Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to identify the motivational factors that influencethe local communities to get involved in ecotourism related activities in the ecotourism zonesof Sikkim. Two villages namely Okharey and Lachung in the extremely popular ecotourismzones of western and northern part of Sikkim were studied to identify the motivationalfactors.Design/Methodology/Approach: Mix method approach was applied to study themotivational factors. Primary data was collected through semi-structured questionnaireaswell as interviewswith the local people who were engaged in ecotourism, along with fieldobservation.The sample of the local community was collected using snowball samplingtechnique.Secondary data was obtained from books, journals, government reports andinternet sources. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for the analysis of the quantitativedata collected by the questionnaire survey methodwhile hypothesis test was conducted usinginferential statistical t-test.Qualitative data focused more on drawing meaning from thecontent of the data.Findings: The result shows that increasing tourists’ inflow in the state has motivated thelocal communities to engage themselves in ecotourism related activities in both the studiedvillages. Host community i.e. locals have grasped that ecotourism related activities providean employment opportunity which further helps to enhance their socio-economic condition.The results of hypothesis testing shows that the motivational factors of local communitiestowards involvement in ecotourism related activities are not same that means the nullhypothesis is accepted at 0.05 levels.Originality/Value: This study will be beneficial to as it will help identify the factors thatmotivate host community and can be applied in new developing ecotourism destinationsacross the country.
Purpose: The present research study highlights the expansion trend and benefits oftelephone network (wire line and wireless) and Internet penetration in India w.r.t. evergrowing mobile phone subscriber base in the country. Mobile, a luxury item of 1990’s,have been transformed into an inseparable part of all strata of Indian citizens. Theeffective and efficient mobile networks have not only redefined the business processesbut have re-shaped and empowered the common masses of India leading to informedand connected society. Endowed with highly regulated telecom sector, India has thehighest number of mobile players in service area in each of the country’s 22 telecomcircles leading to lowest tariff rates in the world.The paper calls for adopting a multi-dimensional endeavour starting from datacollection and its subsequent standardisation, use of analytical tools for its analysisresulting information generation for informed policy decisions. The statistics havebeen collected from TRAI, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation,Government Data Platform, Department of Telecommunications Government ofIndia and International Telecommunication Union and dealt exhaustively to obtainthe following results:Trend Analysis of Telephone Network (wired and wireless) and subscriber baseexpansion in IndiaMeasure of Tele density (per 100 inhabitants) in urban and rural India (2008 to 2018)Growth of Internet Subscriber base in urban and rural India (2015-2018)Service area wise Internet Subscriptions (millions) (2014-2018)PSU Telecom Players & Subscriber base in India (in millions) (2008-2018)Internet Subscribers (per 100 inhabitants) in India and Africa (2012-2016)
Purpose: To do programme evaluation of a programme of study in nutrition and healtheducation.Design/ Methodology/Approach: Programme evaluation in open and distance educationis an integral concept. Programme evaluation is a task which is generally taken up to reviewa programme of study. Nutrition and health is an important sector in the development ofnation’s well-being and longevity. The Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education (DNHE)is a novel, successfully running programme of the School of Continuing Education,IGNOU. It provides for continuous professional enrichment of grass root workers and otherindividuals interested in the area of health and nutrition education. There was a felt needto conduct an evaluation study of Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education programme,so as to analyze the relevance of the curriculum and study the effectiveness of the coursematerial which would lead to the revision of the programme. Secondary data was collectedfrom analysis of SLMs and relevant documents of this programme. Primary data wascollected from DNHE learners, academic counsellors and study center coordinators throughquestionnaire and in-depth interviews.Findings: The programme evaluation revealed that the programme was useful to all thestakeholders. The self-learning material (SLMs) of DNHE were very well received andappreciated. It was felt that such courses are important for continuing education and skilldevelopment of all stakeholders working in the area of health and nutrition education.Revision of course materials is important so as to keep the course content updated. Suggestionsto further improve the programme and promote effective delivery and implementation of theprogramme have been given in the paper. With implementation of the recommendations ofthe study, the programme content, delivery and other implementation aspects will be furtherimproved.Originality/Value: This paper is based on research carried out to conduct programmeevaluation study for a Diploma programme in Nutrition and Health Education of an openuniversity with international presence. The paper demonstrates the appreciation of selflearning materials by the stake holders, and makes recommendations for further improvementof programme content and its delivery.Paper Type: Empirical Research Paper
Purpose: Technical Debt and the subsequent problems are discussed often in industry andscientic journals. In this paper, we introduce a framework for managing technical Debt. Thesolution consists of methods to manage and repay technical debt. The goal of the frameworkis to provide a better overview of the Technical Debt items for the IT Development teamand SMEs. Technical Debt calculation is the cost of fixing structural quality issues in anapplication that, if left unfixed, puts the business at critical risk. Technical Debt typicallyincludes issues that are highly likely to cause severe business disruption; and may notinclude all problems, just the most critically serious ones.Technical Debt describe problemsthat ariseduring development when workarounds aremade due to tight project deadlines ortechnical improvements are neglected over a longer time. In atechnical metaphor to financialdebt, the workaroundis interpreted as the debt and the resulting problemsas interest rates.Additionally, the paper also catagorizes Technical Debtand provides a view on the metricsand tools
Purpose: A multitude of events and experiences define man as a social being. Everydayexperiences, technology, audio-visual media, colours, music, and our surroundingscontinuously affect our mental health. We use several forms of entertainment to relax duringa hectic schedule. These forms of entertainment belong to the category of arts. There isimmense scope for performing arts to be used as an effective strategy for social work. Ithas become necessary for social work professionals to be multifaceted in practical as wellas educational endeavours. Social work is an evolving profession, and requires adaptionof new and innovative techniques and strategies assisting individuals with existing andnewly emerging set of crises, that hamper their social functioning. A multifaceted approachrequires exhaustive research and creative mergers to cater the entire length of issues thatdisrupt social functioning. Performing Arts is a way of life for some, recreation for othersand entertainment for all. Only a comprehensive analysis of different dimensions willhelp understand the whole picture. This article explains the importance of using role play,drama, theatre, dance, music, poetry and films in social work. The paper discusses the roleof performing arts in social work practice and in strengthening individuals, groups andcommunities in better social functioning.Methodology/Approach: Secondary data in the form of journal articles, books, and videosaids are used. Personal interview through questionnaire, and telephonic conversation arealso a part of this paper to analyse the use and importance of performing arts with socialwork. The approach of the paper is exploratory in nature aiming towards finding new facetsfor enhancing the scope of social work practice.Findings: Different examples of various facets of performing arts depict that such amethodology is helpful for the client at individual, group and community level and it alsohelps social workers in sharpening their skill set. Role play acts as an important techniqueto strengthen counselling among social work students whereas dance movement therapyacts as a non-verbal cue to unexpressed emotions and on the other hand music is a blendpowerful enough to evoke feelings as well as subside them. Art making therapy sessionsgive a colourful, playful and secure environment resulting in positive outcomes with a goodmental health.Paper Type: Academic
Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to examine how India is emerging as aleader after pandemic crises. It looks at the different strategies in different sectors fordevelopment and a leader during the Covid-19 pandemic.Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper uses community interpretationsthrough their online social communication. The perceptions on how engaged theIndian community felt during the pandemic were studied by collecting and analyzingtheir postings on social media as well as from newspapers.Findings: The findings suggest that transformation from informal into formal sector,make in India as a growth driver, Growth oriented reforms, strengthening bankingsystem of India, Best monetary policy, changes needed strengthening governanceand planning of India, developmental planning, economic planning, responsibleleadership, open communication, collective consciousness and mindful action are theeffective ways for the development of new India to positively engage stakeholders andinfluence community response during a pandemic.Originality/value: This paper contributes to the literature of strategy for thedevelopment of new India during crises. It is an attempt to link ways/strategies withdevelopment of New India and its impact on pandemic crisis in a novel way, filling avoid in the literature. This review will help the readers to understand how differentlyIndia responded to the pandemic and is emerging leader. Only time will tell how wellIndia has faced the outbreak.Paper type: Interpretive paper
Purpose: Tobacco consumption is hazardous and smoking becomes dangerous even forthose who passively inhale from cigarettes or Bidis. Smoking is banned in public placesin India. The government is trying to discourage this habit through various measure.Anti smoking advertising campaigns are parts of this effort. These ads usually use theShock appeal employing tactics of fear or disgust. This study attempts to analyse theefficacy of the online anti smoking ads towards the Indian youth. Whether they areeffective in discouraging the smoking behaviour and if they are perceived differently bysmokers and non smokers and males and females.Design/ Methodology/Approach: For this purpose two focus group discussions withsmokers and non smokers (eight each) respectively, four males and four females in eachgroup, and an online survey of eighty respondents (20 each- male smokers, femalesmokers, male non smokers, female non smokers) was administered among youth ofDelhi between age 18 and 23, where they were shown/ shared online anti smoking adsand asked to respond on them through twenty questions.Findings: Most youth, as per research findings, rely on online information and followonline ads, hence the online anti smoking ads were considered for efficacy. No specificgender difference was found in the reception of the messages of these advertisements.However, smokers were found to be less emotionally impacted by watching these ads,where as non smokers found them repulsive enough to not try smoking. Hence, theshock inducing anti smoking online ads have more efficacy in discouraging people tostart smoking rather than to lead smokers to quit.Paper Type: Research Thought
Purpose: India is an agriculture-dominated country having different weatherconditions conducive to producing various types of foodgrain commodities. Despitegood agriculture production as per Economic Survey 2020-21, in particular staplefood grain commodities for every household, the imposition of lockdown from March2020 onwards during the Covid 19 pandemic has changed the supply and demanddynamics, thus leading to the price volatility in staple foograin commodities as wellas in concomitant services like health and transportation, etc. which was reflected inConsumer Price Index collected by ministry of MOSPI, Govt. of India.Design/ Methodology/ Approach: This study investigates the price volatility of stapleagricultural commodities for household and services, using consumer price indexmonthly time-series data (2012 as a base year) obtained from the Reserve Bank ofIndia from Jan. 2019 to Dec. 2020, and analysis was carried out using econometricGARCH model followed by stationarity tests, heteroscedasticity test, autocorrelationtest of time-series data for statistical significance.Findings: The results have shown that some items exhibit significant price volatilitythan others for the said duration, and the same is further evident from the sum of α, βcoefficients estimated using Econometric model analysis.Paper Type: Empirical Research Paper
Purpose: This study is an attempt to assess the efficacy of the psychographic variable in predictingthe consumer behaviour for purchase of a durable product. A refrigerator has been picked for thecurrent study assuming the high involvement of the subjects in this product.Design/Methodology/Approach: An extensive literature study and focus group study wasconducted to understand important factors impacting the buying behaviour of respondents towardsthe durable product category of refrigerator. It was observed that the respondents get influencedby wide variety of factors while they make their purchase decisions for a refrigerator keepingin mind their present and future needs and whether the product suits to their understanding oftheir status and beliefs. These factors can be grouped as external factors like demographic, social,cultural factors etc. and internal factors like need, personality, motivation etc. Data was collectedon a 27 item AIO based Questionnaire selected for the study and samples were collected based onJudgmental Sampling or Purposive Sampling as in (Sexena, P. & Pathak, D.P. 2011). A keen vigilwas kept to maintain the proportional presence of demographic factors 30-40 each representingapproximately 4-5 lifestyle groupings (approximated through pilot study), so that some tests likeChi-Square test could not be affected. Since there were 9 demographic variables therefore approxnumber of sample worked out to be the product of above three figures i.e. around 1000 samples. Atotal of Fourteen hundred and thirty questionnaires were collected from all the sources. However,due to incomplete responses on some questionnaires one thousand and thirty-six filled in andvalidated questionnaires were accepted to be used for data analysis. KMO and Bartlett’s TestKaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy yielded a significant figure of 0.696. Theauto clustering tool of SPSS was used to find most suitable number of clusters which came to be 4.These four groups formed the four different lifestyle clusters used in the subsequent study.Findings- Homogeneity of Variances test shows Levene statistic with p<.001 thereby rejectsthe null hypothesis associated with it that the people belonging to different lifestyle groups havehomogeneity in their variances therefore ANNOVA either could not be employed or the resultsof the ANNOVA could be misleading. The non parametric equivalent of ANNOVA is KruskalWallis test. It does not assume homogeneity of population and test the difference of rank insteadof means and the structure of the scale also support the use of non parametric test. Kruskal Wallis
“Disruption” portrays a method whereby a tiny corporation with smalleramount capital is capable to effectively confront well-known presentcompany. Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen coinedthe expression “disruptive technology”. In 1997 in one of his best-sellingbooks, “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” Christensen split new technology intotwo categories: “sustaining” and “disruptive”. Sustaining technology relieson incremental upgrading to a previously established technology. Disruptivetechnology lacks enhancement, regularly has recital troubles for the reason that it is new,appeals to a limited audience and may not yet have a demonstrated practical relevance.In this write-up we will emphasize on certain heads which make readers a familiar withCurtain Raiser to Disruptive technologies, sectors affected by disruptions technology,examples of disruptive technology, true disruptive brands, Investing in Disruptive Technology,Controversy with a theory and finally how India is going to be benefitted.
Purpose: Detecting Specie is a popular task performed in the field of biodiversity. With the innovation in technology, specie detection can be done using deep learning. As we all know that Deep Learning is a field of machine learning having huge set of layers of neural network that train the model very deeply. In Image classification, every layer in deep learning classifies image using one feature. The authors propose a framework to detect species using the deep learning techniques.
Purpose: To be competitive in healthcare sector, responsive supply chain management is essential. The Primary objective of responsive supply chain management is to provide the high quality of patient care at affordable cost. In order to fulfil aforesaid purpose, it is necessary to understand the healthcare supply chain management. This paper provides the insight of responsive healthcare supply chain management in developing countries. Present paper focuses the healthcare supply chain management key issues, barriers and enablers. It also provides challenges faced by the healthcare supply chain management. Responsiveness in healthcare supply chain management is very difficult to achieve because it requires the total involvement of every player of the chain. This paper also discusses the expected performance outcomes after achieving the responsiveness in healthcare supply chain management
Purpose: This paper is an extensive literature review on studies related to impact ofderivatives on volatility and price discovery in stock markets.Design/Methodology/Approach: The literature systematically analyses studies conductedon this subject in the last 25 years.Findings: There are mix of techniques used by various researchers while analysing volatilityand lead–lag relationship between spot market and derivatives market. The studies havebeen carried out on high frequency data, daily and monthly data as well.Originality/Value: The research gaps identified in the paper include analysing therelationship over longer time duration, comparison across different markets andevaluation of changes in market dynamics after global financial crisis 2008 and COVID-19pandemic.Paper Type: Review of literature
Purpose: With the advancement of technologies such as, artificial intelligence,machine learning, data analytics, deep learning etc. banking institution are setting thenew consumer expectations. Customers now demands for superior service experience,and seamless and uninterrupted access to services from the financial institutions andfinancial service providers. With this transforming landscape there is a need for thebanks to develop advanced strategies to adapt with rapid change and future uncertainty.The purpose of the study is to review the existing literature available on the E-servicequality of the banks and to identify the most significant dimensions of E-service qualityimpacting on the customers satisfaction of banking industry.Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is descriptive in nature and findingsare based on the past literature available from various sources such as sage, emerald,proquest, google scholar etc.Findings: After the comprehensive analysis of the literature the most significantdimensions of E-service quality to impact the customers satisfaction in bankingindustry are found to be reliability, efficiency, responsiveness, ease of use, security,website aesthetic, credibilityand personalization.Originality/Value: The paper adds on the pool of existing knowledge in the fieldof E-service quality of banking services offered and lists out the most importantdimensions those must be considered by the researchers while assessing the bankingE-service quality.Paper Type: Review of Literature
Purpose: Spirituality is an important aspect of individual’s life. The present paperexamines the spirituality and proactive workplace behaviour of at workplace.Design/Methodology/Approach: The qualitative study conducted in-depthinterviews of 12 employees ranging from 22 years to 65 years of age and of differentoccupation and organizational positions by using qualitative analysis method.Qualitative analysis used in the present combined thematic and structural codingto appropriately captures the subtle aspects of work life experiences conducted byan individual via their spiritual orientation.Findings: The finding indicates that spiritual orientation of an individual influencesthe dimensions of self-efficacy, work motivation, productivity, orientation to solvethe problem as well as their ability to cope stress in organizational pressure.Originality/Value: It emerges from the analysis that being proactive at work placewithout spiritual orientation is a manifestation of egomania and materialism. It isdifficult to say whether being ego-driven and materialistic causes proactive workbehaviour or it is vice-versa , holding impact of spirituality constant.Paper Type: Theme Based Paper
Purpose: Nigerians faced some challenges regarding the conventional commercial practicesof incompatible and nonconvertible currencies that restricted payments while trying tounlock the commercial potentials of the expanding market place during the lockdown ofthe COVID-19 pandemic. This raises great fear about the impending loss to the GDP ascritics have maintained that electronic replicas of the conventional payment instrumentsreceived low patronage because they are not well suited for the average citizen as the speedrequired in e-commerce purchase processing are too slow for micropayments; and the hightransaction costs involved in processing them also add greatly to the overhead. This hasmotivated this study to investigate the frequency of electronic payments made during theCOVID 19 lockdown in Nigeria and its impact on the GDP.Design/Methodology/Approach: To achieve this, we first synthesized papers from WorldBank reports, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the European Central Bank, (ECB).The study then adopted a descriptive survey research design with sample size of 224.Purposive random sampling was used to select 12 electronic payment channels. Data wascollected using a structured questionnaire as well as sources from the CBN bulletins andstatistics. The Data collected through the questionnaire was analysed using mean whereasdata collected through CBN bulletins and statistics was analysed using Gretl Econometricsoftware and SPSS version 2.0. In testing the hypotheses T-Test for paired samples wasemployed. Estimation of GDP growth was done using the OLS multiple regression model.However, throughout the literature, we try to portray a constructive relationship between theuse of the 12 electronic payment channels studied and their relationship to GDP growth.Findings: The findings reveal that electronic payment system significantly positivelycontributed to economic growth in terms of real GDP per capita during the COVID – 19lockdown more than other years. The findings also show that NIP contributed highest toGDP growth while M-CASH channel contributed the least.Originality/Value: The paper contributes in investing the frequency of electronic paymentsin lockdown of Nigerian people and their impact on country’s GDP. The results of thestudy are based on the quantitative analysis of primary data and robust statistical analysisis used to justify the relevance and framed objectives of the studyPaper Type: Empirical Research Paper
Purpose: This study is trying to find Jews community tourism, different categories of Kosherfood, its sources, related dietary rules and specific occasions for its consumption.Design/Methodology/Approach: This study comprises the exploratory analysis of Jewscommunity’s tourists and residents of that community in India especially at Delhi and Mumbai.Observation method and focussed interview of Jews tourists and residents of Jews communityhave been undertaken by the scholar after analysis of secondary sources available. The variableswere identified from the available reviews and data were analysed qualitatively.Findings: Kosher is a highly specialized food, preferred by and oriented for, the Jewishcommunity of the world. Kosher means something which is “fit” or appropriate and is knownto be most appropriate to be eaten by a Jew. Kosher has its root in the Hebrew bible and issupposed to be defined by the Rabbi, since centuries ago when Torah (Hebrew Bible) waswritten. As per Torah, Jewish God proclaimed that vegetarian food is the best and purest formof food to be considered by a real Judaism-abiding person. Since kosher food is attached to theeating lifestyle and certain mannerism and belief it is very important to ensure that guests whoare invited can have the entire dinner process as per their point of view how Kosher shouldbe. People observing kosher meals have their own way of looking at things. To understandthis significant global cuisine- trend, it is important to know its origin, its journey of last 2000years, its recent path-breaking blend and characteristics that makes it a divine-like food, mostacceptable to multi- community, ranging from sports person to celebrity, to even Muslims,vegetarians, neo-rich class, gym-lovers and not just the Jews of the world. The present paper isgoing to elaborate these aspects.Originality/ Value: This study seeks to add to the greater pool of knowledge with respectto Jews tourism in India. The idea of this research is to examine sources of Kosher food andits concept, dietary rules for kosher food consumption, specific occasion for kosher foodconsumption and its categories.Paper Type: View Point
Purpose: The study aims at critically analysing the supply chain of Indian agriculturesector to understand the problems and solutions required amidst the disruption causedby the spread of Coronavirus pandemic. Strategic actions have been recommended fordeveloping a resilient agriculture supply chain.Design/Methodology/Approach: Firstly, through literature review the Indian agriculturesupply chain landscape is first understood. Next, through SAP-LAP (Situation-ActorProcesses, Learning-Actions-Performance) approach, an attempt has been made toexamine the present situation of Indian agriculture supply chain amidst the spread ofthe pandemic and effect of government decisions for farmers. Each of the aspects havebeen studied in the context of supply side, demand side and logistics side to obtain acomprehensive view.Findings: The analysis of SAP-LAP factors for Indian agriculture sector supply chainpoints towards interesting findings. First and foremost, the SAP or Situation-ActorProcesses aspect points towards the lack of flexibility amongst actors for a resilientagriculture supply chain which got worsened by the lockdown measures. Next, the LAPor learning-actions-performance aspect suggests the ways in which flexibility can bebuilt at the supply, demand and logistics end through various resilient practices such ascollaboration, coordination, ICT, ground level inputs etc.Originality/Value: The present study is an attempt towards understanding theconsequences of the spread of COVID-19 pandemic on the supply chain of Indianagriculture sector. Through SAP-LAP framework a relatively transparent view ofthe Indian agriculture supply chain system is obtained for theoretical and managerialproblem solving. The study, hence, adds to the pool of knowledge about agrarian supplychains along with risk and resilience measures to ensure continuity at the desired level ofconnectedness and control over structure and functions.Paper Type: Case Based Study
