to depict the manifold types of violence frequently occurring in different parts of the world. It investigates the significant reasons that are responsible for committing violence against women and also tries to find out the consequences of this violence at the individual, familial, and societal levels. This editorial piece is based on secondary data extracted from relevant literature like journal articles, books, research reports, periodicals, working papers, etc. Relevant literature has been detected and downloaded using internet search engines such as Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic Search, JSTOR, etc. Some words like violence against women, domestic violence, family violence, and couple conflicts have been used to identify relevant literature. Papers or research reports published between 2000 and 2024 have only been considered for writing this editorial. Findings show that patriarchal norms that still dominate one way or the other in many of the countries across the globe are, to a great extent, responsible for violence against women
#Metoo Movement: Backlash or Rhetoric
Get PDFAny form of sexual assault stems from the intersection of power, patriarchal structure and gender. While different countries take different measures to tackle cases of sexual assault, cases continue to rise like a pandemic. This study is a revisit to the # Metoo Movement that took the catbird seat in 2017 after Tarana Burke founded it in 2006. Although the #Metoo movement started with women calling out names of abusers, the movement was not confined to female voices alone. It helped expose the cases of sexual abuse across all genders. Taking examples of various instances of sexual assaults against gender across societies, committed under the bulwarks of power, domination and (or) patriarchy, and the newly emergent ways of exploitation of gender, such as Catfishing and Love Jihad, this communication aims to probe whether the #Metoo movement has faced backlash or is simply a rhetoric or both
Assessing the Managerial Capabilities of Staff: A Systematic Model
Get PDFCurrently, there are many advanced and proven evaluation methods. However, there is practically no work on the systematisation of evaluation criteria considering management levels, tasks, and functions. The purpose of the study is to develop a systemological model for assessing the managerial potential of personnel, which combines the main components that determine the effectiveness of the organisation’s management staff. This study involved 48 males and 34 females aged 23 to 66 years, performing the role and functions of a leader. The primary condition for selecting the participants for the study was based on the level of higher education and managerial experience. All respondents were divided into five groups based on their qualifications, as well as the experiences gained from the management activities. To accomplish the study’s objectives, an evaluation list of criteria was compiled, which made it possible to systematise the managerial potential of personnel based on management levels, tasks, and functions performed. The findings of the study demonstrate systematisation of approaches to managerial potential from the organisation’s perspective, which in turn allowed us to build a systemological model for assessing the managerial potential of personnel
Eco-Consciousness and Eco-Semiotics in Amruta Patil’s Kari: An Exploration of Queer Ecology
Get PDFThe field of ecology in literature distorted the notion of humans being the centre of all living ecosystems, striving for an “environment that is neither solipsistically anthropocentric nor blatantly anti-humanitarian” (Lauer, 2018, p.13). This led to the emergence of ecocriticism, which dealt with environmental issues through literature. “To put it succinctly, eco criticism is the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment… [As it] takes an earth-centred approach to literary studies” (Glotfelty & Fromm, 1996, p.18). Meanwhile, disregarding the societal norms constructed on sex, gender, and identity emerged queer theory, suggesting the fluidity of the human body. Despite their inherent differences, environmental criticism and queer theory have the opportunity to combine to produce a new dimension called queer ecology. This analysis aims to establish a connection between eco-criticism and queer theory, shedding light on the concept of queer ecology through the analysis of the literary text Kari.
Kari, written by the first female graphic novelist, stands as a pioneering Indian lesbian graphic novel that effectively dismantles prevailing societal norms and challenges perspectives on genderqueer individuals. Further, the analysis narrows itself to an eco-conscious approach from a queer perspective, which claims to be the main argument of the article. In its graphical representation, this analysis also focuses on the meaning nature provides us through symbols defining eco-semiotics. The purpose of the study is to contribute to a greater understanding of environmental exploitation concerning the marginalisation experienced by the queer community. The eco-conscious attitude that is looked upon from a queer perspective serves to prove the mutual interdependence between eco-critical and queer sexual desires that are often negated, ignored, exploited and marginalised amidst the dominant ideological discourses
Space of Conflict in the Reproduction of Hindu Sacred Places into Spiritual Destination
Get PDFHoly places used as spiritual tourism destinations are considered to have more value than merely holy places since they can produce economic benefits. Visiting holy places builds a positive tourist experience and often a positive vibe for the local community. However, in the case of Bali, various complaints have arisen regarding the arrival of spiritual tourists, resulting in overcrowding and long queues. This study reveals the use of religious shrines as spiritual tourism destinations and the entailed conflict regarding the division of space between the locals and the tourists to achieve a middle-way solution to this conflict.
This study collected data through observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). The collected qualitative data were then analysed. The findings reveal that people use religious holy places as spiritual tourism destinations because they get economic benefits. Conflicts of interest, of course, arise due to crowding and long queues. This conflict is mediated by various proposals for dividing space between the two interests. The study contributes to the need for limits on the use of religious holy places as tourist destinations to ensure the destination\u27s sustainability
Queering the Spatial Dynamics: A Study on Tropical Queer Mobility Amidst Binary Oppositions in Raja Rao’s The Boyfriend (2016)
Get PDFThis article critically examines the construct of tropicality, wherein colonial powers impose socially constructed ideologies, thereby obfuscating the boundaries between reality and illusion. The tropics, consequently, become a site of Othering, wherein queerness is suppressed due to the pernicious impact of colonialism. By queering India’s tropical setting, this study endeavours to bridge the prevailing gap in tropicality research, deploying ‘tropical queerness’ as a methodological framework to interrogate the nuanced dynamics of queer identities deeply entrenched in socio-political and traditional norms. Despite formidable challenges, narratives within the LGBTQIA+ community in tropical India exemplify resilience in exploring suppressed aspects of sexuality and gender whilst challenging pervasive stigma and stereotypes. This investigation scrutinises queer mobility, both mental and physical, through the power dynamics of socio-economic, socio-political, gender, and sexuality binaries impacted by colonial discourse. By situating Raja Rao’s The Boyfriend (2016) within the purview of discourse analysis, tropical India is deconstructed as an \u27Orient\u27, revealing insights into the root causes of queer mobility. Applying Edward Said\u27s concept of latent Orientalism as ‘latent tropicality’, this study vividly portrays queer experiences as ‘tropical otherness’, particularly through the characters Yudi and Milind, whose narratives serve as a testament to the enduring impact of colonialism on queer identities in tropical India
Unlocking Trade Potential: A Stochastic Frontier Gravity Model Analysis of India-Africa Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Goods Trade
Get PDFThis study examines the relatively unexplored domain of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) trade between India and the African Union (AU), applying the Stochastic Frontier Gravity Model (SFGM) to measure the untapped potential and discern factors that impede trade. It points out India’s burgeoning role in global ICT trade, with the AU being an increasingly valuable market due to its digital growth and young population. The research identifies India’s significant comparative advantage in exporting telecommunication equipment, with a Revealed Comparative Advantage of 3.54, strategically enhancing its position in the global marketplace. The research notes the high trade complementarity index of 0.984 in 2021, indicating a strong synergy between India’s export capabilities and the AU’s demand, suggesting a beneficial trade relationship. It acknowledges the shift in Africa’s ICT import partners, highlighting China’s rising influence and the need for India to solidify its market share in Africa strategically.
The SFGM’s application to evaluate trade efficiency, considering factors such as GDP, exchange rate, distance, tariff rate, and language, provides insightful conclusions. Positive impacts of GDP, exchange rate, and shared language on bilateral ICT trade are found to be significant. The findings emphasise the importance of strengthening trade ties for economic development and digital transformation in Africa
Mothers Lived Experiences of Caesarean Section: A Qualitative Study among Mothers in Semi-Urban Areas of Bangladesh
Get PDFThe commercialisation of health services has led to an increasing rate of unnecessary caesarean deliveries in developing countries like Bangladesh. This rising rate of unnecessary caesarean section (CS) is a serious concern, and it is associated with numerous short and long-term complications in both maternal and child health. This study aimed to explore the CS mother\u27s direct experiences with the immediate and long-term physical effects of CS. Twenty-two participants were selected from the Naya Bazar area, Sylhet City Corporation, which included mothers, fathers, traditional birth attendants and community health care providers. A qualitative research approach was adopted, and in-depth interviews and key informant interviews were conducted to focus on the experiences of caesarean mothers. The interviews were conducted face-to-face and analysed thematically. Various short and long-term physical risks were found following CSs. Four important physical consequence themes emerged from the analysis: Medicinal and breastfeeding difficulties, pain and wound complexity, urinary incontinence, and experiences following a CS. Some of the immediate consequences of the post-caesarean period impacted the mother’s ability to care for their child and the lack of mobility. Short and long-term consequences and physical pain impacted them over a long period. Unnecessary CSs can have short and long-term complications that need to be addressed. It is crucial to raise awareness about the potential consequences of CS for both the mother and the child, which would contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDGs 3), ensuring well-being amongst the mother and the child