Essay Writing on " Poverty Alleviation"

Eradication of poverty has long been the overarching objective of Indian economic development. But even after fifty years of planning, more than a fourth of our population is still living below extremely modest poverty line.

Looking back at the Plans, we see that except for the first Five Year Plan, every other Five Year Plans have envisaged more than 5 percent growth in national income per year. But none of these goals have been reached. Till 1980-81, our average rate of growth moved around 3.5 percent per annum. It is this massive failure to achieve rapid growth that is the root cause of our failure to eliminate poverty.

Besides relying on the strategy of rapid growth, we also adopted other poverty alleviation policies like transfers of various kinds that were supposed to augment the earned income of poor households. The two main transfer programmes in India are the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the provision of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

There are several income augmenting programmes as well. The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA), Training of Youth and Self-Employment Programmes (now merged into Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna) and two public works programmes for employment generation, namely Jawahar Rozgar Yojna (JRY) and the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS), Area based programmes include Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and Watershed Programmes. Some of these programmes overlap with each other.

On these programmes, spending by the Central government account for around 8.5 per cent of the Central plan budgetary expenditure or a modest 1.45 percent of the GDP (1997-2002), which is inadequate as compared to the magnitude of the problem.

STRATEGY TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY

1. Adopt pro-poor growth strategy, which create rapidly expanding job opportunities in the rural areas.

2. Address the inefficiency and inequity in the health and education sector by involving NGOs.

3. Empower panchayats in decision – making.

4. Promote faster agricultural growth by expanding irrigation watershed management and land reforms.

5. Expand employment programme such as EGS, FAS, JRY etc all over the country so that poor get income support.

6. Expand the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for the reduction of mortality and poverty.

7. Adopt midday meals programme all over the country to reduce poverty and encourage school attendance.

8. Expand group-based micro – credit - scheme to cover the entire country.

Essay Writing on "TV Addiction"

Television is one of the major miracles of Science and has revolutionariness small human outlook. But TV, which was once meant for education as well as entertainment, has become an addiction today. With cable TV beaming 24-hour programme through different channels, it has become an addiction for most.

The educational content is sorely missing from TV programmes today. The young and the old alike are glued to their TV sets day in and day out. Social intercourse, outdoor activities and children’s studies have all taken a back seat to TV programmes. Guests are not welcome when one’s favourite serial is on; telephones are often kept off the hook when one is engrossed in the trials and tribulations of one’s favourite characters in a soap opera. All this has truly turned TV viewers into couch potatoes. We have no time for ourselves as well as for others. We plan our work schedules and outings keeping in view our favourite TV programmes. For children, students back home from the school, TV is a must – they would like to take lunch with only TV on. The reading habit has virtually disappeared from the lives of school-going children as well as adults. Flickering images have become our window to the world of information and entertainment today, thus proving the truth underlying the statement that viewing TV programmes has made us all couch potatoes. We are paying a very heavy price for this idiot box.

The programmes include exaggerated and meaningless advertisements meant for promoting the sales of consumer goods, most of which could be termed as luxuries in a developing country like ours. In the name of comedy, vulgar serials are telecast. Nearly 80 percent of the programmes are cinema-oriented and of no practical value to the viewers. Infidelity, adultery, cheating, womanizing, drinking, indulging in anti-social activities, corrupt police and government servants, terrorists, black marketers, hoarders, drug peddlers, etc., are the main characters of these serials. Contract killing, murders, rape scenes, offering and accepting of bribes for leaking out state secrets, etc., are shown in an explicit manner to the viewers, most of whom are children in their formative stage. In every episode, hardly 10 minutes are devoted for the story of the serial. The rest of the slotted time is lapped up by advertisers who are called the sponsors, and pay crores of rupees for the time that they get. The advertisements are forced on the viewers, and the same ads are repeated so many times during the day that one gets fed up. Even the contents of these advertisements are highly objectionable.

Apart from studies, sports have been a big casualty due to TV addiction of the children and the youth. In small sized rooms, constant TV viewing causes permanent damage to the eyes. Late night TV viewing adversely affects the health. This is a national loss. Social and community life is another casualty. People are driven to pigeon holes called homes with no outside link. People today accept anything and everything in the name of entertainment, because TV brings it home to them inexpensively.

In our country there are few prime time programmes produced for students. Informative programmes like the UGC’s special newscasts and bulletins appear in the afternoon or at late nights and students find themselves either at schools, colleges or in bed during these programmes. Channels like Discovery and National Geographic are few and far between. However, television is not a bad medium which creates only a negative impact on children, for this right programmes have to be telecast at the right time and in the right way. This has not been realized in our country and we can hold the electronic media responsible for this because of its deterioration in programme planning and objectives in recent years.

Our lives are centred round the various TV programmes that have made as dull and listless. Undoubtedly TV has become an addiction in modern times and the sooner we get out of this habit, the better it will be for all of us. It is high time that the intelligentsia; social workers, parents and other responsible citizens, rose in protest against the manner in which the powerful medium is being misused. Unless this trend is arrested, the country would be ruined one day, as the children and youth would have knowledge only about films and nothing else.

To conclude, TV viewing is not that bad. This scientific infotainment invention is just like a knife, which can be used for cutting fruit and vegetables as also for stabbing a person. Much depends on the viewers. If they fall in love with it head long, TV is not to be blamed. Man has to reform himself. Excess of everything is bad. Keeping late hours at night no: only affects the punctuality of students but elders too don’t leave their bed till 8 in the morning with their heads heavy due to constant exposure to serials and eye lids still heavy.

TV has become a handy instrument for westerners to impose their culture on us through invisible and slow doses. The Indian culture will be the biggest victim of western onslaught on our culture via the 245-hour TV viewing with the help of cable network. We have to be wary of this danger which will surely emigrate our cultural values making us western satellites culturally.

PRECIS WRITING PASSAGE 14

Scientists now say that when it comes to wooing a lady, the malodorous male may enjoy a distinct advantage over his sophisticated and sanitized rival, much to the indignation of the latter. It seems that such discrimination might be due to the karmic consequences of using deodorants. A recent study conducted by biologists at the University of Pennsylvania has revealed that the locker room aroma of male perspiration helps to reduce stress and induce relaxation in women. If the way to a man’s heart is said to be through his stomach, it seems that the way to a woman’s favours is via her nose. When asked, why women choose the men they do, a philosopher is said to have replied “Who knows?” in fact, ‘Who nose’ might have been more apt. it can, however, be argued that the face or the physique was never a serious consideration in the rat race for female affections, considering that women were reputed to have a nose for greenbacks rather than an eye for biceps. But now it seems the dice is heavily loaded in favour of what lies beneath the arm rather than what lies between the ears, with eau de pasina scoring heavily over eau de cologne. Always accused to smelling a rat where none existed, women can now hope for a legitimate way of sniffing around. Perfumed deodorants may go our of fashion as men learn to enhance their natural bodily odours by egg or onion sprays. Always fastidiously clinging to the proper use of the language, Dr. Johnson, the lexicographer, was once assailed by a lady at a party with the words, “Oh! Sir, you smell!” Which the good man was quick to correct as, “No, ma’am you smell. I stink”.

Precis--Scent of a Man

Biologists have come to the conclusion through their study that men’s body smell emanating from perspiration helps women to reduce their tension. In this finding there is a suggestion that men not using synthetic pleasant smelling scents are more likely to be favoured by women than the men stopping the unpleasant smell by using sophisticated scents. Therefore, the way to woman’s favour is through her nose and the nose must get man’s natural body odour.

PRECIS WRITING PASSAGE 13

Friendship is above reason, for, though you find virtues in a friend, he was your friend before you found them. It is a gift that we offer because we must; to give it as the reward of virtue would be to set price upon it and those who do that have no friendship to give. If you choose your friends on the ground that you are virtuous and want virtuous company. You are no nearer to true friendship than if you choose them for commercial reasons. Besides, who are you that you should be setting a price upon your friendship? It is enough for any man that he has the divine power of making friends, and he must leave it to that power to determine who his friends shall be. For, though you may choose the virtuous to be your friend, they may not choose you; indeed, friendship cannot grow where there is any calculated choice. It comes like sleep, when you are not thinking about it; and you should be grateful, without any misgiving, when it comes.

So no man who knows what friendship is ever gave up a friend because he turns out to be disreputable. His only reason for giving up a friend is that he has ceased to care for him; and, when that happens he should reproach himself for this mortal poverty of affection, not the friend for having proved unworthy. For it is inhuman presumption to say any woman, when you have fallen out of love with her, that she is unworthy of your love. In friendship and in love we are always humble, because we see that a free gift has been given to us; and to lose that humility because we have lost friendship or love is to take a pride in what should shame us.

Precis : True Friendship

Friendship is a natural gift. It cannot be argued or discussed. It develops instinctively. We do not contract friendship with a person either because he is virtuous or because we expect to gain something form him. To put a price on friendship is to degrade it. If we fall out with a friend, we should not find fault with him. We should rather blame ourselves for being unworthy of retaining the friendship.

PRECIS WRITING IBPSEXAM

Precis writing tips

The summary or précis of a passage has to be expressed in the fewest and clearest words possible. In a summary you should mention only important points and leave out all unnecessary details.

What is a good precis?

A summary or précis is the shortened form of a passage. A good summary should be complete in itself. It should be able to convey the ideas expressed in the original passage so that a reader who does not have enough time to read the original one should have no trouble getting the message.

A summary should be brief, clear and precise. It should be brief, but it shouldn’t be a number of disjointed simple sentences. A good summary should give ideas, facts or points in the order in which it appears in the original. Note that it is best to write summaries in the same tense as the original.

The original passage may contain pieces of conversation. When you summarize it, all the sentences given in the direct speech should be changed into indirect. The summary should be in the writer’s own words. As far as possible, avoid using the vocabulary used in the original. Also note that a summary shall not contain points not mentioned in the original.

How to summarize a given passage?

Read the given passage thoroughly and try to understand what it means. If you don’t understand the passage after reading it once, read it twice or thrice. Try to find out what the passage is really about. And then provide a title for it.

Underline important points in the passage. Prepare a sketch or outline summary, containing all the points which you have marked in the passage. Compare the outline with the original passage. If you have left out some points, add them. If the outline contains some unnecessary details, strike them out.

Prepare your summary with the help of your notes. Don’t refer to the original. Finally, read what you have written. Correct all spelling or grammatical errors if any.

Some important points

If the passage is in poetry, express its ideas in prose. Write the précis in simple language. Avoid lengthy sentences containing many clauses. Don’t use phrases such as ‘the writer says’, ‘I think’ or ‘in my opinion’.

Letter writing -- To a friend describing to him your feeling on a visit to a very dear relation after a long absence.

19, Tilak Dwar,
Mathura.
July 9, 2010
My dear Naresh,
There is no reason why I should write this letter to you just now. Only a week ago, I wrote to you and have not yet received any reply. But, dear friend, I cannot help it. My heart is too full, and I must tell you all.
A few days back, I was at Anantpur. It was here that I spent six happy years of my boyhood with my grandmother. The small town of the Kangra Valley knew me as a restless, quarrelsome, God forsaken little devil. My grandmother was put to so much trouble in keeping me within bounds. But she loved me dearly, and she loves me dearly still.
Something happened. I cannot exactly describe it. You know family quarrels are dangerous things. There was quarrel and my parents took me away from Anantpur. Today, I appear to be just city-bred, stylish young collegian, perhaps too strong for many of my class-fellows. But I have always been pining for Anantpur in the silence of my heart. I know you would understand me. You have that sympathy which always made me feel at home in your company though you are older and wiser than me. 
I longed for my grandmother. In those days when I was her little ward, I did not much care for her, at least I did not want to show it to any one how much I cared. After seven long years, with the old quarrel forgotten, and some of the parties dead, I went to Anantpur to see my grandmother.
There she was, little more bent then before, the eyes dimmer and some new wrinkles on her face! The dear sweet face! I wept, I could not check my tears. The old house on a hill top, the orchards, the little river down in the valley, the white road going across the hills, the school where I enjoyed and suffered much, but above everything, the same soft cool hand caressing me. How could I stay away from her all these years? - she asked. In reply, I looked down and shed tears of penitence.
She has not forgotten all my pretty likes and dislikes. She remembers my favourite dishes even. Going to her was like going back to my boyhood. Of wonder and hope. Would you believe it, for some time I forget then, I was a young man of seventeen and that I had seen and known the big busy world outside the rim of hills around Anantpur! I was just a boy of ten being petted by my grandmother. 
After a few days stay, I had to tear myself away. But I have formed a resolution. After my examination, I shall go back to her, and will not come back if she does not come with me.
Forgive me if I have troubled you with my sorrows.
Yours affectionately,

XYZ

Letter writing -- Write a letter to your elder brother from the town in which you have just joined a new appointment describing the interesting features of the town, of the people with whom you are associated and of the work you are required to do.

13, Nicholson Road,
Ludhiana,
June 25, 2010
My dear Brother,
I was right glad to receive your letter and learn that everyone was doing well at home. You have asked me to give you a description of the town I live in, and I readily comply with your wished. I am sure the description will make you like the place and fill you with a longing to see it.
The town possesses many interesting features. It is a big trade center. There are four cloth mills here, which supply cloth to the whole state. There is a big cloth market where you can buy cloth of any design you like. People, from neighbouring villages flock here to buy cloths. There are four High Schools – one is a Government school, another is managed by local Sanatan dharma Sabha, while the third is a Jat school. The fourth is a Mission High School. It is run by Christian missionaries belonging to the Presbytetian Church of America. It is in a very flourishing condition and has seven hundred students on it rolls. There is also a Technical College where industries as leather, cloth, carpentry, smith’s work, painting and dyeing are taught to the students. There are two female hospitals where thousands of patients are treated every month. Besides these, there is a charitable eye hospital, supervised by an eminent doctor of state reputation. During the months of October and November, thousands of patients are admitted in the hospital. But the most interesting feature of the town is its magnificent temples where hymns are sung and cymbals are clashed morning and evening,
The people here are nice. They are honest, straightforward and hard working. They are not addicted to any such vices as drinking and gambling. They earn their living honestly and pass their time in healthy amusements. All my colleagues are very sympathetic towards me and help me whenever I require help. They point put to me pitfalls into which I may fall. The Headmaster is a thorough gentleman and takes keen interest in the welfare of the students and institution. He is very kind and sympathetic to all.
The work that I am required to do is to my taste and congenial. In the school I teach English and Mathematics for about three hours and return home at half-past eleven. For the rest of the day I am free. The students are fairly intelligent; they take interest in their studies and follow easily what I teach them.
I hope you are keeping fit.
With best wishes,
I remain,
Yours affectionately,
XYZ.