Unheard & Ignored: Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Disadvantaged Children in Nepal

The unprecedented situation brought about by the COVID-19 lockdown has affected the lives of children across the world. Although the information on COVID-19 impact on children is less heard and often ignored, its consequences will mark a ripple effect in the well-being of children, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds. This paper-based on secondary data explores the impacts induced by the COVID-19 lockdown on the lives of disadvantaged children in Nepal. The study has particularly discussed the problems faced by children from remote communities, children with disabilities, and children living in the streets. This study has firstly analyzed their existing situation through an extensive literature review followed by a detailed review of the impact and aftermath of the earlier crisis in those underprivileged lives and an outline of how the current pandemic can also trigger such repercussions in the coming periods. Findings show the different factors associated with intensifying the current problems experienced by the target groups. The study concludes with a recommendation to undertake primary research to highlight the problems from a much broader way so that the results can be implicated in a more scientific manner to grab the attention of policymakers and other relevant stakeholders to address the issue.

Influencing Factors for Participation in Developmental Programmes. A Study on Self-help Groups in Nepal

With the growth in technology, it is very clear that there is a change among women though SHGs for growth and development of themselves through participation in developmental programmes. The researcher presents this study with the fervent hope that this will draw the attention of the authorities, departments and organisations concerned with micro-finance and SHGs on various issues in respect of development of women. The study constitutes a sample of 399 respondents. Primary data was collected from the SHG members by using structured interview. The findings of the study indicate that women and their progress identity can be achieved. To make the SHGs really meaningful and successful, the government at different levels has to intervene in a large scale not as provider of finance or provider of other inputs, but as facilitator and promoter. It is also thus important to view micro-credit programmes as a complement rather than a substitute for effective policies to be able to transform national and international development of women. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-4: 438-444.

Factors Affecting Use of Formal Agricultural Credit among Smallholder Farmers in Western Nepal

Formal agricultural credit is important for sustainable development of agriculture sector and national economy, particularly in developing countries. Yet, many smallholder farmers lack participation in formal credit market. An investigation was done during 2019 in two main agro-ecological regions (hill and terai region) of western Nepal. Probit model was used to identify the factors affecting the use of formal agricultural credit among smallholder farmers. The results revealed that use of formal agricultural credit increases with age, education, commercial nature of production, and collateral availability, and decreases with number of adult in household, farming experience and farm size. The study concludes with key policy recommendations. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-4: 457-462.

Financial Aberrations of Rural Customers of Business Correspondents: Characteristics, Cases and Curative Strategies

Financial Inclusion through Business Correspondents is not free from financial aberrations. On the basis of some cases the paper investigated into the types and frequency of the financial aberrations, which are incident on customers .The magnitude of shocks as perceived by the BC customers due to the financial process aberrations and irregularities were gauged on a Likert scale and was found to be significantly high. As these shocks have a bearing on financial resilience, the research further attempted to investigate whether awareness of dealing with the system and thereby increasing financial resilience could be developed through financial literacy programs. A longitudinal research design was adopted and 17-18% of the male and female respondents from each district were exposed to a financial literacy programme in this context as devised by the researchers. It was found that the administration of the program on poor BC customers had a significant positive effect on their awareness and therefore on their build-up of financial resilience. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-3: 401-407.

Agathokakological Aspect of Alcohol Advertising in Newspapers

Nepal has a perennial history with the culture of alcohol and it is mostly seen as a form of social capital. Alcohol usage has been inextricable with local cultures, i.e., festivals. The current study aims to investigate aspects of alcohol advertising in newspapers using content analysis. The study focuses on unraveling the ideologies of liquor advertisers in boosting alcohol promotion mostly among the youth. Ostensibly, the boosterism of alcohol advertisements has been concomitant in an attempt to establish it as a mass culture. Consumerism remains the central theme of global contemporary societies and the fundamentals of capitalism are characterized by oligopolistic standards. Facets of such attempt to create a culture revolving around alcohol by injecting messages through advertisements to specific age groups. Forty random private newspapers and twenty state newspapers are taken into consideration and simplified into a coding form to test the two hypotheses. Variables such as themes of advertisement, age, published days, messages espoused, alcohol types, and types of advertisements have been independently tested for correlation. The research has highlighted that advertisers tend to promote alcohol as a form of reinforcing different cultures with the sales of alcohol. Also, there have been frequent reported attempts to magnify use of alcohol during weekends for tranquility from rigid bureaucratic norms. Waves of global cultures have also been associated with alcohol promotion as means of celebration Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-3: 408-415.

Anthropological Perspective on Gender Disparities in India

Gender is a social term; it is using for both male and female. But due to the inequality and discrimination, the gender term is more adopted only to female or women discrimination. In developing countries like India, gender inequality, discrimination is very high due to so many factors, such as economical factors, cultural factors and others. India is 140th Rank, out of 156 countries in world's gender gap index. It is showing that India's performance in gender equality. Not only a govt, every individual in the society are responsible for the gender inequality in India. When comparing with other nations, India’s ranking is lower than African countries. The main objective of the present paper explains the socio-cultural, economical, and other factors in various sectors in Pondicherry related to gender equality. Another aim of the study is to understanding the women development in a holistic manner. The methodology of the paper is Mixed Method of research. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-3: 416-425.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression among Diabetes Patients in Selected Hospital at Pokhara, Kaski

Although in recent decades depression and diabetes patients are increasing the numbers and proportions worldwide. Eighty percent of individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) dwell in low- and middle-income countries. The real crisis of depression and diabetes, where it exists, is the personal crisis of day-by day. The objectives of this study is to determine the prevalence and associates factors of depression among diabetic patients in selected hospital in Nepal. A cross sectional study was conducted at tertiary center of Pokhara, Kaski .Study participants identified with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=330) .Blood pressure, anthropometrics (height, weight and hip circumference) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were collected, a semi-structured interview was utilized to obtain information on socio-demographic and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used as a tool to assess depressive symptoms among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus .Logistic regression was used to investigate the associate factors of depression with diabetes patients. Majority (68.2%) of the respondents had no depression with diabetes, 16.7% of respondents having moderate, 12.4% having mild and few (2.7%) had severe depression with diabetes. Depression was significantly associated with Marital status (p=0.014), Educational status (0.016), Occupational status (p=0.003) and Drinking alcohol(p=0.020). The prevalence of depression with Diabetes in this study was 31.8%. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-3: 426-432

Economic Analysis of Sweet Orange in Sindhuli District of Nepal

Sweet orange is one of the major fruit grown in mid-hills of Nepal. It ranks 2nd among the citrus fruits in terms of area and production after mandarin. The study depicts the socio economic aspect of sweet orange production in Sindhuli district.Data were collected from 60 randomly selected sweet orange growers from Tinkanya and Baseswor of Golanjor rural municipality using semi-structured interview schedule. Two FGD's was done in those places for the triangulation of household survey.Analysis was done using SPSS and excel. Socio demographic studies revealed that majorly (93.3%), of growers were engaged in sweet orange farming. Most of the growers (98.3%) had agriculture as their major occupation. The average land holdings of the farmers was 0.53 ha in which 0.37 ha of land was occupied for sweet orange cultivation. The average sweet orange production of total sixty households was calculated to be 1981.83 kg/ha. The total cost of Rs. 25797.36/ha was estimated and the gross return from the production was Rs.72634/ha; the benefit cost ratio was found to be 2.81 which supports that sweet orange production is being a profitable farming business. Furthermore, insects attack followed by irrigation problems and difficulty in transportation followed by lack of market price information were the major problems found in the production and marketing of sweet orange respectively. There is a high potentiality of increasing the fruit productivity if the constraints against the sweet orange cultivation are addressed properly and adequately. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-3: 396-400

Conflict Management Skills among Nursing Tutors Working in Nursing Colleges

Conflict can exist among individuals, educational institutions, organizations, leadership of department, between staff, students and among tutors Conflict management is the practice of being able to identify and handle conflicts sensibly, fairly and efficiently. The objective of the study is to assess the conflict management skills among nursing tutors working in nursing colleges. Descriptive cross sectional research design was adopted for this study. Census method was used to select the subjects. Data collection was done among 74 nursing tutors of Kaski district. Data was collected by using self-administered Thomas Killman conflict mode standardized tool. The study revealed that 28.78% use avoiding, 20.58% use compromising, 19.9% use accommodating, and 18.74% collaborating and 12% use competing as conflict management skill. Conclusion: Avoiding was most commonly used conflict management style by nursing tutors whereas competing is the least. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-2: 359-361

Privatization of Education in India: A Critical View

Privatization is considered a process which is defined as the transfer of shares or assets, management, responsibilities from the public to private sector. Today it becomes a major issue in Education system. The present paper traces supportive decisions taken by India Government favouring privatization of Education. It also seeks to analyse the present condition of higher education with special reference to privatization of education in India. The paper follows analytical description as methodology through secondary data. It points out the emergence of private sector in higher education. Positive and negative impact of privatization on education & society are also identified. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 8, Issue-2: 352-358