Thursday, December 4, 2008
India ranks high in women's empowerment
India ranks 25th out of 130 countries in political empowerment for women, and along with Nepal and Pakistan is distinctive for above-average performance in the field, according to the 2008 Global Gender Gap Report released by the World Economic Forum in Geneva.
India's overall ranking in the report, which also looks at the gender gap in health care, education, economic opportunities and participation, however, was 113th. The nation ranks 125th in economic participation and opportunity, 116th in educational attainment and 128th in health and survival.
"India (113), Iran (116), Nepal (120) and Pakistan (127) continue to hold some of the lowest positions in the Asian rankings, but on average all four countries post gains relative to their own performances in 2006 and 2007, signifying a positive trend," the report says.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
India's overall ranking in the report, which also looks at the gender gap in health care, education, economic opportunities and participation, however, was 113th. The nation ranks 125th in economic participation and opportunity, 116th in educational attainment and 128th in health and survival.
"India (113), Iran (116), Nepal (120) and Pakistan (127) continue to hold some of the lowest positions in the Asian rankings, but on average all four countries post gains relative to their own performances in 2006 and 2007, signifying a positive trend," the report says.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: economic opportunities and participation, education, health care, political empowerment for women, women in political decision-making, women's empowerment, World Economic Forum in Geneva
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Self-help groups and micro-credit, pathway to poverty eradication
It was a life-long passion verging on obsession for uplifting the disadvantaged and down trodden that drove two siblings to volunteer with an NGO associated with the United Nations. Rajyashree and Shomik Chaudhuri, born into privilege and brought up with the best of education in Kolkata, India, volunteered time and resources to run programs to benefit the underprivileged in the city.
Over the years they saw the results of conflicting interests of other representatives that clogged the flow of resources to the ultimate beneficiaries that retarded development. As a source of a major inspiration was Shomik's selection to represent the United Nations System in India to the World Summit for Social Development at Copenhagen, Denmark in 1995. Being the youngest person in history to represent the U.N. at a World Summit, Shomik's experience and interactions open another dimension to what true development can create.
The siblings formed their own NGO with other like-minded people under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act in 1996, making it a public limited company equivalent but nonprofit in nature. That way, they believed, the organization would be transparent and the service rendered professionally inspired.
The founding members of the Institute also believed that human or moral values were the foundation of any sustainable, holistic development. To create a benchmark in that regard, the Institute organized the 'First International Conference on Values for a Better World' soon after its formation. It had the presence of a galaxy of eminent personalities including Dr. Robert Mueller, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and presently the Chancellor of University of Peace, Costa Rica.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Over the years they saw the results of conflicting interests of other representatives that clogged the flow of resources to the ultimate beneficiaries that retarded development. As a source of a major inspiration was Shomik's selection to represent the United Nations System in India to the World Summit for Social Development at Copenhagen, Denmark in 1995. Being the youngest person in history to represent the U.N. at a World Summit, Shomik's experience and interactions open another dimension to what true development can create.
The siblings formed their own NGO with other like-minded people under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act in 1996, making it a public limited company equivalent but nonprofit in nature. That way, they believed, the organization would be transparent and the service rendered professionally inspired.
The founding members of the Institute also believed that human or moral values were the foundation of any sustainable, holistic development. To create a benchmark in that regard, the Institute organized the 'First International Conference on Values for a Better World' soon after its formation. It had the presence of a galaxy of eminent personalities including Dr. Robert Mueller, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and presently the Chancellor of University of Peace, Costa Rica.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: education, groups, india, kolkata, micro-credit; pathway, NGO, people, poverty eradication, United Nations, World Summit
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