Thursday, November 15, 2007

Secret of Successful Job-Interview

Everyday new institutes are opening to prepare aspiring young men and women for lucrative jobs in public and private sector. Interview for an anticipated post has become a very important step in the professional life of a young person. Despite trying their best for this moment things go wrong for most of the candidates. Sometimes it is difficult to digest the fact that even very capable people fail in the interviews only because they lack knowledge of basic concept and the art of success which help them to swim through the tides successfully.

WHAT THE TOOLS ARE

Without good tools you can’t give a good shape to any object. Similarly you must be equipped with the necessary tools for shaping your success story in the job-market. Most of the people think that their capability and experience is enough to help them face any interview board successfully. They forget that at an interview they have to face people with throbbing hearts, emotions and impulses. In fact they are not ruthless or monotonous machines which just read your papers and testimonials and push you ahead to take charge of a responsible job. Many factors influence these human beings apart from your abilities related to your job.

BASIC PREPARATION

Don’t bang your head with an interview board like an enthusiastic teenager (they have a passion for driving fast bikes mindlessly and get bruises). Keep your mind cool and prepare well. Refresh your general knowledge, rehearse answering the expected questions (in front of a mirror now and then). Arrange your certificates properly in an attractive folder. Avoid taking irrelevant documents. You generally need: copies of your educational and experience certificates, bio-data, application (sent to the company). Be sure you fulfil the requirements mentioned in the advertisements of the company otherwise you may become a laughing stock as soon as your folder is examined. Never push your folder for the perusal of the board until it is demanded. Don’t forget to pray to God for success before leaving for an interview. It will definitely boost your confidence. Take light breakfast/meals as it will keep your mind light and you will feel less nervous. A heavy stomach can cloud your mind, leading to nervousness.

BE WELL DRESSED

Wear a jacket, ride your bike, and appear before the board, like your favourite hero but you end up becoming a villain. Although this may be the right step for many to attract the attention of some people but you need a formal dress to woo the board. You must feel comfortable and confident in your dress. It should be clean and well ironed. Avoid gaudy or bright-coloured suits. You have to wear a moderate dress according to the occasion. Polish your shoes, have a hair cut, if needed.

CONTROLLING NERVOUSNESS

Nervousness is natural. Even the best of the orators, businessmen or politicians used to get nervous. So there is nothing extraordinary about your nervousness. Moreover, you can control it easily. In fact, nervousness is a form of stored mental energy. The best solution is to use it positively: 1. Concentrate in preparing, 2. Shine your personality (good dress, shoes, haircut etc.) , 3. Eat light food, 4. Pray to god, 5. Act confidently, even if you feel lack of confidence. It is psychological fact that we become what we think and act. So have courage as you have all the positive heat to melt away your nervousness successfully.

To control your nervousness it is also necessary to reach at the place of interview at least half an hour ago. Take coffee or cold drink and lift up your mood. Talk to the receptionist and other candidates. Ask some questions and enrich your general knowledge. Creating a friendly atmosphere will help you gain confidence. Whenever your name is called enter with a light smile and greet the interviewers. Don’t sit down until you are asked to, and do say ‘thanks’ when you are offered a seat or asked to sit down. Relax and breathe deeply as you need a little more oxygen at this stage. However, you will be normal soon.

SPEAK WELL

A candidate must have command over language, pronounce the words clearly and have a good store of vocabulary. His sentence-making should be grammatically correct. Answers should be in brief and to the point. Lack of fluency, bad grammar, incorrect pronunciation or answering in a hurry without listening to the board properly can surely land you in trouble. Such candidates never get good posts in big companies. Join a good institute to improve your sentence-making, pronunciation and fluency.

EXPECTED QUESTION

Interview is basically a series of questions asked from the interviewee to test his ability, wisdom and personality. {Interview-boards of many big companies also have an expert who can understand human psychology, and who is capable enough to read the mind of a candidate by studying his body language). We can divide the expected question in three categories: 1. Questions relating to personal information of a person (family background, interests, education, experience etc.); 2. Questions relating to his knowledge about the work he will be responsible for in the company; 3. Questions to check the personality of a person - his nature, ideology, decision-making & problem-solving ability etc.

Companies may have different set of questions according to their work culture. However most of the question are related to the categories of the questions given above. Some irrational questions are also asked by some interview boards. Don’t panic in such a situation. Maintain your self-confidence and answer in a simple and straightforward way. Interview board may be checking your psychological structure. If you get irritated or try to be over smart you will definitely be discarded from the list of expected winners.

WHAT TO TELL ABOUT YOU

Many interview boards ask this question: Tell us about yourself. And most candidates are unaware how to answer this question and how much to speak. Many may say: I am ….. My father is……, My mother is…, I was born and raised at…, My height is…, I completed my 12th from… etc. There are recruiters who ask more pointed questions: What are your parents, what is your educational qualification, how much experience do you have etc. It is relatively easy to answer such type of questions. When you are asked ‘tell us/me about yourself’ focus on your academic achievements and experience. Also tell about your other achievements or traits which may have an impact on the board or may be helpful for the company. A modal answer: I am graduate of Delhi University. I completed my post graduate diploma in Marketing Management from YMCA. I worked in ABC International for three years as Marketing Executive. I was able to motivate my team in such a way that we mostly achieved more than our target. I always want to do something more for the company I am employed by.

DON'T BE CLEVER

Many candidates try to act cleverly to show their intelligence but it always misfires. Remember that every company needs sincere and hard-working employees. Clever cats are kept at a distance. Listen to the board members carefully. Whenever a question is asked from you answer in brief. If you don’t understand a question request the board politely to repeat it. Talk like you are obeying your seniors, giving them all the respect. Speak confidently and clearly. Your voice must be loud enough so that the board may hear and understand it easily. Don’t give any unnecessary information or you may become a big bore for the board. In case, you are unable to think answer of a question, just say sorry. Avoid repeating the same sentence or phrase.

Never contradict the board even if you have a vast knowledge of the subject. Don’t criticise any other community, company or person while giving your answers. Control your emotions. Imposing or an egoist personality is never liked by a board. Humility and politeness are your winning edges. At the end of the interview don’t forget to say the board ‘thanking you very much’. Before leaving move a few steps backward respectfully and come out.

IMPROVE BODY-LANGUAGE

The importance of body language is yet to be recognised fully. Sometimes body language of a candidate even proves weightier than his/her ability. It will solve this puzzle of your mind: why do some candidates are selected although they are less capable than others in every way? If your body language is negative it will create an artificial distance between you and the interview board. The board will be confused and unable to judge your abilities. A good body language carries your confidence to the board, assuring and convincing them about your ability. They think you will learn fast even if you are less capable at the time.

Your good dress, smile, confidence and good manners convey a language, which effect the interview greatly. Don’t sit on the chair like a hard rock. Sit easily, ready to face the bombardment of questions. If you panic at the first salvo you will lose the game. Instead, feel relaxed and think that you are here to gain experience and learn. Like a shower it will cool your nerves down.

Keep your file/folder on your lap, look straight at the interview board. Don’t hold a pen or key in your hands. Avoid scratching parts of your body like a fool. Don’t touch your hair, nose or shirt’s button again and again. Keep all this nonsense for your home.

Now you are armed with the basic knowledge and definitely ready to face any interview board. Some experience will hone your art and you will be able to win a good post in a big company in future. So hope for the best.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Pimples and Acne home remedies

Baking soda is a chemical compound called sodium bicarbonate. It is crystalline fine powder found nearly in every kitchen and used for leavening the food items such as cake.

Garlic has been used successfully to cure acne. Rub with raw garlic several times a day. Garlic is known to have cured the toughest of acne problem. The external use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, pimples and boils. Acne can further be cured by eating three seeds of raw garlic once daily for a month. This purifies the blood stream and ensures basic cleansing of blood keeping acne away.

Fenugreek is another useful remedy for acne. A paste made of the leaves of this vegetable, applied over the face every night before going to bed and washed with warm water in the morning, prevents pimples and blackheads.

During the initial one week 'all-fruit' diet, a warm-water enema should be taken daily to cleanse the bowels. Hot fomentation should be applied locally to open up the pores and to bring out the waste matter. The affected parts should then be rinsed with cold water.

Check the label to find out if makeup is water- or oil-based. If the label is unclear, use this guideline: If it separates into water and powder when left to sit undisturbed for a while, it's water-based, and if it stays mixed, it contains oil.

Make a warm bath with blanch of nettle and rosemary to reduce the acne.

Apply equal amount of lemon juice and rose water with a cotton ball, leave for half an hour and wash. Repeat for 15-20 days.

Rub the acne with garlic cloves several times a day.
Wash face with avocado paste mixed with water.

Take1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of white sugar wet a little and rub face.

For acne scars: Mix 1 tablespoon of sour cream ( 0% fat for oily face), 1 tablespoon of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of grind oatmeal and 3-4 drops of lemon juice. Apply on face, leave for 10 minutes and wash off.

Blend 1 peeled apple with 1 tablespoon of honey, half a cucumber and 1 tablespoon of yogurt (use a blender). Apply on face, leave for 20 minutes and wash off with warm water.

Put toothpaste on your pimple before you go to bed, should help reduce swelling overnight. Make sure it is the paste not the gel. Any brand should do.

Place Strawberry leaves on the acne, the alkalinity helps to reduce the swelling.
Wash your face twice a day in warm salty water. This should leave your face oil free without aggravating the acne like soap.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Regular Health Mistakes

All of us make little health mistakes that cause damage to our bodies in the long run - simply because we are unaware we are doing something wrong. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by many of us.





Crossing our legs
Do you cross your legs at your knees when sitting? Although we may believe that this is the lady-like elegant way to sit, sitting this way cuts down circulation to your legs. If you don"t want varicose veins to mar the beauty of your legs and compromise your health, uncross your legs every time you realise you have one knee on top of the other. The best way to sit is to simply place both legs together on the floor, balancing your weight equally. If you feel like changing position, instead of crossing your legs, simply move both legs together to one side. As an alternative, you could also consider crossing your legs loosely at the ankles. This is a classically elegant way to sit, and is far better for your legs and your health than sitting with your legs crossed at your knees.

Not changing our toothbrush
How often do you change your toothbrush? Most of us wait until most of the bristles have either fallen off, or are in such bad shape that we"d be embarrassed to pull out our brush in public. However, since not many of us need to pull out our brush in public, we carry on with our frayed one until we lose it. Replace your toothbrush often. Damaged bristles can harm the enamel, and don"t massage your gums well. If you find brushing your teeth a pain like I do, but know you must do it, you might as well be doing it right. Imagine going through the annoyance of brushing your teeth twice a day only to find out that you"re damaging your enamel every time you clean your teeth. Also, use a brush with soft bristles unless your dentist has advised otherwise.

Eating out often
There are oils that are high in cholesterol, and oils that cause little harm and are better for your heart. However, no matter how light the oil is, it is never a good idea to eat too much of it. Avoid fried foods.Remember that in all probability your favourite Indian food restaurant throws a huge, HUGE chunk of butter in a tiny bowl of dal. Rita, who worked in the kitchen of a 5 star hotel, was shocked when she saw the cook chop a 500gm butter slab in half, and throw half into a Paneer Makhani dish. No wonder the customers left licking their fingers. And no wonder they felt so stuffed and heavy afterwards. Limit outdoor eating unless you know that you"re getting served light and healthy food.

Skipping breakfast
Never, ever skip breakfast. Remember, when you wake up in the morning it"s been around 10-12 hours since your last meal. Your body needs food now, more than at any other time. Eat a heavy breakfast. You will then be busy through the day, and the calories will get expended quickly. If you are trying to diet, eat a light dinner. Here are some more common health mistakes we make. Being informed and making a few changes can help make us feel a whole lot better.


High heels
High heels sure look great, but they're murder for your back. This however doesn't mean you should steer clear of stilettos. Wear them, but not when you know you will be walking around a lot. Wear them when going out for lunch or dinner - when the only walking you will be doing is to your car, to the table, and back. Avoid high heels when you are going somewhere on foot. If you are constantly tempted to wear your heels, take a good look at your flats. Is there something about them you dislike? Invest in a new pair of beautiful flats or shoes with a low heel. Buy something you love, that you will enjoy wearing. If possible, get a matching bag. You will then enjoy your flats as much as you do your heels.


Sleeping on a soft bed
You don't have to sleep on the floor be kind to your back, but do make sure you have a firm mattress. Although a mattress on springs is soft and lovely to sink into, it's bad for your back. If you already have an old bed with springs, you don't need to invest in a new one - simply get a thick wooden plank put over the springs, and place the mattress on the plank. Similarly, if your mattress is old and lumpy, throw it out and get a new one. Your neck and your back will thank you. The same rule applies to sofas. If you will be spending hours on a sofa, get a firm yet comfortable one. Sofas you completely sink into are not the best idea.

Pillows
No matter how comfortable sleeping with ten cushions is, have pity on your neck and resist. Sleep with one pillow, and make sure it is not too thick. If your pillow gets lumpy, discard it and go for a new one. Get a thin pillow if you sleep on your stomach, and something a little thicker if you sleep on your back, to give your neck adequate support


Not exercising
So all of us know we should exercise more, but many of us don't. This is a health mistake we consciously make! And why is that? Simply because we refuse to admit the damage we are causing to our bodies by not working out. A number of people only start working out once they've experienced a warning signal. Don't wait for a heart attack to strike before you decide to opt for a lifestyle change. Make the change now. You don't need to train for the marathon to be in top shape. Half an hour of brisk walking three to four times a week will make a world of difference to your health. You could then increase this to forty minutes, four times a week - and you're all set. If you haven't exercised for a week, you're making a mistake.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

How I Earn Lakhs of Rupees

How I Earn Lakhs of Rupees by Investing Just Rs.140 in less than 10 days?

Read this page Carefully to become
a Millionaire in just 10 days !

This can change Your life. Get your own Dream House.
Drive your Favorite car. Enjoy your World tour.

Dear Internet Friend, Give me 7 minutes. I will show how to become a Millionaire.

Anybody will think twice before investing their hard earned money in any company or business. But if you are told that you will get Lakhs in 10 days, will you believe it? But it is absolutely true!!. Are you ready to spend just Rs.140 to earn Lakhs in 10 days? After all Rs.140 can get you just 2 cinema tickets+2 pop corns.

First of all, This system is 100% legal and 1000% successful. This is not a Scam or Fraud way of making Money.
This system of making money is very simple than any other system in the Internet. You can see the result in less than 10 days. This system had already made many Millionaires in India. Why not you be the next Millionaire ?

Let me Explain you this simple, powerful business concept.

This is not a MLM or Money chain program.

First you need to Invest Rs.140/- only. If you think to invest Rs.140 for this system, then let me tell you one thing, this amount can get you only 2 cinema tickets + 2 pop corns. If you want to become a Millionaire you can skip one Sunday movie. By next Sunday you go to the movie in the car.

For this Rs.140, you will get "Internet Money making E-books" which worths more than Rs.10000.

Please follow the steps below to implement this program.

1) First you need to send Money Order (MO) for 20 rupees each of the 7 members to the addresses mentioned below.

(Money Orders Cost You Just Rs 1/- For Rs 20/- All Over India)

2) The first 2 addresses are the Admins, who take care of creating your website and other maintenance activities which includes your website Hosting and administrative cost. Rest of the 5 addresses are the member's address, who joined by investing Rs.140.

3) Once you send the Money Order (MO) to all the members, we will set up a website with your name. You will get a website similar to the one you are reading now (www.yourname.cash2all.com).

4) In your website (www.yourname.cash2all.com), we will place your address at #5 position. The #1 position address will be deleted and #2 becomes #1. Now #3 becomes #2. Similarly #4 becomes #3 and #5 becomes #4 position. Finally your address will be placed in #5.


What will happen when you joined and placed in #5 position?
Well. Your doubt is absolutely correct.
Once you become a member, you will be provided with all the marketing tools and softwares to promote your website (www.yourname.cash2all.com) in the internet. If someone reads your website and if he is interested like you, they will send Money Order (MO) to you and all the addresses mentioned in your website (www.yourname.cash2all.com). At this stage your address will be moved to #4 position and a new member will be at #5 position. Now the #5 position member will do the same kind of marketing like you do and still you get Money Order (MO) as you are in #4th position.


Let's do a simple calculation "How you can be a Millionaire". ( Please read this calculation until you understand )

If you just recommend only 10 members. (A very low example) then you make Rs.200 with your name at #5 position on the website. Now, each of the 10 persons who just sent you Rs.20 each , refers the MINIMUM 10 persons, each with your name at #4 position, and that is another Rs.2000 for you. Now those 10 each refers MINIMUM 10 persons with your name at #3 position and It will bring Rs.20,000!. Now, those 10 persons turn around MINIMUM 10 persons with your name at #2 position and you will make an additional Rs.2,00,000! OK, now here is the fun part, each of those 10 persons refers 10 with your name at #1 position, then you just made you Rs.20,00,000!!! A MILLIONAIRE.!!!! That is YOU!!! And all this with only 10 response. Imagine in case you refer more than 10. Sky is the limit. With an original investment of only Rs.140! AMAZING! You can too become a Millionaire.

You can also see the earnings chart given below*
Your Position No. of members referred by you Your Earnings
#5 10 members 10 X Rs.20 = Rs.200
#4 10 X 10 = 100 members 100 X Rs.20 = Rs.2000
#3 100 X 10 = 1000 members 1000 X Rs.20 = Rs.20000
#2 1000 X 10 = 10000 members 10000 X Rs.20 = Rs.200000
#1 10000 X 10 = 100000 members 100000 X Rs.20 = Rs.2000000
* The above Results may increase or decrease based on individuals effort


Do you think that this Program will Work? And can I also be a Millionaire?

The thing to remember is, that thousands of people all over the world are joining the internet daily and reading these articles everyday, JUST LIKE YOU are now!! Reports have said, that nearly 30,000 Indians join every day in the Internet. Out of that nearly more than 60 of people are joining in internet only in search of earning opportunities. So you have a very good background to work on. We have a lot of potential to earn. Another Report says, that Internet users are increasing 5 times more every year. I have analysed all the reports and surveys and they all answer only in favour of us. This program don't demand Rupees 5,000 or 2,000 or 1,000 or 500 like others do. Apart from all this, I have made Rs.2,12,000 within 2 weeks. So you can join this program without any doubt and I am sure that you will also be a millionaire soon.

Please follow the Instructions to join this program.

Step 1) Write down all the 7 addresses given below in a plain paper.

Step 2) Go to the nearest post office and make 7 money orders, 20 rupees each.

Step 3) There will be a space in the Money Order (MO) form called "Space for communication". In that space please write the below details very clearly. (Please avoid writing in running letters to avoid confusions. Write it very neatly and clearly)

*

Write your Name
*

Write the website address that you are currently viewing. That is www.rbhagyalakshmi.cash2all.com
*

Your Email address

Step 4) Send an Email to admin@cash2all.com with the subject " Add me in #5 Position" with the following details.

*

Write your Name
*

Write the website address that you are currently viewing. That is www.rbhagyalakshmi.cash2all.com
*

Money Order Form Numbers (Mention the all 7 Form numbers)
*

Your Postal address and your telephone number. Please be careful in writing your Postal address. Because for this address only you will receive money orders.

Step 5) Once we confirm your payment details, We will send an Email which contains all the instructions on how to start the business.
What we do once you make payment to all the 7 members ?
We will create a website similar to the one you are reading. (www.yourname.cash2all.com.This website address will be sent by Email ) . This website contains your address at #5 position. You will also get "Money making ebooks link" and Internet marketing tips and ideas. We will provide you around 200 classifieds website list. You can use this to advertise your website. (www.yourname.cash2all.com).

Below are the 7 addresses ( 2 Admins + 5 Members ) where you need to send
Money Order (MO) for 20 rupees each.

Admin 1)

M. Dhanraj, 369 Sanyasikundu Main Road, kitchipalayam, Salem - 636015. Tamilnadu.
Admin 2)

N.Praveen Raj, S/o K.Narayanan, Vaidheeshwara Nagar Opp, Konnur (po) Mettur Taluk, Mettur - 636404. Tamilnadu.

Member addresses who joined before you.

#1)

M. Gayathri, 53/B9 College Road, Vellore, Namakkal Dt - 638182. Tamilnadu.
#2)

A.Saraswati, W/O,N. Arjun Kumaran, 4/121, Muthukapatti Post, Namakkal[Tk/Dt]-637405, TamilNadu.
#3)

P.Sarvani, W/O, Sd.Amanulla, D.No. 24-2-644, Saraswati Nagar, 2nd St(Near C.V.Raman School), Dargamitta, Nellore-524003, Andhra Pradesh.
#4)

P.Santhamma, W/O P.Krishna Reddy, D.No.1-5-599/6B, Balaji colony, Tirupati-517502, Chittoor(DT), Andhra Pradesh.
#5)

R.Bhagyalakshmi,Uni-3, No.1062 1063,Ist Cross, 4th Main, 2nd Block,BEL LAYOUT, Vidyaranyapura,BANGALORE - 560 097.


Will this program be stopped at any time?

It is not possible to stop this program in India because everyone is trying to earn extra cash and opportunities. A big percentage of housewives, retired people and students are looking for extra cash and this human urge will never stop. This small little investment plan makes it possible for everyone to join. We can make big money working in a community and not as individuals.

This a team work where every one gets benefited by helping each other.

Don't Miss this Great, Simple, Powerful Earning Opportunity.

Today is the right time to start. If you skip today, you may lose thousands of rupees in a single day.


Always for your Success,

Mr. Dhanraj

If you have any doubts, clarifications, feel free to contact by admin@cash2all.com or Online Chat or through Phone.

Online Chat Support


Phone Support
09894226764



All the Best ! Happy Earning !!!!

Friday, November 2, 2007

10 Most Romantic Tips

1. Spread rose petals all over the bedroom.


*********

2. What could be more classic than a fine gold locket with your photo inside? (Maybe a photo of the two of you.)


*********

3. Bring home one small, unexpected gift each week.


*********


4. Write a classic, romantic, passionate, handwritten, heartfelt love letter. Most adults haven't written a love letter since high school. (Why not? Have we lost our youthful idealism, or have we just gotten lazy?)


*********

5. When traveling, give your partner a bouquet of roses; one rose for each day that you'll be away. Attach a note that says something like this: "These three roses represent the three days I'll be away from you. They also symbolize the love, joy, and laughter we share together."


*********

6.Say "I love you" at least one times a day.


*********

7. Guys: Surprise her by performing one of her chores for her. (And not something easy like carrying the groceries in from the car, but something that requires some time and effort -- like cooking all the meals over a weekend, or cleaning the entire house.)


*********

8. Ladies: Send him a letter sealed with a kiss. (Use your reddest lipstick.)


*********

9. Hold hands.


*********

10. On your yearly romantic checklist, make plans for Valentine's Day -- well in advance!

MALNUTRITION -The Indian perception


Some simple Statistics






Recent evidence suggests that undernutrition levels in India are among the highest in the world. The National Family Health Survey data shown above are an example. At the time of the survey 30% of young children had fever, 20% had diarrhoea, and 20% had an infectious cough. Worse still, while the overall state of nutrition and health in India is bad enough, the situation is even worse in the poorer states, not to speak of the more deprived regions within these states.



In Bihar:





90 per cent of children are deprived of adequate vaccination

65 per cent of women are unable to read and write

26 per cent of children are severely undernourished


In Orissa:





36 per cent of young children had fever at the time of the NFHS survey

Only 20% of adult women consume milk at least once a week

16 per cent of adult women get an egg at least once a week

14 per cent or adult women get a fruit at least once a week


In the more deprived regions of these states, the situation can only be described as a humanitarian emergency. Consider for instance Kusumatand, a scheduled-caste hamlet in Palamau district, Jharkhand. In a random sample of 21 households:




20 reported that they had to skip meals regularly

only 7 owned a blanket or quilt

only 2 reported that all adult members had chappals
Lowering depths, growing pangs
The numbers are among the worst in the world. But instead of addressing the infinite nightmare of poverty, the Indian government appears to be doing away with the poor altogether by statistical jugglery and artificially lowering the poverty line, says Colin Gonsalves.


09 July 2006 - UNICEF's report concluding that child malnutrition in India is comparable to sub-Saharan Africa comes as no surprise to all those working on food security in India. It may offend the sensibilities of those for whom 'India shining' was an attractive though unrealistic projection, but there is nothing on the horizon but gloom for the poor.



When the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) case started in 2001, there were starvation deaths reported throughout the country. The active intervention of the Supreme Court enthused many, and put the issue of food security on the centre stage. I have no doubt that had the Supreme Court not intervened, the thrust of globalisation, privatisation and structural adjustments would have resulted in the closure of the public distribution system and the curtailment of the midday meal scheme and the integrated child development scheme (ICDS). When Chief Justice Kirpal was on the verge of retirement, he asked for an assessment of what had been achieved, and I said that we may not have gone ahead for all these years but the court has certainly stemmed the rot.



An average family of five is consuming at least 200 kg of grain less in a year than 50 years ago. Food grains are available but the poor do not have the money to purchase them.


Since then, we have seen the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) replaced by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). However, the attitude towards hunger and starvation did not change. The principal trump card of PUCL when it began the litigation, namely that 60 million tons of grain lay in the godowns while people went without food, was neutralised by the government exporting 25 million tons of grain over a period of three years instead of using the grain to feed the poor in India. First the NDA government, and later the UPA government, chose to export this grain at BPL prices to Eastern Europe, some of it as cattle feed.



Statistical jugglery



Anxious to show that globalisation was working not only for the rich but also for the poor, the World Bank organised a seminar of selected economists, all of whom wrote papers claiming that poverty in India had come down from 36 per cent to 22 per cent. This was published in a special report of the Economic and Political Weekly.



This conclusion was thereafter widely criticised. The most trenchant criticism came from Professor Utsa Patnaik of Jawaharlal Nehru University, in her article, The Republic of Hunger. On the basis of the NSS data on calorie intake for 1999-2000, Professor Patnaik found that 70 per cent of the Indian population was at or below the poverty line fixed by the Planning Commission in 1979 - at 2400 calories per person per day. This was a shocking condemnation of the manner in which India was developing. She also calculated that an average family of five was consuming at least 200 kg of grain less in a year than 50 years ago. Food grains were available but the poor did not have the money to purchase them.



The debate over the extent of poverty in India made us look at the alternative Planning Commission poverty line in terms of cash. That made interesting reading. The latest figures for 2000-2001 were Rs.11 per person per day in the rural areas and Rs.17 in Delhi. A clerk in any office of Delhi would spend that amount of money travelling to and from work by bus! The international poverty line is two dollars a day. Yet in India, a country which swears by globalisation, the poverty line remains at 40 cents a day. Thus, by the statistical jugglery of artificially lowering the poverty line, India hopes to do away with poor people altogether!



The Supreme Court intervened in the Integrated Child Development Scheme, holding the central government accountable for the implementation of its own scheme requiring an anganwadi centre for every 1000 of the population. Against 12 lakh anganwadi centres needed, the central government had sanctioned money only for six lakh centres. Even these were not functioning in many areas. Though the court directed the government to implement its scheme fully, the finance minister made no allocation in the most recent budget.



Globalisation's mantra



Then the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler, visited India in August last year and made his report to UN. He found that "levels of malnutrition and poverty remain very high and food insecurity has increased since the 1990s." He found "one of the highest levels of child malnutrition in the world, higher than most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa". He calculated that 80 per cent of the Indian population was living on less than two dollars per day. He saw signs of increased concentration in land ownership and increased landlessness. He reported over 250 cases of starvation deaths from many parts of India and in particular from the tea gardens in West Bengal. He found hunger rampant among the dalits and tribals. He personally witnessed practices of casteism and untouchability in villages of Orissa. He concluded that "India was not currently on track to achieve the goals set in relation to malnutrition and under nourishment” in the UN's Millennium Development Goals.



Globalisation has one mantra: subsidies are bad. However, without massive food subsidies the poor cannot purchase grains at all. To tackle the spectre of starving India, the government needs to push up its financial commitments from one per cent to two per cent GDP. Only then can we hope for any change.

Monday, October 29, 2007

10 effective ways to stay motivated

A software engineer, thought it was end of the road for her when she was not selected for an overseas assignment. "I was completely sidelined and to top it, two of my team members were chosen over me. For the next few days, I was at home, crying helplessly as if my whole life was over. I was totally without any motivation in life and didn't even want to go back to work anymore. I still feel lousy."

The Software Engineer just wallowed in misery and didn't give it a second thought, but let's take more a serious look. Was it all so terrible? Why did she/he assume his/her career was over or out of her control? Are any of our careers really out of our control? If so, in whose hands do the controls lie?

Our bosses? Our circumstances? Or we, ourselves? There are times when you feel like you are on a roll, and nothing can get you down. And then there are times when it seems that the road to success is filled with nothing but boulders and gaping potholes. It is on this rutted road that you need motivation the most.

Social networking could land you your dream job
Motivation comes from within. You might be inspired by achievements of others, but, to go far in life, you need to feel charged and determined to achieve your goals.

Try these tips on how to be self-motivated to get your work life back on track or to keep going top speed on your career path!

1. Be confident. If you don't believe in yourself, why would anyone else? We all have something we are good at. Have faith in yourself and try to work on your niche skills. Drive the fear of failure far away from you. Remember, what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger!

2. Be clear. Fuzzy, undefined goals are difficult to focus on. How will you proceed when the path seems all foggy? Request your manager for defined, measurable objectives and tasks.

If your manager is not very forthcoming, take some initiative and work with him until you have clarity about your role and what you will be appraised on, at the end of the year. Self-motivated people work best with clearly defined objectives in life. Even if the targets seem a little hazy, house-bred motivation can come in real handy!

3. Work on yourself. Nothing works better as a power shot of motivation than the knowledge that you are good at what you do! Be on top of things at work. Identify your weak areas and get them out of the way. Enroll in courses that will raise your market value and also your motivation levels. Getting a few certifications and qualifications in your functional skills will definitely instill a great deal of confidence.

4. Take criticism positively. Even though the other person has no such intentions, turn all negative criticism into a positive driving force. Failure is a state a mind. If you think you can succeed, you will. Always think positive. That way, instead of brooding over past disappointments, you will route your frustration into positive energy required for working harder. It works like magic.

"My boss was always running me down. Even when I did a good job, he never praised me. Initially I used to feel terrible and slowly started to look for excuses to avoid official meetings when he would once again find reasons to discourage me. I contemplated resigning and finding a new job where I did not have to prove myself over and over again," recounts Mohit Sethi*. "But then, there were no guarantees that my next boss would be better to work with. So, I took it up as a challenge. I started reporting to work early and always finished my tasks before time. My team members started to respect me more because I helped them when my work was done. Gradually, my boss took a back step when he realised that I was now a highly productive member of the team. If I had not been self motivated to prove a point, thoughts of having failed and run away would have chased me forever."

5. Look out for challenges. If the current job demotivates you, not to worry. Be open to try out new things if your present role has become too boring to continue even a day more. Talk to your seniors to redefine your role to optimise your capabilities. Establish your reputation as somebody who is not scared to take on new challenges in life.

6. Be persistent. Most things may not work out right the first time. This just means that you need to try harder. However, ensure that you set your heart on goals that are really important to you and will help you progress in life. Save your efforts for things that matter. Do not waste your energies on peripheral things.

Manage your time, maximise your efficiency
7. Keep the company of successful people. Try to surround yourself with confident people who are driven and high on life. Read books that fill you with optimism. Put up motivating posters and quotes on your workstation that will spread positive energy and drive away any depressing thoughts. Look around for successful people and try to emulate them. Find out what makes them tick and include that in your working style.

8. Celebrate life. If something doesn't shape up like you thought it would, it does not mean everything else is doomed as well. Do not feel stressed; high stress leads to low motivation. Take active interest in things happening around you. Live your life well. Continue to have faith in yourself and get involved in things that give you happiness. That itself will generate enough motivation for you to glide over waves of setbacks.

9. Start today. List all that is important for you to achieve your goals. Divide long-term goals into smaller milestones and celebrate each accomplished goal. Procrastination is a killer so keep it at bay.

10. Keep dreaming. Lastly, do not forget to keep dreaming. Dream big! Let your dreams fuel your desire to get closer to your goals. Write your dreams for yourself in a diary or a journal and constantly refer to them so that you do not forget or lose sight of the objective.

Remember, "Motivation is all about how high you can bounce when you hit absolute rock bottom."