HUMAN RIGHTS Synopsis: Every human being is entitled to human rights such as right to live and exist, right to freedom, freedom from exploitation, equality before law, to have adequate standard of living etc. The UN adopted Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Rights have their corresponding duties. Human rights presuppose a rule of law and equality. Violation of human rights is very common among totalitarian, theocratic, despotic states...

  CHILD LABOUR Synopsis:  About 70-90 million children are employed In various industries in very trying conditions. Children are being exploited as labourers both by organised and unorganized sectors of industry. The rights of the children are being abused specially in developing countries. Child labour cannot be eliminated unless there is free, universal and compulsory primary education. Poor parents cannot afford to send their children to school. The problem is multidimensional...

  GUJRAL DOCTRINE Synopsis: Gujral Doctrine is new in the sense that it lays more emphasis on open and courteous dialogue on bilateral issues with neighbours without taking into consideration the short terms gains and costs. Gujral believes that India as a big economy and country in the region has to give more without expecting commensurate returns. Economic cooperation through SAARC and settlement of disputes by mutual discussions is at the...

  POWER FAMINE IN INDIA  Synopsis:  India is passing through severe power crisis. Power-production, transmission and distribution need to be streamlined. The wide gap between production of power and its demand is shocking and the whole system is under severe stress. India has failed miserably in achieving targeted power generation. The massive shortfall in power-production shows power projects could not be implemented because of various reasons closely connected with wrong policies...

  INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDIA Synopsis: Infrastructure facilities are of fundamental importance for growth. They require immediate huge investments and cannot be undertaken without large scale private participation. Our power sector is in bad shape and so is road-transportation. We have failed to achieve the envisaged power-production targets in our Five Year Plans, and it is a matter of great concern. Road-development and expansion too, is not as desired to match the...

  EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN Synopsis:  women in India are openly and at various levels discriminated against. Traditional mind-sets give preference to sons over daughters. Sex-determination and selection is practiced on large scale in Asian countries. Women are still in chains of traditional thinking and unaware of their rights. Women literacy is very low and they are subject to various types of insecurities. Women should be immediately brought into social and political...

  ROAD ACCIDENTS Synopsis: Road transport in India is very popular for various reasons, but the conditions of the Indian roads are very poor and deplorable. The rate of road-accidents and fatality in the country is very high. Pressure on roads has been on increase and the number of vehicles is increasing by leaps and bounds. But there has not been matching increase in outlay for the roads in Five Year...