eChapters

Introduction

The total population of India according to recent estimates in 2015 is 1.28 billion (Anonymous, 2011). The population in the age-group of 15-34 years in India increased from 353 million in 2001 to 430 million in 2011. More than 50 per cent of India’s current population is below the age of 25 years old and over 65 per cent below the age of 35 years old.

The total population of Chhattisgarh State is 25,545,198 of which male and female are 12,832,895 and 12,712,303. Sex ratio is 991 i.e. for each 1000 male, which is above national average of 940. Literacy rate in Chhattisgarh has seen upward trend and is 71.04 per cent (Anonymous, 2011). Out of total population of Chhattisgarh 23.24 per cent people live in urban regions and 76.76 per cent people live in the villages of rural areas.

Women are the most potent segment of the population of a country. The women of today are the hopes of tomorrow. They are the back bone of the country. The socioeconomic development and prosperity of rural areas depends to a considerable extent, on the type of women living in rural areas, because the rural women have abilities to orient themselves to go along the main stream of the development process. They reflect the national potentiality and represent the life blood of a nation. Development of women determines the development of community and country as a whole. So, the future of the country lies in their hands, what they will become, what role they will play in a democratic society and what they will do, will be dependent to a greater extent on the period between their childhood to adulthood.

ABSTRACT

Human resources are one of the most strategic and critical determinants of growth. A country cannot make rapid social and economic advancement unless it has enterprising people with necessary knowledge, skill and attitudes. Entrepreneurship development not only helps individual to become self reliant but also adds to wealth creation process, thereby paving the way to past growth and development of the nation. Rural entrepreneurship is required to capitalize on the opportunities available and to create job, mainly for rural youth and the farm family. In order to achieve this we are promoting mushroom production and processing as an enterprise for rural youths and farm family through their capacity building activities like training, consultancy, forward and backward linkages and to some extent by making available the much required inputs in the initial stages as the scenario of mushroom production in state is far from satisfactory. With the vast opportunities both at the international and national levels lying at the door steps of India, nothing less than a mushroom revolution in the coming decade will help to achieve the targets of nutritional security of people. During last year we have trained 215 farmwomen and youth in mushroom production and processing out of which 110 trainees started producing it at small scale and selling in the local market. Three villages of Patna district have been developed as “mushroom village” namely Sadikpur, Chaknawada and Mahmadpur. A sample of 100 mushroom growers of Patna district was taken for present investigation. All of them agreed that growing mushroom is a beneficial enterprise as it is capable of recycling agricultural wastes and generating employment opportunities. But, they revealed that important constraints in recommended practices of mushroom cultivation are spawn availability, perishable nature and marketing of mushroom in local villages because of poor infrastructural facility and lack of institutional finance available to them. So, in order to encourage mushroom Production at household level in villages, it is required to uplift farmers, initiating new applications, providing them with adequate marketing information and sufficient agri-business finance knowledge. Two of the most important problems in India, unemployment and malnutrition, will be addressed to a larger extent by promoting the cause of mushroom growing and its utilization as health food.

The problems of SHG are many and diversified. The problems vary from place to place and SHG to SHG. Then problems cluster is in relation to economic productivity, overall welfare and livelihood. As we observe since five decades after independence, resistance of people in the state of social, economic, political disempowerment is considered to measure hindrance to overall development. The SHG being a part of society is not an exception to be cited with problem. During investigation the constraints experienced by SHGs members are categorized under five areas namely personal, social, economical, technological and marketing problem. These problem directly and indirectly affects the performance of SHGs. The evidences of past studies and experience in the present context reveal a wide variation in the dimension of the problem.

Empowerment in the women’s development context can be defined as defining, challenging, and overcoming the hurdles in women’s life. She enhances her ability to mould her life, personality, and surrounding environment. The buzzword “empowerment” synchronises with women metaphorically when we think of women empowerment. Such has been the issue and its importance in society today. However, why it matters so much can be attributed to “constraints”. 

Introduction
Consumer protection laws are designed to safeguard consumers’ rights, promote fair trade, and prevent businesses from exploiting or deceiving customers. Over the years, as markets have become more complex and products more sophisticated, the necessity for consumer protection has increased globally. India, as well as several Western countries, have established legal frameworks to protect consumers. This chapter delves into the Consumer Protection Act in India, comparing it with consumer laws in Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key features, enforcement mechanisms, and the role of consumer rights in economic growth and fairness.
Consumer Protection Act in India
Historical Background and Evolution
Consumer protection laws in India date back to the late 19th century with the Indian Contract Act, 1872, and later the Sale of Goods Act, 1930. However, dedicated consumer protection legislation did not emerge until the Consumer Protection Act of 1986, which aimed to protect consumers from unfair trade practices and inadequate services. The act established a framework for dispute resolution through consumer courts at the district, state, and national levels.
In 2019, the government repealed the 1986 Act and introduced the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, aiming to modernize consumer rights in line with contemporary market dynamics, especially in light of the growth of e-commerce.
Key Provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019
The 2019 Act introduced several new provisions to address modern consumer challenges:

Introduction
In the modern era, technology plays an indispensable role in shaping consumer lifestyles and business operations. Understanding consumer preferences and attitudes toward new technology is crucial for organizations aiming to develop user- centric solutions, enhance customer satisfaction, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market. A Consumer Survey Questionnaire serves as a structured tool to gather insights directly from users about their behavior, perceptions, and expectations regarding new technology.
This chapter explores the concept, components, importance, and applications of such a survey while providing guidance on how to design and implement it effectively.
What is a Consumer Survey Questionnaire?
A Consumer Survey Questionnaire is a research instrument comprising a series of questions designed to gather data from individuals about their preferences, usage patterns, and attitudes. When focused on new technology, it seeks to uncover:
1. Preferences: The types of technologies consumers are interested in and their desired features.
2. Attitudes: How consumers perceive and adopt new technology, including their enthusiasm, concerns, and decision-making factors.
By identifying these aspects, organizations can refine product designs, marketing strategies, and customer support to align with consumer needs.

Communication material is the joint product of knowledge, skill and attitude base of the communicator. Further, most of the communication done on behalf of certain organization also reflects the objective, work culture, strategy and contribution of the organization. Hence analysis of communication material is of greater relevance in exploring the trends, vision, behavior and future course of action. In this chapter, we are going to discuss the content analysis; it’s meaning and practical application.

Abstract

In the past decade, many knowledge-centric mobile phone initiatives in Indian agriculture have emerged, either substituting or supporting extension services by providing farmers with access to agricultural information. These knowledge-centric mobile phone platforms have the potential to reach many farmers directly with timely and accessible content. But the content that these deliver has more relevance if it is localized and context specific, as this improves the value and actionability of the information, which can have important impacts on farm management. The localization of content is influenced by how the projects access, assess, apply, and deliver content.

Introduction

Indian forests are being denuded at an appalling rate of 1.5 million ha per year but only a tenth of this is being renewed. This has resulted in the accelerated dwindling of forest resources to a meager level of 23.55 per cent of the total geographical area against the mandated requirement of 33 per cent. This low forest cover coupled with poor productivity (0.5 -0.7 m³ ha-1 yr^-1) in comparative global statistics (2.1 m³ ha-1 yr^-1) of Indian forest has ushered in a total mismatch between supply and demand of both domestic and industrial wood besides creating environmental de- stability and disequilibrium. The National Forest Policy of 1988 has resolved to phase out the supply of raw material to wood based industries and ultimately totally stopped the raw material supply from the forest (Anon., 1988). The policy also indicated that wood based industries have to become self reliance in meeting the raw material demand by establishing direct linkages with the farmers by providing lending facilitates and other input needs. This is going to pave the way for a strong industry-farmer nexus, with many farmers attracted towards tree husbandry due to assured marketability and income. As the activity gets intensified, location specific problems warranting solution are also found to be in the ascendancy.

SYNOPSIS

Food security is a complex issue, linked to availability and access to food, malnutrition in the population, economic development, environment, and local and global trade. Malnutrition hinders healthy growth and proper development of the human immune system affecting neurological and cognitive development especially in children.

1.0. Objectives

• To describe how to develop thoughts in various situations
• To manifest the methods to judge the mind of people
• To make learners familiar with ready sentences
• To practice to imagine the consequence of conversation
• To learn to use interrogative adverbs effectively
• Impart the manner to utter information, ideas, and concepts in a more polite way

In the semi-arid tropics, where small farmers depend heavily on rain-fed agricultural systems, variability in precipitation has a dramatic impact on crop production and livelihoods. Because small-scale agriculture depends on rain-fed cultivation, it is vulnerable to factors such as flooding and drought. Unfortunately, the frequency of unexpected heavy rainfall or flood events has increased in many areas of Africa, including Southern Zambia. About 75% of farmers in Zambia engage in small-scale farming, with an average farm size of 2 ha (VAM Steering Committee Zambia, 1998). Most of these farmers cultivate maize, which is a staple food in Zambia, and stable maize production and increased productivity are important both for food security and to provide a livelihood to farmers.

In spite of its importance, little has been done to assess interactions of climatic variability with productivity performance of different livestock species, sustainability of livestock production systems, livestock based livelihoods and application of science of climate change on small holder and subsistence livelihoods. The climate and its change affect all productive traits and physiological functions of farm livestock and related livelihoods. Heat stress is the most detrimental constraint to livestock production, particularly in mountainous regions. Introduction and selection for highly productive animals and breeds has increased their susceptibility to adverse impacts of climate change. It is necessary to incorporate resilience through selection and breeding for thermo-tolerance and development of adaptable breeds. Modifications in shelter designs and management of production facilities will also be helpful in mitigating adverse climate impacts on animal production and health. Modern animal husbandry practices that target increased per animal productivity allow efficient utilization of feed nutrients and increase returns from fewer animals. Livestock need to be looked for their immense contribution to nutritional security and livelihoods. A well designed livestock production system is among the best ways for sustaining and improving livelihoods and this chapter details the possible options.

Introduction to Copyright Law
Copyright law is a fundamental mechanism for safeguarding intellectual property (IP). It provides creators exclusive rights to their work and controls its reproduction, distribution, and use. As creative industries expand globally, copyright law has become integral to protecting creators’ rights and enabling innovation. Originally stemming from the need to protect books, copyright now covers diverse mediums, including music, films, software, and digital content.
The Copyright Act is legislation that formalizes these protections and establishes rules regarding ownership, rights, duration, and infringement of copyrighted materials. Each country may have its own version of the Copyright Act, yet the overarching principles are largely similar due to international agreements such as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Historical Development and Global Influence
The foundation of copyright law can be traced to early European statutes. The Statute of Anne (1710) in Britain is often considered the first formal copyright legislation, setting a precedent for other jurisdictions. The Statute of Anne aimed to promote learning by granting authors the right to control and profit from their work, forming the concept of authorial rights.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, as cross-border trade expanded, nations recognized the need for standardized copyright protection. The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886) marked a pivotal moment, providing a framework for copyright on an international scale. The Universal Copyright Convention (UCC) (1952) and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement further unified copyright standards, ensuring fair treatment of copyrighted works across borders.

Abstract

The agriculture and allied sector provide livelihood for 58% of India’s population. A large population and rising disposable incomes are key growth drivers. Growing external demand has increased its contribution to exports. The demand for processed food has also led to increasing requirements for agricultural inputs, hybrid seeds, machinery and fertilizers. Investment opportunities in storage infrastructure and agrochemicals also present immense opportunities. Organised retail has made India attractive for multinationals. The industry has a combination of multiple organisational forms, like associations, co-operatives, government (departmental) undertakings, foreign entities, trusts and companies, private and public. Unlisted companies encompass a vast range (private limited companies, family business, group-owned firms, and joint ventures are major actors.) The form and complexity of business ownership highlights Corporate Governance (CG) debate. Given this background, our objective is to understand the CG characteristics of unlisted agricultural and allied companies operating in India, the driving forces for improving CG practices, and the need for a policy framework in supporting good CG. We propose to examine the extent of control in the various types of entities and explore the mechanisms that contribute to the development of an efficient CG framework. Using data from the Prowess database, on 2,879 firms, from 2012-2013 to 2016-17, we analysed how CG problems are caused and how it can be alleviated. The results provide stakeholders and agri entrepreneurs with an overview of the policy and managerial issues that arise in the debate on CG of companies in this key sector. Finally, we conclude how the unlisted companies are likely to stimulate growth and development if CG mechanisms are enhanced.

1. Basic Information on the Country and  Agricultural Status
 
1.1. Location of Côte d’Ivoire

Cote D’ivoire (Ivory Coast) is located in West Africa, between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer, with an area of 3, 22,462 km². It is bordered on the north by Mali and Burkina Faso, no the west by Liberia and Guinea, on the east by Ghana and on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, stretching across nearly 550 km. The economic capital Abidjan is with a population of more than 3 million people and Yamoussoukro, the political capital, has more than 1,50,000 inhabitants.

1.2. Population 
The Ivorian population is 1,53,66,672 people in 1998, of which 26 per cent are foreigners (4,000,047), with an annual population growth rate of 3.3 per cent and a density of 48 habitants/km². 53.8 per cent of the population is under the age of 20 years. The age group between 21 and 60 years is 41 per cent. These figures show the youthfulness of the Ivorian population. The average life expectancy is 65 years.

Counselling represents a purposeful, collaborative relationship between a trained professional and an individual seeking assistance with personal, emotional, psychological, or behavioral concerns. This helping relationship is founded on principles of trust, confidentiality, and mutual respect, creating a safe environment where individuals can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. The American Counseling Association defines counselling as a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. This definition emphasizes the empowerment aspect of counselling, highlighting its role in facilitating personal growth and development rather than simply addressing problems or deficits. The fundamental nature of counselling involves a systematic p

Creating videos with images and text is a versatile way to convey information visually and is popular in many forms of media, from social media posts to professional presentations. This chapter covers the basics of making videos using images and text, discusses design techniques for a compelling visual narrative, and provides examples using popular tools.
Introduction to Image and Text-Based Videos
Image and text-based videos are commonly used for tutorials, presentations, promotional content, and storytelling. These videos rely on sequences of images combined with text overlays or captions to convey messages without needing video footage. This approach is ideal for visually-driven stories or information-focused videos.
Key Benefits
• Simple to Produce: Requires no video footage, relying instead on images and text, which can be arranged on mobile devices or desktop software.
• Effective Storytelling: Allows for clear and concise communication, ideal for instructional videos, presentations, or photo stories.
• Flexible: Can be used across platforms, from social media to formal presentations, providing versatility in application.

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed video creation processes, enabling faster production, improved quality, and increased personalization. This chapter delves into the role of AI in video creation, exploring its applications, tools, techniques, and implications. It highlights how AI-powered tools enhance scripting, editing, animation, and special effects, and provides insights into real-world applications across industries such as marketing, education, entertainment, and more. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in video production has transformed the landscape of media creation. From automating mundane tasks to enhancing creativity through intelligent algorithms, AI offers innovative tools that streamline the video production process. This chapter provides a comprehensive bibliography of
key texts, research papers, articles, and online resources that delve into various aspects of creating videos using AI. These resources will be instrumental for scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of AI in video production.
The integration of AI into video production has disrupted traditional workflows, making video creation more accessible, efficient, and innovative. From automating mundane tasks to introducing new creative possibilities, AI is shaping the future of visual storytelling.

Introduction

For uplifting the socio economic conditions of the poor mass, government enacted many programmes to make available of institutional credit flow to the farmers almost at their doorstep at a reasonable rate of interest. Hence, the mind set of borrowers has changed. credit is no more regarded as “hangman’s rope” but are considered as an economic “ladder or elevator”

However, Credit can serve useful purpose only when it is used for productive purpose to generate additional income. Otherwise, its deviation for non productive purposes would affect the repaying capacity of borrowers and create over due and defaulters. The increasing rate of non repayment has been one of the major problems for all the financial institutions. Increasing default in the repayment of loan led to very serious implication, for instances, it discourages the financial institutions to refinancing to the defaulting members.