Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews

EMPOWERING MARGINAL COMMUNITIES IN RAINCITY TO SHAPE HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Agus Harianto — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:57:04 +0000

The existence of transgenders is a reality that can not be denied in society and environment that is not a new story. Transgender is a marginal community, which does not have a place in society. Profession as a commercial sex worker become a label that attached to transgenders. Bogor city, known as the Rain City has one community of Gay, Transgenders, Man Love Man named Warna Lentera Pakuan (WLP). A total of 320 transgenders recorded in this community.

This program is a transgender empowering with activities that can support creativity, motivation to work, and increase their confidence in the public. Various activities are carried such as Outbound, Entrepreneurship Motivation, Real Entrepreneurship, Interests and Talent Sharpening Action, Transgender’s Preneur Showtime by forming Borontok Fried Rice business, continuity programs and advocacy efforts.

In the long term, through the activities of this programs are expected to foster positive souls within the transgender and slowly turn them back into the common social norms. The methods in this program are self motivation and life skills education. This program has developed a transgenders empowerment guide module named “Life Skills Achieve Your Personal Best”.

PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A PUBLIC HEALTH TWITTER CAMPAIGN: WORLD HEALTH DAY 2014

Dan Dumbrell, Robert Steele — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:57:04 +0000

Public health campaigns aim to positively affect health-related behaviors and/or raise awareness of specific health conditions, risk factors and issues. These campaigns have traditionally relied upon various media and mechanisms for success, such as mass media distribution by television and radio, information propagation by individuals, involvement and engagement of stakeholders, and recruitment to the campaign of celebrities or advocates well known to the community.

More recently, microblog platforms such as Twitter have also been increasingly utilized for public health campaign delivery. This is a relatively recent phenomenon and so is not yet well understood or studied. In this paper we provide an initial description of a case study of a global Twitter-based public health campaign, namely that involving the use of the #worldhealthday hashtag during and surrounding the 2014 World Health Day, April 7th 2014.

In addition, the various characteristics and properties of this public health campaign within this contemporary medium are explored utilizing software tools that enable the capture and analysis of Twitter information flows.

SOCIO-CULTURAL CHALLENGES OF CHILD ADOPTION IN EASTERN NIGERIA IN WEST AFRICA

Dr. MARIA C. AGBO — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:57:04 +0000

The importance of child adoption to infertile couples seeking for children, and children in need of parents cannot be over emphasized. In Eastern Nigeria, child adoption faces socio-cultural challenges due to cultural norms and beliefs, social expectations and values. This study investigated the socio-cultural challenges of child adoption in Eastern Nigeria.

To achieve this, two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study was the entire couples in Eastern Nigeria. Disproportionate stratified random sampling was used to select 800 couples. Among these, 400 couples are childless, while the other 400 couples have biological children. A descriptive survey was used, while questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The result was analyzed using mean scores, standard deviations and t-test. The findings revealed poverty, bastard syndrome, and denial of inheritance among others as some of the challenges of child adoption. The data also showed that childlessness, and gender selection among others is some of the reasons for adoption.

The data also revealed that there is no significant difference between the mean scores of the males and females in what constitute the socio-cultural challenges of child adoption in Eastern Nigeria. There is a significant difference between the mean scores of childless couples and couples with biological children in the reasons for adoption. The summary of the findings was that child adoption is very difficult to practice in Eastern Nigeria. The study also made some recommendations and implications.

CYBER CRIMES: A THREAT TO HUMANITY

Dr. Shrish Kumar Tiwari — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:57:04 +0000

Good and bad has co-existence since the beginning of the world. Where first one comprises all things which are essential for wellbeing of all whereas other ones connotes negativity. Unfortunately technology cannot be mention as an exception of this rule. The internet and its technologies has opened up many opportunities for all countries to develop their economies. On one hand our scientist, technocrats are using this advanced stream of science for betterment of all and to make India self-dependent and secure from attack of our enemies while on the other hand a very well structured groups (Independent or Nation sponsored) are also using these technologies as a tool to make INDIA weak and helpless.

Cyber criminals perform various acts like cyber stalking, on-line harassment, on-line defamation, hacking, and so forth collectively we call it cybercrime. When these activities are managed by organized group systematically and deliberately we term it as CYBER TERRORISM. Cyber terrorism is a well-planned and organized use of technologies by cyber experts resides inside and outside the country for anti-national activities. Although our government is well capable to fight against such challenges it requires support, awareness and alertness from people.

This paper highlights some of the basics of cyber terrorism. This paper further discusses about the threats of cyber terrorism and the present status of various cybercrimes in India. This paper aims at creating awareness on cybercrime and suggests check on cybercrime.

DIRECT TAX CODE: THE METAMORPHOSIS (With special reference to the Income Tax Statute)

Dr. Vikas Singh — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:57:04 +0000

Legislations governing Direct Tax are the imperative statutes. The subject, taxes governing Indian Economy needs overhauling and removal of deadwoods. The statute which has undoubtedly resulted always as the major source of Indian revenue is expected to undertake what may be called as the periodic spring-cleaning of the corpus of its statute law (Taxes comprises of more than 50% of aggregate revenue and the Direct Taxes contribute more than 1/5th to it). The law that got enacted more than five decades in past (i.e. in 1961) needs to get loaded with contemporary provisions, improvising and justifying its existence and functions as well.

Hopefully, in next couple of years India may come-up with vital reformatory actions where Direct Taxation Laws and even Indirect Taxation Laws may get their new dimensions in the form of Direct Tax Code (DTC) and Goods & Service Tax (GST) respectively. An initiative to bring the reform especially in direct taxation Statutes began half a decade earlier (Direct Tax Code 2009) but the merry-go-around temperament is still not making its enactment possible.

Political scenario and proclamations, as initiated by the UPA regime, the Direct Taxes Code Bill 2010 sought to usher in a new income tax code for the country. Also, while presenting the maiden budget of the BJP-led NDA government, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has given encouraging signals of reviving and bringing the revised Direct Taxes Code (DTC) soon.

MANAGING A PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Catina Feresin, Snježana Močinić, Nevenka Tatković — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:27:45 +0000

The main purpose of our research was to investigate how to practically manage a primary school class. In the course of the empirical section, we collected teachers' opinions about the perception of students' conduct by means of a standardized questionnaire. The results obtained are interesting: Teachers give a considerable value to collaboration among students, teachers and parents as a factor which influences the behaviour of the class in a positive way. Our results indicate that preestablished rules of correct behaviour (i.e. behaviour contract) create a more mature sense of responsibility in children that young. Finally, the results show that the teachers we tested have sometimes difficulty to manage the class and, on the contrary, use old repressing discipline.

We suppose it may be caused by two reasons: the former is that teachers need to go deep into competences about managing an elementary class both theorically as practically during teacher's curriculum studiorum and training. The latter is that our pupils live during an historical period in which everything seems allowed; sometimes, families are loosing their leading role and are unable to give the young generation specific rules to behave the right way. Because of this, primary schools and teachers are often asked to be the most important point of reference for pupils. In our opinion this is an impossible demand for schools and teachers; we do suggest this problem has to be solved by a tight cooperation between school and family. The two institutions must have a leading role working together to train young generation to become responsible adults in a very near future.

TO THE ‘QUALITY TEACHER’ AND POLICY MAKERS OF ‘QUALITY EDUCATION’

D Tamilarasu — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:27:45 +0000

‘Quality’ is often emphasized to have effective education. But, there are differences of opinion in identifying the benchmark or traits of ‘Quality Teacher’ and ‘Quality Education’. This paper not goes into the debate but attempts to identify the challenges for the present educational system. The Paper addresses two of the several elements of the educational system i.e., ‘Quality Teacher’ and Policy makers of ‘Quality education’. Here, they are said to have ‘quality’ if they have an attitude of striving towards it.

Challenges relevant to educational system are derived out of Sociological introspection of the present society. My experience as ‘Learner’ and ‘Educator’ so far in educational system, source from internet and newspaper, focused group discussion with colleagues and students (learners) of my classes also helps me to do so. Thus, challenges are identified for the present educational system. By referring the challenges, it is able to open up the ideas to address these challenges. ‘Quality’ used as prefix to the words ‘Teacher’ and policy makers of ‘Education’ is more meaningful and relevant if they are able to understand and address these challenges

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR SECOND GENERATION E-GOVERNANCE

Shrish Kumar Tiwari — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The emerging technological development in information and communication technology has opened a new gateway for the virtual form of communication in form of social networking sites. Now, there are a variety of online social media applications to enable communication between people, groups. The increasing popularity of these networking sites among all class of society has compelled to the government to think about use of this kind of model for providing SMART E-governance.

The first phase of e-governance was merely intend towards web presence of public institutions and dissemination of information but with the passage of the time the expatiations of people from Government are keep changing and becoming more demanding in order to seek second phase of egovernance to get - on line-real time delivery of administration. The present paper makes an attempt to explore the relevance of social networking sites as an effective tool for e-governance in India.

The paper seeks to provide a solution where by network sites could be used for solving various social and economical problems seen in Government machinery. The paper is descriptive in nature and would be helpful to the Government as well as people to insure second generation e-governance.

A SCENARIO OF MEDIA AWARENESS FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING

Dr. Ram chandra — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The term media is derived from Medium, which means carrier or mode. Media denotes an item specifically designed to reach a large audience or viewers. The term was first used with the advent of newspapers and magazines. However, with the passage of time, the term broadened by the inventions of radio, TV, cinemas and Internet. Tools for social networking and social awareness are developing rapidly and evolving continuously. They are gaining popularity in a growing number of professional as well as personal activities, including scholarly research. There are social awareness tools for science researchers that facilitate collaboration, help manage references, and offer options for presenting findings in new ways.

This paper discusses those tools. Evaluating and understanding their functionalities requires effort, and scientists can be reluctant to invest the necessary time to learn to use and populate them on their own. This suggests that an important role for librarians is to evaluate the many social awareness tools available, to recommend the ones that are best suited to each researcher's needs, and to help researchers use those tools effectively.

In the world of today, media has become almost as necessary as food and clothing. It is true that media is playing an outstanding role in strengthening the society. Its duty is to inform, educate and entertain the people. It helps us to know current situation around the world. The media has a strong social and cultural impact upon society. Because of its inherent ability to reach large number of public, it is widely used to convey message to build public opinion and awareness.

ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN SOCIAL AWARENESS

Virginia Paul, Priyanka Singh, Sunita B. John — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Social awareness means that you should know what is socially acceptable from you in society and you should act in that manner. Mass media has a prominent role to play in modern society. It can bring about radical changes and improve social situation as it influences our social, civil, cultural, political, economic and aesthetic outlook.

Modernization has converted media into an indispensable feature of human activity. However, factors like age, education, economic condition, personal needs and availability of proper components decide the quantum and frequency of media use. This is evident from the fact that most media centres are located in urban areas. The majority of consumers of media products are also concentrated in and around cities and towns.