The Impact of Globalization on Regionalism:
Whether South Asian Perception Affected or Not?
Dr. Humyun S.I., Assiciate Professor, Center for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, Aditya Narayanan, Center for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry.
Regionalism in South Asia has been impacted by globalization in both positive and negative ways. International businesses have increased economic activity and investment, fostering trade and investment prospects. Cross-cultural understanding has been fostered by digital technology. The greater mobility of people and goods has reduced economic inequality and raised new security issues. For instance, India's technology industry has helped it grow into a regional economic powerhouse, whilst other nations have arguably failed. Nonetheless, South Asia offers prospects for regional integration and collaboration. This article examines regionalism's historical backdrop and how globalization has impacted it. It explores the benefits and difficulties that regionalism has faced due to global enterprises, digital technology, and increasing human and material mobility. To overcome the issues caused by globalization and advance regional integration and collaboration, the essay emphasizes the significance of political will and leadership.
Dr. Santosh Kumar , Assistant Professor at the Department of South and Central Asian Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. , Anilkumar Singadi, Department of South and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
Lekha, Department of South and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Tannu Tiwari, Department of South and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.
In January 2024, while Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam on a state visit, the two countries signed agreements on 'Incident prevention' and 'Maritime cooperation' towards the South China Sea security, marking a significant step towards bilateral cooperation between Philippines and Vietnam to achieve common objectives and counter common challenges in the region. The agreements are intended to improve cooperation among their coastguards through joint military exercises, drills, and training to prevent illegal activities in the disputed waters and advance regional peace, security, and order. Both Southeast Asian states are members of the ‘Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) and have competing claims over the territories of the South China Sea (SCS). Philippines-Vietnam joining their hands to boost their collective defense targeted at the disputed South China Sea and advocating for amicable negotiations and engagement to settle the differences will have a long-term impact on the region. Vietnam has committed to provide the Philippines with up to 2 million tonnes of white rice as part of the agreement, which also seeks to strengthen commercial relations between the two nations. This paper examines the agreements' geopolitical ramifications and significance to balance Chinese assertiveness in the disputed region, and its regional implications.
Dr. Utham Kumar Jamadhagni, Professor, Department of Defence & Strategic Studies, University of Madras.
Though seemingly near, India and Sri Lanka feel distant. India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour – geographically, separated by a narrow strait called the Palk Strait. This proximity has allowed both the countries to be historically and culturally close. For over two millennia both the nations have witnessed various levels of relationship – from religious propagation, commercial and cultural exchanges to occasional war. Since the mid 20th century, bilateral relations between the two nations have been cordial. However, the relationship strained due to the Sri Lankan civil war (between the ethnic Sinhalese and Tamils) and India's lacklustre intervention and lack of strategic foresight. Later, the strain stretched over fishing issues. Now the controversy over Katchathivu has been stoked again. This article studies the dynamics of the relationship between the two South Asian states.
Dr. Humayun.S.I., Associate Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, Puducherry.
Regionalism in South Asia has been impacted by globalization in both positive and negative ways. International businesses have increased economic activity and investment, fostering trade and investment prospects. Cross-cultural understanding has been fostered by digital technology. The greater mobility of people and goods has reduced economic inequality and raised new security issues. For instance, India's technology industry has helped it grow into a regional economic powerhouse, whilst other nations have arguably failed. Nonetheless, South Asia offers prospects for regional integration and collaboration. This article examines regionalism's historical backdrop and how globalization has impacted it. It explores the benefits and difficulties that regionalism has faced due to global enterprises, digital technology, and increasing human and material mobility. To overcome the issues caused by globalization and advance regional integration and collaboration, the essay emphasizes the significance of political will and leadership.
Dr. Rini Rachel Abraham, Guest Lecturer, Dept. of Political Science, Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla.
India has been engaging with its South Asian neighbours bilaterally as well as through regional organisations, mainly the SAARC. However in its 38 years of existence, SAARC seems to have failed in realising many of its stated objectives. South Asia still continues to be an extremely poor and also one of the least integrated regions of the world. Pakistan’s continued obstructionist attitude and deteriorating India-Pakistan relations have also further incapacitated SAARC. It is in this context that the BIMSTEC could play an important role in enhancing regional cooperation. The article attempts to analyse how India can overcome these challenges while trying to reinvigorate BIMSTEC as a vehicle for greater regional cooperation.
Subham Tripathy, Research Scholar, School of Political Science, G M University, Odisha
Banita Mahanandia, Assistant Professor, School of Political Science, G M University, Odisha.
In a world where Foreign Policy is designed with a tendency to achieve national interest by any means possible, the question of ‘Peace and Tranquillity’ is being ignored by many policy Makers. Wars and Conflicts have been proven to be omnipresent in the world and the principal justification for the augmentation of aggressive foreign policy decisions by the leaders. Amid the chaos and conflicts in the world, how India has been shaping its Foreign Policy constructs the main thrust of the paper. The references from the ancient civilizations and the legacy of the freedom struggle on Indian Foreign policy is taken into account. The article also deals with some of the distinct features of the Indian Foreign Policy like Panchsheel, Gujral Doctrine, anti-colonialism, anti-racism, anti-Imperialism, non-alignment, perspective on disarmament, etc., and their impact on maintaining global peace. India has always been a staunch supporter of peaceful settlement of disputes and referred to War as the last resort. In this context, the paper throughs light on Indian efforts in various conflicts and wars both in the cold war and in the post-cold War era. India’s contribution to the UN Peacekeeping missions are one of the remarkable features of the paper. The paper also puts forward India’s vaccine diplomacy during the global Covid crisis. The current scenarios of the Russia and Ukraine conflict is also discussed in the paper. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of the trajectory of the gradual advancement of Indian Foreign Policy toward a better and more peaceful world.
Dr. Mirza Asmer Beg, Professor, Department of Political Science, AMU, Aligarh.
Dr. Shashikant Pandey, Professor, Department of Political Science, BRAU, Lucknow.
Dr. Abhishek Pal, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Allahabad University.
Uttar Pradesh (UP), being the most populous state in India is very significant from electoral point of view. Therefore, elections here attract global attention. It has also been referred to as ‘elections in the world’s fourth largest democracy’. (Antholis 2015)With the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats (80 seats) and 403 assembly seats, the state very often sets the trend for national politics. This is the reason that all the political parties, having ambition to form government at national level, are always more focused towards trying to get a hold over politics of UP. Since 2007, voters in UP have been giving a decisive mandate to a particular party and from 2014 onwards, BJP has maintained a significant hold over the state’s politics......
Starting January 12, 2024, the BJP plans to hold events across the state to reach out to Muslim women beneficiaries of Central government schemes, led by top leaders such as Deputy Chief Ministers Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya. The BJP plans to cover all 75 districts of the state, and call on around 1,000 Muslim women beneficiaries per district. BJP woos OBCs: In response to the SP’s outreach towards ‘pichhde dalit alpsankhayak’ communities (backwards, Dalits, minorities), the BJP has put special focus on these sections of the population. It used the veteran Kurmi leader and Apna Dal founder Sonelal Patel’s 74th birth anniversary to reach out to the Other Backward Classes. The party is likely to induct more faces from the OBC and other communities ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to give more representation to these sections. BJP has launched the Viksit Bharat Yatra to ensure that no beneficiary misses the welfare schemes launched by the government, Launched on November 15 by PM Modi, the yatra will cover 2.50 lakh panchayats, 3,600 municipal corporations, Nagar Palika parishad and Nagar panchayats before concluding on January 25. In a peculiar move, the BJP has decided to hold OBC conventions for students of schools and colleges in an attempt to tap the backward class youth who may be potential voters in the Lok Sabha elections to be held shortly, each convention should have at least 200 OBC students.(Shah2024). The icing on the cake is the grand opening of the temple on January 22, 2024, which has been preceded by a huge publicity blitz that is designed to raise Hindu passions and create a frenzy of sorts for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In this situation, it appears that the BJP is comfortably placed as it gears up to win power for a third straight term, with UP contributing the largest share of MPs to its kitty.
Tapas Kumar Sarangi, Lecturer in Political Science, Samanta Chandra Sekhar Jr. College, Puri, Odisha
Dr. Smita Nayak, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Political Science, Utkal University, Odisha
How do voters choose political parties in elections has always been a matter of interest. The purpose of this paper is to review various studies on voting behaviour in India since 2009 to find out the factors determining party choice in the Indian Lok Sabha elections. The research paper divided the factors into the following categories: (1) social demographics (caste, class, religion, gender, locality, education, age), (2) ideology, (3) party identification, (4) issues, (5) leadership, (6) economic evaluations, (7) welfare benefits, (8) party organization & campaign strategy, (9) media, and (10) regional & local factors. The impact of factors varies from elections to elections. In the past, voters were swayed away by caste considerations and selective clientelist benefits; in recent years, ideology, leaders, campaign issues, and universal welfare benefits have influenced the voters in India. The consolidation of Hindus, the structural change in Indian society, the rightward shift in ideological middle ground, the aggressive campaign strategy, and, above all, the leadership of Narendra Modi have led to the electoral domination of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since the 2014 Lok Sabha election, signalling the emergence of a second dominant party system in India.
Dilsa Elz Jojan, Student, Department of Public Policy Law and Governance, Central University of Rajasthan
Prof. Nagendra Ambedkar Sole, Professor, Department of Public Policy, Law and Governance, Central university of Rajasthan.
The Governor's office in India witnessed a significant transformation marked by substantial changes, during which a series of commissions were instituted to delineate the scope and duties associated with the position. Within this context, it is noteworthy that the Governors occasionally inappropriately employed Article 356, which consequently gave rise to a multitude of Supreme Court verdicts and legal interpretations. These instances of misapplication of Article 356 engendered a profound impact on the constitutional landscape of India, prompting the judiciary to intervene and assert its role as a guardian of the country's democratic principles. The establishment of various commissions to ascertain the responsibilities of the Governor's office demonstrated a concerted effort to enhance transparency and accountability in governance. However, the misuse of Article 356 underscored the delicate balance required between federal and state powers, highlighting the complexity inherent in the relationship between the central government and individual states. The Supreme Court's involvement in adjudicating cases related to the misapplication of Article 356 exemplified its role as a vital check and balance in the Indian democratic system.
Dr. Daisy Shrama, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
The conceptualization and contextualization of participative policy-making in the Indian context reflect a broader shift towards inclusive and democratic governance. It recognizes that policies crafted through collaborative processes are more likely to address the diverse needs, aspirations, and concerns of the people. By involving a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, industry representatives, experts, and citizens, participative policy-making brings together diverse perspectives and harnesses collective intelligence. It fosters transparency, accountability, and legitimacy, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable policy outcomes. However, challenges such as capacity building, ensuring meaningful participation, and bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation remain. It is crucial to establish robust mechanisms for stakeholder engagement, enhance institutional capacities, and promote a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility among all stakeholders. In this context, participative policy-making approaches have the potential to strengthen democratic processes, promote social cohesion, and drive inclusive development in India.
Dr.G.Palanithurai, Former Professor, Rajiv Gandhi Chair for Panchayati Raj Studies, Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed University, Gandhigram .
Today the world is so integrated so closely due to the technological innovations and people are connected for local and global actions. The communication revolution that broke out in the world intensified human activities to reach material advancement beyond human imagination. The communication revolution has changed the development landscape in an unexpected direction which resulted in competition and conflict between and among individuals, groups, communities, societies, countries, companies, organizations, and institutions. When the technological revolution was on, it was predicted that these changes would bring people together to lead harmonious and happy civilized life by integrating themselves with other communities, groups, and societies, and thereby a new global social order would emerge....
Within a short span of time M.K.Gandhi evolved himself as a transformational leader by following a unique method of establishing emotional bondage with his followers and freed the country from the colonial yoke and thereby he raised hope among millions in the world who were in the yoke of authoritarianism that without an armed struggle freedom could be achieved by following a non-violent struggle. He left a strong legacy in the domain of leadership as his leadership is unique. His uniqueness lies in transforming himself to the level of sainthood as a saint but never acting as a sage or saint. Scholars who studied leadership argued that M.K.Gandhi's leadership is unique and cannot be categorized in any of the leadership patterns. New leadership emerges based on the experience of M.K.Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther king. M.K.Gandhi is always in action. He prepared the poor masses for higher-level action through transforming them by following in his footsteps. He prepared an army of people for transformative work even after India got independence. Preparing the masses for the non-violent struggle is not an easy task and it is much more difficult than preparing the masses for an armed struggle. The whole preparation of the masses as cadres or workers for transformation is in the psyche of the people. This transformation he achieved through soul contact by creating the mutual trust and for which he evolved himself as a model. Secondly, he evolved a framework of development to lead a civilized human life with peace and joy by establishing a harmonious relationship with nature, and thereby he established a natural theory of development. He followed the native tradition of development negating the western model of development. M.K.Gandhi tried to enable humanity to move from a violent and exploitative economic system to a need-based green economy to live in harmony with nature. In the new context, there are opportunities to transform India. A vibrant constitution, pro-poor legislation to protect the poor, marginalized, and the weak, a variety of schemes and programs for the upliftment of the poor, all necessities for the poor are in the form of rights and huge outlays for the schemes and programs are in India. They are to be realized and for which India requires a new leadership negating the present leadership what we see in the Indian Parliament and Legislature. Hence M.K.Gandhi provides new leadership for grassroots development.
Dr. D. Pulla Rao, Honorary Professor, Dept. of Economics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Visakhapatnam district is one of the North Eastern Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and it lies between 170 – 151 and 180 – 321 Northern latitude and 180 – 541 and 830 – 301 Eastern longitude. It is bounded on the North partly by the Orissa State and partly by Vizianagaram District, on the South by East Godavari District, on the West by Orissa State and on the East by Bay of Bengal....
The profile of the study area shows that a higher proportion of the geographical area is covered with forest and uncultivable land, consequent of which the gross cropped and net area shown are limited. The main sources of irrigation are also not at the required level hence; the net area irrigated is also less. The cropping pattern reveals that a major proportion of gross cropped area is used for the production of food grains. The cropping pattern reveals that a major portion of the gross cropped area is used for the production of food grains in the district. Agriculture is the predominant sector and it is contributing higher proportion of both income and employment. The analysis relating to the basic features of the selected district ultimately reveal that it is having higher extent of area and rural population. Due to this reason on the front of household demographic, economic, social indicators as well as the availability of infrastructure facilities in Visakhapatnam district is lagging behind though it is having much industrial potential. The analysis relating to the profile of the selected mandals of the study ultimately reveals that among the two selected mandals, though the Devarapalli mandal is relatively big in terms of geographical area when compared to Pendurthi mandal, the available geographical features as well as resource base and other infrastructural facilities are concerned Pendurthi mandal is in the lead position. The main reason is that the area is having the semi-urban features. The village profile analysis reveal that several infrastructural facilities like road net work, power supply, communication and banking facilities in the selected mandals and villages are concerned, there is significant improvement in the Pendurthi mandal particularly in the semi-urban areas of the villages when compared to the Devarapalli mandal particularly in the interior villages. This situation is revealed in the village analysis that the villages selected from the Pendurthi mandal semi-urban areas are far ahead in having infrastructure and other facilities when compared to Devarapalli mandal and particularly in the villages in the interior areas. Inter mandal and area disparities are found significantly in the study area relating to the macro economy of the district, mandal villages and households are concerned. The analyses ultimately reveal that on the front of macroeconomic indicators the district covered under the study is far behind. Similarly the selected mandals and villages are also having very limited infrastructure facilities.
Dr Praveen Kumar Tripathi, Asssistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, SRMSIMS, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
Dr RuchiArun, Asssistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SRMSIMS, Bareilly,Uttar Pradesh
Prof. Dr. PreetiLata Rai, Department of PediatricsRohilkhand Medical College Bareilly,Uttar Pradesh
Prof. Dr. Amarjeet Singh, MD, Ex-Head, Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh
Chronic illnesses like cardiovascular diseases lead to substantial disability, morbidity, and mortality. For their prevention, adoption of a healthy lifestyle is advocated. But, adherence with the advice is only 40-50%, resulting in increased morbidity and death. For ensuring adherence, behavior change of the patients is required. Various messages in the form of sermons ofKrishna to Arjunahave been used in this article to illustrate the role and scope of utilizing the teachings of Bhagavad Gita in prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, e.g., right diet, sleep, the importance of yoga,maintenance of physical health though activity and exercise. Conclusion:Teachings of Gita are quite relevant the for prevention and control of NCDs. Health care providers may use quotes from Gita, while counselling the patients about the importance of adherence with the medical advice.
Dr. Justine Joseph, Associate Professor, St.Joseph’s college, Moolamattom, Idukki District, Kerala.
Urbanization is a natural consequence of economic changes that take place in a country, which contributes to population development. Nearly twenty eight out of every hundred persons in India live in urban areas. Poverty and lack of employment in the villages lead to migration from rural to urban areas. Increasing industrialization in any country has contributed to the growth of new towns. The growth of urban population in India has brought so many problems including poverty. Urban poverty has a serious impact on economic growth in India. The reasons behind urban poverty are improper training of the people, growing population, slower rate of growth of jobs and failure of Public Distribution System (PDS). Urban poverty alleviation is a challenging task before the government. To reduce the urban poverty, state governments have primary responsibility for planning and initiating programmes like the Urban Basic Services for the poor, the Environmental Improvements of Urban slums. It is time to accelerate the efforts to alleviate urban poverty in major states with high levels of urban poverty through effective strategies to address the root causes of urban poverty.
Deepali Borthakur, Assistant Director, Quality and Process (IQAC), Assam down town University and
Doctoral Scholar, Department of English, Dibrugarh University.
In the complex realm of postmodern literature, there is a clear inclination to subvert traditional narrative techniques. This genre, marked by fragmentation and diversity, systematically deconstructs long-standing beliefs, thereby undermining the concept of a single, unassailable truth. It resists the dominance of grand narratives, those narratives that conventionally seek to provide a holistic understanding of history, society, and individual identity. Veering away from this well-trodden path, postmodern authors introduce a variety of viewpoints and narratives, urging readers to engage in a critical examination of the multiple layers of interpretation and meaning.Irwin Allan Sealy, a notable Indian writer, has made significant contributions to postmodern literature. His works challenge traditional storytelling and delve into intricate themes. Novels such as Trotter Nama, Brainfever Bird, and The Everest Hotel: A Calendar blend history, mythology, metafiction, and complex storytelling to question the reliability of historical narratives and the existence of a unified truth. Other works like Asoca: A Sutra, Zelaldinus: A Masque, and Hero: A Fable showcase Sealy's innovative experiments with language, narrative structure, and the reinterpretation of mythological tales. Meanwhile, Red: An Alphabet demonstrates Sealy's ability to create narrative connections among words, meanings, and stories through a series of vignettes. Collectively, Sealy's works encourage readers to critically engage with narratives, challenging them to question and reimagine traditional storytelling norms.
Pem Uzeyla Bhutia, Doctoral Scholar in Peace and Conflict Studies & Management. Sikkim
Maheema Rai, Teaches international relations in Sikkim University
Dr. Salvin Paul, Associate Professor, School of Law, Governance and Citizenship, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Delhi.
Sikkim, the 22nd state of India and tourist hotspot, exhibits a relatively lower prevalence of criminal activity in comparison to other geographical areas. Though instances of armed conflict or warfare resulting in the destruction of lives and property are scarce or non-existent, why Sikkim faces a multitude of social challenges and issues, such as suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction, domestic violence, and violence against children? is less explored in the academia. There exists structural violence that persist both direct and indirect forms of violence that affect all individuals, especially vulnerable children who are susceptible to harm and exploitation. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are among the actors dedicated to promote the welfare of society, with a particular focus on safeguarding the rights of children. Numerous non-governmental organizations have been operating at both the national and state levels with the aim of safeguarding and advancing the rights of children. By applying a qualitative methodology combined with an embedded research design, this research has tried to examine the role of NGOs towards peacebuilding specially in providing child protection and safeguarding child rights in the state of Sikkim. It will outline the various forms of violence that Sikkim's children encounter and may provide a better and broader comprehension of how NGOs work to protect children in the state of Sikkim, given the lack of research conducted within the context of Sikkim's society.
P.Subhiksha, MSW Trainee, Department of Social Work, Guru Nanak College (Autonomous), Chennai.
Dr.K.Shanthi, Assistant Professor & Head, Department of Social Work, Guru Nanak College (Autonomous), Chennai.
The face to face teaching learning was interrupted after the outbreak of the pandemic. The schools were not prepared for the unexpected transition. Several schools adopted to remote based learning. The eLearning has replaced the traditional classroom learning. In many schools e learning become a challenge, as the students have difficulty to get access to the electronic devices. The aim of this study was to compare on the perception of the students towards the e-learning at Government and Private Schools and the life satisfaction level. This is a Quantitative study and the data were collected from 100 students from private and government schools. The comparative study between private and government school was done in Thirupporur Taluk. The students had a positive perception of online learning too but most of them preferred face-to-face learning due to various reasons. Results indicate a significant loss of learning due to the unavailability of technology and the cost of data; nevertheless, some students agreed that online learning represents the future of teaching and learning. It has been concluded that it is difficult for the students to cope up with the online learning as it has a poor learning environment and many such difficulties.
Dr. Anita Banerjee, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Management & Social Sciences, Amity University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Dr. Shankar Chatterjee, Former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR (Govt. of India), Hyderabad.
The banks are the economic lifeline of a country as it creates ‘Multiplier Effects’ in the economy, so a sound banking system is sine-qua non so that customers do not suffer. To ensure a robust banking system and provide seamless services to customers, digitalization has become a key strategy. This article delves into the evolution of Digital Banking Units (DBUs) in India, innovative digital banking systems, and their implications. With a focus on the Indian banking sector, this study examines the State Bank of India's Customer Service Point (CSP) initiative as a case study and secondary data to offer insights into the transformation of the Indian banking landscape. The article is based on case studies from the Samastipur district of Bihar, India. The article suggests extending digital banking coverage to underbanked regions and other countries within the BIMSTEC group.
Dr. Binoy Chacko, Assistant Professor, PG & Research Dept of Commerce, St.Thomas College, Pala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
Dr.Gireesh Kumar G S, Principal, Henry Baker College, Melukavu, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
The study entitled “Panel Generalized Method of Moments Approach to Study the Impact of Ownership Structure on Financial Performance of Listed Banks in India” aimed to find out the impact of ownership structure on financial performance of BSE listed banks in India by using One-Step System Panel Generalized Method of Moments Model. The study consists of 407 observations. The study taken Return on Asset (ROA) as proxy for the financial performance and Government ownership, foreign ownership and Institutional ownership were taken as proxies for board governance. The main method of analysis is panel data analysis. The study found that foreign ownership will definitely increases the financial performance of listed banks in India. The study does not find any association between Government ownership and institutional ownership on financial performance.
Dr. Sheeba Joseph, Assistant Professor, Baselius College, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
This paper aims at evaluating the service quality gap among public sector and private sector banks in Kerala. It further attempts to identify the impact of service quality on the satisfaction of customers. Factor analysis is used to identify the service quality gap. The data collected from respondents using 35 statements were loaded to five factors namely Ambience’, ‘Employee Efficacy’, ‘Care and Attention’, ‘Accommodating’, and ‘Personalised Services’. Paired sample t test is used to evaluate the factors. MANOVA is used to measure service quality in public and private sector banks. SERVQUAL model developed by Parasuraman et al, forms the basis for identifying the dimensions which explain the service quality.
Dr. SeemaMallik, Faculty, Department of Political Science, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
The pandemic has thrown open issues of live and livelihood particularly of rural India. This has brought to focus the poverty, unemployment and food insecurity of millions of people who leave their homes in search of livelihoods. With the loss of jobs and livelihoods the rural workforce made their return journey back to their villages, to their roots. This return exodus has created an urgency to reconstruct and strengthen the rural which constitutes ‘India’s only real social safety net’. It is in this light that the paper examines the importance of creating self-reliant and self-sufficient rural communities so that the rural poor does not have to travel far for their livelihoods. Further, any program of strengthening rural India cannot ignore the large indigenous tribal population mainly inhabiting hills, forests and remote rural areas . Tribal constitute 42 % of rural India, comprising the most marginalized and vulnerable section of our society. For generations they have been neglected by policy makers. They have been considered primitive and backwards incapable of contributing to the development of the country. Decisions regarding them are made without their participation. The result has thus been an all-round suffering of tribal communities and their further exclusion from the development process.
In this context the paper focuses on the inclusion of tribal communities in government policies and programmes and argues that the state –driven heavy industrialization and mining strategies are not the solution to tribal poverty. Rather it has been responsible for causing dispossession from their lands and forests driving them towards deeper poverty. . This will be examined in the context of mineral rich district of Keonjhar, and also through protests by tribal groups to big industrial projects in Kalahandi districts in Odisha. The paper suggests for the creation of ‘socially embedded’ inclusive strategies which will strengthen capabilities of local communities and economies wherein they can be integrated with a larger global market. This would not only enhance local skills and livelihood chances but would also give them the freedom of choice . Indigenous products manufactured locally will get a larger market which will definitely help in strengthening the tribal economy.
Dr.Anitha.R, Assistant Professor, Department of Tourism Studies, Sree Narayana Arts and Science College, Kumarakom
Dr. Ambeeshmon.S, Assistant Professor, Institute of Management in Kerala, University of Kerala
Sanjay Salil, Guest faculty, Travel and Tourism, Government VHSS Kumarakom.
The Tourism Department of the Government of Kerala introduced new classification criteria in the accommodation sector of Kumarakom as part of the responsible tourism initiative in the year 2013. Based on Global Sustainable tourism standards, these criteria aimed to ensure the well-being of the indigenous populations and the tourist destination. Despite initial challenges, the collaboration between various stakeholders of the hospitality and tourism sector successfully established a strong linkage with the local community, leading to substantial growth in responsible tourism. Here the first section of the classification scheme called sustainable management criteria is analysed to showcase the adherence and its transformative impact on the Kumarakom hospitality sector. By implementing Sustainable practices and by engaging the resident population, the sector has witnessed significant advancement in the entire accommodation units of Kumarakom.
Dr. Bidhan Golay, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim.
The primary objective of the present paper is do a textual study of the manner in which the identity of ‘Gurkhas’ as ‘martial race’ has been constructed in colonial writings. The paper draws on the theoretical insights of Michel Foucault, particularly his ideas on colonial discourse, disciplinary power and bio-politics. Taking these theoretical insights, the paper engages in a textual reading of three canonical texts that form the representative texts of the larger gamut of writings on Gorkhas. These are authored by Lt. Col. Eden Vansittart, titled, Gurkhas: Handbook for the India Army, Compiled under the orders of the Imperial Government of India, 1906, Major W. Brook Northey’s, The Land of the Gurkhas or The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal and again Captain Eden Vansittart’s, Notes on Nepal and Other Commentaries. The paper specifically focuses on two aspects of the racial theory in these texts, viz, biological determinism, and climactic - geographical determinism in order to make sense of the bio-political framing of the ‘martial race’ and to unpack the production of metaphysics of the Gorkha body in the process. The larger project of the paper is to show how the epistemological world of the Gorkhas continue to remain colonised by dominant knowledge systems leading to the dispossession of the vernacular narratives. This colonisation is not merely epistemic but actualised in the policies of the post-colonial state. This is most notably seen in the functioning of military bureaucracy functions and the recruitment process. The paper also seeks to look at the manner in which geographies of the borderlands come to be imagined out of these texts. And also look into the ways in which the colonised subjects themselves construct imageries of the body and self.