Cucumber Benefits

Cucumber is one amongst the established developed harvests, accepted to have started in the Indian landmass. It has thin to darkish green shading, skinny pores and skin, dampness thriving tissue with small eatable seeds interior, what's more, is delighted in best in plates of mixed greens, else as a fluid. It has a gentle, invigorating taste and an excessive water which helps maintain your body hydrous, and the low calorie pleased to put it on an excellent alternative to a weight diminishing consume less calories. Give a chance to perceive the attainablemedical advantages of cucumber to save our bodies in high form. 1) Hydration:-Comprising largely of water, and concerning essential electrolytes, cucumbers will facilitate stop drying out throughout the sweltering summer months. Adding together cucumber and spearmint to water will boom water utilization by means of making it greater appealing to drink. Dehydration is vital for numerous stuff together with keeping up a sound digestive tract, stopping constipation, and maintaining excretory organ stones. 2) Stop Constipation:– Take in cucumber for your day by day diet routine. Stomach related issues in the express of indigestion, gastritis, acidity and ulcers may be cured by devouring cucumber. Cucumbers have plenty of water, and their skin can hold a high quantity of infusible fibre. Water and fibre both assist food to travel with the stomachrelated tract speedier and all the more effectively, allows indigestion. 3) Diabetes:– Cucumbers are additionally a powerful treatment for diabetes. In Cucumber squeeze there are hormones which are wanted by the pancreas for generating insulin. 4) Skin Blessings of Cucumber:– One of the best advantages of cucumber is rejuvenating quality for the skin. Specialists suggest cucumber squeeze since oxide extent for a more beneficial and sparkling skin. Cucumber's excessive water volume can label it normally hydrous, and it's acknowledging that wetness is the fine pal to sound skin. a.Revives Skin:– The crucial skin advantages of cucumber are that it allows for reviving the skin. Cucumber can be utilizedon even the touchiest skin. It's calming, cooling properties can take care of pores, what's more, it holdstotally no arrogant elements or chemical compounds. Facial covers bearing cucumber fluid are useful forskin modification. b. Inverts Skin Tanning:– Cucumber's invigorating and skin-fixing impacts build it a superb normal skin toner. You couldutilize the squeeze of a cucumber or dilute it with water to apply as a toner to take away oil. In the meantime, an excessive quantity of water in cucumber will maintain your skin wet and flexible. c. Calms Sunburn:– Cucumber might be an inborn and mellow approach to deal with sunburn.Cucumber essence is abundancein vitamins, particularly water-soluble vitamin, which, being cell reinforcement kills the unsafe free radicals created by UV beams throughout the solar exposure, in this way lowering melanin generation and fetch on the spot remedy as it gives assistance to pull the heat energy out of your body. You need only spread the pices of cucumber to the pervaded regions and wait for about fifteen minutes.Now use a light lotion to re-hydrate your blazed pores and skin. d. Diminishes Dark Circles:– Utilizing cucumber cuts around the eyes may diminish the advent of dark circles rapidly. The adequacy of cell reinforcements and oxide in cucumber will facilitate in gradually blurring darkcircles. Cucumber solaces arteries around your eyes; thus allow delivering again its ordinary tint. Simply puts two cucumber cuts on each eye and take a rest for about 15 to 20 minutes. e. AN anti-ageing facial mask:-The water-soluble vitamin and caffeic corrosive in cucumbers go about as cell reinforcementswhich may facilitate to moderate the presence of the indications of maturing. To prepare anincredible do-it-yourself against maturing face veil, blend two teaspoons of ordinary yoghurt with a large portion of puree made of cucumber. Now make it into a thick blend, observe on your skin and wait for about 15 minutes before purging with heat water. On one hand the hostile to oxidants properties in the cucumber will battle the indications of maturing, on the other hand, yoghurt will lightly shed your skin. 5. As Hair Conditioner:-In case of you like swimming, you may bear in mind of the dangerous outcomes of which an irritant will occur on your hair after some time. You must realize that cucumber function amazing to re-condition your broken hair. You should require: 0.25 th peeled cucumber One particular tablespoon vegetable oilOne particular egg Mix the peeled cucumber with the egg and vegetable oil provides it with an impact till it transforms into glue. Propagate the ensuing combination equally and easily all through the broken hair and abandon it on for a quarter-hour. Wash out completely prior absorbing.In case you are a well-regulated swimmer continue doing this remedy as a minimum at one time every month. 6. Cucumber for hair:– Cucumbers are the great supply of oxide, an important mineral for hair which can build hair strong and shiny. The excessive silicon and sulfur present in cucumber squeeze may additionally encourage quicker hair growth. Follow cucumber squeeze to your scalp, abandon it for about 15-20 minutes and rinse it off with a decent cleanser. This exceptional low-calorie fruit has greater vitamins to provide than simply water and electrolytes. Cucumber carries nearly all the vitamins needed for a balanced weight-reduction plan that assistance to keep up a sound body as well as lift numerous different procedures. Thus rejoice in its many blessings and carry on with a sound life. Â  

Film Critique for “the Golden Compass”

Film Critique for â€Å"The Golden Compass† The Motion Picture of â€Å"The Golden Compass† is based on Philip Pullman’s novel â€Å"Northern Lights† (The first part in his novel trilogy â€Å"His Dark Materials†) and was rated pg-13 (indicating that the material within the film could be unsuitable for children under the age of thirteen (Murray, 2012)), the movie was released to theaters in December of 2007. This movie has been categorized as a Family, fantasy adventure (Carraro & Weitz, 2007); however, there have been serious debates about the religious aspects of the story, whether or not it should be geared for younger audiences and how the film eviscerated the novel’s version of the story’s backbone (Rotten Tomatoes, 2012). Also read this  com/voices-freedom-critique/">Critique of Stuff Is Not Salvation I will be reviewing all aspects of the movie including the storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, style and directing, impact of society on the film and vice versa, the genre and the overall textural themes to get a full understanding of the film and to show that in a whole, it was a very good story and was a fun movie to watch. The director’s vision of the story is how a film comes to life. Their purpose is not simply to help the writer tell the story but also to make the audience care about the story by giving the story meaning† (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, sec. 2. 5 para. 1). This film’s story is about a girl named Lyra Belacqua (played by Dakota Blue Richards) who is about twelve years old. Residing in a universe parallel to our own ruled by the Magisterium, people’s spirits reside on the outside of their bodies and walk beside them as companions in the form of animals (the type of animals depends on the person) known as â€Å"Daemon s†. Lyra was brought up as an orphan living amongst scholars at the Jordan College in Oxford. Lyra’s need for adventure hits a little closer to home than she had hoped when she realizes the hushed whispers of adults and members of the Magisterium speaking of dust and children who are going missing start to become pieces in a puzzle that lyra is determined to solve and with any luck, remedy the troubles that are being caused. Aided by colorful and unusual characters such as the Gyptians (comparable to what we know as gypsies), witches, an armored bear by the name of Iorek Byrnison (voiced by Ian McKellen) and an airman named Lee Scoresby (played by Sam Elliot), Lyra must use the golden compass (also known as an Alethiometer, it was secretly given to her by her uncle, Lord Asriel to reveal the truth of any question she asks the compass) to find the truth and save the children being kidnapped by the gobblers (the kidnappers are a part of the Magisterium). The actors in this film did an amazing job in the roles they played. Marisa Coulter (played by Nicole Kidman) makes for a gorgeous, classy, prestigious, intriguing and scary villain. Kidman’s Kidman not only plays the leader of the gobblers but it is also found out later in the movie that she is also Lyra’s mother. Then there is Lord Asriel, A well-dressed handsome man who plays Lyra’s uncle (however, we find out later that he is in fact Lyra’s father) and a well-known explorer. He studied and did research about the mysterious â€Å"dust† and the Arctic North (Carraro & Weitz, 2007). Lyra’s character plays a pretty and hard-headed stubborn girl who is hell bent on stopping the gobblers and Mrs. Coulter from cutting the children’s deamons away from them and she also has serious ideas about locating and finding the purpose of the dust. There is also Iorek Byrnison and Lee Scoresby who appear to have known eachother from sometime in the past. They are both head strong characters and willing to fight for the greater good and aid Lyra in her travels to stop the gobblers. Iorek is a Big armored polar bear and Lee is and older airman. The cinematography used for this movie was quite extensive. There were 1,100 to 1,200 CG [computer-generated] shots, average for a film like this, but the level of complexity far exceeded most, there's an animated character in just about every one of those shots† (Miller, 2012, para. 4). So this made making the film more extensive as far as the cinematography goes and there were many different shots ranging from close-u p (there were many close-ups of several characters throughout the film), mid-range shots (especially when there was more than one character on the screen at any given time), as well as distant or long range shots (like when Lyra rode the rmored bear through the snow to find out what was in the cabin away from a camp site she was staying at). There were also shots angled upward (such as when Lyra and her friend were sitting on a rooftop together) and downward angled shots (such as when a mechanical spy bug was slapped to the ground and there was a downward angle shot of it lying on the ground) (Carraro ; Weitz, 2007). The cinematography used in this film suited every aspect of the movie. Everything moved through the film very smoothly and the cinematography really made the scenes pop and kept me on the edge of my seat. The film editors for the film â€Å"The Golden Compass† are Anne V. Coates, Peter Honess and Kevin Tent. Anne V. Coates is a very well know veteran film editor â€Å"with an editing career of 63 years––and still counting––Coates arguably has been working in cutting rooms longer than anyone else in film history† (Lewis, 2010, para. 1). However, Coates was removed for the editing of the â€Å"The Golden Compass† early on in the editing process and actually stated that even though she learned a great deal from â€Å"The Golden Compass† and it was an amazing experience working with large quantities of editing with special effects, it was actually a frustrating process for Coates due to the amount of work involving the special effects people as opposed to just editing a standard film with much less special effects being used (Connolly, 2011). Peter Honess, known for editing such movies as â€Å"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets† and â€Å"Troy† as well as Kevin Tent known for editing such movies as â€Å"The Descendants† and â€Å"Sideways† were brought in on â€Å"The Golden Compass† to finish up the post production editing for the film. While the finished product the film had many audiences asking when they would see the sequel to the film, there were many critics talking about how â€Å"the end result is a bumpy road, with many emotional highs but also quite a few lows, and a saga that despite good ingredients lacks narrative smoothness or fluidity, reaffirming that Weitz is not the right director for the job† (Levy, 2012, para. 22) not to mention the several parts of the film cut due to the mass controversies regarding religious groups. The editors of this film did not receive their due credit because of the direction of the film and the cutting that was required to make the film â€Å"suitable† for public audiences. It took an amazing amount of people to create all of the different forms of sound used in â€Å"The Golden Compass. † Ranging from the Foley editor, the sound mixer, to the sound effects editor, there are many more people that were just needed for sound work alone. There are quite literally 56 different jobs for this movie, just in regards to sound for the film. This just goes to show you the amount of work that is put into the making of a film. I am going to discuss the three major elements of sound used in a film which involve the score, sound effects and Dialogue (Goodykoontz, ; Jacobs, 2011). Alexandre Desplat is the brilliant composer of the â€Å"score† (music used in the backgrounds of scenes) that is utilized in this film and is used throughout the films entirety. In fact, â€Å"Desplat follows Shore's lead in the incorporation of a surprisingly detailed and large collection of themes, weaving them into the narrative with such efficiency that a person familiar with the film can easily follow the action through the score† (Clemmensen, 2008, para. ). Experiencing the music used for the score is truly amazing, even by itself. There is also a whole lot of use of sound effects throughout the film and a small handful of people working on them. A big part of the reason so many sound effects were used in this film is because so many of the characters used in the film were CG (Computer generated) so it was impor tant to recreate the sounds that these characters would have made had they been real. Again, Ioreck the polar ice bear is a prime example of this. When Iorek and Ragnar (The polar ice king) get into their battle to the death they are not only both created by computers so there very presence require sound effects but there is a lot of sound effects used with their armor clanking together throughout the battle scene. While the sound effects do play a very substantial role in the making of this film, they appear flawless and really added to the depth of the film. The dialogue is also beautiful in this film. The characters have sort of English accents (which suits the London type setting). The dialogue used suites the characters well down to the way they are dressed. However, on a side note, I find it odd that they are from an alternate universe that has an impeccable resemblance and feel to our very own London, England. Lyra and her friends speak as if children would, grammatically incorrect and the adults speak prestigiously and very dignified (most of which are scholars). In its entirety, the all the use of sound was very well utilized and complimented every aspect of the film. Director Chris Weitz was really excited about making this particular film because he is a really big fan of the books the movie was based off of. With a budget of 180 million dollars for the film, Chris Weitz knew that there was going to be a lot of work needed to be put into the film. â€Å"It's really hard to make a movie,† Weitz says. â€Å"It's hard enough to make a small, bad one — trying to make a big, good one is definitely a challenge to your physical and mental stamina† (Edwards, 2007, para. ). While there are many who wonder as to whether or not Weitz was the man for this particular job, mainly because Weitz is best known for his raunchy comedy movies such as the â€Å"American Pie† series, Weitz was such a huge fan of the trilogy he was confident that he could get the job done right (Edwards, 2007). Unfortunately, due to the mass controversy of this film it is difficult to discern why this movie was so disastrous when looking at how it did in th e box office. Some blame Weitz and his lack of knowledge in the field of special effects, some blame the media and the Catholic church for the role they played in trying to have the movie stopped and some blame New Line Cinema (the production company) for forcing Weitz to water down the script due to trying to appease people who were worried and controversial of the religious (or lack thereof) aspects the film would bring to the big screen. In doing so, Weitz said that he did not have control over the films style or editing. Chris Weitz states that New Line Cinema felt they could not be a part of a film that caused controversy in the religious word but that the film would have been very different if he would have had the final say and cut of the film. Essentially in the long run Weitz was asked if he had regrets about the film, Weitz reply was â€Å"It's the greatest professional regret that I have. â€Å"He compared directing to being Charles I of England, quipping: â€Å"Parliament can always cut your head off† (Nissim, 2011, para. 4). The impact the movie had and still has on society is extraordinarily controversial. Because the movie is a fantasy adventure there were large quantities of people who took the movie at face value for its non-stop adventure and intriguing storyline. However, there were larger quantities of people who felt as if the movie was controversial due to the religious aspects people took from the movie. Bill Donohue (president and CEO of the Catholic League) stated that â€Å"these books denigrate Christianity, thrash the Catholic Church and sell the virtues of atheism† (FoxNews. com, 2007, para. 3). However, due to the controversies that arose from the announcement of the film’s production, the religious aspects of the film were stripped from the script. â€Å"Some atheists and fans of the books aren't happy, either. They say the studio has caved to pressure from the Christian right by sanitizing the tale for the big screen† (FoxNews. com, 2007 para. 8,). Pullman (the author of the book based on the film) was pleased with how the movie was done. He stated in an interview that â€Å"this must be the only film attacked in the same week for being too religious and for being anti-religious — and by people who haven’t seen it† (FoxNews. om, 2007, para. 16). The genre of this film is a mixture between family, fantasy, and adventure. While deemed a family film, it is not geared for younger children in regards to the story because it does involve children being kidnapped and adults removing the essence (spirit or as they are called in the film daemons) of life from the children. As stated previously, the film was rated PG-13. The film also depicts (although in non-detailed manner) the children’s essence (often interpreted as spirit) and referrers to them as daemons (pronounce dee-mons). So the movie may be considered offensive to religious families. However, in a whole, if the age group is right, it is a fun family movie. The fantasy of the film is magnificent excluding the actual town they reside in which seems rather of the norm, of (like I have mentioned before) a London set town and streets. There are a lot of characters and creatures in this film that are solely done by CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) and they are absolutely amazing. The daemons (spirit or essence) that walk around with their humans are of all different forms of animals creatures depending on the character of the individual. Lyra’s daemon however, can change shapes to appear in any form because she is still young (changing from a cat to a moth and even an ermine), adults daemons settle into a single form and no longer changes. There is also Iorek the polar ice bear who wears a magnificent coat of armor made for him alone. Last but not least, the adventure parts of the film. We watch see Lyra in her home town with her friends and the stuffy scholars (adults) she is surrounded by. We soon see Lyra get to experience life outside of the Magisterium (the school) with Mrs. Coulter. When Lyra discovers that Mrs. Coulter is the head of the gobblers (the kidnappers), we see her escape and start her mission to save the other children from the gobblers and from them taking the children’s daemons from them. We see an amazing polar ice bear fight between Iorek and the polar ice bear king in which is a fight to the death and even a small war between witches, and Gyptians and even few flying (what looks to be) pirate ships called air ships. This film truly fits its genre. Taking a look at this film from a formalist approach shows us the in-depth aspects of the film (Goodykoontz, & Jacobs, 2011). The structure of the film is balanced in regards to the aspects of use of fantasy and adventure used in the story. The fact that the storyline is based in parallel universe, the background of the town that the characters reside is lacking. It looks like a small town in England as opposed to what one would expect a town might look in a parallel universe like say, compared to Hogwarts in the â€Å"Harry Potter† movies and the magical world used in those films. However, the use of the daemons and magical creatures like Iorek the polar ice bear bring us to a better understanding of the â€Å"magical† feel of the world. The use of the characters to progress through the story made the film easier to follow in the respect that the actors playing the characters made the film come to life. Essentially, the film was good, but was better not having expectations (having not read the â€Å"His Dark Materials† trilogy) going into the film. I personally felt that the movie was well done, but I too, went nto the movie not knowing of the controversy surrounding the religious aspects of the film and was unaware of the film being based on a series of books. The overall textual theme of the film was fairly well laid out. The story was told in a manner in which you expect to see more of the story later down the road (in a sequel that would not be made). There are several discussions regarding dust throughout the film that obviously plays a majo r role but is not explained in depth in the film. The Mise-en-scene used throughout the film fits together well with the storyline. The characters, backgrounds and props used throughout the film carried the story in and out of the adventures we see Lyra embark on and allow the audience to experience a world not yet explored. The villain (Mrs. Coulter) was portrayed in such a way that the audience loves to hate and the hero’s (Lyra, Iorek and Lee) made the adventures progress and fun to follow. The camera use throughout the film is impeccable. With all different kinds of shots ranging from close-up scenes of the characters to mid and long range shots as well as jump-cuts from scenes of Lyra on her adventures to the villain trying to attempting to locate Lyra. The overall theme, while lacking in some aspects of background (in the town the main characters reside) and explanation of certain aspects such as the dust which seems to be very important and how and why the daemons, were there and there importance because it is shown at one point in the film that the children can survive without their daemons if removed correctly. The movie was entertaining and tells enough storyline to not be confusing. In conclusion, this film had a lot of aspects of society and controversy and in turn the lack of storyline working against its success. The money and hard work that it took to make this film should have been an enough to put this film on top where it should have been. But because the director had set out to make a film based on the story of a book and the studio decided that too much controversy would rise if the story was told like the book, the true religious aspects were stripped from the film and so the true storyline was stripped as well. But like I stated earlier, if the audience goes into the film with no expectations and no previous history of knowing what the film was supposed to be about, the film is well worth the watch. Reviewing all aspects of what the movie has to offer; from the storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, style and directing, impact of society on the film and vice versa, the genre and the overall textural themes, this is truly an adventure that will keep you watching and enjoying the family film with every fun character from the interesting and exciting Lyra to the big polar ice bears that battle and the beautiful villain that we love to hate. This film was extremely fun to watch.

Analytical Comparison of Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory on Essay

Analytical Comparison of Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory on Children's Behaviour - Essay Example 46). Such factors may be related to the child’s immediate environment during the early stages of growth, emotional attachments to the child’s care givers, social relations with friends and peers, and factors related to the child’s cognition. Over time, the knowledge of the factors influencing behaviour has enabled policymakers to formulate policies and programs that promote better development of children’s behaviour in different sectors. This paper seeks to examine both the Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory with the aim of relating the theories to children’s behaviour. Description of Attachment Theory and Cognitive Theory The attachment theory asserts that children begin to develop psychological attachment to the first people they relate with, and knowledge acquired through such attachments influences their behavioural development (Inge 1992, p. 38). As such, the theory affirms that a positive parent-child relationship during the early stages o f child growth and development is essential, since it influences the future behaviour of the child in later stages of life. The nature of the relationship between the child and the care giver during the early stages of growth determines the nature of the child’s character, personality, and behaviour in later years (Inge 1992, p. 38). ... 38). Cognitive theory associates behaviour with the mental processes, asserting that people make choices according to how they perceive and understand different situations in their lives (Doherty & Hughes 2009, p.39). Cognitive theory advances that human behaviour is not solely based on reflex, or cause and effect, but people make conscious and logical choices to undertake particular actions depending on their understanding of the situations. As such, the theory argues that people do not act merely for the need to react to scenarios in their immediate environments, but rather they act to respond to their mental and psychological processes which term their actions as logical and necessary (Dowling 2009, p.121). The exposure of children to environments with different experiences influences their behavioural development, since such exposure requires the children to behave differently in different situations (Chesnay & Anderson 2011, p.3). Analysis in relation to current policies, strate gies, and legislations Attachment theory Different policies, strategies, and legislation have been formulated and adopted in programs aimed at promoting proper children growth and development, particularly in relation to children’s behaviour. Understanding of the influence of the attachment theory and cognitive theory in children’s behaviour has led to the formulation of Every Child Matters, an arrangement that seeks to ensure that all children are considered in the services provided by statutory, voluntary, or private providers (Gargiulo 2010, p.43). Children with avoidant attachment characteristics are largely antisocial and independent in most of their activities,

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 40

Case Study Example It provides job rotation which overcomes the boredom of overspecialized work. It increases the responsibility, recognition and opportunity of the employees for achievement of their goals or objectives. The employers are able to retain the productive employees by offering flexible working conditions. The employers are able to attract the skilled and talented workers by providing flexible working hours and alternative working arrangement. The employees generally prefer to work with those organizations that provide perks and benefits to the organization. Google is considered as the best company to work for. It facilitates the employees to set their own daily work schedules. It promotes job sharing where more than one employee performs the job. Therefore the flexibility acts as an important element in motivating and retaining talented work force in the organization. Therefore it is beneficial for both the employers and the employees working in the organization (Lincoln and Kalleberg 40-45). Apart from the benefits of the alternative work arrangement, there are various negative consequences, the negative outcomes for the employers are training the employees, monitoring their work progress on a frequent or timely basis, performance evaluation etc. The training time is increased; it lowers the personnel utilization levels, the chance of error will be more. The financial cost also increases due to the changes in the job environment. The alternative work arrangement will encourage the baby boomers to stay in the organization which will restrict the entrance of new talented individual in the company. The flexibility and the benefit provided by the organization will prevent the baby boomers from leaving the organization. Therefore the productivity and the performance of the organization may be negatively affected. The negative outcome

Investing in SME's in developing countries. Discuss different facets Essay

Investing in SME's in developing countries. Discuss different facets associated with these investments (from the perspective of - Essay Example There has been an upward trend in the acquisition of private equity funds due to a number of reasons. Apart from the high returns on investment, small and medium enterprises take up private equity because the markets have been liberalized to free market economies and there is proper disclosure and financial reforms that enable transparency to be experienced at the time of investment. PE funds also enable companies fill the gap in finance in the self-financing of the company and obtaining funds from other sources. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have numerous definitions with each country having its own distinct definition depending on its own unique economic patterns. However, most countries base their definitions in the number of employees, value of assets or the annual turnover for a firm to qualify as a small and medium enterprise. For example, the European Union states the limits for the number of employees in SMEs to be between 200 -250, w hile Japan sets the limit as 300 employees. This starkly contrasts with the situation in USA whereby SMEs are those enterprises with about 500 employees in the firm (Murphy 7). According to the World Bank, small and medium projects are those businesses with workers not exceeding 300 in number with a yearly income turnover of $ 15 million, and resources that are valued at $ 15 million. Data made available by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that almost 100% of business entities or enterprises within the grouping are small and medium enterprises accounting for 60% of employment in the private sector thereby making a substantial contribution in the development of economies of most developing nations. Developing nations define SMEs as groups of businesses that is composed of a mixture of self-employed or enterprises that have less than 10 employees and they are often found in informal sectors of the economy. The SMEs are regulated through certain princi ples that allow them to thrive in any given market. These principles include the proportionality principle that establishes an appropriate comparison or balance between risks and costs and their impact on the regulation of the business. This ensures that there are no needless or unnecessary demands placed upon the business in its regulation. The policy objectives must be transparent, clearly defined and communicated to the SMEs so that they know their prime objectives and obligations and make them aware of the expectations from the regulatory authorities. There must be accountability in the preparation of proposals and consultation before the making or taking of decisions. SMEs do well in environments where the policies put in place are consistent in application. SMEs are important in the economies of developing nations in that they provide the important revenue that translates to more tax by specific nations. They also contribute to the creation of employment opportunities and reve nue generated from exports. They are however restricted in the acquisition of funds as often, they possess little information that may be required to access funds from example bank loans. This has made such kind of enterprises to resort to private equity funds that is fast gaining ground in the world’

Personal Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Personal Narrative - Essay Example That is when I decided to take the journey towards fitness so that I could lose weight and transform myself. The family supported me in the changes I made in my diet that included swapping the foods that were too fatty for lower-fat options, reducing the sizes of the portions and taking regular family walks. I enrolled in a program that was ran through a website that organized camps for big people as well as offering resources and tips. This was an inspiration to me and I met other people who were dealing with the same problem. Meeting with other people who were having the same problem greatly assisted in my efforts to change my lifestyle and become healthier. There has been an increase in the rate of obesity particularly in children and I make sure that I encourage other people who may be in the same situation that I was in to embrace more healthy living for their own sake. The statistics are overwhelming since approximately one in every three children between the ages of ten and seventeen living in the US is considered overweight or obese and Georgia is second after Mississippi in the country as far as obesity in children is concerned (Johansen 25). Living an inactive combined with a relative ease of access to fast food has been the main cause of obesity for the population. People, especially children spend most of their time watching television and on their computers and phones and very little time exercising. The path towards renewed health is the conviction to make the change and believing that it can be done. The person deciding to change his or her lifestyle must be determined to do it since if one is forced to do it, there is a high chance that when the person will find himself alone, he will fall along the wayside. After being determined that you can take the steps towards healthier living, one will need to take single small steps at a time. It greatly helps to begin by taking water in place of soft drinks and soda and trying things

Dynamic Development of Marketing Management Strategies and Article

Dynamic Development of Marketing Management Strategies and Organizational Performance - Article Example The strategy is simply a choice. Prosperity is linked not only with profitability but also the long term growth. It's like steering a ship in the ocean with the danger that pirates may take over, or it might become the victim of the deadly waves. The ship here refers to the company itself and the challenged here include the competitors, the environment etc. Thus, there is a strong need for the managers to make a strategy that works as an action plan to achieve the aimed objectives. The objectives may be both financial such as higher revenues, lower costs, high profits and non-financial just to be the top in the industry, largest market share, or to place the product in the top minds of the customers. Thus, the need arises to have a blueprint that tells how to go about it Companies need to diverse, differentiate, integrate backward or forwards, and manage business portfolio balanced. The managers need to do planning, develop a vision, has to set their mission, develop long term plans and these all are further divided into different objectives and goals. But it is important that the strategy is to be consistent with the organizational goals and policies, it should be flexible enough to respond to the faster-changing environment in which it is operating, and it should add value to the organization and become a source of advantage over its competitors, and lastly, it should be feasible and practical enough to get through. Strategic management can be defined as the art and science of formulating, implementing, and evaluating cross-functional decisions that enable an organization to achieve its objectives (David F.R., Strategic Management). The process of strategic management involves three stages, viz. formulation of a strategy, implementing a strategy and lastly, evaluating the strategy. Since organizations have limited resources thus they need to choose from amongst the alternatives available. Setting a strategy starts with developing a strategic vision so as to provide long term direction, and provide a purpose to the organization. The strategic vision is then converted into specific performance objectives for the company to achieve. And then forming strategies to achieve the desired outcomes that have been developed in the form of objectives. This all was the planning portion of the process; no strategy is useful until it is implemented and executed effectively and efficiently. In the end, the eval uation stage begins which requires comparing actual i.e. the reality with the planned.

The Elimination of Poverty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Elimination of Poverty - Research Paper Example Counterfactuals allow us to enter a universe of possibility: one where we cannot be in the normal state of affairs but only in a kind of imaginary state of examination. Having said this, it should be clear that counterfactual analysis has little to do with reality or practical application. The conclusions reached here about what if can say nothing to inform public policy that deals with the here and now. In fact, precisely because the antecedent in this case cannot be true (as was said previously), it might be the case that these considerations cannot have any practical use beyond the useful practice of logical conjecture. What if poverty were eliminated? Such a question presupposes that we know what poverty is, beyond the concepts that we use in day-to-day life. However, what we find with these common concepts is that they are often faulty and not representative of the actual state of affairs. For instance, while we might think of justice as fairness, this might mean that justice is the property of abiding by rules. The rules themselves could in fact be unjust themselves. The concept of poverty, like justice, bears hidden connotations that must be sheared off before continuing. There are actually two components of the concept of poverty, one of which has to do with economics and the other which has to do with personal properties. These two facets of poverty readily interact with one another and often reinforce one another. The elimination of one kind of poverty, contrary to popular belief, will not lead automatically or ensure the elimination of the other, which perpetuates the problem and has the po tential to move us into committing evil acts. The first facet of poverty is that of virtue. While the word â€Å"virtue† might sound overly philosophical, it is merely a matter of personal excellence. A virtue is a personality trait that serves as a means to a greater end. For instance, the virtue of a

Law of Armed conflict. Is it viable in today's world Essay

Law of Armed conflict. Is it viable in today's world - Essay Example The Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) was formulated with the intention of making armed conflict a more civilized exercise. That is, participating countries themselves decided to incorporate certain laws to prevent unnecessary destruction and suffering of human life, through the use or removal of excess military power. By following the Geneva Convention regarding human rights during war time, countries rationalized and codified various rules, guidelines and stipulations to be followed during armed conflict, resulting in the formation of LOAC. Although, it is clear that LOAC has included many key and constructive stipulations while conducting an armed conflict, my research paper will discuss how in current times, its viability cannot be guaranteed due to few extraneous situations or events that continue to occur in conflict without any specific geographical focus. o One reason why LOAC may be considered unviable in modern warfare is due the rise of terrorists or armed groups, who mostly i ndulge in a ‘non-direct’ form of warfare, without directly taking on a country’s military in a ‘battlefield’. Attrition warfare as practiced through the twentieth century is no longer the method in warfare. Due to these extraneous situation, conflics could take place between a country’s military and a terrorist group in ‘Third party countriey’, which mays not be governed ‘aptly’ or adhere toe international laws and conventions relating to human rightr. This ‘unclear’ geographical focus as well as unclear ‘target group’ became visible mainly in the aftermath of the September 11 World Trade Center attack, and particularly visible in the mission to eliminate Osama Bin Laden. Conflict in a particular geographical area and against a particular country’s military are becoming irrelevant nowadays. Along withLOAC also seems to have become irrelevant. â€Å"...the boundaries between "war" and "nonwar," and between "national security" and "domestic issues," have been eroding for some time. September 11 and its aftermath have highlighted the increasing incoherence and irrelevance of these traditional legal categories.† 1 When Al-Qaeda launched the terrorist attacks on the American soil, U.S. launched military attacks on Afghanistan. Although, the country of Afghanistan is not the real culprit, the Taliban government in Afghanistan harboured al-Qaeda in its territory. Thus, it was not viewed as an ‘innocent’ neutral territory by United States and its Western allies. â€Å"In sharp contrast to most wars, the geographic distinction between belligerent and neutral territory is highly unstable in the conflict with al Qaeda.† 2 In addition, the Taliban government was also not recognized by majority of the world countries. So, in this case, non-state actors and non-military forces with the aid of unauthorized government indulged in ‘armed’ a ggression against United States. This being the case, the American government and its military went into the free country of Afghanistan to punish the non-state actors of Al-Qaeda. Thus, in such case, the LOAC could not be applied, because the American forces did not fight the regular military or even the official government of this country country. â€Å"..al Qaeda is neither a state nor a domestic insurgent group, the law of armed conflict does not apply at all to the U.S. struggle against terrorism,†

Juvenile Delinquency Essay Example for Free

Juvenile Delinquency Essay There are numerous theories to why a person becomes who they are and how they got there, what makes it difficult to understand is which correct theory to follow and believe. Listed are a brief analysis of a few theories and two case studies of two troubled youths that will help to open a window to witness what is happening to society’s youth and how they contribute to adulthood. Although, several theories are around regarding juvenile delinquency, tapering them down to one solution is nearly impracticable. Knowing that a theory is simply an educated guess, one can see there is not one single cause for delinquency in society today . However, there are several theories that should be considered and explored. We should make a more in-depth look at figures and determine where crime actually begins. The following are two separate crimes and for many, the correct theories surrounding them. I will explore theories such as the Robert Agnu’s General Strain Theory which suggest that anger, frustration and adverse emotions are linked to negative and destructive relationships. I will also explore Sigmund Freud’s psychodynamic theory which suggests delinquent behavior is a product of abnormal personality structure formed early in life which consciously controls her choices. Juvenile Delinquency I will begin with Lakeisha McCoy a 16 year old girl living in Malvern Arkansas, a rural area in county seat of Hot Springs with the population of 9,021; (Wikipedia 2000) Lakeisha is from a single parent home with her mother and three other your female siblings surviving on the income $ 375 a week and no father figure in the home. Lakeisha’s mother works 40-50 hours per week at the Waffle House and has no daycare for the younger children . Therefore Lakeisha is unsupervised for better part of (6) hours after school due to her mother’s schedule. Lakiesha’s mother has an extensive criminal record possible mental illness, and was a troubled youth. She chooses boyfriends are less than desirable citizens most have little job security as well as drug and alcohol tendencies. Lakiesha was recently arrested for shoplifting at the local dollar store after stealing two pairs of shoes and three shirts. Next subject is Martin, a 14 year old male who lives in Dallas Texas, a large metropolitan city with the population of 1,299,543; (Wikipedia 2008) Martin is from a two parent household with one younger sister living on the annual income of $100,000. 00 a year. Martin’s parents are both employed, however, they work opposite shifts to ensure at least one parent is available for supervision at all times. Both parents keep the children at home after school and they are not involved with any after school or extra family functions. Martin was arrested for breaking and entering into a neighbor’s home during the day when his mother was a doctor’s appointment with his younger sister. What would society believe to be the reasoning behind both Lakeisha and Martins crimes? Some would say â€Å"There just troubled kids† or maybe would say â€Å"It’s because neither had supervision†. However, research and theorists view it in a completely different way. Let’s look at Sigmund Freud’s psychodynamic theory which suggests delinquent behavior is a bi product of abnormal personality structure formed early during the beginning stages of life. This theory would then explain her choices in relationships and how she feels about herself . Example mental torment can lead children into violence and aggression . An neglected child attention from peers will introduce them to a family structure or gang. This theory indicates that children act on unconscious needs and desires. With id, egos ,and super ego functioning together a child can live a normal in the aspects of personality if one becomes dominate then abnormal personality traits can be viewed in a â€Å"God† like complex. (Siegel et al. † 2003). Arousal theorists believe that obtaining thrills is a motivation of committing crimes. They believe children commit crimes like shoplifting for the thrill of possibly getting away with it . They also believe this directly linked environmental and genetic reasons and this group responds to a different brain stimuli. This might indicate that some children need more stimuli to feel comfortable which links higher degrees of excitement . The theories do not stop with just a chemical thrill seeking side of these children; there are a few other facts to consider. (Siegel et al., 2003). Robert Agnu’s General Strain Theory explores the notion that anger, frustration and adverse emotions are directly linked to negative and destructive relationships. Example, Lakeisha’s mother is one with abusive tendencies, she is ridiculed and called names which affects her behaviors both inside and outside the home by harboring a since of fear. Disappointment and anger. This eventually leads to antisocial behavior. He indicates that the negative behavior is linked to a certain peer group which might lead the adolescent to riskier behavior such as drug use. (Siegel et al. , 2003). Also Edwin Sutherland’s differential association theory suggest children exposed to and learn prosocial and antisocial attitudes and behavior ;meaning that the definitions of violating the law outweigh the definitions of being law abiding . Lakeisha’s mother has a long criminal record including , shoplifting , robbery and drug dealing. Since Lakeisha was exposed to this behavior most of her life, she begin to understand the law differently than a child whose parents were law abiding citizens. Terrence Thornberry’s interactional theory suggests most onset of criminal activity is linked to the weakening of social bonds during adolescence; marked by the deterioration of attachments of function within a society. It also believes that seriously delinquent children form a counter cultural belief system that justifies their behavior they interact with peer groups that that reinforce the same type of behavior and beliefs. This reinforces the term â€Å"Birds of a feather flock together† . Together they may look for excitement and engage reckless behavior and by doing so; they will justify their actions by stating â€Å"we have to do something for enjoyment† (Siegel et al, 2002). In Lakeisha’s case all three theories can be tied to her behavior, individual sociological and developmental stages have all been tainted . From birth Lakeisha was statistically predisposed to commit crimes and have a delinquent youth. Today, there are 100,000 children incarcerated throughout the United States and the number in continuing to rise. Studies show that in 19999 there were nearly (2) million juvenile adjudicated in the United States courts. That is an increase of 27% since 1990. The number of drug law violations increased by 168% public order increased by 74% and offenses of a person increased by 55% (Puzzanchera, 1999). Martins’ case is linked more towards the interactional theory and arousal theory than the opposite. His behaviors seem easier to turn towards the positive aspect than the latter. After several years of juvenile justice the general consensus should consider exploring there issues first. look in and around all the theories and perhaps children can avoid obstacles in their way. REFERENCES Foster care and juvenile delinquency (n. d. ) Retrieved July 24, 2010 , from http;// www,ark. edu/psyc112/fostercare/. Pussanchera, C (1999) The national juvenile court data archives. Retrived Oct 19, 2005 from Juvenile Court Statistics Web site: http//www. ncjrs. org/pdffiles I /ojjdp/201141. pdf#search=Juvenile%20statistics Siegel, L (2002) Juvenile delinquency, The Core, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Sigel. J. , Welsh, B, C, Senna, J. J. (2003) Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, practice, and law (8th Ed. ). United States: Thomson Wikipedia (2002). Retrieved July 27, 2010 from the free Encyclopedia Website: Wikipedia (2006) Retrieved July 27, 2010 from The free Encyclopedia Website

Economic and Employment Impacts of Tourism

Economic and Employment Impacts of Tourism Tourism Impacts Tourism is regarded as an industry with enormous economic impacts that has been widely studied from a variety of research perspectives. Over the past decade, the interest in tourism development as a regional economic development strategy plan has been increasing rapidly as tourism is now being seen as potential basic industry that provided local employments opportunities, tax revenues and economic diversity (Gursoy et al, 2002; Getz,1986; Jurowski et al, 1997). The travel and tourism industry today is the worlds largest and most diverse business factor where a report by the UNWTO stated that in 2014 there were 1133 million of total international tourist arrivals and US $1245 billion receipts worldwide. The importance of the tourism industry is served as a main source of generating revenues, employment, private sector growth and infrastructure development in many countries (Gee, 1999; Chen Wei, 2009). Studies on the impacts of tourism have demonstrated that a destinations population acknowledges the economic and social benefits and also the cost of tourism on the respective community and lives (Murphy, 1985; Harvey et al, 1995; Jurowski et al, 1997; Choi and Sirakaya, 2006; Dyer et al, 2007). Furthermore, the impacts studies that were emerged during the 1960s drew more emphasis on the economic growth that acted as a form of national development which could be measure in terms of Gross National Product (GDP), rate of employment and the multiplier effect (Krannich et al, 1989). However, some researchers have emerged with some drawbacks of the impact of tourism in local community in terms of economy and ecological vulnerability (Briguglio et al, 2000; Briguglio, 2004; Sutton; 1999; Sutton, 2001). According to the Inter-Organisation Committee (IOC) (1994) the following types of the impact of tourism that needed to be considered is: social, cultural, demographic and economic. The IOC also stated that the focus should be on the more significant impacts, information and appropriate measures should be used and the impacts should be provided in a way that it can be understood by decision makers and leaders. The positive and negative aspects of tourism development may be referred as a chain of impacts with different linkages and is illustrated as a conceptual form in Figure 2.4. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the effects of the tourism expansion on the economy and briefly understand the mechanisms that bring out the effects of each link in the i mpact chain. In the next section, the major positive and negative impacts of tourism development will be discussed and Table 2.0 will provide a summarized list of the major positive and negative impacts of tourism on a country. Economic Impacts Tourism play an important role in stimulating economic growth by creating jobs, provide foreign exchange, enhance technology, produce return on investment for emerging countries and improve living standards in different countries (Eadington et al, 1991). Hall et al (2008) indicates that the tourism industry has the largest value in the worlds industry and it is a more effective way in expanding business and increase income than any other sectors compared. The tourism industry acts as an invisible export medium that brings in wealth which is used to toward the contribution of balancing payment, production, account deficit and employment. In 2012, the tourism industry generated 8% of employment worldwide (Candela and Figini, 2012). Eadington and Redman (1991) concluded that countries such as Ireland, the Caribbean and Egypt used the income from tourism to improve their economic development whereas country like Cambodia, tourism is one of the major source of income for future economic d evelopment. However, the development of tourism can also reduce the dependency on primary merchandise as a source of export earnings. Brown (1998) stated that over-dependency on a single source of income can be very risky. Employment Impact The tourism industry continues to grow into one of the most dynamic economic sectors according to the UNWTO as it acts as a reliable tool for sustainable job creation. Many studies have concluded that after several research that tourism does help in increasing the amount of jobs (Davis et al, 1988; Tosun, 2002; Weaver Lawton, 2001). Tyrrell and Sheldon (1984) discovered that the creation of jobs was one of the four most frequently mentioned benefits of tourism. However, Turner and Sears (2014) stated that the travel and tourism sector is a leading employment creator all around the world by employing more than 98 million people and representing around 3% of total world employment. The employment rate in this sector keeps on growing and is more likely to stay high. For example, Table 2.1. displays the tabulated date retrieved from Figure 2.5. i.e. between 2012 and 2022 the estimated creation of extra jobs is listed as 63 million. Tourism being a service industry, is mostly argued to be labour intensive in nature and that one major impact of tourism is that it acts as an engine for employment creation. However, Mathieson and Wall (1982) stated that such employment can be classified into 3 categories: Direct Employment Direct employment occurs as a result of tourism expenditure. Front offices in hotels, restaurant, travel agencies, tourism information offices, aircrafts, cruise line, resorts or shopping outlets provide direct employment because their employees are in contact with tourist and cater for tourist demand.

Portrayal of Masculinity in Art Essay -- Essays Papers

Portrayal of Masculinity in Art According to several versions of the Webster dictionaries, the word â€Å"masculinity† refers to the characteristics of being masculine, manly, male stereotypes, having or occurring in a stressed final syllable , having the final chord occurring on a strong beat , of or forming the formal, active, or generative principle of the cosmos. The word â€Å"masculinity† overall reflects the stereotype of men being a strong force, in music chords or in general. Looking into Brett Eberhardt’s drawing, â€Å"Introduction†, the thought of sexuality barely crossed my mind. After talking to Mr. Eberhardt about his choice to draw a self-portrait, he stated that he wanted to depict a human, male or female. It just so happens that he draws himself best. Eberhardt’s drawing is nostalgic in the depiction of curiosity. The suggestion of curiosity plays with many topics that range from childish curiosity to sexual curiosity. So I wondered how his piece might be considered a masculine drawing and how masculinity has been portrayed...

Eight Artists Address Brown v. Board of Education Essay -- Art Exhibit

Eight Artists Address Brown v. Board of Education It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon, when I, accompanied by a friend, went to Krannert Art Museum for the first time to see the social studies exhibition in relation to Brown v. Board of Education. Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court unanimously outlawed racial segregation in public school system. Although the decision is widely considered a major step towards a more equitable and integrated educational system, it did not fix all the racial problems in school system. Today, at the fiftieth anniversary of the High Court ruling, eight Americans artists share their works with the public at the Art Museum, both to commemorate Brown v. Board of Education and to ask the American public to reflect on the current existing racial problems in education. We walked in through the main entrance and were immediately greeted by the museum keeper, an old man with long gray hair, who wanted to make sure that every visitor put his/her bags in the deposit lockers, a ritual that most other museums practice. Krannert was small ? it was as big as a typical Outback Steak House. Yet for all its size, it had a wide array of collections ranging from ancient Chinese pottery in the Shang dynasty to oil paintings in Renaissance to contemporary art photographs. One has to give credits to the curator, who manages to put together neatly in this small building items so different in their geographical and chronological backgrounds. We were enticed by the paintings, sculptures, and some artistic works from oriental cultures. Staring at the ancient Chinese artifacts, we could not help wondering what they had gone through before ending up in an American university art museum... ...the museum keeper interrupted. With ripples of thoughts still lingering in our minds, we left the museum. My friend and I were impressed. For my part, I seldom went to see an art exhibition and had little experience of visual art appreciation. Still, the works of the artists were enough to temporarily desensitize my idea of time, clear my other thoughts and plans, and allow me to commit myself fully to finding as much as possible the meaning so often promised in the seemingly simple yet beautiful pieces of modern art. Art exhibitions may not have the same potent power of a talk or a march in informing people of the latest social problems or pushing for a social movement. After all, artistic works time and again demand personal reflections rather than call for immediate actions. In view of its reflection-provoking nature, this exhibition, to me, was successful.

Essay --

Movies are a worldwide phenomenon, but why are some movies academy award winners while others plummet in the box office. I believe there are five major factors that go into creating a successful film beginning with the storyline, script, directing, sincere chemistry as well as realism. Script writing that is genuine and one an audience member can connect to is crucial; as is having a plot that doesn’t move so fast, and is able to seamlessly transition into different scenes. A great storyline always needs some sort of conflict in it; it is the heat of the drama. The obstacles they face in a movie is typically along the lines of someone wants something, someone/thing keeps getting in their way. For example in Dirty Dancing Baby wants to be with Johnny, but her father is standing in her way. A good hook is important to any storyline as well, you need something to grab the audience attention; all that is needed is a â€Å"What if?† Such as what if you are watching an entire series just to later find out it, it was all fake and none of what happened was real; a good enough â€Å"what if?† can set you apart from the pack. â€Å"You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?† Whether you’ve seen the movie or not this is a line we’ve all heard once or twice before. This quote can be heard being said from many generations. Good script writing is crucial it can either make or break a film. Some films that have had long- lasting success are movies such as Star Wars, The Godfather, and Forrest Gump. What these three films have in common is that they all have lines that are still being quoted till this day and will continue to be for years to come. This is all due to good script writing. The emotional connection that an audience feels has as... ...an believe,† (Molly, Haskell). If an audience member leaves a movie still thinking about it days later, and has connected with it on an emotional level as I stated before it will be successful. For example 12 Years a Slave won best picture at the Oscars this year, in 2013 the winner was Argo, looking back even further at previous winners you find that The King’s Speech, Hurt Locker, The Departed, Chicago and Schindler’s list are all previous best picture winners as well as many other films based on true stories. Even though fictional movies have won best picture as well the number of films based on real events outnumber the fictional ones. This year alone six out of the nine nominees for best picture were based on true stories. You find that people who are big fans of fictional movies such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and X-Men are stuck in a fictional world.

Homelessness and Solutions Homeless People

Let’s all help the homeless During the past decade there may have been an increase in homelessness due to the struggles of daily life. People have many ideas on ways that the government or communities can help improve these situations. It is not easy to help the homeless but any help can improve their lives and our streets. It may not take them completely off our streets but it can help them to get back on their feet.In a New York Times article, â€Å"Rooms of Their Own† on January 21, 1990 by Anna Quindlen, she reports that after observing people on the streets that all they want it a safe place to live to call home where they can have some privacy. She describes that many are mentally ill that the government cannot support any longer. Some homeless are former inmates that just need a little help getting back into society. Anna argues that the government should have to help by housing them in small studio like room to help them get back on their feet.By doing this it m ay get them back in the community and working soon to be on their own and not need the help any longer. Stuart D. Bykofsky complains in Newsweek, â€Å" No Heart for the Homeless†, on December 1, 1986 that he is fed up with the homeless laying around in the streets and making his community disgusting and unsafe to walk. He argues that why should individuals settle for these kinds of people living on there property for free and get away with it. He believes that it is not fair that they get to live on the streets for free and whileRivas 2 tax payers are getting fined for any reason. Stuart explains that the homeless need no excuse to live on the streets if there is a shelter to go to. It is their choice to go but if they choose not to then they should be fined for it as well. Not all homeless are the same because they all have different situations on why they have become homeless. Some of them have gotten laid off and simply cannot find w a job to support their families. This is all a part of Steven’s Vanderstaaty claim in his book, â€Å"Solutions Homeless People Seek†.He reveals that these unemployed people just want to work so they can get back into the community, but believe they shouldn’t have to go through all different kinds of training and programs for a job that they already have experience in. He points out that what homeless need is help getting back to society by their certain situations they may face of drug and alcohol programs or resources to help each individual that may need help mentally, physically or financially.After reading all three essays I find that any help would it be, donating time or money would help the homeless. It would show that the community does care for them as well as their surroundings to make it a cleaner and a safer place to live. Homeless or not everyone needs help may it be financially, emotionally or physically the government should have resources to help everyone!

Malnutrition in India Essay

Introduction :- Malnutrition is found to be a leading killer through out the world, with under nutrition in the developing world the main nutrition problem. The World Bank Estimate that India is ranked 2nd in the world of the number of children suffering from malnutrition after Bangladesh (1998), where 47% of the Children exhibit a degree of malnutrition. India is one of the fastest growing country in terms of population and economic growth rate , sitting at a population of near about 1200 million (December 2010) and economy growing by 9% GDP growth rate from 2007-2008. Since independence Indian economy considered as low income country with majority of population at or below the poverty line which is lead to problems of malnutrition, hunger etc. the combination of people leaving in poverty and the recent economic growth of India (as well as Maharashtra)has led to the co-emergence of two type of malnutrition: 1) Undernutrition 2) Overnutrition. The National Family Healthy survey 2005-2006 shows that, while Maharashtra is one of the most developed State among the country, It has also problem of Malnutrition exists, but nutrition situation in Maharashtra is slightly better than the national average. National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) study quoted that more than 40 lakh children were affected with grade 2 to 4 malnutrition in Maharashtra. This indicate the seriousness of the problem of malnutrition. Definition of the Term Malnutrition Malnutrition carries different connotations to different people. To some, malnutrition means undernourishment, while to others it means starvation. Some confuse malnutrition with hunger while others consider malnutrition as undernutrition. The writer would like to define the term malnutrition in the following pages and differentiate it from the other similar terms. Malnutrition The word malnutrition might best be reserved to indicate the state of ill-health of a population or of any group of people in so far as that condition is caused either by malnourishment or undernourishment. It is thus, to an extent, a medical term or a term for public health purposes. The students of public health are showing a tendency to use that term in such a sense more consistently. The existence of malnutrition is revealed in various morbid conditions and it is measurable in terms of indices which are medical, anthropological, or biostatistical (such as height, weight, and special diseases, etc. ) Malnutrition is the condition that develops when the body does not get right amount of Vitamins, Minerals and other nutrition’s (Proteins) is needs to maintains healthy tissues and organ function.† Malnutrition occurs in people who are either undernourished or over nourished. Undernutrition is a consequence of consuming too few essential nutrients or excreting them more rapidly than they can be replaced. Infants, teenagers, young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women require additional nutrients. Overnutrition results from eating too much; eating too many of the wrong things, not exercising enough or taking too many vitamins or other dietary replacement Malnourishment Refers to an actual condition of diets in which not the quantity, but the quality of the food stuff is also involved. According to the present knowledge, a diet must supply some 30 or more nutrients in order to provide the proteins of high quality, as well as energy yielding food. A population is malnourished, even if it is able to use and is in the habit of using a quantity of energy yielding food stuffs, but if the people are either unable or unaccustomed to maintain a balanced diet including all the proper nutritive elements in correct proportion, is still suffering from malnourishment Undernourishment â€Å"Expresses a dietary condition largely among the working people in which there is an actual insufficiency both in quantity and in quality of nutritive elements needed for health and well-being.†- Objectives of the study: We have attempted to discuss the crucial issue child malnutrition in Maharashtra State. Therefore we look at the following objectives regarding malnutrition study in the state. 1. To discuss the status of child malnutrition in the state. 2. To find out the major causes of malnutrition. 3. To find out the effects / incidence of malnutrition problem. 4. To address the way to eradicate the malnutrition problems. Methodology: In this research paper we mostly used the secondary kind of data for analysis the issue. Researchers used macro-analysis method for analyze the malnutrition in the country as well as Maharashtra State. Types of Malnutrition: Each form of malnutrition depends on what nutrients are missing in the diet, for how long and what age. A) Proteins Energy Malnutrition (PEM): This is the most basic kind of malnutrition, results from a diet lacking in energy and Protein because of a deficit in all major macro nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats and Proteins. B) Micronutrients deficiencies: Micronutrients deficiencies are also a widespread problem in India. More than 75% of preschool children suffer from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and 57%  preschool children have subclinical vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Iodine deficiency is endemic in 85% districts (In India) mostly due to the lack of iodized salt. The prevalence of deferent micro nutrients deficiency varies widely across states. Degrees of Malnutrition: Classification of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is done by Gomez. Degree of PEM % of desired body weight for age and sex. 1. Mild Malnutrition (Grade I ) 90% -100% 2. Moderate Malnutrition (Grade II) 75% – 89% 3. Severe Malnutrition (Grade III) < 60% Status of Malnutrition in Maharashtra :- As far as Maharashtra State is concern, deaths regarding to the malnutrition seems high in tribal dominated districts e.g. Gadchiroli, Amravati, Yewatmal, Chandrapur, Bhandara and Melghat etc. Dr. Abhay Bang committee (2004) reported that between 1.20 lakh and 1.75 lakh children diet every year in the state for medical reasons. The report blamed an Insensitive bureaucracy for the plight of nearly 8 lakh children whose lives were threatened by grade 3 or 4 malnutrition. According to the report during 1988 to 2002 the percentage of affected by grade 3 or 4 malnutrition had fallen by mere 0.6% only which is found little improvements. According to National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) study quoted that more than 40lakh children were affected with grade 2 to 4 malnutrition  in Maharashtra. It estimated that 82000 children died every Year in rural area’s of the state 23, 500 in the tribal area’s and 56000 in urban slums. According to the government statistics in the entire Maharashtra state child death were estimated 45,000 (during July 2004 to June 2005) due to the malnutrition out of these 12,000 fall prey to severe malnutrition and the remaining 33,000 children died due to the mild or moderate malnutrition. The malnutrition is also the underlying cause in about 480 of the 2850 maternal deaths each year in the state. Child Death And Action Group (CDSAG) study found that 10.4% child death are recorded on an account of malnutrition in the state. Tribal Dominated Districts of Amravati, Yewatmal, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Bhandara in Vidarbh region as well as Melghat in North Maharashtra region were affected worsely by malnutrition problem. Ø Almost 38% of children under age three are stunted (India – 38.4%) Ø Almost 40% are underweight (India – 45.9%) Ø There is a strong correlation between child malnutrition and the level of maternal education. Ø There are significance differences between rural and urban area’s, where the rural area’s being more affected by malnutrition. Ø The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Maharashtra is higher than the national average for both male and female. Causes of Malnutrition: 1. The economist Amartya Sen observed that poverty is major cause of malnutrition and famine has always a problem of poverty and unbalanced distribution of food. 2. Hike in food prices or food inflation. 3. Insufficient food production (availability) 4. Changes in climate threaten the food security. 5. People with drug or alcohol dependencies are also at increased risk of malnutrition. Effect of Malnutrition: Malnutrition including both protein energy malnutrition and micro nutrient deficiencies not only affect physical appearance and energy level, but also directly affects many aspects of the children mental functions, growth and development. Ø According to the Jean Ziegler UN special report on the right to food (for 2000 to March 2008), mortality due to malnutrition accounted for 58% of the total mortality in 2006. One in twelve people world wide is malnourished. Ø WHO, also indicate that malnutrition is the biggest contributor to child mortality. Ø Malnourished children grow up with worse health and lower educational achievements. Their own children also tend to be smaller. Ø Malnutrition increases the risk of infection and infectious disease. Ø Malnutrition affects adversely physically as well as psychologically. Malnutrition in the form of ioden deficiency is most common preventable cause of mental impairment worldwide. Ø Ioden deficiency specially in pregnant women and infants, lowered intelligence by 10 to 15 I.Q. points. Ø Malnutrition can also be a consequence of other health issues such as  diarrheal disease or chronic illness specially disease of intestinal tract, Kidney’s and liver. Programs to address eradicate the Malnutrition The government of India has launched several programs to converge the growing malnutrition problems in the country. They include ICDS, NCF, National health mission. 1. Integrate child development scheme (ICDS):- Indian government has starter this ICDS program in the year 1975 for improving the health of mothers and children development program is on of largest in the world. It reaches more than 34 million children aged 0-6 years and 7 million pregnant and getting mothers. 2. National Children Fund (NCF):- This Fund was created during the international year of the child in 1979. This Fund provides support to the voluntary organizations that help the welfare of children. 3. United Nations Children Fund (UNCF):- UNISEF has been supporting India from last six decade in a number of sectors like child development, women development support for community based converged services health, education, nutrition, water and sanitation, childhood disability, children in especially difficult circumstances. National Rural Health Mission: This mission was created for the years 2005-2012 and its goal is to â€Å"Improve the availability of and access to quality health care by people, especially for those residing in rural area, the poor women and children.† 1. Objective of the mission are:- Ø Reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). Ø Provide access to integrated compressive primary health care. Ø Revitalize local health tradition and mainstream AYUSH. (This mission has set up strategies and action plan to meet all of its goals.) 2. The best wa y to prevent the condition is to eat a healthy balanced diet that contains food from all the major groups like carbohydrates, fruits and vegetable, Protein, dairy and fats. 3. As well as eating healthy, you should aim to drink at least 1.2 liters of fluid a day. 45,000 die of malnutrition every year in MaharashtraDespite being among the wealthiest states in the country, almost half Maharashtra’s children are undernourished and one-third of adults are underweight, says a recent report by the NGO SATHI. Forty-five-thousand children die of malnutrition every year in the state, according to ‘A report on nutritional crisis in Maharashtra’ by the Pune-based SATHI (Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives). One-third of adults are underweight, and 15% severely underweight.The two major schemes for children meant to prevent such deaths are the midday meal scheme and the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). But the state government spends just 0.8% of its gross domestic product on these schemes, the report states. More children die of mild or moderate malnutrition (33,000) than of severe malnutrition (12,000). Malnutrition is also the underlying cause of death of 480 of the 2,850 malnutrition deaths in the st ate every year. â€Å"A large number of people in Maharashtra do not get enough to eat and are suffering from serious nutritional deficiencies,† said the coordinator of SATHI, Abhay Shukla, at a press conference to release the report on February 3, 2010. The report takes into account the findings of the National Family Health Survey-3 and the National Sample Survey. The report points out that chronic hunger is not confined to rural areas, as is popularly believed; urban populations in coastal regions, including the city of Mumbai, have the highest prevalence of calorie deficiency (43%) in the state. Calculations made using the per-consumer-unit-calories norm of 2,400 in rural areas and 2,100 in urban areas reveals that the incidence of calories-based poverty is 54% in rural areas and 39.5% in urban areas. The report is critical of government  schemes like the ICDS. Grade 3 and 4 malnutrition is grossly underreported under the scheme as workers lack the skills and equipment to accurately weigh and classify children. Severe malnutrition is often underreported as it points to a failure of the programme. The midday meal scheme too has been underperforming, according to the report. Only 12% of schools surveyed provided midday meals, and many gave only one component of the meal. Moreover, not a single school provided the stipulated 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein. India’s performance on the nutrition front is poor overall. According to the National Family Health Survey-3 (up to 2005-06), almost half of children under 5 years of age (48%) are stunted, that is, too short for their age, an indicator of chronic malnutrition; 43% are underweight. The proportion of severely undernourished children is also notable — 24% are severely stunted and 16% are severely underweight. The 2009 annual budget earmarked just 4.15% for children when the population under 18 years of age is 447 million. Maharashtra’s poor performance on the health front comes despite it being one of the high GDP states. Though the country as a whole has seen GDP grow by 3.95% per year, between 1980 and 2005, the percentage of underweight children under 3 went down by just 6% , from 52% to 46% between 1992 and 2005. For every 3-4% increase in per capita income, the underweight rate should decline by 1%. This has not happened in India, pointing to the need for more inclusive growth and better delivery and distribution of schemes targeted at malnutrition. Malnutrition among Maharashtra’s tribalsMore than 98 children died in three months of 2005, in Akkalkuwa block of Nandurbar district. Of these, 71 children were found to be severely malnourished.A survey by the Punarvasan Sangharsh Samiti revealed that the government is unaware of the scale of malnutrition in the area. Only 10% of malnourished children figure in the government records. The survey also showed that not only were the children malnourished, their mothers were too. The weight of adult mothers ranged between 40-45 kg.Girls constituted around half the total number of malnourished children, indicating the precarious condition of these ‘future mothers’. The survey also revealed that although generations of malnourished children are born in this region, the government still does not look beyond the singular health aspect of the problem, on the basis of which mitigation measures are designed. Unless the issue of malnutrition is addressed comprehensively, the  tribal community in this part of the country is headed for extinction.These and other startling revelations form part of a report brought out by the Punarvasan Sangharsh Samiti, which has been actively mobilising the tribal population of Nandurbar district for the last decade. The report, titled ‘Maranatach He Jag Jagate’, is based on the survey which was carried out in 22 villages. And information obtained through the Right to Information Act.The tribals of Nandurbar are engaged in a continuous struggle for existence. Malnutrition and child mortality is part of their everyday lives, even as issues related to rights over natural resources and means of livelihood ga in greater urgency with each passing year.Attempts to remedy malnutrition and child mortality by singling it out will not deliver the desired results. ‘Maranatach He Jag Jagate’ attempts to take stock of the situation and get at the root of the problem. The report analyses the situation on the ground and suggests ways to tackle the problem head-on. Obviously there is the need for firm action by the government and the active involvement of society at large.Some basic facts about the survey: * The survey was undertaken in 22 villages of Akkalkuwa block, Nandurbar district. The weights of mothers in seven villages and two rehabilitation and resettlement sites of the Sardar Sarovar Project were recorded. The facts that emerged from the survey were shocking. In April, May and June 2005, 98 children died in Akkalkuwa block alone and of these 71 children were malnourished. Of the malnourished children, 45 were found to be in the second stage of malnutrition. Meanwhile, the government refuses to accept that the children died from malnutrition. * Punarvasan Sangharsh Samiti recorded the weights of children in 22 villages and co mpared this data with that of the government. The comparison showed that the government has only 10% of the facts related to malnutrition. In effect, it is unaware of 90% of malnutrition cases. According to the survey, the number of third-grade malnutrition among children in April was 127, in May 135 and in June 104; the government records showed only 14, 42 and 17 children as malnourished in this grade respectively. The survey figures for fourth-grade malnutrition, during these months, were 61, 50 and 35; the government figures were 6, 6 and 3 respectively. (The figures quoted here were obtained from the government under the Right to Information Act). * Of the 22 villages in the survey, six have been declared ‘hyper-sensitive’ by the government. The  survey showed that the combined number of third and fourth-grade malnutrition among children in April, May and June stood at 100, 104 and 72; the government records showed only six children were malnourished. * Of the total number of malnourished children, half were girls. This raises a serious question about the next generation. * With this question in mind, the Punarvasan Sangharsh Samiti conducted a survey in six villages and two rehabilitation and resettlement sites in which the weights of fully-grown mothers were assessed. The survey showed that the weights ranged between 40-45 kg. This emphasises the need for a comprehensive study of the ages of young mothers, stage of motherhood and its link with malnutrition. It also suggests that the process of malnutrition begins in the womb itself. * The root of the problem is lack of livelihoods. Measures in the areas of health, education, employment and supply do not create sustainable livelihood sources and therefore cannot, in themselves, be decisive remedies to the problem of malnutrition. Let’s take a closer look at the villages covered in the survey.The 22 villages are spread out in the plains as well as in hilly regions of the Satpudas. Of the villages, Khai, Andharbari, Ohwa, Kaulavimal, Toknapimpri, Maliamba, Kondvapada, Thana and Beti have been de clared ‘hyper-sensitive’ villages under the Navsanjivani Scheme, which is touted as the answer to the malnutrition problem. Of the 22 villages, seven villages — Khai, Andharbari, Ohwa, Kaulavimal, Miryabari, Valamba and Pimpalgaon — do not have a yearlong motorable road and are therefore inaccessible. After a point one has to walk to get to the village. Four villages — Thanavihir, Guliamba, Amali and Pimpalgaon — are within a periphery of 12 km from the block headquarters of Akkalkuwa, but they are connected to a remote primary health centre (PHC) in Dab, situated deep in the third range of the Satpudas. One has to pay Rs 15 to get to the PHC by jeep; to reach Akkalkuwa one has to pay Rs 5.Other examples are Ambabri, Andharbari, Bharadipadar and Khai. These villages are connected to the Moramba PHC. To reach Moramba by car one has to travel via Khapar, covering a distance of 17-18 km. Although there is a primary health centre in Khapar, villagers from these four villages have to bypass it and go on to Moramba. The other option to get to Moramba directly is to walk through the h ills of the Satpudas for around 7-8 km. This shows up a serious flaw in the state government’s policy with regard to the location and coverage of primary  health centres. The village of Ohwa is connected to the Horaphali PHC, which is 22 km away. There is no road connecting the village with the centre; people have to walk through the Satpuda hills to get to it. To correct the situation the government sanctioned a health centre for Ohwa in 2004. But, although the tribal development department made provision to build the primary health centre, the health department still has to sanction the plan.Seven villages — Andharbari, Kaulavi, Bari, Pimpalgaon, Valamba, Maliamba and Kondvapada — do not have a public distribution system (PDS) outlet. Tribals from these villages are forced to walk 3-4 km to reach a PDS outlet. Of the 22 surveyed villages, 11 do not have a single job-creation opportunity under the state’s well-known Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS). The residents of seven villages did receive some form of employment but only for a period of around a month.The survey also covered two rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) sites of the Sardar Sarovar Project. Although the government claims to have carried out its R&R duties satisfactorily, the situation on the ground is quite the opposite. Of the 634 children surveyed, 378 were found to be malnourished and the number of girls among them was as high as 60%. Of the total number of malnourished children, 119 were in the third and fourth stages. The two sites have separate PHCs, PDS outlets, gram panchayats and four anganwadis each. All the children were in the 0-6 age-group. This shows that they were born after their families were resettled. What conditions are like in the other six sites is a question open for study.What is clearly needed is a debate on the findings of this survey, from the social, economic, political, cultural and medico-anthropological perspective. Especially, vis-ÃÆ' -vis the government’s information on the subject. The report is being made public to facilitate just such a debate.India’s malnutrition problem is a systemic issue | | Girls in India are more malnourished as â€Å"inadequate resources of families are divided preferentially among men†.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The problem of malnourishment in India is a reflection on its deeply entrenched poverty and a lack of functionality of its systems,† says author [EPA]| India’s growing riches have been the subject of many global discussions. In the past few years, India has responded to international emergencies by reaching out with support in cash and kind. However, India  has still not managed to get a grip on the problem of malnutrition its children face, a fact that India’s prime minister this year called a â€Å"national shame†.The facts are daunting – as many as nearly half of India’s children below five years are malnourished. Girls are even more malnourished as inadequate resources of families are divided preferentially among men. India’s nutrition problem shows among women as well – the malnourished girls grow up to be anaemic, deliver underweight babies who face an increased risk of dying and being sick right after their birth. India ranks 76 among 80 middle-income countries rated for the â€Å"best place to be a mother† according to the Save the Children’s Mothers’ Index released in May 2012.’Anganwadi’ centresThe problem of malnourishment in India is a reflection on its deeply entrenched poverty and a lack of functionality of its systems. Policymakers from the comfort of their oversized public-funded accommodation while examining the failure of their policies often argue that a country of India’s size – both in terms of geography as well as population – is difficult to administer. What they admit a little reluctantly is that the government-supported institutions are neither effective nor accountable to the people, and that the budget allocations in sectors critical for people’s well-being are still abysmally low. India’s wealth – no longer so new-found – has so far not filtered down to the areas which would make considerable difference to the lives of its common people.A question often asked in India is about the co-existence of hunger and malnutrition alongside the problem of plenty – of thousands of tonnes of food grains rotting due to poor storage in government stores while the poor go to bed hungry. Clearly, the problem is not of a lack of resources but of systems that ensure that the country’s opportunities and resources are more equitably and equally divided.India’s response to its massive problem of malnutrition has been largely through the Integrated Child Development Services, or ICDS as it is known. The ICDS runs preparatory schools-cum-health institutions called anganwadi centres where pregnant and lactating women and children below five years receive supplementary nutrition while children are also taught to take first steps towards learning letters and numbers. Many states have further equipped their anganwadi centres to enable them to treat the common ailments of  children.Considering the critical role of anganwadi centres in helping children remain healthy, they should have been universalised decades ago but they have not. Anganwadi centres cover only 50 per cent of India’s children. However, data as well as anecdotal evidence appearing in the form of newspaper reports points out that anganwadi centres do not function at their optimum capacity and efficiency. Their staff are not accountable to the people of the village, and being â€Å"influential† (some of them are known to be relatives of village headmen and other important members of the village) are not s usceptible to punitive action when they fail to perform their duty. Poverty and malnourishmentThat is a typical Indian situation – one can get away without being punished for one’s wrongdoings if one has the right connections. This is the bane of most of India’s institutions and facilities which are meant to serve the people but become, instead, means of employment and influence for a few. â€Å"Nearly half of India’s children below five years are malnourished.†| Under the patronage of this protection, doctors in government hospitals may remain absent from work without a note on the attendance register for days, teachers may not teach, clerks in offices may demand a bribe to perform a task which is the right of a citizen. The impact of dysfunctional systems on the lives of the poor and the marginalised is devastating as they have no alternatives. The poor die of common illnesses if they do not get treated at government hospitals, or they go borrow money to access a private hospital and go into debt. In fact, the WHO has said that 3.2 per cent Indians would fall below the poverty line because of high medical bills with about 70 per cent of Indians spending their entire income on healthcare and purchasing drugs. The Planning Commission also accepts that out of pocket expense to pay for healthcare costs is a growing problem in India. It says 39 million Indians are pushed to poverty because of ill health every year. Around 30 per cent in rural India didn’t go for any treatment for financial constraints in 2004. In urban areas, 20 per cent of ailments were untreated for financial problems the same year, said a recent study in the Lancet. The government needs to look at health and education as critically important sectors in the development paradigm. If India is to reap its demographic dividend, it cannot do so with half of its children malnourished and not reaching their full potential| Overview of Malnutrition Situation in Maharashtra Maharashtra: The data below are from the National Family Healthy Survey 2005-2006. Highlights: The nutrition situation in Maharashtra is slightly better than the national average with improvements from 1998-99 and 1992-93 except for an increase of anaemia prevalence among pregnant women. The feeding practice for children aged 6-9 months shows an alarming pattern with only 48% of children aged 6-9 months receiving solid or semisolid food and breast milk. This is significantly lower than the national average of almost 56%. Furthermore, the prevalence drops to 40% for rural areas compared with the national average of 54% and as low as 23.3% for non-educated mothers compared with the national average of 49%. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Maharashtra is higher than the national average for both female and male with Mumbai reaching almost 35% of obesity among the female population. Within Maharashtra, there are significant differences between rural and urban areas with the ru ral areas being more affected by malnutrition. However, the most outstanding gap in all indicators is between non-educated and well-educated respondents. Malnutrition and Anaemia Rates Are High among Children * Almost 38% of children under age three are stunted (India – 38.4%) and almost 40% are underweight (India 45.9%). Both indicators have slightly improved from 1998-99 and 1992-93. * Wasting affects 14.6% of children under age (India 19%) with a steady improvement from 1998-99 and 1992-93. * Compared with urban areas, under-nutrition is higher in rural areas and in Mumbai. Similar to the national picture, there is a strong correlation between child malnutrition and the level of maternal education showing a two-fold difference between non-educated and well-educated mothers. The stunting and underweight prevalence for children with illiterate mothers is 52.9% and 53.1% respectively contrasted with 22.9% and 25.9% for children with well educated mothers. The stark difference may be linked to access to nutritious diet and complementary feeding at 6-9 months. * Almost 72% of children under age three are anaemic (India 79.2). There is a significant urban-rural divide with Mumbai having the lowest prevalence  with 59.5% compared with 76.8% in rural areas. The non-educated versus educated mothers difference is not as strong with 75% and 71% relatively. This may be linked to a more general poor quality of nutrition and hygiene conditions and limited access to iron supplementation. Improvements Needed in Infant and Child Feeding especially for the age 6-9 months * 53% of children are fed only breast milk for the first 6 months (India 46%). Exclusive breastfeeding is significantly higher among the non-educated mothers, in rural areas and in Mumbai. Work factor and access to breast milk substitutes may have an impact among urban and better educated mothers. The positive deviance in Mumbai may be associated with an increased awareness among the female working class and better baby-friendly employment conditions. * 51.8% of children under three years are breastfed within one hour of birth (India 23.4%) with no significant difference between urban and rural areas and between well-educated and non-educated mothers. * Only 47.8% of children aged 6-9 months receive solid or semisolid food and breast milk. This is significantly lower than the national average of almost 56%. The prevalence drops as low as 40% in rural areas (India rural 54%) and 23.3% among non-educated mothers (India non-educated 49%) showing a high-priority gap. The prevalence in urban areas and in Mumbai is 58% and 56.6% respectively (India urban 62.1%). * 32% of children age 12-35 months received vitamin A supplements in the six months before the survey (India 23%) with the highest prevalence in urban areas (34.2%) followed by rural areas (29.9%) and Mumbai (27%) with a significant difference between non-educated (26.2%) and well-educated mothers (32.2%). A significant percentage of Women and Men Are Either Too Thin or Too Fat * 32.6% of married women (India 33%) and almost 30% of men (India 28%) are too thin, according to the body mass index (BMI). Underweight is strikingly most common among the non-educated and the rural population compared with Mumbai  and urban areas that show a similar prevalence. * Overweight and obesity affects 17% of women (India 14.8%) and almost 16% of men (India 12%). Overweight and obesity are strikingly most common in urban areas and among the well-educated with Mumbai reaching almost 35% of obesity among the female population as compared with the national urban average of 29%. Anaemia is Widespread * 49% of women (India 56.2%) and 16.2% of men (India 24.3) suffer from anaemia. Among pregnant women, anaemia has increased from 52.6% to almost 58%. * Only 30.5% of pregnant women consume Iron and Folic Acid supplementation for 90 days (India 22.3%) with 16.4% among the non-educated women compared to 45.2% among the well-educated ones. Rural and urban areas have the same prevalence of 30.5% with Mumbai reaching only 27.5% (India urban 34.5% respectively) The bleakest numbers* at a glance:*(NOTE: Figures have been rounded to the closest zero for easier understanding of the ratio) 1. For every ten children aged three or less, born to illiterate mothers, five children are stunted – too short for their age. This is a sign of chronic malnutrition. 2. For every ten children aged three or less, born to illiterate mothers, five children are underweight – too thin for their age. This is a sign of acute and chronic malnutrition. 3. For every ten children aged three or less, born to illiterate mothers, two children are wasted – too thin for his/her age. This is a sign of acute malnutrition. Wasted children are at highest risk of dying from malnutrition or from any common child diseases like diarrhoea or respiratory infections. 4. For every ten children aged 6-9 months, born to illiterate mothers, only two receive solid or semi-solid foods in addition to Breast-milk as recommended. This jeopardizes their chances of survival and irreversibly impairs their future growth and development. 5. For every ten children aged one to three years, born to illiterate mothers, only three children received Vitamin A supplementation in the last six months prior the survey. 6. For every ten illiterate women aged 15-49 years, four are too thin. 7. For every ten pregnant illiterate women, six are anaemic but only two  take Iron and Folic Acid supplementation for 90 days as recommended. The higher the education of the mother, the better the nutrition status of themselves and their child.NOTE: In Maharashtra, for every ten women, 2 women are illiterate and 8 are educatedAmong the educated women, 3 are well-educated (10 years complete and above), 2 have 8-9 years complete and 3 have less than 8 years complete.