PEARL Multidisciplinary Journal

Corporate Social Responsibility Projects of KIOCL: An Impact Assessment

As pressure is added by consumers seeking to make more responsible choices and by the constraints of ever-dwindling natural resources, more companies are incorporating sustainable strategies and adopting more socially responsible practices. The top trends in the area of corporate social responsibility include increased transparency, investment in green technologies, local community and employee engagement, and recognition of economic inequality. The organisations can no longer see themselves only as profitmaking machines if they wish to survive. Companies today are giving more priority to the corporate responsibility as it is the need of the hour. The corporate is increasingly being required to align with societal norms while generating financial returns. The CSR practitioners and organisations, validate the segments like production and distribution, wealth, ethical systems, sustainable management practices by applying approaches that may be unique to the organisation. A unique and varied approach to develop CSR strategies is very useful for the development of the community and nation as a whole. KIOCL has undertaken several community oriented projects and the study revealed that it was the need of the community and it has benefitted them to a great extent.

The Future Outlook of Nigerian Agricultural Sector Growth in the Light of Global Financial Developments-Discourse for Nigeria Green Alternative

This empirical research investigated the future outlook of Nigerian Agricultural Sector Growth in the light of global financial developments using linear and symmetric price transmission mechanism model (ECM). The study made use of annual time series data covering GDP-Agriculture and its subsectors which spanned from 1990-2012. The findings showed that long-run association exit between agriculture and its sub-sectors with the mother sector establishing long-run equilibrium with its sub-sectors, though the convergence rate was moderate as indicated by the attractor coefficient. Furthermore, results showed that all the sub-sectors have positive influence on GDP-Agriculture with crop sub-sector having a lead influence when compared to other subsectors. Therefore, the study recommends that government should adopt adjustment strategies that hinges on shoring-up gross agriculture revenue to compensate for the dwindling oil revenues given that the prospect for the country economy depend on the policies articulated for the medium-to-long term and the seriousness with which they are implemented. 

Role of Collective Action and Governance in Implementing Sustainable Fishing Practices: A Case Study of Karnataka Marine Fisheries

In coastal Karnataka two hundred thousand fishing households are directly dependent on marine fishing which provides livelihood, security and minimizes the vulnerability to chronic poverty. The small-scale fisheries employing labour intensive harvesting, processing, and distribution technologies to harvest near-shore fishery resources were contributing less to the output and more to the employment. However, rapid growth of mechanization and expansion of international trade coupled with growing number of non-fishing communities in fisheries sector caused a transformation of fisheries during the past two decades. Macro level assessment of per capita income from fishing shows a declining trend during the last 10 years although the overall net domestic product in the region has been increasing. The declining resources and increasing use of coastal waters for non-fishery related activities have undermined the role of small-scale fisheries and its capacity to provide ecosystem goods and services. The restoration of small scale fishing requires a multi-pronged fishery management approach including community support and action. The recently organized stakeholder consultations with different fishing groups have evolved scope for executing collective management measures. The study is based on the outcome of a number of stakeholder consultations organized during 2016 as part of the national programme of International Collective in Support of Fish workers (ICSF) to disseminate and implement the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) “Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries”. The study is based on expert consultations, meetings with community based organizations and stakeholder consultations. Two prominent community based organizations were consulted regarding the impact of executing the FAO guidelines. The stakeholders consultation have focused on three major action research issues such as identification of measures to minimize the negative impact of implementing FAO guidelines on small-scale fishers, restriction and gradual removal of fuel subsidy to destructive fishing practices, reducing the dependence of women on state sponsored support schemes, integration of community based management measures with state fishery regulations, mobilizing community support/social capital for discouraging un-sustainable fishing technologies. The results of the study was helpful in understanding the real issues of governance and collective action required for the implementation of common fishery management regulations such as extended closed seasons and areas, introduction of minimum mesh size, limiting fishing effort through scientific licensing policy

Human Rights and Stigma Reduction in the Process of Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill

Mentally ill persons are approached with stigma and families want to abandon them even in the wake of 21st century. It is a severe human right violation. However there are emerging models caring the destitute mentally ill with individual initiative and family collaboration who bring back the human right of the mentally ill person by removing stigma and caring them with dignity and worth. This paper is a case study of a rehabilitation centre at Kottayam in Kerala run by an ordinary person along with his family caring more than 300 mentally ill including children.

The objective of the study is to find out how the stigma reduction through a grass root community assistant rehabilitation model and enhance human right of the mentally ill persons. A qualitative design with case study methodology is followed.

The result shows that factors like acceptance of the persons with mentally ill as a family member calling him/her son/daughter and treating them so, allowing them the freedom of expression and interaction, exploring their innate abilities and host of others make them to cross the barriers of stigma. It gives back the human rights lost when they were thrown into the streets. The founder of the centre visits schools colleges, temples, churches and other community centres to disseminate information on mental health. The participants of such interaction program visit the rehabilitation center and understand how mental illness is just like any other chronic illness and spread the message back home. The entire process of community involvement enables to recreate a pro human right perspective towards persons with mental illness. Their dignity is regained; care and love in the centre as if in a family pitch their rights back in position. The entire process removes stigma about mentally ill persons and place them in a high position and prepare the society to own the responsibility to care these persons with cognitive deficits. Thus the care of mentally ill ultimately leads to stigma reduction and prepare the families and communities to accept and care the persons with mental illness. The entire process of stigma reduction contributes to the promotion of human rights of the mentally ill person and creates a model of right based care and rehabilitation of the persons with mental illness.

Role of Special Banks in Agricultural and Rural Development - A Study with Reference to Karnataka

 The special banks providing long term Agricultural credit are known as Primary Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (initially Land development Banks). The first of this kind of bank was established at Jhang in Panjab in the year 1920. Though, primary Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks were established dating back to independence, the real growth of these Banks took place only after passing the Land Development Act in the year 1930. These banks were initially called as Land Mortgage Banks as they were financing on the mortgage of Land for which they are used to finance. The Agriculture Credit review Committee in its Report submitted in the year 1989 recommended to incorporate Agriculture and allied activities in its credit policy. But now these banks have included rural credit in its financing policy. Since these banks are playing a greater role in the development of rural area also these banks are now renamed as ‘Primary Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks.
In this paper an attempt is made to explain the Role of Primary Co-operative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks in India and how these Banks are helping in the economic growth of India.