ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by Sudarshan IyengarSubscribe to Sudarshan Iyengar

Ethics in Social Sciences

To debate ethical considerations in current social research practices, to identify critical areas that require special attention in terms of ethical issues and to institutionalise mechanisms conducive to ethical concerns - these were the critical issues that were discussed during a national level consultation held in Surat in December 2005.

Environmental Damage to Land Resource

The main objective of collecting land use statistics in India has been to facilitate agricultural accounting. Rise in human and livestock population and development of modern agriculture have led to degradation of land and environment. If unchecked, the land resource may become increasingly less productive and may get irreversibly damaged. It is important therefore that a systematic data base is built to assess changes in land use and the type and extent of environmental damage to land resource. This paper describes the existing system for generating land use data and shows that it is not adequate to enable environmental assessment of land use. It makes a case for technological advancement and institutional changes to improve the land use data base in the country.

Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Development of Gujarat

Gujarat has had a long tradition of voluntary work. The Gandhian influence in social reconstruction and the continuing philanthropic proclivity has helped to cover a large field of development activity in the state. This paper attempts a review of non-governmental development activity in the last 80 years with the focus on changes after the 1960s in the role and relevance of NGOs. What have been the development-related problems that Gujarati civic society is likely to confront in the 21st century and where do NGOs fit in?

Common Property Land Resources in Gujarat-Some Findings about Their Size, Status and Use

Some Findings about Their Size, Status and Use Sudarshan Iyengar This paper examines the incidence and intensity of the problems relating to common property land resources (CPR land) in Gujarat. The focus is on the changing size, status and use of CPR land. Policy implications and areas needing further study are also discussed.

Primary Health Care and Family Welfare Programme in Rural Gujarat

Programme in Rural Gujarat Sudarshan Iyengar Ashok Bhargava The family planning programme in India has expanded tremendously since 1961 with a steep rise in proportional allocations in both central and state budgets. This has led to an expansion of infrastructure as well as staff in many states, with a number of categories of non-health staff being drawn into the programme to help fulfill targets. This paper presents a brief review of the health and family welfare programme in Gujarat and points out that the programme is not only expensive but also generally ineffective. Moreover the single-minded approach to family planning has meant a neglect of primary health care, with programmes such as those combating malaria and tuberculosis, crucial to achieving improvements in health status, have been grossly neglected.

GUJARAT-Golana Symptoms of Crisis

Golana: Symptoms of Crisis Sudarshan Iyengar Sujata Patel ON the eve of Republic Day, five members of Wankar community, weavers from the Scheduled Castes, were shot dead and 17 were injured in Golana, a village of about 3,000 population in Khambhat taluka of Kheda district, Gujarat.

GUJARAT- Violence with a Difference

more than achieving lessening of inequalities by differential taxation, giving debt relief or distribution of property owned by one to many who have none by imposing ceiling on holdings, both agricultural and urban or by direct regulation of contractual transactions by forbidding certain transactions and, perhaps, by requiring others. It also means that those who have been deprived of their properties by unconscionable bargains should be restored their property. All such laws may take the firm of forced redistribution of wealth as a means of achieving a fair division of material resources among the members of society or there may be legislative control on unfair agreements" (para 16, emphasis added). It is very gratifying to note the just, pragmatic and progressive views adopted by the learned judges in sharp contrast with the views of some social scientists mentioned earlier. The judgment will be a landmark in the history of socially progressive legislation in the country.

Back to Top