CHILD LABOURERS are exploited, exposed to hazardous work conditions and paid a pittance for their long hours

of work.

They belong to the unorganized labour force. The Constitution of India says that: Child labourers are exploited, exposed to hazardous work conditions and paid a pittance for their long hours of work. They belong to the unorganized labour force. The Constitution of India says that: (a) No child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any hazardous employment (Article 24) (b) Childhood and youth are to be protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment (Article 39 (f)). (c) The State shall endeavour to provide within a period of 10 year from the commencement of the Constitution free and compulsory education for all children until they have completed the age of 14 years . A survey conducted by a research group sponsored by the Ministry of Labour, Government of India (Joshi, 1986) has reported that of the estimated 102.3 million households in the country, 34.7% had working children. Seventy nine per cent working children are in the rural areas. Two thirds of the working children belong to the 12-15 years agegroup and the rest are below 12 years. A survey conducted by the Operations Research Group (ORG) Baroda (Vadodara) in 1985 had put the figure of working children at 44.5 million If children of the poor can be provided education and vocational training and if stipends accompany such training, parents would be under less pressure to send their children to work in hazardous factories. But this require a huge effort and a fresh thinking, which sadly is lacking and the blame for child labor must be shared by the society and the leaders.
WOMENS EMPOWERMENT: The evaluation concluded that there seemed to be a slight improvement in women's

involvement in household decision-making in male-headed households, on such issues as credit, the disposal of household assets, children's education, and family health care. However, the traditional gender-based divisions persist in intra-household decision-making. Women basically decide on food preparation, and men make the financial decisions. But group members had become more aware of their property and political rights (which was part of group training). As in the case of mobility and social interaction, the evaluation again found greater improvements among women heads of households, older women, and more educated women. In traditional societies, even more than elsewhere, women's empowerment does not occur easily or overnight. In the India case described, there was evidence of such change beginning, to which the project had apparently contributed. It was most noticeable among certain types of women. Perhaps one of the most important emerging lessons is that women's groups themselves, in their social aspects, play a role in such empowerment. This argues for placing emphasis on sustaining groups beyond the life of the project, which indeed was done in this instance. The project evaluation also recommended that communication support (films, radio broadcasts and so on, with sensitization and training content) be used to speed up the empowerment process.

Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or, ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians). Some definitions now include acts of unlawful violence and war. The use of similar tactics by criminal organizations forprotection rackets or to enforce a code of silence is usually not labeled terrorism though these same actions may be labeled terrorism when done by a politically motivated group.
CYBER AGE: The ages of writing and of images are now giving way to the cyber era, which both encompasses and surpasses them. Cyberspace is not merely a technical phenomenon, but a new form of writing out to conquer the world. Its digital alphabet is the universal lingua franca. Its terrain of action is the network of all networks founded, like Internet, in immense oceans of knowledge which percolate infinitely diverse currents. Finally, the virtual is its future. Cyberworlds will allow us to act more effectively on reality or even "augment" it, but will also incite us to flee reality via "reality parks", photorealist illusionism and virtual games. The cyber era inaugurates major cultural transformations and sets off quakes which will be still be felt long into next century. Moreover, it announces economic and social upheaval for which we are doubtless unprepared. The virtual annihilation of borders between countries, the gradual onset of radical forms of remote work (assisted for example by virtual 3D clone communities), and industrial exploitation of resources obtained by delocalizing capital and production capacity, will generate a frontal shock for organizations used to stable environments or material, tangible products. We are already witnessing virtualization of whole sections of the information economy. In a world increasingly prey to the immaterial, notions like the "value" of things or work must be keenly reconsidered. We are experiencing a profound revolution, which for the information world is comparable to the 19th century Industrial Revolution, provoked by sudden availability of abundant, cheap energy. Thanks to information highways and graphic interfaces such as those sampled via Mosaic and the famous World Wide Web, the world's entire memory will be readily accessible by everyone, everywhere and for a modest price. While the ensuing magnificent development opportunities should be appreciated, we must also guard against the emergence of new inequalities.

Teenage Fashion : Teenage life can be a difficult thing. Just as adults have a lot of responsibilities to fulfil so doteenagers.
It is not just the physical changes that teenagers have to deal with but mental, emotional and psychological changes too. Skin care, a healthy diet, fashion, how to tackle some social events, college life, new job, are just a few things to consider as a teenager. It is all about having the confidence to address whatever teenage life throws at you. Sadly the self-esteem of some teenagers can be highly influenced by skinny, underweight images of young women and the muscular physique of young men portrayed in the media. Equally peer pressure in terms of relationships, drugs and even what you wear can make an impression on teenagers from all walks of life. Criticisms from external sources can make a significant impact on some and they may in turn struggle which is why certain problems like eating disorders arise during teenage life. Once again having the confidence and know how to deal with these issues is key to moving forward through your teenage life into the adult world.

Mall Culture
Indians are no longer afraid to dream. Why, some farmers in Maharashtra got together to float a company to build a special economic zone out of their farmlands. In Punjab, a few aggressive farmers have dared to take on the retail might of the likes of Reliance, and Soubhagya, with their very own retail ventures. This in a nutshell, is the developing Indian retail story that is luring investors, domestic and foreign, to make a pitch for a portion of the great Indian market , its growing and ever-hungry consumers, and their apparently insatiable demand for all the good things in life -- from groceries to vegetables to fancy gadgets to fancier cars . The purchasing power comes from the growing industry and services sectors, and a small section of the rich agrarian buyers. Sales and bargain deals, attractive prizes, and schemes are the sure fire success formulae that the shopkeepers and showroom and super bazaars use to lure visitors in huge numbers. Malls are a mega hit. And in fact, it is the semi-urban areas, small towns and cities, described as Tier II and Tier III towns (say an Amritsar or a Moga in Punjab, or Indore in Madhya Pradesh, or Nagpur in Maharashtra, or Pune for that matter) that are powering the retail revolution which is sweeping the urban and rural areas. Malls, the temples of consumerism are cropping up everywhere. These malls have changed the way people are shopping. They are teaching them how to appreciate the good things of life. Comfort, style, convenience and cool, are only some of the words used by the shoppers introduced to the mall culture. And no one is complaining. Not the mall owners, not the shopkeepers, and certainly not the marketing men and women of the big brands. Malls are the battlegrounds where the brands, small, medium and big, the known, the not-so-well-known and the wanna-be ones, fight it out for the consumers attention. And the consumer is loving it and asking for more. Yes, this is one culture that consumers are happy about. So happy that no one seems to mind the 'unplanned expenditure' incurred by an outing to such an enticing place. They enjoy air-conditioned comfort, availability of a range of merchandise under one roof, and a one-stop family entertainment arena. While the consumer is thus slowly getting hooked onto the mall culture, the owners of the malls are hardly complaining. Actually, they are busy planning the erection of new malls, and the more the merrier seems to be motto of the moment. Given the rate at which malls are coming up, the commercial as well as residential real estate business is spiraling upwards. The range and scope of the economic activity generated from mall culture promises many things to many people. Other than offering shoppers more value for money, the scale of operations generates employment opportunities, direct and indirect, for thousands of people. India was to have some 350 malls out of which nearly 250 were planned in tier II and tier III towns, taking this revolution further. Now there is a new association of big brands that has come together to give brand loyalists something to cherish, aspire for, and much, much more. Gurgaon alone hopes to play host to some 150 odd malls.