Dimensions Of India Research Articles

Populism and foreign policy: India's refugee policy towards the Rohingya

Abstract In this article, we investigate how India's refugee policy towards the Rohingya is implicated in the (re)production of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) populist project. We enhance an innovative contextual intersectional framework, drawing on Ernesto Laclau's conceptualization of populism as a political logic and build on Shweta Singh and Élise Féron's understanding of this populist logic as discursively co-constituted and based on varying intersecting identity constellations including race/ethnicity, religion, caste, class or gender/sexual orientation. Using this framework, we investigate how India's refugee policy towards Rohingya refugees in particular has evolved under successive populist governments led by the BJP. Analysing three key dimensions of India's refugee policy—legal framework, admission and status, and protection and security—we demonstrate significant shifts along these dimensions in India's refugee policy towards the Rohingya, and explicate the populist logic that is reinscribed through these changes at the site of ‘foreign policy’. Our analysis reveals these shifts as co-constituted in and through the populist logic of the BJP-led governments and relying on identity assemblages that emphasized the Rohingya's ethnicity/religion (Rohingya ‘Muslims’), gender/ sexual orientation (Rohingya ‘men’) and class (Rohingya in need of resources/ privileges). Our study opens up grounds for further research on how refugee policy, as a mode of foreign policy, becomes a site where populist governments reinscribe differences between the ‘people’ and dangerous enemy ‘others’ to (re)produce their populist political projects.

Regional Dimensions in India: Economic Growth, Inclusive and Sustainable Development

Regional Dimensions in India: Economic Growth, Inclusive and Sustainable Development

Why does a public health issue (not) get priority? Agenda setting for the national burns programme in India.

There is growing scholarly interest in what leads to global or national prioritization of specific health issues. By retrospectively analysing agenda setting for India's national burn programme, this study aimed to better understand how the agenda-setting process influenced its design, implementation and performance. We conducted document reviews and key informant interviews with stakeholders and used a combination of analytical frameworks on policy prioritization and issue framing for analysis. The READ (readying material, extracting data, analysing data and distilling findings) approach was used for document reviews, and qualitative thematic analysis was used for coding and analysis of documents and interviews. The findings suggest three critical features of burns care policy prioritization in India: challenges of issue characteristics, divergent portrayal of ideas and its framing as a social and/or health issue and over-centralization of agenda setting. First, lack of credible indicators on the magnitude of the problem and evidence on interventions limited issue framing, advocacy and agenda setting. Second, the policy response to burns has two dimensions in India: response to gender-based intentional injuries and the healthcare response. While intentional burns have received policy attention, the healthcare response was limited until the national programme was initiated in 2010 and scaled up in 2014. Third, over-centralization of agenda setting (dominated by a few homogenous actors, located in the national capital, with attention focused on the national ministry of health) contributed to limitations in programme design and implementation. We note following elements to consider when analysing issues of significant burden but limited priority: the need to analyse how actors influence issue framing, the particularities of issues, the inadequacy of any one dominant frame and the limited intersection of frames. Based on this analysis in India, we recommend a decentralized approach to agenda setting and for the design and implementation of national programmes from the outset.

Retirement confidence for successful ageing in context of the changing socio economic dimensions in India

Retirement confidence for successful ageing in context of the changing socio economic dimensions in India

Cultural Dimensions of India–Thailand Relations: A Historical Perspective

In today’s world of ‘Asianisation’ whereby the countries of Asia are reinventing their historical linkages and asserting their combined power on the world stage, an understanding of the cultures of neighbours and how reciprocal cultural linkages can contribute to enhance cooperation among the countries assumes importance. India shares a long history of cultural and commercial contacts with the region of Southeast Asia including Thailand date back to the very early centuries of the Common Era, perhaps even earlier. India’s interaction with this region in terms of history, culture and religion has been unique, deep, rich and apparently visible even today. Since time immemorial, the Bay of Bengal has been a highway of communication between the two regions bringing closer the cultures, economies and the people of both sides. Culture, along with commerce, contributed to exchange of ideas and knowledge between the two regions. The people of this land became so responsive to the Indian cultural elements that they imbibed and well adapted these to the native environmental conditions. Through contact and interaction, Indian cultural influence slowly and gradually penetrated into the local pattern of life in Southeast Asia. This peaceful penetration of Indian culture was carried out by traders, Brahmin priests, Buddhist monks, scholars and adventurers all along the maritime trade routes. The notable feature of this early interaction is that, the native people of Southeast Asia did not follow Indian cultural traits blindly. They absorbed only those Indian cultural elements into their indigenous cultural patterns which were either consisted with or could be shaped to their own beliefs and necessities. The process of Indian cultural influence never eradicated indigenous foundation of their society and culture. Moreover, it has been a mutual learning process in which both sides learned many things from each other. In order to understand and comprehend the processes responsible for such deep cultural interactions, Thailand has been chosen as a case study, owing to its geographical and historical proximity. India and Thailand located in each other’s extended neighbourhood and share a unique cultural linkage with the great Indian Emperor Ashoka, sending Buddhist missionaries to Thailand and thus making it one of the major religions in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. A notable feature of this time-honoured cultural interaction is that it has been entirely peaceful and having no political ambitions. In modern times, the civilisational linkages constitute a special asset for the further development of multifaceted relationship between the two countries. The shared cultural heritage helps both the countries to understand and confront contemporary challenges. This article attempts to study the cultural dimensions of India’s multifaceted interaction with Thailand in the historical context. It argues that history and culture are central to any understanding of prospective Indo-Thai relations, and therefore, should be harnessed and promoted as a foreign policy tool to take the bilateral relations to the next level.

Changing Dimensions of India’s Foreign Policy after 2014: Has There been a Radical Shift?

Changing Dimensions of India’s Foreign Policy after 2014: Has There been a Radical Shift?

PATTERNS OF DRUG ABUSE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN INDIA

The virtual epidemic of drug abuse among youth has occupied dreadful dimensions in India. Despite the devastating effects of drug addiction on health, family and all aspects of the society, different kinds of drugs are abused by the people of all classes of socio-economic strata. Even prevalence of drug abuse among women is a common phenomenon in India. To prevent drug addiction, literacy rate should be increased and also health awareness should be increased among the people of all classes of society through different medias like T.V., newspapers and other social medias to relieve from this curse of drug addiction.

Is Social Distancing a Panacea? A Socio-Anthropological Case of Intimacy of Community Health Workers from Eastern Indian State

In different parts of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic is testing the federal system of government like never before. Federalism—which believes in shared sovereignty and territoriality between multiple constituent units of governance—was anticipated to fail against a massive pandemic that needed swift, and presumably centralised, response. This brief examines federal India’s own experience in the past 18 months. The aim is to uncover the nature and dimensions of India’s pandemic response, and the obstacles it has had to hurdle given the challenges posed by its federal design. The brief outlines lessons for future crises.

Consumer understanding of corporate social responsibility dimensions: an application of CSR pyramid model in Indian context

This study empirically examines applicability of Carroll's pyramid model of CSR dimensions in India. The study employed online survey method, using 934 respondents, from six major cities in India, across different demographics. The findings show that most Indian consumers are aware of CSR, with older and more educated Indian consumers, from privileged socio-economic classes being more aware than others. Their understanding is that CSR is pre-eminently about following laws, followed by ethical responsibilities towards the environment and regarding human rights while economic and philanthropic dimensions are considered to be relatively less important. The findings will help corporate India, with its historical penchant for philanthropy, to note the consumer perspective and reap the benefits of strategic CSR. The study sheds light on the way forward for CSR practices in the large and growing consumer market of India, being one of the very few consumer studies using the CSR pyramid in India.

Insights into the Indian cultural dimensions from the viewpoint of German operations managers

India emerged as an investment destination and subsequently many German companies have expressed substantial interest in Indian operations as a cornerstone of international business. However, there is an increasing realisation that there are managerial practices and cultural specificities in India and managers need to comprehend them in corporate interactions. This paper aims to analyse the cultural dimensions in the Indo-German industrial setting. A rigorous literature analysis and case study research methodology was utilised to identify the cultural dimensions in India from the perspective of German operations managers. Key informant method enabled gather specific qualitative information. The results provide intercultural cues and implications for managers in business encounters.

Correlates of Organisational Commitment Among University Teachers in India: An Empirical Investigation

For the success of educational institutions (herein referred as an organisation), teachers’ commitment has, in particular, been recognised as an effectual route. As the educational system is the most influential spot that leads to the progress of society, it requires committed teachers who are not mere tools, but their strategic partners. This research study highlights the state of commitment of university teachers under various dimensions in India and explore whether there is any significant difference between selected demographics and the perception of teachers over their organisational commitment issues. The data were collected from full-time teachers working in selected universities of India. This study reveals that the majority of teachers possess continuance commitment, as they weigh the costs and risks associated with leaving the university and when given better alternatives, they may leave their institutions. Among the demographic variables, it was only the level of education that was found to be significantly affecting the commitment of university teachers. This study reveals that the teachers and the universities are engaged in give and take relationship. When teachers perceive high organisational engagement, they respond back with a greater commitment, perceiving them as an integral part of the organisation. They are more motivated and dedicated towards meeting and achieving organisational goals. Moreover, universities depend on committed teachers to create and sustain a competitive advantage and achieve superior performance.

CONSUMER UNDERSTANDING OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DIMENSIONS : AN APPLICATION OF CSR PYRAMID MODEL IN INDIAN CONTEXT

This study empirically examines applicability of Carroll's pyramid model of CSR dimensions in India. The study employed online survey method, using 934 respondents, from six major cities in India, across different demographics. The findings show that most Indian consumers are aware of CSR, with older and more educated Indian consumers, from privileged socio-economic classes being more aware than others. Their understanding is that CSR is pre-eminently about following laws, followed by ethical responsibilities towards the environment and regarding human rights while economic and philanthropic dimensions are considered to be relatively less important. The findings will help corporate India, with its historical penchant for philanthropy, to note the consumer perspective and reap the benefits of strategic CSR. The study sheds light on the way forward for CSR practices in the large and growing consumer market of India, being one of the very few consumer studies using the CSR pyramid in India.

Impact of Drug Abuse on the Relationship with Families in India

The problem of drug abuse in a young generation has assumed alarming dimensions in India. Changing cultural values, increasing economic stress and weaken family supportive bonds are leading to initiation into drug abuse. India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and a number of drug addicts are increasing day by day. Drugs such as heroin and marijuana are common in the Indian context. Impacts of drug abuse among drug abusers resulting in social problems, including family trouble and criminal behavior. Day by day the family relationships are rupturing with the usage of drugs in our society. It is a serious and alarming matter of concern for the society and for researchers’. In the present study, the researcher focuses on the impact of drugs on family relations.

Substance abuse disorder: a cross-sectional study assessing status in rural economically productive population of field practice area of tertiary care hospital in central India

Background: The epidemic of substance abuse in young generation has assumed alarming dimensions in India. Changing cultural values, increasing economic stress and dwindling supportive bonds are leading to initiation into substance use. Cannabis, heroin, and Indian-produced pharmaceutical drugs are the most frequently abused drugs in India. Economically productive age group is (15-59 yrs) is a vulnerable group for usage of substance abuse leading to an interest of researcher for conducting the study. Present study aims preliminarily on the prevalence of usage of alcohol and other substances of abuse locally available like cannabis and its products, morphine and its products and pharmaceutical drugs of abuse without prescription in rural India. Secondly study aims to estimate the association of substance abuse disorder with various socio-demographic variables.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 430 participants residing in six selected villages of rural field practice area of native tertiary care hospital. Statistical Analysis: Statistical methods which applied are: percentage and proportion, mean and standard deviation, chi-square test.Results: Present study showed almost 11.4% participants had high possibility of getting diagnosed with substance abuse disorder while an association found with age, marital status, gender and occupation of participants.Conclusions: The present study revealed that more than 10% study participants(11.4%) of had the probability of suffering from some kind of substance abuse disorder indicating it’s a public health problem in rural India. Study results opens a door toward less discussed rural population in contexts of substance abuse.

Global Scenario of Self Medication: A Review of Literature

Self ‐ medication can be defined as obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of a physician for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance of treatment. Self-medication is widely practiced with varying dimensions in India and globally. A review of literature was conducted on various studies conducted in different geographies that focused on the practices of self-medication based on different factors like demography, gender, occupation, standard of living. To review the literature on self-medication practise globally and understand all the factors that is directly or indirectly related to the practice of self-medication. This paper helps in understanding various factors that affect self-medication practices like income, age, prior knowledge, education, occupation, gender, etc. Finally the study throws a light on practices of self-medication in India and in few other countries, explaining different causes, sources and reasons of self-medication. An extensive review of literature was undertaken in which 46 Studies conducted on self-medication practices and factors affecting self-medication were selected for the review purpose. The most common ailments for which self-medication are practiced are cold, fever and body & head ache. Analgesics, paracetamol and antibiotics are most prevalent drugs used for self-medication. The most common source of information regarding self-medication is personal experience and information from the credible source like chemist, friends and family. Information through commercial sources like health magazines and advertisements are not much relied on for self-medication. Also, the practice of self-medication is not related with the educational level of patients. Affordability, quick relief and less time consumption is the main reasons for which self-medication are practiced.

Universal health coverage: Current status and future roadmap for India

Universal health coverage (UHC) has been recognized as the most important immediate goal for global health. Attempting to achieve this goal for the country, the Government of India, has been taking measured steps, trying to ensure equitable access to high-quality affordable health-care services for all citizens. This article attempts to identify the success of these efforts through a baseline situation assessment of UHC dimensions in India, followed by a critical analysis of what is being done to fulfill the gaps, and finally propose a health policy roadmap for UHC with implications at national and state level. Literature review presents a varied scenario with respect to the coverage of key services essential for service packages, reflecting need for significant improvement. Large-scale inequities in health-care service delivery and health indicators have been observed, with poor financial risk protection of the community from catastrophic spending on health care. Various reasons for this were identified, such as low public investment in health services, poor health-care service delivery system, poor quality of services offered to the community, and lack of robust financial protection mechanisms. The study proposes a contextual restructuring of the health system, initiating with an increase in financial investments in public health-care sector. This should be supplemented with health system strengthening by improving overall service availability for the community with optimal quality and at low cost. Private sector service provisioning should be regulated by developing and implementing strong accountability measures. The governance capacity of public sector should be augmented to improve success rates of the demand-side financing schemes. Health technology assessments should become the mainstay of taking decisions on benefit package. A holistic multipronged approach constituting all these changes is required if health coverage has to be made universal in the country.

Changing Dimensions of India's Foreign Policy

Changing Dimensions of India's Foreign Policy

The Impact of the Internet on Values in India

In this study, the authors examine how the internet is changing two critical personal value dimensions of India's youth. Based on values theory, and using data that spans a decade from 2004-2014, they contend that time spent on the internet is an influential factor in changing self-enhancement and self-transcendence values. Given the tremendous increase in exposure to western products, ideals, and people-to-people interaction via internet connectivity (India has over 275 million internet users who communicate in the English language), the authors posit that young Indian consumers would adopt values associated with self-enhancement and individualism, forsaking self-transcendence related ideals. Data pertaining to the Rokeach value scales were collected in New Delhi, and the results support the notion that these values have indeed changed substantially in such a short amount of time, largely due to IT as opposed to other media vehicles such as TV, and print media. Implications of this noteworthy change in values due to the internet in a relatively short period are discussed.

An empirical comparison of two brand personality scales: Evidence from India

Aaker's (1997) brand personality scale has been widely used to measure the personality of brands. However, studies also show that Aaker's brand personality dimensions are not stable across cultures. In pursuance of this issue, we examine the structure of brand personality dimensions in India. This research presents the results of two studies conducted to develop a brand personality scale in Indian context, and to make an empirical comparison between Indian brand personality scale and Aaker's brand personality scale. Results reveal that brand personality in India can be described in six dimensions: sophistication, excitement, popularity, competence, trendiness and integrity. The findings empirically support the reliability and validity of the scale developed. The results also reveal that Indian brand personality scale is a suitable alternative to Aaker's brand personality scale in Indian context.

B.R. Ambedkar

B.R. Ambedkar (1891–1956) pursued a scathing critique against the dominant nationalist discourse that Gandhi shaped, to a significant extent. Unlike Gandhi who insisted on village swaraj, Babasaheb preferred liberal democracy of the Western variety in which an individual remained the basic unit of governance. What he established in the 1950 Constitution of India had its beginning in Ambedkar’s witness before the 1919 Southborough Committee and the 1930–32 Round Table Conference. This was a political battle that he had waged against the Mahatma to substantiate his arguments in favour of liberalism. There was also another battle that he was engaged in while challenging ‘the archaic social values’ supportive of caste discrimination. On the basis of his thorough research, he reinvented the idea of social justice in tune with his firm commitment to liberalism. True that he did not always succeed in his mission; nonetheless, the debate between the Mahatma and Babasaheb testifies several new dimensions of India’s nationalist thought that did not, so far, receive adequate scholarly attention. By drawing on a rather neglected aspect of the nationalist debate, the article seeks to fill up in our understanding of the ideas of Gandhi and Ambedkar which were definitely context driven. This is also a textual study that also makes the point that Ambedkar’s ideas did not appear to be as significant as they later became in independent India presumably because of the hegemonic influence of Gandhi in the nationalist universe probably due to contextual reasons.