Suchergebnisse

Mid-day meal scheme is one of the largest schemes of its kind, which deals with the nutritional intake of children, student retention, gender equality and socialization values among primary and upper primary schools. It addresses pressing social concerns to make school education accessible to all. One of the major restraints in the effective implementation of the scheme is the caste prejudice against the Dalits, as there has always been an unequal relationship between food and caste hierarchy. To study this, in-depth interviews were taken in the schools of the Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh, and secondary sources were used. This article analyses how identity-based discrimination is driven and reproduced on the school's premises with the mid-day meal workers. The findings show that implicit caste biases still exist within the social structures despite various positive affirmations that impact the effective implementation of the mid-day meal scheme. It indicates that sub-categorization discrimination is practised within the ambit of the Scheduled Caste community that could not be revealed from a macro-perspective. Therefore, a discourse is needed regarding caste or identity-based discrimination until a stigma is attached to an individual's identity.

Purpose
The widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has had a significant effect on various groups and communities of people including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their owners/managers. The current study aims to analyze recent literature regarding adoption of ICTs by MSMEs. Further, it tries to locate gender within this broader context of diffusion of ICTs among MSMEs.


Design/methodology/approach
Using the thematic analysis approach, the research articles pertaining to six leading journals on ICTs, gender and entrepreneurship published during the time period from 2011 to 2019 are reviewed.


Findings
The literature selected for the study has been discussed under two primary categories, viz. "adoption of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) for business purposes" and "insights on gender in ICT4D use by MSMEs."


Research limitations/implications
The context-dependent nature of ICT use can enable future entrepreneurs to assess the scope of specific ICTs in given areas of operation. The gendered nature of ICTs helps to evaluate as well as question the empowerment potential of ICTs. The study emphasizes the need to account for historical specificities and transnational linkages in understanding access, adoption and use of ICT4D by women MSME entrepreneurs.


Originality/value
The study bridges together literature on ICT4D use by MSMEs and the role of gender in ICT-mediated entrepreneurial environments. While unraveling the interplay of power dynamics in such environments, the scope for future research in terms of tapping into the content of information exchanges and exploring the implications of "dark side of internet" for women MSME entrepreneurs is also indicated.

Purpose
– Crime against elderly people is a matter of grave concern in contemporary India. Today, they are being attacked with grievous harm, murder, and abusive behaviour by known and unknown persons. These cases have certainly had a negative impact on their way of life and sense of well-being. Consequently, fear of crime is being recognised as an emerging social problem among the elderly population in India. The purpose of this paper is to examine different types of crime that are being committed against the elderly, leading to a fear of crime. And, to identify the victim offender relationship.


Design/methodology/approach
– A mixed method approach has been applied in this paper. This study has been designed as an exploratory lead-in to a planned wider study. It examines the factors shaping the victimisation experience of the elderly. The study has been conducted from October 2012 to January 2013 on a sample of 220 elderly people living in both rural and urban areas of Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.


Findings
– The findings suggest that emotional crime is a major problem among the elderly and more prevalent than crime against the body and property. The study has also found that elderly people have a fear of crime in their own houses due to victimisation.


Originality/value
– This is an original paper, which is based on the experiences of elderly people living in Indian society and discussed the impact of prior victimisation.