Sikh ethnonationalism and militancy: manifestation and prognosis

ABSTRACT

The study primarily answers the question that whether the movement of Sikh ethnonationalism had been defeated permanently during 1990s or whether it still persists? The study perceives that the movement of Sikh ethnonationalism cannot end till the core pivotal ethnic issues, the moving force of the movement are prevailing. The study eventually predicts that the movement will sooner or later rejuvenate from its previous stage, i.e. militancy, as the sociopolitical circumstances of Punjab have been nourishing microclimate for resurgence of the same. In typical political scenario, the moderate outfit of Sikhs is eager to stimulate the ethnic-regional issues of the Sikhs while the radical factions are also observant to ignite the clinkering Sikh ethnic issues once again. Contrarily, the political aspirations of the BJP controlled by the RSS are opposite to the ethno-political demands of the Sikhs. This contradiction, if aroused systematically, has the potential to rekindle the old spark of militant movement.     

Inequality of Opportunity in Indian Children: The Case of Immunization and Nutrition

Basic services which are essential for the overall development of a child should not depend on circumstances such as caste, religion, gender, place of birth, or other parental characteristics, which are beyond his/her control. This paper uses two rounds of Indian National Family Health Surveys and concepts of Inequality of Opportunity and Human Opportunity Indices to measure inequality arising out of unequal coverage of full immunization and minimum nutrition for Indian children. The results suggest overall high level of inequality of opportunity with substantial geographical variations. Changes in inequality of opportunity in the two services during 1992–1993 to 2005–2006 were mixed with some geographical regions outperforming others. The findings also call for substantial policy revisions if the goal of universal full immunization and minimum nutrition has to be achieved.     

Measuring Organizational Performance: A Case for Subjective Measures

We review the organizational performance (OP) measurement literature highlighting the limitations of both objective and subjective measures of performance. We argue that, with careful planning, subjective measures can be successfully employed to assess OP. This is because often consistent, reliable and comparable compatible objective data on OP measures – particularly across countries and sectors – is difficult to come by. Considering that an inflated OP measure can be cross‐checked with the use of secondary data, managers have little incentive to report such figures. As a result, when quizzed over the stand‐alone performance measures of their organizations or vis‐à‐vis their rivals, managers accurately assess and respond to questions on the performance of their organizations. An in‐depth statistical exercise conducted on the subjective measures of OP as reported by managers of four sets of companies in four separate countries, show consistent results, thus lending support to this premise.     

Identifying design criteria for urban system ‘last-mile’ solutions – a multi-stakeholder perspective

Abstract

This study presents a novel approach to design and evaluate ‘last-mile’ solutions – encompassing the social and economic perspectives of key stakeholders. While urban system initiatives have been implemented in practice, theoretical gaps remain at the operational design level. A theoretical framework is developed, based on design criteria identified from a critical synthesis of supply chain and operations management literature, and ‘operationalised’ using an in-depth case study demonstrating implementation of a Consumer Choice Portal-Package Consolidation Centre solution, within a densely populated urban geography. Findings suggest that there is a need to re-define the role of institutional actors beyond that of the traditional governance task, to one of being able to facilitate performance outcomes. Similarly, industrial efficiency dimensions need to be reorientated to include consumer participation, social considerations and multi-stakeholder service outcomes. Finally, implications for operations theory and practising managers in city logistics are highlighted, with suggested directions for future research.     

Estimation of Stigmatized Characteristics of a Hidden Gang in a Finite Population

This paper considers the problem of estimating the size and mean value of a stigmatized quantitative character of a hidden gang in a finite population. The proposed method may be applied to solve domestic problems in a particular country or across countries: for example, a government may be interested in estimating the average income of victims or perpetrators of domestic violence. The proposed method is based on the technique introduced by Warner (1965) to estimate the proportion of a sensitive attribute in a finite population without threatening the privacy of the respondents. Expressions for the bias and variance of the proposed estimators are given, to a first order of approximation. Circumstances in which the method can be applied are studied and illustrated using a numerical example.     

Estimation of Bowley's Coefficient of Skewness in the Presence of Auxiliary Information

In this paper, we suggest regression-type estimators for estimating the Bowley's coefficient of skewness using auxiliary information. To the first degree of approximation, the bias and mean-squared error expressions of the regression-type estimators are obtained, and the regions under which these estimators are more efficient than the conventional estimator are also determined. Further, a general class of estimators of the Bowley's coefficient of skewness is defined along with its properties. A class of estimators based on estimated optimum values is also defined. It is shown to the first degree of approximations that the variance of the class of estimators based on estimated optimum values is the same as that of the minimum variance of the proposed class of estimators. A simulation study is carried out to demonstrate the performance of the proposed difference estimator over the usual estimator.     

An Efficient Class of Estimators for the Population Mean Using Auxiliary Information in Stratified Random Sampling

This article addresses the problem of estimating the population mean in stratified random sampling using the information of an auxiliary variable. A class of estimators for population mean is defined with its properties under large sample approximation. In particular, various classes of estimators are identified as particular member of the suggested class. It has been shown that the proposed class of estimators is better than usual unbiased estimator, usual combined ratio estimator, usual product estimator, usual regression estimator and Koyuncu and Kadilar (2009 Koyuncu, N., Kadilar, C. (2009). Ratio and product estimators in stratified random sampling. J. Statist. Plan. Infere. 139:2552–2558.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) class of estimators. The results have been illustrated through an empirical study.     

Some estimation procedures of sensitive character using scrambled response techniques in successive sampling

This paper is an attempt to analyze the effect of scrambled response techniques to estimate the current population mean in two-occasion successive sampling when study and auxiliary variables are sensitive in nature. Using additive and multiplicative scrambled response models on both occasions, some generalized estimation strategies of current population mean have been proposed and their properties are examined. Empirical studies are performed on real data (abortion rate in the states of United States) and simulation studies are also carried out to evaluate the performances of the proposed estimators over other estimators. Results have proved the worthiness of the scrambled response techniques in real-life situations.     

Preparing for ICT enhanced practice learning opportunities in 2010—a speculative view

This paper presents a speculative view of the roles that a practice teacher, student and university may undertake during a practice learning opportunity in the year 2010, based upon predicted advances in information and communication technology (ICT). The article explores the likelihood of such a scenario becoming a reality by examining very briefly current developments in the area of wireless mobile devices and infrastructure. The paper presents an argument drawing on the author’s own experiences that passive acceptance or ignorance through apprehension of ICT developments should not prevent the examination and planning of how this medium may be utilised in the arena of social work in the future. This paper acts as a scenario‐planning device, presenting for discussion some of the issues that may need to be explored if ICT is to become positively integrated into the field of social work education.