Nucleic Acid Measurements - 1302 Words

Lecture 8 Nucleic Acid-Based Measurements Text Chapter 13 Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Total community DNA †¢ Extract DNA from soil – – – – remove cells from soil separate cells from soil lyse cells separate DNA from cells – purify DNA †¢ Extract DNA from soil – Extract DNA from cells in presence of soil †¢ Bead-beating †¢ chemical or enzymatic treatment – Sodium dodecyl sulfate or lysozyme Wednesday, July 24, 2013 DNA purification †¢ Cesium chloride gradient centrifugation †¢ Kits Low density DNA High density Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Visualizing nucleic acidsBlotting †¢ Southern blotting – DNA †¢ Northern blotting – RNA Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Agarose gel electrophoresis - Stain gel with ethidium†¦show more content†¦ednesday, July 24, 2013 50  µm Combining ELF and CF319a probes to determine what portion of the PO4aseactive cells in floc fall within cytophaga-flavobacteria group ELFTM PO4ase CF319a FISH probe activity FISH probe PO4ase activity 17% of total community PO4ase activity contributed by cytophaga Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Summary FISH provides information on – Presence of specific populations – Morphology of specific populations – Relative numerical contribution of specific populations to total community – Spatial relationships between populations – Functions associated with specific populations Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Gene probe detection of a DNA sequence Digoxigenin (DIG) Probes range in size from 18-100bp ssDNA Denatured ssDNA from suspect bacterium Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Alternative gene probe detection of a DNA sequence Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Exploring microbial activity †¢Need to know sequence of gene being expressed †¢Alternatively, use random hexamer primers, then sequence cDNA product to identify gene being expressed Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) †¢ Make single-strand cDNA from mRNA – downstream antisense primer or random hexamer and RT to make complete cDNA copy of RNA molecule †¢ Use cDNA, DNA polymerase, and a downstream primer in conventional PCR – extension leads to double-stranded DNA †¢ Regular PCR of dsDNA Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Applications of RT-PCR †¢ Detection ofShow MoreRelatedFiber Sensors For Bio Sensing1289 Words   |  6 Pagesdetection of the analyte. 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Cause And Effect Essay Sleep Deprivation - 1134 Words

Shubhanker Gaur Com 1101(09) 03/17/2016 Essay 4 Cause and Effect Essay Sleep Deprivation Cause and effect Essay Sleep deprivation Most people have at least stayed awake for the entire night once during their lifetime. This behavior is common amongst individuals enrolled in High School or pursuing University degree. One might wonder how lack of sleep for the night impact him/her. However, it has being proven that being awake for 24 hours has unpleasant effects on health.So why is sleep so important? How does lack of sleep impact one’s mood so significantly, causing people to be ‘grumpy’, isn t sleep just people lying down in their bed and closing their eyes.sleep is a complex process, it is a natural process where body relaxes and repairs itself. Sleep takes places in 3 stages, 1-2 stage ,2-3 stage and REM (Rapid Eye Movement ) stage. Our body is like a battery, sleeping helps replenishes that energy, if one does not store enough energy for the next day the body will struggle to carry out simple tasks which can Aultimately lead to exhaustion. Sleep is the time when the human body gets a chanc e to rest. Personally suffering from sleep deprivation it has caused a lot of problems in my own life such as flying safely, concentrating on school work and working efficiently. Being a pilot means having flights 3 or even 4 times a week, which can make it stressful. Being at the flightline for 4 or 5 hours isnt as simple as it may sound. For instance planning a flight can take uptoShow MoreRelatedSleep Deprivation Negatively Influences Driving Performance1722 Words   |  7 Pagesinjuries are estimated to be the 5th leading cause of death within the next 15 years, with the current yearly death toll reaching 1.3 million (Gresser, 2014; ASIRT, 2016). 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Dealing with Fraud Free Essays

string(179) " for Medicare and Medicaid patients must be met before admission to determine suitable environment and to respect patient’s rights after admission while receiving medical care\." Dealing with Fraud Health Care Policy, Law, and Ethics HSA 515 March 09, 2013 Dealing with Fraud Obstetric health care centers are a major source for providing care to millions of women around the country and a branch of medicine that involves pregnancy and childbirth. Studies of pathologic and physiologic functions of the female reproductive area are also a part of obstetric care. Physicians in this field commonly referred to as OB/GYNs and care for the mother and fetus during pregnancy. We will write a custom essay sample on Dealing with Fraud or any similar topic only for you Order Now As Chief Nursing Officer of one of the state’s largest Obstetric Health Facilities countless women are treated at this center. The staff is fully aware of the mission, vision, policies, and procedures that make a huge impact in the community. Women rely on the care and attention received from the exceptional physicians on staff. Unfortunately, the type of care delivered and the service the hospital is responsible for providing, word of fraudulent behaviors have been reported and must be addressed. As United States health care cost continues to rise, people depend upon privately funded health plans and millions are still uninsured due to funding by state and federal government. The major government sponsored health care plans are Medicare and Medicaid programs. Both programs make up a large portion of government spending. One key reason for rising costs has been the enormous degree of fraud committed against government health care programs. Although billions have been exposed due to informants of qui tam, additional monies remain undetected. Ultimately, health care fraud used as a deceptive means to profit from health care agreements through the federal government and the reason the United States Government Accounting Office has categorized Medicare and Medicaid as â€Å"high-risk programs. Various sources evaluate the effect of qui tam in health care organizations and refer to the 1986 False Claim Act the effectiveness. The term â€Å"whistleblowing† recognized by provisions in the False Claims Act and authorizes cases be brought to the government on behalf of the United States to share in the recovery efforts. The â€Å"Informer’s Act† or better known as â€Å"The Qui Tam Statue is from the Latin phrase â€Å"qui tam pro domino rege quam pro seipse,† meaning â€Å"he who as much for the king as for himself,† established during the civil war and focused on ending dishonest suppliers to the union military. Therefore, fraud investigation, and legal action became easier for the government. The history behind qui tam statue and today’s use provides an understanding to the term â€Å"whistleblower† and for an individual with past or present knowledge of fraud on the federal government to recover damages and impose penalties, (Cruise, â€Å"n. d. †). Fraudulent behavior or health care fraud affects health care organizations. Several ways businesses and individuals have defrauded, and continue to defraud, federal, and state government health care programs. Examples of fraudulent behavior include: †¢ No Services: Non-submission of claims for diagnostic tests, treatments, devices, or pharmaceuticals services that were never rendered. †¢ Non Existence: Involves submitting a claim for the services previously mentioned and provided to patients that do not exist or never received service. Also an item billed for in the claim. †¢ Anti-Kickback Statute: bans any offer, payment, solicitation or receipt of money, property or remuneration to persuade or reward patient referrals or health care services funded by a government health care program, including Medicare or Medicaid. These are improper payments and come in several different forms, includes but not limited to: referral fees, finder’s fees, productivity bonuses, research grants, excessive compensation, and free or discounted travel or entertainment. The offer, payment, solicitation or receipt of any such monies or remuneration can be a violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback statute, 42 USC  §1328-7b(b), the Federal False Claims Act, various other federal, state laws, and regulations, (Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick, and Raspanti, LLC, 2013). These are just a small number of fraudulent activities currently affecting health care organizations. Qui tam has been an effective force in combating fraud. The Justice Department continues to recover record amount of judgments and settlements, however, qui tam cases exist in a variety of health care organizations. Processing and payment errors of Medicaid and Medicare patients may appear to be simple mistakes and not by medical professionals attempting to take advantage of the system, but individuals intent on abusing the system particularly, with working nowledge of how and when the government pays Medicare and Medicaid claims. Also in some cases fraud affects the people with these programs and liability occurs for co-payments and contributes to excessive government spending. Other examples of qui tam cases include; Defective pricing/false negotiation – reflects price adjustments by submitting false data and pricing to the government to receive an inflated amount according to the contract price. Mischarging – one of the more widespread frauds used to submit claims for products or services never provided or rendered. Product/service substitution – A product is certified that does not meet specifications or submitting a product for government approval then substituting the merchandise with another of poorer quality. False certification – benefit entitlement documents are falsely certified. Information submitted to the government has been adjusted for price supports or mortgage guarantees, according to the source more than half of qui tam recoveries have involved health care fraud, qui tam lawsuits filed have been successful against defense contractors and other companies, (â€Å"Einstein Law,† 2008). Various federal and state requirements must be satisfied by the health facility prior to admission. For example, pre-admission evaluations for Medicaid patients require prior determination for eligibility. A full patient assessment will determine a plan of care. The prescribed care plan is prepared by the attending physician and registered nurse. Other hospital staff will get involved with the patient’s care if necessary. The care plan is updated on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if the patient’s condition changes. Other requirements for Medicare and Medicaid patients must be met before admission to determine suitable environment and to respect patient’s rights after admission while receiving medical care. You read "Dealing with Fraud" in category "Papers" Procedures for admission into a health facility for Medicare and Medicaid referrals must understand and comply with the laws that govern these procedures. The Anti-Kickback Statute (â€Å"AKS†) enacted by Congress delivers criminal penalties for the payment of fees designed to persuade or reward medical referrals for treatment covered by Medicare and Medicaid. The AKS is extensive and includes discounts for physician referrals. Liability is a major concern under the Anti-Kickback Statue unless procedures fall within the law. Another regulation that limits physician self-referrals for Medicare and Medicaid patients is The Stark Law. Hospitals or health care providers are prohibited from receiving payments or kickbacks after improper billing Medicare for selected equipment or services. Ultimately, claims cannot be submitted by physicians for items or services because of their financial relationship with the health care providers. The Stark Law passed because of inappropriate financial relationships between doctors and health care providers and the professional judgment of doctors with regard to whether items or services are medically necessary, safe, or effective also reduce probable overpayments by Medicare for uncertain services, (The Qui Tam Team, 2012). The next stage is for physicians and nurses review the following conditions for patient referrals. 1) Services must be personally referred by the attending physician. 2) Referrals are to a physician of the same group or practice. ) Any individual supervised by the referring physician in the hospital or physician that works part-time in the facility and is part of a group practice must comply with all coverage and payment rules regarding Medicare and Medicaid patients. 4) Patient billing is by the physician performing or supervising the care and treatment of the patient. 5) Regarding a group practice, attending physician under the group must be a member wit h an assigned billing number different from physicians employed with the health facility. ) Third party billing companies representing the physician(s) will also be assigned a billing number. These companies have to comply with Medicare requirements. The task of evaluating referral arrangements by physicians will be challenging, however: financial provisions involving physicians can be analyzed using the conditions outlined. The Chief Nursing Officer will receive a monthly report of Medicare and Medicaid referrals. Non-compliance will result in immediate termination from the health facility. Discussing fraud and abuse the health industry continues to lose billions. Fraud can range from performing unnecessary medical procedures for insurance gains, to altering patient information and illegally billing for services not rendered. Also accepting kickbacks for patient referrals, and promoting drugs without authorization. These incidents affect the economy and are potential hazards to the health and safety of patients. An example is medical information illegally altered may receive incorrect treatment or realize existing health benefits are exhausted. Either way another alternative for compliance can address these issues. A method of enforcement created by the office of the Inspector General (OIG) identified as a Corporate Integrity Agreement to improve health care quality and promote compliance to health care guidelines. The term â€Å"Integrity Agreement† focuses on physicians according to one source. Establishing OIG 1976 to imposed action against widespread fraud and abuse in Federal health care programs. These efforts developed a collaborative use of enforcement tools as monetary penalties and exclusions. Corporate Integrity Agreements implemented by the OIG to redeem health care providers under the program to avoid exclusions. Implementing a CIA will be challenging and somewhat complex, especially for birth and reproduction. The sterilization process, wrongful birth, and wrongful life are areas of interest, and the CIA will have major impact. Physicians play a major role due to misconception by prenatal testing, genetic testing, and laboratories that failed to provide these services. Sterilization falls under reproduction and birth is another area likely for fraudulent behavior from the side effects patients go through and were not informed by the attending physician. Nevertheless, to address current fraud behaviors and prevent future incidents among physicians, nurses, and medical staff it is necessary to develop strategies to ensure ethical and moral business practices through compliance of various laws that will reduce any risk of legal liability. Although the CIA program contains various features, after careful review and collaboration among executive staff the following requirements will accommodate the needs and requirements that will mitigate incidents of fraud by: Developing written policies and standards; Instituting a confidential disclosure program; Employing a compliance officer or a compliance committee; Implementing an employee training program; Restricting employment of ineligible persons; Report overpayments, fraudulent behaviors, and ongoing investigations/legal proceedings; Implementation reports are provided annually to the regulatory agency, (Sable, 2013). These requirements should prevent future fraud misconduct by ensuring internal actions and mitigating methods are in place. In conjunction with fraud and abuse is protecting patient information and omplying by all applicable laws. Accessing patient information considered a major subject for health organizations to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) laws. Patient medical records are vital for treatment and must remain confidential within the federal and state laws. Without authorization the patient Privacy Rules are in violation. The responsibility of Chief Nursing Officer ensures t he medical staff training and knowledgeable of health center’s policies and procedures to remain in compliance with HIPPA. Often areas overlooked whether accidental or intentional and certain information is discussed or discarded documents. Routine conversation among staff would be limited to specific areas where patient information cannot be disclosed. Public areas such as elevators, hallways, or waiting areas are strictly off limits. Many times patients are in surgery or receiving treatment for an illness, family members are waiting for results and often physicians will meet with them in public areas to discuss sensitive information not realizing the conversation can be overheard by others. This is just one example of a disclosure violation. Also what may sound insignificant represents another action that can lead to breach of information by patient documents thrown in a trash can that must be shredded to avoid public view. The plan is simple; to comply with all necessary laws extensive training provided to the entire staff is the beginning. One-on-one and group meetings held on a quarterly basis as a tool to prevent abuse and fraudulent behavior. Patient sensitivity is essential in meeting the goals of health center. Laws provide direction for dealing with fraud cases or any unethical or moral decisions made. To eliminate fraud and abuse continued pressure on the government to establish tougher policies in the delivery of medical and health care services. Additional funding for government enforcement agencies will put more pressure on physicians to act responsibly. As physicians become more aware of this fact, he or she should continue to take steps, such as implementing a compliance plan, to ensure the services provided reflect effective documentation for claims of payment. Until doctors, nurses, and other medical staff demonstrate ethical and moral standards, fraud, and abuse will continue to a problem for health organizations. References Fraud and Qui Tam Cases. (2008). Retrieved from http://www. lawyershop. com Healthcare Fraud and Qui Tam Suits. (2008). Retrieved from http://www. lawyershop. com Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick, and Raspanti, LLC. (2013). Health Care Fraud and False Claims. Retrieved from http://www. falseclaimsact. com Cruise, P. L. (â€Å"n. d. †). Deregulating Health Care Ethics Education. Retrieved from http://www. spaef. com/article Sable, L. (2013). Negotiating Corporate Integrity Agreements. Retrieved from http://www. franchiselawsolutions. com The Qui Tam Team. (2012). Types of Qui Tam Cases. Retrieved from http://www. quitamteam. com How to cite Dealing with Fraud, Papers

Panera Bread free essay sample

The driving concept behind Panera Bread is to provide a premium specialty bakery and cafe experience to urban workers and suburban dwellers. Panera Breads distinctive menu, signature cafe design, inviting ambience, operating systems and unit location strategy allowed it to compete successfully in five submarkets of the food away from home industry: breakfast, lunch, daytime â€Å"chill out†, light evening eat in or take out, and take home bread. In his letter to shareholders, in the company’s 2005 annual report, Panera chairman and CEO Ron Shaich said: â€Å"we think our continued commitment to providing crave-able food that people trust, served in a warm, community gathering place by associates who make our guests feel comfortable, really matters. † Panera’s target market are urban workers and suburban dwellers who are looking for quick service meals and a more aesthetically pleasing dining experience than that offered by traditional fast food vendors. The competitive strategy which most closely fit the competitive approach of Panera Bread is the broad differentiation strategy. This unique position has contributed to its success by adding a bonus to the mix-specialty food, opening for breakfast, lunch, and dinner also offer hand-tossed salads, signature sandwiches, and hearty soups served in edible sourdough bread bowls along with hot and cold coffee drinks. In addition, providing catering services through its via Panera catering business, suggesting a new time of day to eat specialty foods, calling the time between lunch and dinner †chill-out† time. Moreover, the unique position also has providing an inviting neighborly atmosphere adding to their appeal as well. Yes, Panera Bread will reach its goal of becoming a leading national brand in the restaurant industry because the company is counting on its unique positioning strategy, its signature foods, and savvy execution to make this goal a reality. Q2) Porter’s Five Forces Competitors: The main competition Panera Bread Co. experiences is from coffee shops such as Starbucks and Caribou Coffee, along with specialty restaurants such as Chipotle Mexican Grill. Starbucks is a global company with superior market share and brand awareness. Caribou coffee is closer in scale to Panera Bread Co. ; both have high growth outlooks and are currently expanding. Chipotle competes with Panera Bread at lunch and dinner, whereas Starbucks and Caribou compete with Panera Bread in the mornings and at non-traditional dining hours. Panera Bread Co. ’s free Wi-Fi network gives the company a considerable competitive advantage. Substitutes: Small, privately owned local coffee shops or delis could be substitutes for a chain restaurant such as Panera Bread. The small neighborhood atmosphere that â€Å"mom and pop shops† offer could potentially be eliminated. Panera Bread Co. has the ability to offer a wider array of goods and services than substitutes such as these. Since Panera Bread offers a broad assortment of goods on its menu, the threat of substitutes is not of large concern. Potential Entrants: The specialty restaurant industry is by no means mature and has plenty of room for growth, as seen by Caribou and Panera Bread Co. ’s expansion into new markets. In researching competitors, there were few companies with an identical structure and strategy as Panera Bread Co. , which exhibits its belief that there is room for profit in the specialty restaurant industry. As seen through Chipotle’s success, the specialty chain restaurant model can work and the threat of new entrants to the industry is possible. However, the current restaurant market is experiencing commodity and labor inflation that could contract the current margins in the industry and inhibit new entrants. Power of Suppliers: Since many of Panera Bread’s items on the menu are directly correlated to commodity prices such as wheat and dairy prices, the suppliers are quite powerful in this industry. A recent shift Panera Bread made was attaining some its baked goods from external vendors instead of being produced by its own fresh dough facilities (FDF’s), which again increases the power of suppliers. Customers: Patrons love Panera Bread for the wonderful smells and flavors that fill its stylish and very relaxed bakery/cafe shops. The place tends to be a hotspot for the â€Å"soccer mom† crowd, but with the largest free Wi-Fi network in the country, it looks as though businesspeople may become regulars. Its customers have substitutes in the specialty restaurant industry but Panera Bread Co. tends to have loyal customers. Panera Bread’s strategy is â€Å"to provide a premium specialty bakery and cafe xperience to urban workers and suburban dwellers. The concept is a mix between fast food and casual dining, or fast casual. By choosing this strategy, Panera is attempting to achieve competitive advantage in the unique offerings it provides, offering that rivals don’t have and can’t afford to match. In this case, delicious handcrafted bread arriving fresh daily, served in an inviting atmosphere is the company’s competitive advantage and core competen cy. Q3) Barriers to entry that Panera Bread has created for potential competitor are product differentiation and cost advantages independent of size. The barrier for Panera Bread is low. In product differentiation, Panera Bread very proud for their business because they can delivers high quality of food and products with faster speed compare to other casual dining. Besides, the barrier of cost advantages independent of size is the emergence of fast casual which is the new category in the restaurant industry. The owners of Au Bon Pain and Saint Louis Bread Company felt that they could help pioneer this new category. The maintenance cost is low, there are less competitors. It is necessary to consider entry barriers when assessing dominance, when determining whether unilateral conduct might deter new firms from participating in a market, and when analyzing the likely competitive effects of mergers. Entry barriers because competition will not be reduced if new firms could enter easily, quickly, significantly. Q4) Panera Bread’s primary sources of competitive advantage are its position in the restaurant industry, the atmosphere of its restaurants, the distinctive products, brand strength, customer loyalty, and financial performance. The advantages for position in the industry are avoid from arising of competition, success in positioning and execution, positioning strategy of various restaurant chains and also snack time. Besides, the atmosphere are franchised outlets have been operated, convenience, customer attraction, and also expansions. The next is distinctive products which provides product differentiation and offers various kinds of foods. For brand strength is special in brands and foods and also fast-casual category. Furthermore, the customers loyalty which is teamwork and manager-customer relationship. Lastly, the financial performance can avoid threats to profitability and increase of sales. References 1. Panera Bread position, research from: http://www. antiessays. com/free-essays/421278. html 2. Porter’s five forces, research from: www. trinity. edu/smf/inc/reports/PNRA. oc 3. Panera Bread position, advantages of primary sources, research from: https://docs. google. com/viewer? a=vamp;q=cache:2Ow6jb9_g-EJ:eshare. stut. edu. tw/EshareFile/2011_12/2011_12_41a57d4a. ppt+Do+you+think+Panera+Bread+will+reach+its+goal+of+becoming+a+leading+national+brand+in+the+restaurantamp;hl=enamp;gl=myamp;pid=blamp;srcid=ADGEEShBx7Llys8yZ-7i2-500tGOybggsozWXzUjym1Ueg4idLVJlFVzIc_bqVOJ_rhmrzmDSU4RvhjFpTE-RVxp_9Q6KYVHp9f4 2sK72ODpq5J0FJQ2J-pMjyZyafaF1SHZ_sy8K9amp;sig=AHIEtbRos7KiryelsJM71tuaW5YP9SXS9A

The Kings of Leon - Only by the Night free essay sample

â€Å"All that you see or seem, is but a dream within a dream. They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.† -Edgar Allan Poe. The Kings of Leon released their new album â€Å"Only by the Night† in September. It’s kind of hard to dodge the once elusive American quartet these days. Let’s face it, gritty garage rock hardly ever makes the rounds on MTV, especially when the lead singer defiantly slurs words and avoids opportunities to brag about his rocker lifestyle. Quite the opposite, most of this bands delivery seems to express a desire to hang close to the one constant in their kingdom: music. â€Å"Only by the Night,† a title pulled from the Edgar Allan Poe story Eleonora, seems to dig through numerous surfaces that can be separated into the two columns of the bands dual appeal: they have a mainstream tickle and an inward burn. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kings of Leon Only by the Night or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Songs like â€Å"Use Somebody,† and â€Å"Closer† could easily echo in the background of Jennifer Aniston’s latest flick or a Twilight sequel. Whilst songs like â€Å"Notion† and â€Å"Crawl† dodge any vulnerability to mass appeal, sunken in the haunting vocals of a front man doing his best imitation of a confession. While many of their older fans lament the less polished style of the Kings, many of their newer listeners welcome the grit. It seems a tossup. Are the Nashville natives going to sink into the earlier pools of creativity that had them opening for Bob Dylan or continue cranking out the hooks that garner them remixes from Justin Timberlake? Perhaps there is a middle ground and method to the madness. This confessional of an album at times seems more like an attempt to create something real and yet at other moments it is so heartbreakingly honest I feel as if I have looked too deep into someone else’s pain and heart. It’s again the tossup. It seems as if it’s up to the listener to sort out where each song stands. That said, this music is still better than 98.9 % of anything MTV is likely to play at next year’s VMAs.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini essays

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini essays ?The Kite Runner is a heartbreaking novel of family, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, strength of character, relationship between fathers and sons, discrimination, racism, and class structure in Afghan society. After reading a couple chapters I quickly realized that this novel might not be as boring as I expected. As I continued to get farther into the book it became a very interesting, and very intriguing story. While reading it, I felt myself not wanting to put the book down because I wanted to find out what happened next. In this paper I will talk about two young boys ( Amir and Hassan), and how their close relationship was diminished, as ethnic and political tensions arise in Afghanistan. Amir is a Pashtun and Hassan is a Hazara. Pashtuns are some of the richest people in Afghanistan. The Pastuns have always been the upper class and the Hazaras belonged to the much lower class. They often worked for richer Afghanis (Pashtuns), trying to get by on a meager living. The story starts with a happy beginning, where Amir and his best friend and servant Hassan live together in harmony despite racial and socioeconomic differences. And, because Hassan is Amirs Hazara, or his servant, they easily get away with spending time together. Amir and Hassan are best friends, but in their society this is regularly unacceptable, and especially after the fall of the Afghan monarch, things began to change. Pashtuns and Hazaras started to act in violent, conflict ways; Kabul becomes vulgar and grim. As cultural and political tensions grow in Afghanistan, Amir and his friend begin to grow apart. Overall, their friendship was a complex tapestry of love, loss, privilege, and shame. Khaled Hosseini does an excellent job of demonstrating how social pressures and a cultural attitude towards certain ethnic groups can affect a childs mind at an early age and tear apart long-term friends. For instance, a boy named Assef (who is Pashtun), at...

How does spa facilities aid in treatment for mental health patiences Essay

How does spa facilities aid in treatment for mental health patiences - Essay Example As a result, this will lead to a reduction in activity in hypothalamic- pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the part of the brains that serves the function of governing stress response (McCray, 2009, 102). However, there are no conclusive results as to whether can actually be used in mental health treatment as different studies have come up with different results on this matter. However, it is safe to assume that yoga offers an acute benefit for patients suffering from depression. The only problem that makes yoga a little hard to incorporate is the fact that it is rather a cultural phenomenon which makes it hard for people to distinguish between the facts about yoga and mere hype. As much as physicians recommend the use of yoga in treating mental illnesses such as depression, it is recommended that the patient combines it with supervision from a trained therapist who can monitor the performance and warn against any negative effects that may occur as a result. Aerobic exercises such as swimming has over time been proved to improve mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The sudden improvements in the moods of the patients can be attributed to the exercise-induced increase in blood circulation in the brain which will consequently affect the hypothalamic pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis, which in turn affects the psychologic reactivity to stress. The other associated benefits with swimming include distraction, social interaction and self-efficacy. As much as structured programs are best suited for patients suffering from serious mental illnesses, lifestyle alterations that are mostly focused on buildup and enhancement of moderate-intensity activity throughout the patient’s day can be most effective for patients with mild cases of mental illnesses such as depression (Ridge, 2009, 28). Swimming for about 30 minutes three times a week is more than enough to help with treating mental patients suffering from depression. Physical exercise has

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Case study - Essay Example These relationships take time to build because nothing else done prepares the teacher for the classroom set up ( Butchart Ronald E. and McEwan Barbara 32). Micky’s case requires development of interpersonal relationship with the student. Owing to the prevailing conditions at home Micky will need to be assisted by using detention. This will instill discipline also solve the problem of not doing his homework. The use of detention is for correctional process and should not be practiced regularly (Moore 419). As stated by Tauber (92), there is no single course for discipline that can be effectively applied this situation. The assertive discipline can be used to develop Micky because it encourages the teacher to appreciate the work of the student by complimenting him daily for positive deed (Tauber 92). For Mickys case, he can be complimented for completing his homework. Despite the application of assertive discipline, there is a need for the teacher to assist the student in doing homework by either tutoring, or setting times for the student to complete the homework. The case of Micky can be solved by applying both assertive and non assertive disciplinary methods to ensure that the classroom management process is maintained and

P.R Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

P.R Strategy - Essay Example Thus it is necessary for us to interpret strategy and PR as efforts to promote the working of an organisation, which includes sacrificing the unnecessary and using to full-advantage, the available resources. The dichotomy of views occurs in the private and public sector organisations, where the goals of a company are defined separately in terms of sheer competitiveness of the former and ability to deliver in the latter; the choice of ideals again resting on the middle level managers. Both PR and Strategy again rest upon the choices made by men in aptly using the money, material in a mechanised environment. If one of these variables is disturbed it can weigh heavy on the organisation thus rendering it unserviceable and not effective to serve its cause. (Thomson) However, the difference between the two concepts being too small they can be discerned as operating at crosses purposes. Strategy is supposed to be the internalisation of market functions of competitiveness into the system to make it more effective with a lean environment and PR a home-grown idea to make it achieve its objectives efficiently through successful implementation of small aims unit wise. Only when the company fares well in a competitive environment that the strategy is said to be successfully implemented. It is ostensible affairs with all divisions and hierarchical order putting to use the best of their abilities to achieve the goals of have an organisation that have been described at the top and are percolated downwards. There is hardly a scope of ’ifs’ and ‘buts.’ However it shouldn’t be construed that strategy hardly takes care to ascertain its own capabilities, resources and manpower. Rather on the hand it may entail ‘sacrifice s’ for achievement of its higher objectives that may not be discernible at all levels of hierarchy. Since PR gets its feed from externalities and works in a bottom upwards mode it is not seen with

Factors Influencing Mental Illness Rates in Pakistan

Factors Influencing Mental Illness Rates in Pakistan Introduction At the 13th year of her life, she was worried due to the recently started bleeding from her vaginal area without any manifested injury. She ran to her mother and asked that what is happening to her. Her mother scolded and asked her to put some piece of cloth over there so that the bleeding nobody could notice the bleeding as it would be a source of embarrassment for the family and for the girl herself. Her mother then sent her to a special house which was full of menstruating girls and pregnant women. This is the story of 13 years old Huran Bibi from Kalash valley of Chitral, who was one of the members of Bashalani(the house built specially for the menstruating and pregnant women.) The cultural view of Kalash people is based on the concept of purity and menstruating and pregnant women are considered impure as per their cultural beliefs. Being a girl from a primitive culture I always thought to explore the different strong and weak parts of our culture which may impact the mental heal th of people in a healthy or unhealthy way respectively. The reason for choosing this topic is the trial to understand the impacts of our culture on our mental health. Numerous studies have been conducted on relationship between Culture and mental health. Mostly, the concept of being well or sick is well-defined according to the cultural background, cultural beliefs and cultural practices used by a specific group. defined culture in relations of objective components (houses and tools) and subjective components such as societal norms, roles, dogmas, and principles, further argued that culture is a dynamic practice designed by an individual’s commitment within their social set-up. Pumariega, explained culture as a way of life which includes traditions and customs. These customs transmitted through learning and play a vital role in molding the beliefs and behaviors of the people exposed to them. Generally, people in social groupings who share same religion, children and adolescents who play together and adults who work in same professions have their own cultural beliefs and practices.Culture is largely defined as a collective tradition or fixed dogmas, standards, and ethics. Culture frequently changes and is influenced both by the views of people and the burdens of their surroundings. People are bound to their customs and traditions because they think that their ancestors have transferred these practices to them so these practices are to be preserved for their future generations. Body Different cultures have different practices and beliefs regarding mental illnesses. In some cultures mental illness is thought to be the result of bad deeds and going against almighty Allah. In addition to that, a concept of bad evil entrance into the body is also found in few cultures. For the treatment of those mentally ill patients people incorporate religious/spiritual treatment. Sometimes religious treatment enhances coping mechanism of mentally ill patients but sometimes its themes may incorporate into religious delusions. Prevalence of Mental Illness in Pakistan explained the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan was 34% out of which 29-66%women were affected and 10-33% men were affected. Furthermore, the study also highlights the prevalence of pediatric mental disorders which was found to be15.8% in Pakistan. studied the prevalence of anxiety, depression and their associated factors on medical students in different institutions of Karachi .Approximately 70% of students were suffered by anxiety and depression. Among 70% about 59% of the students were female and 43% students were Urdu speaking. Causes and outcomes Cultural beliefs and traditional practices are the root cause of mental illnesses and mental disorders. Referring to the scenario, the cultural practices and beliefs of purity made the little girl isolated from the society. Living away from family once in a month makes the girl feel guilty and being an alien to her. Not having a bath till the menstruation period ends make the young girl to think of being untouchable and lowers self-esteem. Such kinds of practices can lead to social isolation or depression with many other mental health problems. Similarly many other traditional practices are found in our culture which influence our mental health such as gender based violence, divorce, forced and early marriages, domestic violence, son preferences, concept of being virgin, duty to be obedient, polygamy and honor killing. Furthermore acculturation is also known cause of mental illnesses in immigrants and ethnic minorities. Gender based violence/ domestic violence., a total of 8,548 cases of gender based violence were reported.In addition to that, the duty of obedience is considered as the main cause of spouse abuse. A lifetime incidence rates of wife abuse in global range is from 16% to 50% .Disobedience and clashes with the in-laws are specifically the major causes which explain wife abuse. Women are thus advised to forgive or say sorry in order to safeguard their kids and their home. Abused women are more prone to mental disorders namely self-inflicted injuries, sleep or appetite disorders, and suicidal attempts. Depression is the most common mental disorder in abused women. Divorce. It is a process of breaking marital relationships due to many reasons including cultural incompatibility of women and her husband family. It is the most stressful condition for husband as well as for wife. When a women is given divorced then it is thought to be a very shameful act for women because the low status of women in Pakistani culture. On the basis of this, society labeled women with bad deeds and bad character. This stigma leads to discrimination and women end up with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, fear even commit suicide. Polygamy. Polygamy is officially permitted in the Islamic tradition which is definitely a stress for women. polygamy appears to increase exposure to psychiatric disorders in the wife; of those in monogamous marriages, 17.8% were cases, in contrast to 39.1% of women in polygamous marriages. declared Polygamy as a high tensioned condition triggering a neurotic anxiety, and in severe cases somewhat serious mental disease. Honor killing explained that in some Islamic societies, the only way to cleanse the family honor is to kill the â€Å"offending† woman or girl. Depression and a number of anxiety disorders, somatoform and eating disorders, or suicide attempts are the most common psychiatric situation in Islamic women. The duty to be a virgin. According to the loss of virginity is thought to be equated with young women worth. So losing virginity is the major reason of suicidal behavior in teenagers. They are also in threat of being killed by a father, brother, uncle or cousin in order to restore the familys honor and place in the community. As a result to the duty of virginity, illegal pregnancies are severely fated and are related with several social problems (running away from the family/home, aggression towards these girls by their own parents, or even homicide) with a high occurrence of depressive and anxiety reactions with suicidal behavior. Imposed marriage/early marriage. Traditionally, it is expected from a daughter to shy away from expressing her wishes and her parents are responsible to decide for her. An arranged marriage is the decision of parents to select a life partner for their daughter, often with either a cousin or someone completely unknown before the marriage. This can lead to depression, anxiety, fear and isolation. Acculturation. Unfavorable and shocking life experiences can change the brain chemistry of the people e.g., migration from one country to another for many reasons such as natural disaster, education or job opportunities. This can give the concept of acculturation in which culture-of-origin and host cultural characteristics can disagree autonomously. Furthermore, acculturation is a dual process of cultural and psychological change that takes place as a result of contact between two or more cultural groups and their individual members. Acculturation may assists daily social interaction and encourages management opportunities. Conversely, it may escalate tension or clash between two opposing cultures or can be related with a decrease in family support. Conclusion In conclusion, some cultural beliefs and practices are leading to mental illnesses such as, the concept of keeping a menstruating girl in a separate house without taking bath till menstruating period ends. Likewise, gender based violence including domestic violence, rape cases, abusing women at home as well as on work place can be the leading cause of mental illness in women. In some cultures it is the responsibility of parents to take decisions of selecting life partners for their daughters which mostly results in cultural incompatibility and domestic violence. Furthermore, marrying more than one woman or separation from an intimate relationship can increase the risk for mental health disorders. Honor killing and being not virgin are interrelated to each other in which the only solution to cleans the family honor is to kill the offending girl which includes virginity also.

An Analytical Essay on the Significance of the Players in Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays

An Analytical Essay on the Significance of the Players in Hamlet       The significance of the players exceeds the sole purpose of entertainment, as each possesses the power to unveil the "occulted guilt" (3.2.75) and conscience of the King.   Hamlet assumes the responsibility to advise these players with precise and adequate direction so that a "whirlwind of passion" (6) may not effectively separate Claudius from personally identifying with the play.   Hamlet's enthusiastic approach toward direction may be so that he encourages the players to "suit the action to the word, the word to the/ action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not/ the modesty of nature" (16-18).   However, this exercise of caution may justify Hamlet's too often delayed attempt toward the action of avenging his father's murder.   His direction confines him to the overflow of words as he experiences imprisonment within the truth of his own identity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet grants himself the opportunity to momentarily direct himself, yet it remains unknown as to whether he directs a representation of truth or a falsity.   He exemplifies madness so well, as the sight of "a damned ghost" (77) insanely induces his imagination and comfortably transforms his identity to one of lunacy.   This role he acquires is one he portrays so explicitly well as an actor that he easily utilizes it as the foundation for his players.   He instructs the players:    Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, Thus, but use all gently, for in the very torrent, tempest, And, as I may say, whirlwind of passion, you must acquire And beget a temperance that may give it smoothness.   (4-7)    Abstinence from overly dramatizing the actions of the play may be reflective of Hamlet's character prior to his escape from true self: a once-lived life of normalcy focused more wholly on "smoothness" (7) rather than an uncontrolled "torrent, tempest, / ...whirlwind of passion" (5-6).      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet's direction of the players claims victory as Claudius abruptly arises and exclaims, "Give me some light.   Away" (254)!   Horatio's observation of the King's reaction confirms his guilt-inflamed conscience as he was forced to witness the reenactment of his brother's murder.   Hamlet, relieved, reveals, "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand/ pound" (271-272).   The ghost is officially trustworthy as the King's reaction encourages Hamlet to journey further toward his mission of avenging the death of his father. An Analytical Essay on the Significance of the Players in Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays An Analytical Essay on the Significance of the Players in Hamlet       The significance of the players exceeds the sole purpose of entertainment, as each possesses the power to unveil the "occulted guilt" (3.2.75) and conscience of the King.   Hamlet assumes the responsibility to advise these players with precise and adequate direction so that a "whirlwind of passion" (6) may not effectively separate Claudius from personally identifying with the play.   Hamlet's enthusiastic approach toward direction may be so that he encourages the players to "suit the action to the word, the word to the/ action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not/ the modesty of nature" (16-18).   However, this exercise of caution may justify Hamlet's too often delayed attempt toward the action of avenging his father's murder.   His direction confines him to the overflow of words as he experiences imprisonment within the truth of his own identity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet grants himself the opportunity to momentarily direct himself, yet it remains unknown as to whether he directs a representation of truth or a falsity.   He exemplifies madness so well, as the sight of "a damned ghost" (77) insanely induces his imagination and comfortably transforms his identity to one of lunacy.   This role he acquires is one he portrays so explicitly well as an actor that he easily utilizes it as the foundation for his players.   He instructs the players:    Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, Thus, but use all gently, for in the very torrent, tempest, And, as I may say, whirlwind of passion, you must acquire And beget a temperance that may give it smoothness.   (4-7)    Abstinence from overly dramatizing the actions of the play may be reflective of Hamlet's character prior to his escape from true self: a once-lived life of normalcy focused more wholly on "smoothness" (7) rather than an uncontrolled "torrent, tempest, / ...whirlwind of passion" (5-6).      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet's direction of the players claims victory as Claudius abruptly arises and exclaims, "Give me some light.   Away" (254)!   Horatio's observation of the King's reaction confirms his guilt-inflamed conscience as he was forced to witness the reenactment of his brother's murder.   Hamlet, relieved, reveals, "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand/ pound" (271-272).   The ghost is officially trustworthy as the King's reaction encourages Hamlet to journey further toward his mission of avenging the death of his father.

Resourcing talent CIPD Essay

INTRODUCTION Resourcing talent refers to the processes for identifying, assessing, acquiring, developing, and deploying employees who are critical to the company’s success . The issue with many companies today is that their organizations put tremendous effort into attracting employees to their company. The process of attracting and retaining profitable employees, as it is increasingly more competitive between firms and of strategic importance, has come to be known as the war for talent. Factors that affect an organization approach to resourcing talent: While it is certainly important to acquire new talent for the organization, it is worthwhile investigating what talent is already available within the organization and if these can be used to fill any vacancies. Employer branding is the creation of a brand image of the organization for prospective employees. A strong employer brand is about differentiating yourself as an employer of choice, align that single vision to everything you do and amplifying that message across all business strategies. Employer branding sells your workplace culture, values and goals to potential and existing employees. A company needs to identify what sort of people the organization needs with regards to their qualifications and experience and the extent to which they are likely to fit the culture of the organization, its values and norms. Another aspect to take into account is where the organization operates, such as culture of the people already in employment, the local talent or whether it is beneficial to open the recruitment to a wider market. Benefits of attracting and retaining a diverse workforce: Leadership – â€Å"employees join companies and leave managers†: while people often join companies with high expectations, it is often their managers and supervisors that they leave, and not the company. If managers fail to create job satisfaction within their teams, people feel unmotivated and negative. Managers have the power to create a team that is totally engaged or they can drive people to leave their job. Learning opportunities: It is wrong to think that if a company develops its high-potential employees these will leave for another company. High potentials who are not developed and do not  see advancements opportunities will leave the organization even more quickly. Performance recognition and rewards: Employee recognition is a communication tool that reinforces and rewards the most important outcomes people create for your business. When you, as an employer, recognize people effectively, you are reinforcing, with your chosen means of recognition (monetary or non-monetary rewards), the actions and behaviours you most want to see people repeat. Factors that affect the organizations approach to recruitment and selection: â€Å"Recruitment is the process of finding and attracting people to fill the positions in an organisation, with the aim of the activity to find some numbers of qualified job applicants who will take the position it is offered.† Jewell 1998. â€Å"Selection techniques are used to decide which of the applicants is best suited to fill the vacancy in question†¦a negative activity in so far as it involves picking out the best of the bunch and turning down the rest†. Taylor 2002. Factors affecting recruitment and selection are: Time frame: it depends how quickly the job needs to be filled, whether it would be better to recruit internally, which takes less time, or whether the company would benefit to recruit externally and wait a little longer. Internal or external recruitment/Cost involved: Internal recruitment is cheaper and quicker and the employee is already familiar with the organization. It provides opportunity for promotion and motivates the staff. External recruitment takes longer and it is more expensive but the company will benefit from the new ideas the new recruit brings to the organization. There is also a wide market to choose from and a bigger range of experience. Working conditions, salary and benefit packages offered by the organization. Cultural, economic, political and legal factors like reservations of jobs for specific sections of society etc. Benefits of three different recruitment methods: Internal recruitment: It is cheaper and quicker to recruit. People are familiar with the business and how it operates Provides opportunity for promotion within the business and creates motivation for the staff. It is beneficial from a HR perspective as the person is already known and his personal data is already recorded. Job advertisements: Advertisements are the most common form of external recruitment. They can be found in many places (local and national newspapers, notice boards, recruitment fairs). Recruitment agencies: provides employers with details of suitable candidates for a vacancy. They work for a fee and often specialise in particular employment areas. Benefits of three different selection methods: Practical test: these test ability and are usually done for: Manual jobs – trade skills Secretarial jobs – word processing skills Those working in call centres or in telesales – telephone sills Interview: the advantage of face to face interviews is that the researcher can adapt the questions as necessary, clarify doubt and ensure that the responses are properly understood, by repeating or rephrasing the questions. The researcher can also pick up non-verbal clues from the respondent through the body language. Assessment centres: These are generally used by large organisations, particularly when making senior appointments. Individual and group exercises tale place, sometimes over a few days, often including an interview, psychometric test, group discussions and tasks, written exercises and presentations. They can be expensive and time-consuming. Conclusion: â€Å"The firm’s most important resources and capabilities are those which are durable, difficult to identify and understand, imperfectly transferable, not easily replicated, and in which the firm possesses clear ownership control. These are the firm’s ‘crown jewels’ and need to be protected; and they play a pivotal role in the competitive strategy which the firm pursues. The essence of strategy formulation, then, is to design a strategy that makes the most effective use of these core resources and capabilities†. Grant (1991)

Hello Shanghai

Hello Shanghai The sun wakens up in the morning, putting on his crimson cloak while emerging on the rise of East-mountain peak. The chirpy larks have always been early birds, dancing in the park, lauding the glamour of the sun. Then, rising gradually kitchen smoke, accompanied by people greeting remarks, horse neighing, and siren whistling, the whole Shanghai comes around from the merry and lively slumber. Looking out of the window, an overwhelming feeling comes over me, forcing me to say: "Hello, Shanghai!"Shanghai, I'd like to say hello to your miraculous, breath-taking development over the years. Known as the financial center of China, called the pearl of the Orient, you are showing your fascination to the whole world everyday. Yes, we have found that you are developing faster and faster these years. Look! Located in the Pudong New Area, Jing Mao Tower is the third tallest building in the world.The Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, China.Having the height of 1379 feet, it cannot be too proper fo r us to call the building "tower". Near the Jing Mao Tower, there is a real tower, that is the Oriental Pearl Tower. And from either of the top storey of these two constructions, we can have a clear look at youShanghai. The Yangpu and Nanpu Bridges are just like two dragons lying over our mother river and link you from Pudong Area and Puxi Area. These, together with the classical building on the Band, add quite a lot of beauty to you. Talking of the beauty of you, we must think of the new culture scenes in youShanghai Museum and the Grand Theatre. In Shanghai Museum, we can learn a lot such as the culture and life style of our ancestors, while the Grand Theatre leads us into the palace of music, opera and dance.Shanghai, I'd...

Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2018

Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2018 Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2018 Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2018 By Mark Nichol The Oxford Dictionaries has announced that its Word of the Year for 2018 is toxic, which visitors to its websites searched for not only in isolation but as an element in multiple phrases. Toxic, which derives ultimately from the Greek term toxon, meaning â€Å"arrow,† came to apply to poison delivered on the point of an arrow. In Greek, toxikon meant â€Å"poison arrow,† and later, the Latin word toxicum pertained to poison itself. The primary definition of the adjective toxic is â€Å"poisonous,† though by extension, it has come to mean â€Å"harmful† or â€Å"malicious.† Although several phrases frequently used in searches on the Oxford Dictionaries sites pertain to the literal meaning of toxic- reflecting concerns about pollution- several pertain to the latter senses, including â€Å"toxic culture† and â€Å"toxic environment,† which allude to a physical realm that is unhealthy for ones psychological (and therefore physical) health, such as a company or other organization that tacitly condones sexist or unethical behavior, or a dysfunctional domestic situation. A toxic relationship, meanwhile, is one in which one of the parties is emotionally and/or physically abusive toward the other, and toxic masculinity is the concept of a distorted perception about what it means to be a male in modern society; symptoms of this malady include aggression and excessive competitiveness, as well as sexism and homophobia. Toxicity is the quality of being toxic, and a toxin is a poison; antitoxin is an antidote to poison. The study of poisons, meanwhile is toxicology, and one who studies poisons is a toxicologist. (Toxic- and toxico- are combining forms referring to poisons.) The Oxford Dictionaries also listed other words and phrases that were most frequently entered in search boxes on its websites this year, including a couple that are little known in the United States- and, interestingly, they all are associated, more or less, with toxic behavior. One British English–centric term is cakeism, which alludes to the saying â€Å"You can’t have your cake and eat it, too,† meaning that one should not be greedy or try to have two things that are incompatible. Cakeism, by contrast, suggests that one can or should exploit two alternative opportunities at once. The other is gammon, extrapolated from the term for salted pork leg (which turns pink when cooked) and describing a white person, especially one with a conservative sociopolitical worldview, who develops a florid complexion due to the person becoming emotionally exercised about an issue such as Brexit, the controversial and contested decision by the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union. Other terms on the list also reflect current events and reactions to them. The phrase â€Å"big dick energy,† for example, pertains to an outsize confidence that suggests that the person in question (generally, a celebrity) has such an attitude because he is genitally well endowed, though the term is applied to charismatic women, too (and the idea is not to be confused with toxic masculinity, though someone with BDE may be a toxic person). The term gaslighting, referring to psychological manipulation to undermine a person’s confidence or sanity, is inspired by the title and plot device of the 1938 stage play Gas Light and its subsequent film, television, and radio adaptations (the titles of which treated the phrase as a closed compound), in which a man surreptitiously dims the gas-fueled lighting in the home he shares with his wife and then insists to her that the lights are as bright as usual, among other tactics, to drive her insane. Incel is a truncation of the phrase â€Å"involuntary celibate,† describing a man whose difficulty forming healthy relationships with women (or even obtaining dates with them) leads to sexual and emotional frustration that escalates to hostility toward not only women but also the men incels resent for being successful in sexual and romantic pursuits. The term applies especially to virtual communities of men who commiserate with each other in online forums, which, as closed (and therefore toxic) environments, amplify the condition. Orbiting, meanwhile, is when someone no longer communicates directly with another person through social media but still keeps track of that person online; the term, suggesting someone periodically looming over someone else, is a loose synonym for lurking (though lurkers usually leave no trace of their visit) and differs from ghosting- the term for a sudden, complete cessation of contact, generally from someone one has been dating- in that an orbiter leaves evidence of a continuing (and perhaps toxic) interest. The concept of the deleterious effects of excessive numbers of travelers to a vacation destination, including damage to historical sites and the local environment as well as negative impacts on the location’s residents, is called overtourism. Finally, techlash describes negative and hostile attitudes toward large technology companies because of the pervasive influence on society of their products, erosion of privacy for people who use them, and their inability to prevent identify theft. The term is a construction based on backlash, which means â€Å"adverse reaction† (or â€Å"sudden backward movement†), from the notion of a whip or rope inflicting pain or damage as it unexpectedly strikes someone or something when one uses the whip or rope. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Because Of" and "Due To" Hyper and HypoWhat’s the Best Way to Refer to a Romantic Partner?

Drescriptive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drescriptive - Essay Example After what seemed like a decade, the fateful morning arrived. I was awake before the sun rustling through my suitcase making certain mom packed the basics, my multi-colored swimsuit. As the sunlight softly pierced through my window the rustling became increasingly louder. I knew my brother had the same scheme in mind as I heard plates loudly clanging together in the kitchen. He was unloading the dishwasher, without being told to. It was a combination of nervous tension needing be released and a not so subtle way of waking the parents from their much deserved sleep. After several hours, actually a few minutes, they made their way out of their bedroom and towards the aroma coming from the coffee maker which had been set to brew as scheduled the night before. The car was already packed, my thumb bruised and throbbing from being in too big a hurry. Following a quick breakfast the journey began. The miles seemed especially long but a nap on the way helped somewhat. Finally we arrived. As dad slowed to park he loudly advised us to wait until he fully stopped. As we opened the door the experience was not what I had been expecting. It was almost overwhelming. The wind was so strong I need both hands to manage the door. As my feet touched the warm, and getting increasing warmer sand, the wind blew a constant stream of the hot sand in my face. The sun baked my face and the ocean waves were loud, alarmingly so. I wondered if we came on an unusually blustery day or if this was normal. Dad was shouting directions while standing just a few feet away but I did not hear a word. Had he not gestured toward a covered bench I would have had no clue what he meant. Hauling the umbrella, towels, cooler, ect., from the car to that bench was an ordeal while dancing across the sand against the wind. When we got settled I reached down to feel the light brown sand. Again, it was nothing like I expected. Instead of a

A simple reply letter to a councillor, all materials provided. 2pages Essay

A simple reply letter to a councillor, all materials provided. 2pages Writer #381 - Essay Example For that reason, we would argue that the benefit of even just one more youth center would far surpass the cost. The problem as we see it is that the enormous potential of how youth centers help kids on their path toward maturity is far more difficult to quantify than a mere cost analysis can do. The most important element in CBD Renewal Project is that middle term-renewal. Renewal of a project carries with connotations that reach well beyond merely creating a more attractive faade. In order to fully renew a community, a long term vision is required that not only presents a more attractive front, but an entirely new foundation. The dilapidated facilities that you mentioned in your kind letter are best viewed as just one dimension to the more complex issue of rebuilding the broken spirit of our community. It was the breaking of that spirit that led to the decay of these buildings. A youth center is important not only in immediate terms of financial and social benefits, but as a basis upon which to build and strengthen the very vitality of the neighborhood in which is centered. We respect your position and knowledge enough to suggest, with all modesty, that we are just as concerned as you about renewing the g

Double Jeopardy Clause of the U.S. Constitution Research Paper

Double Jeopardy Clause of the U.S. Constitution - Research Paper Example Many instances of confusion had risen from the interpretation of the words â€Å"same offense†, where at times the Court casually applies the Clause to offenses that are not the same but obviously different (Dibianco, 1995). For example, â€Å"premeditated murder is not the same as attempted murder or manslaughter; armed robbery is not the same as robbery; and yet under the so-called Blockburger test, the Court generally treats a greater offense as the same as each of its logically lesser-included offenses† (Amar, 1997). With lawyers, judges and juries expressing a wide range of opinions pertaining to the Double Jeopardy Clause, arriving at a robust framework of decision making is near impossible. Nevertheless, for cases of murder of a single person, the proper application of the Clause with regard to multiple trials at state and federal levels is relatively easier to ascertain. The following passages will illustrate this point by citing suitable scholarly sources. The words "life or limb" in the Clause connote all criminal sanctions but seldom covers a petty civil suit about money. Similarly, the words â€Å"same offense" should be taken literally - murder means murder, not attempted murder. And the time period in ‘Jeopardy’ effectively starts with an indictment and concludes with a suitably error-free verdict. As law expert Akhil Reed Amar observes, â€Å"the Double Jeopardy Clause itself does not exhaust the scope of constitutional principle involved in multiple prosecution and multiple punishment cases. Rather, the clean and simple rules of the Double Jeopardy Clause must be supplemented by several broader but more flexible commonsense principles protected by the Due Process Clause - and by certain other rules and principles rooted in the Sixth Amendment Jury Trial Clause.† (Amar, 1997) One of the mechanisms through which the judiciary ensures to provide the

United States Ambassador’s Speech to the United Nations Essay Example for Free

United States Ambassador’s Speech to the United Nations Essay Ladies and gentlemen and citizens of the world, my name is Susan Rice and I am honored to speak to you today. Our countries, which all embrace the United Nations’ quest for worldwide peace and stability, face many challenges that we can and must solve together. My nation, the United States of America, is prepared and determined to act constructively, responsibly and morally to contribute toward the realization of our shared goals. The United States of America has recently chosen a new and hopeful president who has bold, optimistic, and pragmatic ideas for his country and for our world. I am fortunate and privileged to have known and worked closely with Mr. Obama for the last several years, and I am honored that he nominated me for this post within this eminent organization. Working closely with all of you, I will strive to reflect and embody our country’s renewed principles of fairness, justice, respect for human rights, and love of freedom. Our individual homelands and our world as a whole face daunting challenges as we gather here today. Economic turmoil, security threats, political instability and human rights violations weigh on all our minds and on the minds of our respective countrymen. Let me assure each of you, and the people of your country by extension, that we are intent on charting a hopeful new path that will benefit us all. The United States is proud of our history of doing what’s right for our country and for the world of peace-loving nations as a whole. We believe that the vast majority of our actions over our more than 200 years have been just and beneficial for the free world. However, we know that our record is not perfect. Our new administration is committed to righting recent wrongs and working with our United Nations counterparts to face and conquer the issues and challenges that confront us today. I want to lay out some broad concerns and objectives that we believe must be addressed and confronted for the benefit of all our nations. Let me quote our United Nations charter. It â€Å"gives the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security† (United Nations, 2009). As we all know, that objective is never easy to attain. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the United States holds a precious and weighty leadership role in helping to keep our world safe from those elements and regimes that plot every day against freedom and its enduring principles. We steadfastly and clearly say to those rogue elements that our nation and our allies cannot afford and will not allow your efforts to succeed. This body has the obligation and the ability to impose sanctions on those countries and factions that are intent on assailing peace and freedom. Within that framework for peace and worldwide security, the cessation of nuclear proliferation will continue to be an unyielding quest. We will strive to lower the number of nuclear weapons that exist across the world and we will tirelessly seek to thwart the development and deployment of nuclear warhead delivery systems. More specifically, let me address another security issue that threatens all our countries, directly or indirectly. Political instability is a major problem within many countries, particularly those who are engaged with us today, on their soil, in the fight against terrorism. Let me quote Mr. Obama directly as he engages our enemies of freedom. Our president stated yesterday â€Å"Let me be clear: Al-Qaida and its allies†¦are in Pakistan and Afghanistan and we have a clear and focused goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat (them)† (C-Span, 2009). In that vein, let me also assure each of your nations that our country will not engage in cruel or tortuous practices on any of the combatants that we capture and detain. Let me close by stating that United States foreign policy goals are consistent and congruent with the stated goals of the United Nations. We are honored, one nation in a sea of many, to contribute to the well-being and security of our world. References C-SPAN. (2009, March 27). C-span. org. United Nations. (2009, March). un. org.

Impact Of Self Help Groups Economics Essay

Impact Of Self Help Groups Economics Essay Self-Help Groups means a group of 10-20 members which may or may not be registered representing financial intermediation, but the financial intermediation is not the only primary objective of the groups. The motive is to combine the access to low-cost financial services with a process of self management and development. NGOs or Government agencies usually form and support these SHGs. The members of these groups save the amount which is used for loans. Inspite of considerable expansion in the branch network, a large share of Indias population continuous to remain outside the formal banking system. Due to widespread rural bank branch network, the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme is very suitable to the Indian context. Although various alternative ways are being experimented in order to meet the objectives of financial inclusion. The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme is considered a most successful, promising and widely accepted model in India. Self Help Group Bank Linkage Programme- a pilot project started by NABARD is widely accepted model as one of the largest and successful one in the world. The present study is analytical and based upon secondary data which has been collected from different published reports, journals and existing available literature. The objective of this study is to evaluate the progress and impact of self help group bank linkage programme. Key Words: Growth, Models, Self-Help Group, SHG-Bank Linkage Programme. Introduction The Self-Help Group (SHG) movement originated in Bangladesh under the Leadership of Noble Laureate Mohamed Yunus. It is a noble mission- an innovative concept that has its roots in Bangladesh and has touched every part of the globe. In order to achieve the mission of reaching those families who did not access to credit by any formal financial institution and, therefore, were dependent on informal sources and moneylenders, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) introduced the SHG Bank Linkage Programme as a pilot project in 1992. Thereafter, RBI had advised commercial banks to participate actively in this programme. Subsequently, this programme was further extended to all Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and cooperative banks. SHGs through the network of commercial banks, RRBs cooperative banks, NABARD and NGOs has been largely supply driven as well as a recent approach in the provision of financial services to the poor. This paper is an attempt to analyse the SH Gs movement in India as these are helpful in order to alleviate poverty and women empowerment. The present study is analytical and based upon secondary data which has been collected from different published reports, journals and existing available literature. The objective of this study is to evaluate the progress of self help group bank linkage programme. Self Help Group Self Help Group means a group of 15-20 members which have become a common vehicle of development covering various development programmes. Financial intermediation is not the only objective but the purpose behind this is to combine the access to low cost financial services with a process of self management and development. SHGs are usually formed and supported by NGOs or Government agencies. SHGs are small, informal and homogenous groups of not more than20 members each. Any group larger than the size of 20 members has to be registered under Indian legal system. So it is recommended to be informal to keep them away from bureaucracy, corruption, unnecessary administrative expenditure and profit motive. Groups are also expected to be homogenous so that members can participate freely without any fear as well as conflicting interest. SHGs have also emerged as a powerful device and an effective medium for delivering credit to the poor in the rural economy. It helps in poverty alleviation an d women empowerment. Self-help groups (SHGs) movement has triggered off a silent revolution in the rural credit delivery system in India. SHG Bank Linkage Programme The Self-Help Group Bank Linkage Programme (SHBL) which started as a pilot programme in 1992 has developed at a very fast rate with time. SHG-Bank Linkage Programme was started on the basis of the recommendation of S K Kalia Committee. While the SHG-bank linkage Programme has experienced exponential growth over the past decade, there remain large regional disparities in the growth of the SHG movement with limited progress in certain regions. Though the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme contributed to improve economic conditions, social change was not as apparent, and there are concerns of sustainability and further development of self reliance of the institutions. The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme has the following objectives: To develop mutual faith and confidence between the rural poor and bankers To combine sensitivity, flexibility and responses of the informal credit system with the strength of administration capabilities, technical strength and the financial resources of the formal financial institutions. To expand credit flow/ financial services to the rural poor with less transaction costs. To alleviate poverty and empower the women. Models of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme The strategy behind these models is to form small, cohesive and participative groups of the poor and encourage them to pool their savings regularly and use the pooled savings in order to make small interest bearing loans available to the members. Bank credit also becomes available to the group to augment its resources for the purpose of lending to its members. The SHG-bank linkage program has proved to be the major supplementary credit delivery system with a wide acceptance by banks, NGOs and various government departments. There are three models of SHG-bank linkages that have evolved over time, especially in India. MODEL I. SHGs formed and financed by banks In this model, banks themselves take up the work of forming and nurturing the groups, opening their bank accounts and providing them with bank loans after satisfying themselves as to their maturity to absorb credit. Upto March 2006, about 20% of the total number of SHGs financed was from this category. This shows an increase of 61.63 percent in bank loan to SHGs over the position as on March 2005 reflecting an increased role of banks in promoting and nurturing SHGs. Here, the banks act as the SHGPI. MODEL II. SHGs formed by NGOs and formal organisations but directly financed by the banks In this model, groups are formed by NGOs (in most cases) or by the government agencies. The groups are nurtured and trained by the agencies. The bank then provides credit directly to the SHGs after observing their operations and maturity to absorb credit. While the bank provides loans to the groups directly, the facilitating agencies continue their interactions with the SHGs. Most linkage experiences begin with this model, where NGOs play a major role. This model has also been popular with and more acceptable to banks, since some of the difficult functions of social dynamics are externalized. This model continuous to have a major share. About 70 percent of the total number of SHGs is financed under this model. MODEL III. SHGs financed by banks using NGOs and other agencies as financial intermediaries   For various reasons, banks in some areas are not in a position even to finance SHGs promoted and nurtured by other agencies. In such cases, the NGOs act as both facilitators and microfinance intermediaries. First, they promote the groups, nurture and train them and then they approach banks for bulk loans for further lending to SHGs. In other words, banks take the sole responsibility for promoting, developing and financing SHGs. In fact, this programme requires considerable effort by the bank staff towards the formation of SHG. This model is not so encouraging. Models of SHG Linkages Bank Loans Model Number of Linkages % of Total Amount (Rs. In million) % of Total 1. 13561 14 339.79 18 2. 65636 70 1339.95 69 3. 15448 16 250.10 13 A major share of population in India continuous to remain outside the formal banking system inspite of considerable expansion in the branch network. And various alternative models are being experimented in order to meet the objective of financial inclusion. The SHG-Bank Linkage model is considered a most successful, promising and widely accepted model in India. This model was introduced in 1991-92 with a pilot project of linking 500 SHGs with banks and this figure has gone up to more than 34 lakh by the end of March 2008.Cummulatively, these SHGs have assessed credit of Rs. 22,268 crore from banks during the period. About 4.1 crore poor have gained access to the formal system through the programme. The number of SHGs linked to banks has increased from 32995 during 1998-99 to 3477965 during 2007-08 during the period of last about ten years. It means there is an impressive 68 percent compound annual growth rate. But the compound annual growth rate is almost double each year for the cum ulative bank loan to SHGs which is 94 percent. The faster growth in bank loans to SHGs has led to almost a four-fold increase in the average loans per SHG from Rs. 16,816 in 1999-2000 to Rs. 63,926 in 2007-08. These figures reflect the outstanding success of the programme in the Chart 1 given below. Chart I: Growth of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme 4 Progress of the SHG-Bank linkage Programme NABARD introduced an effective SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in order to provide credit to very small borrowers. The introduction of the SHG-Bank linkage Programme to discard the general perception of bankers that customers with no formal education or source of income or of no use to the bank and thus are not welcome. Since the year 2000, the statistical data show the rate of growth in SHGs linked under the programme is gradually falling in the year 1999-2000 the growth rate was more than 245% whereas it fell below 38.3% in 2005-06. However, the higher growth in the late nineties may be due to initial penetration of SHGs under the programme. With the formation of new SHGs, the scope is widened which will improve the condition of the poor households and it should be worked upon. Table 1 shown below the cumulative progress of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme. Table I: Cumulative Progress of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme (INR in crores) Year SHGs Linked Bank Loan Refinance Assistance 1992-93 255 0.29 0.27 1995-96 4757 6.06 5.66 1998-99 32955 57.07 52.09 2002-03 461478 2048.67 796.50 2005-06 2238565 11397.46 4159.70 2006-07 2924973 17967.46 5452.56 2007-08 3477965 26816.72 7068.06 2008-09 4559443 39070.23 9688.09 Note: From 2006-07 onwards, data on number of SHGs financed by banks and bank loans are inclusive of Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna(SGSY) SHGs and existing groups receiving repeat loans. Source: NABARD Annual Report 2008-09 The above table shows the cumulative progress in this area with the amount of refinance assistance during the respective periods. Disparity in the SHG-Bank linkage Programme SHG-Bank Linkage Programme was started with the objective of extending the outreach of banking the poor, who mainly comprise the marginal farmers, landless labourers, artisans and craftsmen and others engaged in the small businesses such as vending and hawking. Now the important point is that whether the programme has really made inroads into the regions where concentration of poverty is comparatively higher. And this can be found if we compare the poverty ratio at all India level with the ratio of various regions. Earlier, during 2004-05, the all-India poverty ratio stood at about 27.6 per cent while the Northern (15.7 per cent), North- Eastern (19.2 per cent), Southern (19.8 per cent) and Western region (25.8 per cent) had lower than the all-India poverty ratio, Central (35 per cent), and Eastern Region (36.2 per cent) had higher poverty ratios than at the all-India level. Now this variation is comparatively changed with the expansion of number of SHGs. Similarly, there has been skewed development of SHG-Bank linkage programme on geographical basis in India. There is wide regional disparity both in terms of the spread of SHGs linked to banks and cumulative bank loans disbursed under the programme. In March 2008, while the Southern Region accounted for 48.2 per cent of the total SHGs, the share of North- Eastern Region was just 3.4 per cent as depicted in table 2. In terms of share in the total bank loans to SHGs, the region-wise differential gets further magnified. So far, the SHG movement in the country is mostly south-centric and it is yet to take off in the real sense in other regions of India. Table II: Region-wise Progress of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme (As on March 31, 2008) Regions Share (%) in Programme No. of SHGs Loans to SHGs (Rs. crore) Average Loans per SHG (Rs.) No. of SHGs Loans to SHGs SHGs per Lakh Population Northern 2,30,740 851 36,899 6.6 3.8 156 North Eastern 1,19,520 327 27,364 3.4 1.5 283 Eastern 6,72,626 2,372 35,268 19.3 10.7 274 Central 4,05,707 1,501 36,990 11.7 6.7 142 Western 3,74,561 1,320 35,254 10.8 5.9 229 Southern 16,74,811 15,896 94,915 48.2 71.4 703 All India 34,77,965 22,268 64,027 100.0 100.0 310 Source: NABARD While the Southern Region accounted for 71.4 per cent of the total loans to SHGs, the share of North-Eastern Region was just about 1.5 per cent. For all regions excluding Southern Region, even though the share of total SHGs linked to banks was close to 51.8 per cent, their share in total loans to SHGs was only 28.6 per cent implying that adequate credit is not being routed through SHGs in these regions. As the regions vary in geographical area and population, the number of SHGs is normalized by the population of the region and SHG per lakh population has been taken as a better indicator of SHG spread in the respective regions. The number of SHGs per lakh population for the Southern Region is 703, which is more than double the average at all-India (310) and almost five times of the Central Region (142). All these data given in the table shows an impressive growth in southern region followed by eastern, central and others. The SHG Bank Linkage Model has made considerable progress since its inception in the early 1990s and agency wise outstanding number of credit linked SHGs and amount of loans with Banks is presented in Table3 given below. Table III: Bank Loans Outstanding under SHG-Bank Linkage Programme Agency 2008 09 2009-10 No. of SHGs (in000) Amount (Rs. In Crores) No. of SHGs (in000) Amount (Rs. In Crores) Commercial Banks 2831 16149 3237 20165 Regional Rural Banks 978 5224 1104 6144 Cooperative Banks 415 1306 510 1729 Total 4224 22679 4851 28038 Source: Status of Microfinance in India 2009-10 Banks have financed 15.87 lakh SHGs, including repeat loan to the existing SHGs, with bank loans of Rs. 14,453 crores during 2009-10. Out of the total loans disbursed during 2009-10, SHGs financed under SGSY accounted for 2.67 lakh (16.9%) with bank loan of Rs. 2198.00 crore (15.2%). As on March 2010, the average loan amounts outstanding per SHG and per member were Rs. 57795 and Rs. 4128 respectively. The estimated number of households covered under the Self Help Group (SHG)-Bank Linkage Programme was 9.7 crores up to 31 March 2010. Current Position of SHG-Bank Linkage Programme Though there are different models for purveying micro finance, the Self-Help Group Bank Linkage Programme has emerged as the major programme in the country. It is being implemented by commercial banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), and cooperative banks. In 2009-10, 1.59 million new SHGs were credit-linked with banks, and bank loan of 14,453 crore (including repeat loan) was disbursed to these SHGs. Further, about 6.95 million SHGs maintained savings accounts with banks at the end of March 2010. On an average, the amount of savings per SHG was 8,915 as compared to the amount of credit outstanding of 57,795 in 2009-10. While there was a continued increase in the amount of credit outstanding per SHG, there was a fluctuating trend in the amount of saving per SHG in the recent years. According to the Status of Micro Finance in India 2009-2010 released by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) there are 69,53,000 SHGs in the country savings linked with banks and 48,51,000 SHGs having loan outstanding as on 31 March 2010.   The estimated number of households covered under this model is about 970 lakhs.   The total savings amount of all the SHGs with banks as on 31 March 2010 amounts to Rs.6198.71 crore and the total amount of loans outstanding against SHGs as on 31 March 2010 is Rs.28038.28 crore. Table IV: New SHGs Financed by Banks during the Year   Year New SHGs Financed by Banks during the Year No. (lakh) Amount (Rs. crore) Growth (%) 2007-08 12.28 8,849.26 2008-09 16.09 12,256.51 38.50 2009-10 15.87 14,453.30 17.90 2010-11 11.96 14,547.73 0.65 Source: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Under the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme as on 31 March 2011, 74.62 lakh SHGs held savings bank accounts with total savings of Rs. 7,016 crores as against 69.53 lakh SHGs with savings of Rs.6, 199 crores as on 31 March 2010. By December 2011, another 2.98 lakh SHGs have come under the ambit of the programme, taking the cumulative number of saving-linked groups to 77.60 lakh SHGs. As on 31 March 2011, 47.87 lakh SHGs had outstanding bank loans of Rs. 31,221 crores, as against 48.5 lakh SHGs with bank loans of Rs. 28,038 crore as on 31 March 2010. This represents a decline of 1.3 percent in the number of SHGs and a growth of 11.4 percent in bank loans outstanding to SHGs as per table 4 given above. During 2011-12, (upto December 2011), 4.51 lakh SHGs have been financed with an amount of Rs. 6,791.46 crore. Thus, the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme is considered as the largest financial inclusion programme in the world.   Conclusion SHG-Bank Linkage Programme is developed in India to provide finance to the vast rural poor. In this programme, the informal SHGs are credit linked with the formal financial institutions. The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme has emerged as a dominant, relevant and effective prorgramme in terms of borrowers and loans outstanding in India. It is flexible, independence creating, and imparts freedom of savings and borrowing according to the heterogeneous needs and requirements of the group members. Through this program, the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD has tried to promote relationship banking, i.e., Improving the existing relationship between the poor and the bankers with the social intermediation of the NGOs. The SHG-bank linkage program in India is rapidly expanding its outreach under the pioneering initiative of NABARD, the monitoring and supervision of RBI, and the promotional policies of the government of India. At the grass root level the program is being implemented by the commercial banks, cooperatives, and regional rural banks, with government agencies. Self-help groups (SHGs) play today major role in poverty alleviation in rural India. SHGs have changed the life of a particular individual or group for the better. This is considered not only a tool for poverty alleviation but also has proven to be relevant in offering women the possibility to break gradually away from the exploitation and isolation in India. The SHG-Bank Linkage Programme has provided a more favor able environment for enhancing Indias potential for greater equitable growth with empowerment while considering the positive signs in their performance.