भारतीया वैज्ञानिकाः।

          लीलावती भास्कराचार्यं पृच्छति, यदि कमपि वस्तु वयम् उत्क्षिपामः, तर्हि तद् वस्तु पुनः अधः पतति। एतस्याः क्रियायाः कारणं पृथ्व्याः आकृष्टिशक्तिः अस्ति। पृथ्वी शेषनागे, कूर्मे, तथा च मेरुपर्वते अवलम्बिता नास्ति, एतदपि भवानेव अवदत्। तर्हि गुरुत्वम् इति कारणात् पृथ्व्याः तथा च अन्यानां खगोलपिण्डानाम् अधःपतनं किमर्थं न भवेत्? भास्कराचार्यः ताम् उत्तरं ददति, 

          आकृष्टिशक्तिश्च मही तया यत्, खस्तं गुरुः स्वाभिमुखं स्वशक्त्या ।

          आकृष्यते तत्पततीव भाति, समेसमन्तात् क्व पतत्वियं खे ।।

वयं वदामः, न्यूटनमहोदयेन गुरुत्वाकर्षणसिद्धान्तः कथितः। परन्तु तस्य शून्यपञ्चपञ्चशतकात् पूर्वं सम्पूर्णब्रह्माण्डस्य गुरुत्वाकर्षणविषये भास्कराचार्यमहोदयः उक्तवान्।ये मनुष्याः प्राचीनकाले फलानि खादित्वा, एतद् फलं मधुरम् उत्तमं च अस्ति, परन्तु तद् फलं विषयुक्तं अस्ति, एतद् ज्ञातवन्तः, ते अपि वैज्ञानिकाः आसन्, एतद् वक्तुं शक्नुमः। कोऽपि विषयुक्तं फलं खादित्वा मृत्युम् अपि प्राप्तवान्, कोऽपि अश्मान् घर्षयित्वा अग्निम् अपि निर्मितवान्। एताः सर्वे वैज्ञानिकाः एव आसन्। तत् कारणात्, ये ये कानपि वैज्ञानिकप्रयोगां कृत्वा तस्मात् किमपि  नूतनं ज्ञानं प्राप्नुवन्तः, ते ते वैज्ञानिकाः एव सन्ति, एतद् अहम् मन्ये।

विज्ञानं नाम विशेष-ज्ञानम्। अतः यैः यैः किञ्चिदपि विशेषं ज्ञानं प्राप्तं, ते ते सर्वे वैज्ञानिकाः एव सन्ति, इति अहं मन्ये। तस्मात्, येन पाणिनिमहोदयेन, संस्कृतम् इति समृद्धायाः भाषायाः सूक्ष्मनिरीक्षणेन, प्रत्येक-शब्दस्य कृते चिन्तनं कृत्वा विस्तृतं व्याकरणं लिखितं, सः पाणिनिमहोदयः अपि वैज्ञानिकः अस्ति, इति अहं मन्ये। अद्य सङ्गणकशास्त्रस्य यत्समानम् कठिनतमं व्याकरणमावश्यकं, तत्समानम् व्याकरणं सः कैककालात् पूर्वम् एव रचितवान्। न केवलं पूर्वकाले, अपि तु अद्यसमये अपि विज्ञाने एव संपूर्णाः मग्नाः वैज्ञानिकाः सन्ति। यदि वयं पश्यामः, पोखरण इत्यत्र भारतस्य परमाणुस्फोटप्रदर्शनं जातम्। तत्र काकोडकर अनिलमहोदयस्य बहु महत्वपूर्णम् उत्तरदायित्वम् आसीत्। परन्तु यत्र एव सः तस्य तातस्य मृत्युवार्तां प्राप्तवान्। सः सत्वरं गृहं गत्वा, तातस्य अन्तिमदर्शनं गृहीत्वा, पुनः सत्वरं पोखरण इत्यत्र आगतवान्। कौटुम्बिक उत्तरदायित्वाद् अपि देशकार्यं परम् अस्ति, इति तस्य निष्ठा। देशस्य कृते यद् उत्तरदायित्वम् अस्ति, तस्य प्रथमतः विचारः करणीयः, इति महती भावना तस्य हृदये अस्ति।

माशेलकरमहोदयेन भारतस्य पुरातनग्रन्थां पठित्वा, तत्र ये ये सिद्धान्ताः दत्ताः सन्ति, तेषां सर्वेषां 'पेटण्ट' इत्युक्ते स्वाम्यं तेन भारतस्य कृते प्राप्तम्। हल्दी तथा बासुमती तण्डुलस्य स्वाम्ये अमेरिका देशः प्राप्तुम् इच्छितवान्। परन्तु महा-प्रयासेन माशेलकरमहोदयेन ते स्वाम्ये भारतस्य कृते प्राप्ते। अहम् एकं साक्षात्कारम् अपश्यम्। तत्र साक्षात्कारकर्तारः वैज्ञानिकाय पृष्टवान्, यत् "वैज्ञानिकक्षेत्रे भारतस्य किं योगदानम् अस्ति?" सः वैज्ञानिकः अकथयत्, "विज्ञानक्षेत्रे भारतस्य योगदानं शून्यम् अस्ति।" यदि वयं एतस्य उत्तरस्य विषये चिन्तयामः, तर्हि एकः निष्कर्षः जातः, यत् "शून्यः" एषः सर्वेषां वैज्ञानिकसिद्धन्तानां मूलम् अस्ति। अतः सर्वसिद्धन्तानां मूलम् एव अस्माकं भारतदेशेन विज्ञानक्षेत्राय दत्तम् अस्ति। तस्मात्, अद्य ये ये देशाः अवकाशे उड्डयनं कुर्वन्ति, ते ते सर्वे भारतस्य आर्यभट्टः नाम वैज्ञानिकस्य ऋण्यः सन्ति। 

शून्येन विना काचिद् अपि सङ्ख्यायाः मूल्यं न वर्धते। तत् समानं, वैज्ञानिकैः विना वैज्ञानिकक्षेत्रस्य वर्धनम् अपि न भविष्यति, एतद् वयं सदैव संस्मराम इति अहं मन्ये।

- मुक्ताई देसाई

ज्ञानगंगा, क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले

भारतातील स्त्रिया आंतरराष्ट्रीय पातळीवर देशाला अभिमान वाटावा अशी कामगिरी पार पाडत आल्या आहेत. रसायनशास्त्राच्या औषधीविषयक, विश्लेषणात्मक व सेंद्रीय अशा तिन्ही शाखांमध्ये मोठे योगदान देणाऱ्या असीमा चॅटर्जी असोत किंवा लढाऊ विमान एकट्याने चालवणाऱ्या अवनी चतुर्वेदी असोत, आता असे एकही क्षेत्र उरलेले नाही जिथे महिलांनी आपल्या कामगिरीची छाप पाडलेली नाही. महिलांना यशस्वी होण्यासाठी आणि पंख पसरून उडण्यासाठी आभाळ खुले करून देणारी महत्त्वाची व्यक्ती म्हणजे माता सावित्रीबाई फुले. क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले यांनी १ जानेवारी १८४८ रोजी पुण्यातील भिडे वाड्यात स्त्री शिक्षणाची मुहूर्तमेढ रोवली आणि भारतातील स्त्रियांच्या आयुष्यात शिक्षणाची ज्योत पेटवली.

माणूस हा जगातील एकमेव विचार करणारा प्राणी आहे. परंतु माणसाच्या बुद्धीला ज्ञानाची सांगड नसेल तर तो माणूस म्हणून ओळखला जाऊ शकतो का? असा प्रश्न सावित्रीबाई फुले आपल्या "त्यास मानव म्हणावे का?" या कवितेतून विचारतात. त्या म्हणतात:

ज्ञान नाही, विद्या नाही  

ते घेण्याची गोडी नाही  

बुद्धी असूनही चालत नाही  

त्यास मानव म्हणावे का?

या ओळींतून स्पष्ट होते की माणसाच्या सर्वांगीण विकासासाठी जर काही उपयोगी असेल, तर तो विद्या-धर्म आहे. विद्या देणारा आणि विद्या घेणारा यांच्या एकत्रिकरणातूनच एक चांगला माणूस घडतो. विद्या देणारा हा धैर्यशील असतो, तर विद्या घेणारा शक्तिशाली व शहाणा बनतो. हा विचार समाजाला पटवून देणाऱ्या माता सावित्रीबाई फुले यांचा जन्म शिक्षणाच्या अभावाच्या काळात ३ जानेवारी १८३१ रोजी महाराष्ट्रातील सातारा जिल्ह्यातील नायगाव येथे झाला. शिक्षणाच्या प्रकाशाचा अभाव असलेल्या त्या काळात सावित्रीबाईंनी भारतात स्त्री शिक्षणाचा पाया रचला. आपण बऱ्याचदा म्हणतो, "आम्ही सावित्रीच्या लेकी, सावित्रीची मुलं," परंतु खरोखरच आपण सावित्रीबाईंच्या विचारांवर चालतो का? आजच्या युवा पिढीतील प्रयत्नांची आणि संयमाची कमतरता पाहता असे वाटते की संघर्षाच्या भीतीने जर सावित्रीबाईंनी त्यांचे ध्येय अर्धवट सोडले असते, तर आज आपल्या घरात शिक्षणाची गंगा वाहिलीच नसती. त्या काळात मुलींचा जन्म नकोसा वाटत असताना सावित्रीबाईंनी प्रवाहाच्या विरुद्ध जाऊन स्त्रियांना सक्षम आणि स्वावलंबी बनवले. पण आजही काही लोक शिक्षणाप्रती असलेल्या बेजबाबदारपणामुळे आणि समाजातील समस्यांकडे दुर्लक्ष करत असल्यामुळे वाटते की सावित्रीबाईंच्या कष्टांची आणि त्यागाची आपल्याला खरोखर जाणीव आहे का?

तरीही, सावित्रीबाईंच्या विचारांचा वारसा पुढे नेणाऱ्या कमलादेवी चट्टोपाध्याय, मेधा पाटकर, चित्रा नाईक, शाहीन मिस्त्री यांसारख्या अनेक प्रेरणादायी व्यक्तींनी समाजातील दुष्ट रूढी-परंपरांना नाकारले आणि ज्ञानाचा मार्ग दाखवला. त्यांच्या प्रयत्नांमुळे भारतातील अनेकांना स्वतःची क्षमता सिद्ध करण्याची संधी मिळाली. त्यामुळेच द्रौपदी मुर्मू राष्ट्रपतीपदावर पोहोचल्या आणि गीता गोपीनाथ आंतरराष्ट्रीय नाणेनिधीच्या (IMF) पहिल्या उपव्यवस्थापकीय संचालक झाल्या, तसेच मुख्य अर्थशास्त्रज्ञ म्हणूनही कार्यरत राहिल्या. सावित्रीबाईंच्या विचारांनीच आज मी माझे विचार लेखणीद्वारे मुक्तपणे मांडू शकते. त्यामुळे असं वाटतं:

सावित्रीचा घेऊनी वसा, गाठतो आम्ही उंच शिखरे  

दुष्ट परंपरेचा पिंजरा तोडूनी, मुक्त झाली पाखरे

ज्ञानगंगा, क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले यांच्या जयंतीनिमित्त त्यांच्या कार्याला वंदन आणि शतकोटी प्रणाम!

- श्रुती शिंदे

Free Rider’s Problem and the Tragedy of Commons

Imagine, you are sitting on a train, getting a ticket worth Rs. 120. Beside you is a man sitting with the same level of comfort without paying a penny… how fair is it? Should we allow such things in the economy? If not, how can we stop it? How can we identify thousands of such passengers in the Mumbai local daily? How will you punish so many of them?  This isn’t the problem just with trains or buses but this is also the same with natural resources. We all hear about the environmental summits carried out at global levels, be it in COP or Paris Agreement or anything else, the once paying high are not the developed nations but the developing ones because they are supposed to grow by paying for the tickets of these developed countries to the environment for decades. They have been using all the resources for free and when it's our turn to use them, suddenly everything has a price tag now.  These free riders in the internal economy not only disregard the laws and discourage the ones paying for them but also increase the burden on the government. Now they need to take measures like tax increases on public goods to fill that gap and cure the losses. Again, it leads to the loss of the one who is paying for it twice. Isn’t it some sort of inequality towards the others?

These negative effects arising due to the shared resources lead to another economic dilemma, that is the ‘Tragedy of Commons’. When an individual acts for his self-interest which ultimately leads to depletion of public resources, it creates problems. Over-fishing is the most popular example used to show the tragedy of commons. In a selective area, the fish population cannot be increased at the same pace at which it is used. But for individual profits, the fishermen choose to continue fishing in the same area till it’s all vanished and the habitat is dead for the next few weeks as there won’t be any fish in the area. This not only causes discomfort to the occupation but also to the environment, the same is seen in terms of deforestation.

If we think about this problem with a selfless view, today if I have the option to travel without getting a ticket, why would I buy one? If I had the choice to earn more, why would I not? Here comes the answer! Farsightedness. I am thinking about it now. About my current benefits but I must also think about my future. If I am aware enough of its ill effects and future consequences, I might think once before traveling without a ticket. If I know that today’s extra piece of bread will keep me hungry tomorrow, I might not eat it now. 

Of course, these are just assumptions, but the individual incentives will eventually lead to the solution to such problems. No government scheme forcing you to pay extra tax is making you come out of this cycle. Thus, all we need today is a rational consumer!

-Aditi Bhavsar

मतदानाचा हक्क, तुमची ताकद!

लोकशाहीचा खरा अर्थ म्हणजे लोकांनी लोकांसाठी निवडलेल्या प्रतिनिधींच्या माध्यमातून चालणारे सरकार. आपल्या देशातील प्रत्येक नागरिकाला संविधानाने मतदानाचा हक्क दिला आहे. हा हक्क फक्त एक अधिकार नाही, तर एक जबाबदारी आहे, जी आपल्या देशाच्या भवितव्याला आकार देते. सरकारी निर्णयांवर व्यक्ती प्रभाव टाकू शकतील, अशा सर्वांत महत्त्वाच्या मार्गांपैकी एक म्हणजे मतदान. मतदान म्हणजे कार्यालयासाठी किंवा एखाद्या समस्येच्या प्रस्तावित निराकरणासाठी उमेदवाराची पसंती व्यक्त करण्याचा औपचारिक मार्ग. मतदान प्रामुख्याने राष्ट्रीय किंवा प्रादेशिक निवडणुकीसाठी होते; मात्र स्थानिक व लहान सामुदायिक निवडणुकाही सरकारमधील वैयक्तिक सहभागासाठी तितक्याच महत्त्वाच्या ठरतात. 15 ऑगस्ट 1947 रोजी भारत स्वतंत्र झाला आणि 26 जानेवारी 1950 रोजी भारतीय संविधान लागू झाले. संविधानातील सर्वात महत्त्वाचे तत्त्व म्हणजे सार्वत्रिक मताधिकार. या अधिकारामुळे साधा सामान्य माणूस असो वा श्रीमंत, उच्चशिक्षित असो किंवा अशिक्षित, प्रत्येकाला मत देण्याचा समान अधिकार प्राप्त झाला. याच अधिकारामुळे आपल्या देशातील लोकशाहीचे मूळ मजबूत झाले. पंतप्रधानांपासून सरपंचांपर्यंतच्या निवडीचा अधिकार प्रत्येक नागरिकाला मिळाला. यामुळेच न्याय व हक्कांची जाणीव होऊ लागली आणि स्वातंत्र्याची खरी अनुभूती मिळाली.

आज भारताची लोकशाही जगातील सर्वोत्तम लोकशाही मानली जाते, याचे मुख्य कारण म्हणजे तिची प्रभावी निवडणूक प्रक्रिया. दर पाच वर्षांनी निवडणूक होत असल्याने प्रत्येक नागरिकाला आपल्या मतांच्या ताकदीची जाणीव होते. संविधानाने दिलेले समानता, न्याय, बंधुता, स्वातंत्र्य यांसारखे मूलभूत अधिकार अबाधित ठेवण्याचे सामर्थ्य आपण आपल्या मतदानाने सिद्ध करू शकतो. निवडणूक प्रक्रियेतून निवडून येणारा कोणीही असो, सत्ता कोणाचीही असो, संविधानाचे मुख्य तत्त्व कोणीही बदलू शकत नाही. म्हणूनच, आपल्या देशाच्या लोकशाहीवर अभिमान ठेवून, संविधानाने दिलेला मतदानाचा हक्क बजावणे ही आपली जबाबदारी आहे. आपल्या मतांत देशाला प्रगतीकडे नेण्याचे सामर्थ्य आहे. म्हणूनच म्हणतात, "मतदानाचा हक्क, तुमची ताकद!" मतदान हा अधिकार केवळ वैयक्तिक स्वातंत्र्यावर आधारित नसून, तो देशाच्या विकासासाठी महत्त्वाचा आहे. त्यामुळे प्रत्येकाने हा अधिकार जबाबदारीने वापरून देशाच्या प्रगतीसाठी योगदान द्यावे. "मतदानाचा हक्क, तुमची ताकद!" हे केवळ घोषवाक्य नाही, तर आपल्या जबाबदारीची जाणीव करून देणारी सत्यता आहे.

आपल्या एका मताने देशाच्या भवितव्याला आकार देता येतो. लोकशाहीची खरी ताकद तिच्या नागरिकांच्या सक्रिय सहभागात आहे. म्हणून आपण सर्वांनी आपापल्या कर्तव्याची जाणीव ठेवून मतदान करायला हवे. मतदान करणे म्हणजे केवळ आपला हक्क बजावणे नाही, तर देशाच्या प्रगतीसाठी महत्त्वाचा वाटा उचलणे आहे.

"आजचा मतदार, उद्याचा देश घडवणारा!"

जय हिंद! जय भारत!

-जिजाऊ शेळके

Stories, Statistics and People

Indubitably, data is the most valuable thing in the world. It can establish or demolish economies, flourish or cause catastrophes, as it's ubiquitous around us, from testing vaccines to funding political campaigns. Undeniably, information accompanies misinformation, and with insights comes distortions. Each data point is a part of statistics, which is just a mere number. Statistics are just raw facts, which are uninteresting until storytelling and visualization bring life into those raw statistical facts. This enhances the message that the statistics try to convey. If the context and crux of the matter are provided pellucidly to society and are received very well by the common people, it proves to be a game changer for society. 

I wonder, if stories, statistics, and society are interconnected.Stories are the things we listen to and visualize; statistics is the collection, analysis, and interpretation of factual data; and society is the community of the people around us. These three things are pivotal when we see changes that have taken place from the previous period to the current era. All we need to do is think and wonder why and what these things actually are and how they influence the overall structure of our outlook towards various things around us. 

Today, data and society are like a double-edged sword. We have seen multiple times that a certain advertisement of a particular brand claims that its product is preferable so much so that 90% of people prefer their brand to that of others. Some toothpaste brands state that 8/10 people prefer their brand. But how many of us have asked what the sample of the people was—was it 100 or 10,000? When we consider these numbers, the story changes significantly. Same goes for political campaigns where cherry-picked statistics are shown with some pedantic data to deceive people and obscure the reality. It's then we realize that we're in jeopardy because of the lack of transparency in those campaigns, which will affect our daily lives from buying groceries to commute expenses. Therefore, it's high time to recognize the importance of data literacy. In his TED talk, Hans Rosling explains how the data is just raw facts, but when statistics, content, context, and appropriate data visualization are applied, it tells a story and gives clarity about the society. When data enters, it's not just numbers; it's also about correct explanation with appropriate interpretation, keeping in mind the full picture. We are human beings, social creatures, and throughout history we have found mediums to convey our thoughts and express ourselves. Stories are one of those mediums. We tend to remember the stories more than the statistics because it's entertaining, but what about facts? When we talk about data and reliability, we trust the statistics and not the stories because statistics are factual and stories are not. Surveys provide facts, but they are a result of societal input, and it's the people who share their opinions and views, which then leads to the realistic crux of the matter and conclusion. 

Stories and statistics are in a symbiotic relationship; both are interdependent for mutual benefit. There are misleading statistics used by the media, like a poverty line may look like there has been a significant decline in poverty, but there are many factors to keep in mind like inflation, recession, bank crisis, etc. Certain media companies only show selective data, which is misleading. So, to detect those misleading graphs, we must see the full picture, look at the labels, scale, and context. It's essential to be data literate, as it affects everything around us, from our personal choices to government policies. If we understand data and can correctly understand its message, only then will we be a data-literate society.

-Yajurved Patil

राष्ट्रीय एकता दिवस

एक काठी असेल तर ती सहज मोडता येते; परंतु काठ्यांचा गठ्ठा तितक्‍या सहजतेने मोडता येत नाही. लहानपणापासूनच अशा छोट्या गोष्टींतून आपल्यात एकीचे बळ खोलवर रुजवले जाते. सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल यांनी याच एकीच्या बळाचा वापर करून भारतातील विविध संस्थानांना एकत्र केले आणि जणू एका शिल्पकाराप्रमाणे भारताला नव्या रूपात घडवले. सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल (भारताचे लोहपुरुष) यांनी ब्रिटिश राजवटीपासून स्वातंत्र्य मिळाल्यानंतर भारतातील संस्थानांचे एकत्रीकरण करण्यात महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका बजावली. आपल्या कुशाग्र बुद्धिमत्तेने त्यांनी विभाजन संपवून भारताला एकसंध राष्ट्र बनवण्यास मदत केली. भारत हा विविधतेने नटलेला देश आहे. भारताचा समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक वारसा त्याच्या विविधतेतून निर्माण झाला आहे. राष्ट्रीय एकात्मतेच्या दिशेने या विविधतेचे परिवर्तन विषमतेत नव्हे, तर एकतेत करण्याचा ध्यास वल्लभभाईंनी उरी बाळगला, आणि समर्थपणे या विविधतेतून राष्ट्रात एकता निर्माण केली. आपल्यामधील भाषिक, पारंपरिक, सामाजिक, आणि सांस्कृतिक विविधतेत बंधुत्वाची भावना टिकवण्यासाठी आणि वृद्धिंगत करण्यासाठी राष्ट्रीय एकात्मता दिन साजरा केला जातो.

आपल्या भारतीय संविधानाची उद्देशिका देखील याच मूल्यांची पायाभरणी करते आणि लोकांमध्ये निर्धार, समानता, आणि विश्वास या तत्त्वांचा पाया घालते. भारताचे नागरिक म्हणून या मूल्यांचा आदर करणे आपले कर्तव्य आहे. आपल्या मनात स्वतःच्या संस्कृतीचा गर्व असलाच पाहिजे; परंतु त्याचबरोबर दुसऱ्याच्या संस्कृतीचा आदर आणि सन्मान बाळगण्याची भावना हवी. मात्र, राष्ट्रीय एकता दिवस साजरा करत असताना आपल्याला प्रश्न विचारण्याची गरज आहे – आजच्या काळात एकता या संकल्पनेचा अर्थ काहीसा बदलला आहे का? एकता साजरी करत असताना, ती खऱ्या अर्थाने अंमलात येत आहे का, की केवळ प्रतीके उरली आहेत? विविधतेतून एकता साधण्याचा उद्देश जोपासण्यासाठी आज आपल्या समाजात समजूतदारपणा, सहिष्णुता, आणि सर्वांचा समान आदर वाढवण्याची गरज आहे का? या प्रश्नांची उत्तरे शोधणे हेच खरे तर राष्ट्रीय एकात्मतेची खरी परीक्षा आहे.

-आर्यन पाध्ये

Honoring a Life Well-Lived: A Tribute to Ratan Tata

Ratan Naval Tata has been synonymous with innovation, philanthropy, and ethical business practices. When he left the globe, he left a mark. His legacy extends far beyond the corporate arena and touches the lives of crores of people through his commitment to social causes and visionary leadership. It is, however, the philanthropic legacy of Tata rather than purely his business acumen, which will serve as a more etched testament to his name. And indeed, in this respect, he was a very true philanthropist who keenly took interest in improving mankind. His philanthropic works could be varied—from health care and education to poverty and environmental sustainability. He made great contributions to the development of India and many other nations through the Tata Trusts, which he spearheaded.

The importance of his philanthropic works is immeasurable, be it to helping street vendors who were affected in the 26/11 attacks when they were working near the Taj hotel, owned by the Tata group, or be it the donation to IISc Bangalore for research on Alzheimer's disease. He not only donated 500 crore . rupees for the Covid relief fund but also opened the doors of the group's luxurious hotels for quarantine purposes to the government of Maharashtra for free of charge. At age  86, he opened a state-of-the-art hospital for small animals. He cared not only about humans but about the living beings, which could not express their problems either. A touching anecdote comes from Mr. Suhel Seth when he narrates that one quality about Tata is absolute compassion. In February 2018, he received an invitation to pick up a high-profile award at Buckingham Palace. He cancelled it in the eleventh hour when one of his beloved dogs fell ill. When King Charles was briefed about this, he said, “That’s a man. That’s the man Ratan is. That’s why the Tata group is what it is." This speaks volumes about his qualities and priorities in life.

Ratan Tata took over the charge of the Tata group from JRD Tata at a time when the country was going through drastic changes in the LPG reforms. The crisis did result in the company’s devaluation, but since then, Tata Group, under the leadership of Ratan Tata, has thrived, marking its presence across the globe. Under his leadership, the Tata group took over leading global companies like Toyota, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Corus. He took Tata Sons to new heights, but the most important achievement for him must have been to gain back the ownership of Air India airlines back to the Tata group. It was his way of paying tributes to his idol and inspiration, JRD Tata, who treated the airlines like his child back in the days when he started this new venture. Today, the Tata group owns more than 30 companies from various segments. He introduced the most affordable car in the world, popularly known as the Tata Nano. Tata’s main concern was about providing a safe vehicle to the Indian middle-class and lower middle-class families so that they didn't have to risk their lives while driving on the roads. So, the Tata group introduced ‘The Nano’, a car costing less than one lakh rupees. Ratan Tata was presented with the Padma Vibhushan by former president Shrimati Pratibha Patil in 2008. 

The day before yesterday, the great man left us at a time when his ideas and guidance were needed the most. Ratan Tata guided many young entrepreneurs, as he invested in more than 35 startups from his own earnings. He also mentored many such young minds that have the potential to write a brighter future for the country.

Each moment of life is a battle to achieve an objective in Ratan Naval Tata's life. He will be a testament to the human spirit for the ages to come and remind us to stick to our principles of ethical business practices, social responsibility, and the pursuit of a better world. Let us celebrate his life and extraordinary contributions to our society during this time of mourning.

A tribute from Vaadasabha...

Green Hydrogen: Game-Changer For the Future of Fuels?

“Green hydrogen is emerging as a promising addition to the world’s energy landscape.” 

-Narendra Modi

According to the Standford University, there’d still be gas and coal left by the time oil runs out in 2052. But if gas production is increased to fill the energy gap left by oil, then those reserves will only give an additional eight years, taking us to 2060. Therefore, as PM Modi says, “the time for action is here and now". The fact is humans currently possess the technology to utilize hydrogen fuel instead of fossil fuels, but the technology is on the primary stage. The technology, which is not on the primary stage is electric automotives. But considering their less efficiency, leaching occurring due to the lithium-ion battery, and their negative environmental production-friendly techniques, they are (no offence) useless. The International Conference on Green Hydrogen was established by various stakeholders in the energy and environmental sectors, government bodies, international organisations, and industry leaders. The significance of this conference was to strengthen the green hydrogen agenda, facilitate global collaboration, and drive progress toward a sustainable energy future.

At the conference, PM Narendra Modi emphasized the growing realization that climate change is not just a matter of the future, but its impact can be felt now. He said that energy transition and sustainability have become central to global policy discourse. The Prime Minister briefed that India was among the first G-20 nations to fulfill its Paris commitments on green energy. He said these commitments were fulfilled nine years ahead of the target of 2030. Throwing light on the advancements in the past 10 years, the Prime Minister said that India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity increased nearly 300% and solar energy capacity got over a 3,000% boost. PM Modi underlined that we are not resting on these achievements and the nation remains focused on strengthening existing solutions while also looking at new and innovative areas, saying this is where the of green hydrogen comes into the picture.

There were 25 key speakers at the conference, including Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies at the U.S. Department of Energy; Prof. G. D. Yadav, a distinguished professor from the Institute of Chemical Technology; Dr. Sachchida Nand, a leader in chemical engineering from IIT Bombay; and international figures like Bernt Nordman, head of Climate Program at WWF Finland; Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore; and Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe. 

The discussions emphasised the use of electrolysers and better use of sea water and municipal waste water for producing green hydrogen. Key areas of focus involved innovation in hydrogen storage solutions and the decarbonisation of hard-to-electrify industries such as steel, refineries, and heavy-duty transportation. The potential for green jobs was discussed, and skill enhancement in green hydrogen technology was a key note of the conference. Discussions on investment in research, development, and infrastructure of green hydrogen were followed. 

International partnership is critical for promoting green hydrogen’s impact on decarbonization. Scaling up production, minimizing costs, and building infrastructure can happen faster through global cooperation. India is willing to become the global hub for the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen. The National Green Hydrogen Mission is giving an impetus to innovation, infrastructure, industry, and investment. Experts discussed the need for public policy support, urging scientists and innovators to propose changes that would further boost the sector. This includes the creation of regulatory frameworks that support green hydrogen adoption in public transport, shipping, and other sectors. The role of green hydrogen in achieving climate goals was underscored, with discussions on how hydrogen can contribute to reducing global carbon footprints and help nations fulfill their commitments under international climate agreements.

-Soham Sonar

How do Psychological and Economic Factors Influence Consumption and Affect Saving Habits?

Keynes's psychological law of consumption states that "the income increase into the economy definitely increases consumption, which is why consumption is a function of income, but the law also says that as income increases, consumption increases, but at a slower rate than income", It means our consumption is influenced by our income, but do you know that other things also influence our consumption?

As we know,  For driving economic growth,consumption is a fundamental aspect of human life. Consumption refers to the use or expenditure of goods and services by households, individuals, and organizations to satisfy their economic, social, and psychological needs and wants. But have you ever wondered why we consume the things we do? Consumption is based on need or is influenced by other factors like psychology, marketing, policy, etc.? Can consumption affect saving habits?

Let's explore the answers to such questions.

The most important factor behind consumption is psychological factors . Consumer's psychology prominently influences their consumption. Psychological factors such as addiction, habit, social norms, peer pressure, mood, emotions, social environment and self-esteem etc. For incidence, diamonds are not essential for life but to enhance self-image or to maintain social identity or status, consumers may purchase the product.  When we see a shopping mall, we do some shopping  it means our physical and social surroundings influence consumption. Social media is influencing our consumption patterns nowadays. Also positive or negative feelings towards the product or service. Framing effects means presentation of economic information (e.g., prices, discounts) can influence consumer perceptions. The economic aspect is a key factor in consumption. Limitation of resources or products can increase desire and perceived value. The price of a product affects the consumption of consumers; price changes affect consumer behavior, including substitution and demand elasticity; switching to an alternative due to a price change. Tactics is market strategy which significantly influences consumption is, Advertising- shapes perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about products. Branding- creates emotional connections and loyalty. Visual marketing- uses images and videos to evoke emotions and attention. Customer reviews- leveraging social proof and credibility. Free Trial: offering a free trial or sample.

Companies are leveraging this psychology to increase consumption, using various tactics to encourage consumption such as scarcity tactics: create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time offers, exclusive deals, and countdown timers. Creates artificial needs and desires. Companies giving convenience to consumers by offering easy payment options, subscription services, and one-click purchases lead to an increase in consumption. An increase in consumption is significantly affecting saving habits. Reduction in savings rates, less money being saved due to impulse purchases and overspending. Unnecessary consumption focuses on immediate gratification and neglects the  long-term savings goals. Inadequate savings lead to reduced retirement funds and financial insecurity. Overspending and debt leads to financial stress, making it harder to save.

Combination of psychological and economic factors, consumption behavior is influenced  and  unnecessary consumption which affects saving habits. Prioritizing expenditure and avoiding unnecessary consumption leads to an increase in savings habits. Individuals, businesses, and society as a whole can make informed decisions by knowing the psychological and economic tactics behind consumption.

-Shruti Shinde

Union Budget 2024: Navigating India's Path to Development Through Fiscal Discipline and Strategic Investments

The annual budget, which has been referred to as the financial plan of a country in many instances, is actually about social welfare, economic policy, and political desires. The budget is more arithmetical concerning revenues and expenditure; also, it is a story that shows the government’s priorities. As a result, this has become an economic powerhouse on a global scale, with Union Budget 2024 planning for “Viksit Bharat” touching on these areas: agricultural reforms, manufacturing impetus, job creation initiatives, youth skills development programs, support for MSMEs as well as urban infrastructure development.

Its fiscal discipline makes the budget stand out most prominently. Though the current fiscal deficit stands at 4.9%, there are plans to bring it down further to 4.5% next year. In order to ensure balanced fiscal policy and target resources effectively into the preferred sectors while still maintaining fiscal stability. There have been no details regarding how the budgetary approach has been planned, but it can be categorized into four main sets: Garib’, meaning poor people; 'Mahilayen', meaning women; ‘Yuva’, meaning young people; and ‘Annadata’, meaning farmers.

A massive allocation of Rs 1.48 lakh crore towards development is being contemplated. A number of key initiatives include pro-growth fiscal policy, stability in the process of securing India's energy supply as well as its sustainability, which includes a roadmap for energy transition, augmenting electricity storage capacities, the development of nuclear and thermal power technologies, and the introduction of carbon market regulations for heavy industries. Spending on social sector programs such as MGNRGEA, Samagra Shiksha, Ayushman Bharat, old age pension, widow pension, Swasthya Suraksha—all have gone down over the past few years. This is why India’s inequality is notably worse: India is always caught up in abysmal health; poor teaching and learning; living in bad housing without plumbing; malnutrition; high child mortality rates. The middle class, however, remains at the same point of hope and desire for another year. One-third of our population lives less than 100 rupees every day. They are paying for this through regular purchases, thereby subsidizing government through “Aam aadmi,” who pays GST and heavy taxation while only favored ones under the scheme get subsidized. Although it has been widely lauded by many for its simplicity, including a uniform long-term capital gains tax rate of 12.5% on almost all asset classes except unlisted debentures after indexation removal, it has been criticized in some quarters that now seems like an inheritance tax on property transactions.

The portion of the budget that goes to agriculture has remained unchanged at about 3.1 percent of the total budget. From September, the general prices rise by no more than 6%, but food prices in India by June 2024 increase up to 9.4%. According to the World Hunger Index (WHI), which ranks among 125 countries, India still occupies the 111th position. Thus, there is an overall increase in prices of many goods due to rising food inflation. The percentages for flagship programs like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi have shrunk as a fraction of the total budget through FY25. At the same time, other measures to boost agricultural productivity and efficiency in supply chains are being contemplated. Allocation as targeted under Rs 1.52 lakh crore towards agriculture will be given, while doing away with this program will result in the demarcation of these resources for unproductive use only. To increase yields and fortify resilience to climate vagaries To attain the above objectives entails promotion of new crop varieties, natural farming, and digitization tools for farming, among others. These have played significant roles in safeguarding stable prices and economic welfare.

Indian job creation remains a top priority as the all-India unemployment rate stands at 9.2% in June 2024. The government aims to simplify incentive schemes and strengthen labor-intensive sectors through strategic investments that will enhance employment generation in these areas. A skilled workforce is instrumental in India's leap to a developed economy, and it has provided 2 lakh crore rupees for generating employment to boost employment and skilling through three new schemes, namely, incentives for first-time job seekers, job creation in manufacturing, and employer support. This large investment of Rs. 3 lakh crore being made by the government in women and girls testifies to its concerns toward social welfare. These have been campaigns for increasing female labor force participation, empowering women with relevant skills and opportunities, and thus helping drive economic growth. Infrastructure is a prime driver of growth, and major investments are marked for creating more transportation networks, mainly rural connectivity, enhancement of water resources management, and disaster mitigation.

It's pretty evident that India really stands at the crossroads.It is the leveraging of this demographic dividend that shall surely set India firmly on the global scene. Union Budget 2024 would present a roadmap for India's march to a developed nation. The fiscal and enterprise commitment goes very well with the vision of Amrit Kaal.

-Harshata Gotephode

Missing Women in the Indian Economy

In a country like India, where our finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, is a woman, is it right to say that women are missing in the Indian economy? Of course, it is, and here are the reasons.

According to the World Bank, the global labor force participation rate for women is just 50% compared to 80% for men. Women are less likely to work in formal employment and have fewer opportunities for business expansion or career progression due to family responsibilities. Even if women work, they earn less than men. When women reach their mid-30s and 40s, it is found that their earnings dip compared to men in the same position and profession. Women are not involved in paying jobs as much as men are, and the labor force participation rate gives an idea about this.

If India has the largest population in the world, then why are women missing in the workforce? India is a developing country, Indian households are not rich enough to comfortably subsist on one income; the country’s per capita GDP is less than $2,400, just one-fifth of the world average. Is it because women lack access to education? In India, educated women are less likely to find employment. College enrollment has soared since the turn of the century, yet women’s participation in the workforce has been on a steady decline until very recently. One of the reasons why women don’t participate in the workforce is because 99% of Indian women eventually get married, and women are expected to do nearly all of the housework, for which they are not paid. Only 6% of men report doing any cooking, and 8% do at least some cleaning. More women spent time cooking and cleaning resulting in less time for paid labor. This is one of the main reasons we see women doing part-time work rather than a full-time job. In 73 countries (based on 2018 data), women outnumber men in part-time work. A World Bank report says, “Women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.” The International Labor Organization terms gender pay as a measurable indicator of inequality between women and men. Now the question is, is this situation the same among all developing economies? The answer is no. If we take a look at Bangladesh, there are a lot of similarities between India and Bangladesh, but women's workforce participation in Bangladesh is much higher than in India. This is because of the relationship between women’s work and GDP. It is generally called the U-shaped relationship between female labor force participation and GDP per capita. Levels of female labor force participation are high for the poorest countries generally, where agriculture is the dominant sector and women often participate in small-holder agriculture work, such as Bangladesh. Women’s participation in the workforce is lower in middle-income countries, which have much smaller shares in agriculture, such as India. Finally, among high-income countries, female labor force participation is again higher, accompanied by a shift towards a service sector-based economy and higher education levels among women, such as in the USA. India as a country is stuck at the bottom of this U curve. Dr. Alice Evans of Kings College London calls the “Patrilineal Trap,” that is, wages are barely high enough that families can scrape by on one income but not high enough to draw women back to the workplace. From the above discussion, we can see that women are trapped between low wages and suffocating social norms. They do go to college and want to work, but society pulls them back. Today, India is the 5th largest economy with 6% growth, yet this growth has failed to create jobs. Economists call the number of new jobs produced for every 1% change in GDP "the “elasticity of labor." It is reported that between 2011 and 2019, the Indian labor force grew by 0.26%, imputing an elasticity of 0.04, which means virtually zero jobs were created over 10 years. This results in fierce competition for every last paid job.

The East Asian Model is about a rapid progression from agriculture to manufacturing to services in this order. It worked for Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and China. India, on the other hand, missed this memo. India jumped from agriculture to services, skipping manufacturing, as it was difficult for India, after liberalization in the 1990s, to compete with Chinese factories. As Indian farmers have been on a steady decline, usually it is expected that all these farmers will become factory workers, which is one labor-intensive industry replaced with another. But in India, manufacturing hasn’t absorbed these displaced farmers hence, we often see Indians working as construction laborers. But what about women? In East Asia, where manufacturing replaced agriculture, women became factory workers, which slowly influenced social expectations and afforded them newfound freedom. Whereas in India, women were pushed out of farming but discouraged from taking construction. A few lucky women secured lucrative service jobs. But the vast majority simply left the labor market altogether. This is one of the reasons why women in Bangladesh work at much higher rates, as many factories provide them with a socially accepted place to do so, whereas India has no such scale. By merely employing women at the same rates as men, according to Bloomberg, India’s economy could grow by nearly a third by 2050.

The World Economic Forum releases the Global Gender Gap Index annually, which benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. This index ranked India at 127 out of 146 countries in 2023. India’s score stands at 68.4%, indicating a modest improvement of 0.3% points compared to the previous year. According to the report, India’s progress in economic participation and opportunity remains a challenge, with only 36.7% gender parity achieved in this domain. The report also mentions that there is a slight drop in the representation of women in senior positions and technical roles. India has improved by 1.4 percentage points and eight positions since the last edition. But it will take many more years to achieve full gender parity.

Things are changing, though at a slow pace but the increasing presence of women as entrepreneurs has led to significant business and economic growth in the country.  Women entrepreneurs such as Namita Thapar-executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Vineeta Singh-CEO and co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics, Ghazal Alagh- CEO and co-founder of Mamaearth, Radhika Gupta- CEO of Edelweiss Asset Management and the list goes on, they all have inspired millions of people.  Women-owned business enterprises are playing a prominent role in society by generating employment opportunities in the country, bringing in demographic shifts, and inspiring the next generation of women founders. Women's participation in the labor force is not only a matter of gender equality but also essential for economic growth and development.

- Savani Mane

 

 

Acknowledging World Consumer Rights Day to educate consumers

March 15th is celebrated as Consumer Rights Day in honour of President John F. Kennedy's 1962 speech on the rights and the protection of consumers. The current shift in consumer rights was inspired by the lecture, which still has a rippling effect across various institutions globally. World Consumer Day sheds light on the issues faced by consumers in their daily lives. Despite all the progress we have made, many issues remain unsolved, such as malpractices, adulteration, dangerous commodities, etc. The day not only prioritizes the fundamental rights of consumers but also keeps them in focus.

Governments recognize the importance of caring for consumers to reinforce existing rules for the relevant parties involved. Standards ensure that consumers are treated fairly and protected from dangerous products. Businesses and governments should conduct seminars to ensure that unethical practices are not tolerated, as consumers are their ultimate beneficiaries, and their suffering erodes long-term trust.

Consumers should feel free to report their grievances and take legal action to address what is rightfully necessary. Despite these precautions, consumers face problems daily, including unjustified prices, unsafe products, and poor customer service. Consumer associations play a key role in addressing these issues, collecting individual consumer concerns and collectively addressing them through group protests, prompting the relevant parties to take necessary actions.

An example of consumer rights being enacted in India is the introduction of the Right to Information Act, reflecting consumers' concerns about their rights and involvement in society. Enacted in 2005, the RTI Act enabled consumers to access various databases from public experts, leading to advanced transparency and accountability. Consumers enthusiastically filed for RTI to approach the government on issues like public spending and expenditure, procedural reform and questioned delays in information processing and facts revelation. Through multiple training sessions and campaigns, consumers have now promoted an ecosystem of transparency, where the respective institutions can be held accountable.

World Consumer Day is the day we demand what is rightfully ours, raise awareness of the issues we face, and advocate for better guidelines. It is an opportunity for us to speak against biases, malpractices, and injustices. We must work together as global consumers for a better world where our rights and principles define us.

- Nandini Partani

Consumer Expenditure by Indians

A summarized analysis of the report released by NSSO

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics, and Programmed Implementation have conducted the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) from August 2022 to July 2023. This survey on household consumption expenditure aims at generating estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution separately for the rural and urban sectors of the country, for States and Union Territories, and different socio-economic groups. The summary results of HCES 2022–23 relating to MPCE are being released in the form of a factsheet. In absolute terms, the survey noted the average monthly per-capita expenditure (MPCE) in the rural category for 2022–23 at Rs 3,773, up from Rs 1,430 seen in 2011–12. The same for the urban category was seen at Rs 6,459 in 2022–23, sharply up from the average per capita spending observed at Rs 2,630 in the same base year. The survey report prepared by NSSO is released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) every five years. However, the latest set of data comes after 10 years, as the same for 2017–18 wasn’t released by the government owing to the vast variance seen in the figures.

There has been a rise in discretionary spending in both rural and urban categories. According to the study, there has been a decline in food expenditure on cereals and food intake, but an increase in spending on milk, fruits, vegetables, and processed food. Compared to 43% in 2011–12, food expenditure will represent 46.38% of total spending in 2022–2023. According to the consumption expenditure survey, the percentage of money spent in the rural category on "non-food items" increased to 53.6 percent in 2022–2023 from 47.1 percent in 2011–2012. For urban households, the proportion of spending falling into the same group increased to 60.8 percent in the most recent survey year, compared to 57.38 percent in 2011–12. Durables make up a large portion of "non-food items," and their percentage share of spending increased to 6.89 percent from 4.85 percent in the rural category. On the other hand, during the survey period, the proportion of respondents in the urban category increased to 7.17 percent from 5.60 percent. The experts believe that the high increase in discretionary expenditure in rural households is attributable to a decrease in spending on food related items. Alternatively, this also disproves the belief that rural residents have less purchasing power.

The report has observed a sharp decline in spending on major food items like cereals and pulses compared to other items in the food basket. This has been seen across rural as well as urban categories. In the rural category, the percentage share of expenditure over cereals (like wheat, rice, and barley) was seen at 4.89 percent in 2022–23, against 10.69 percent seen in 2011–12 as a part of overall monthly per capita expenditure. The same in the urban category was seen at 3.62 percent for 2022–23, as compared to 6.61 percent seen in 2011–12. In terms of overall spending on food items, the share of average monthly per capita expenditure on food as a part of the overall MPCE has reduced to 46.4 percent in 2022–23, compared to 52.9 percent in 2011–12 in the rural category. The same for the urban category was seen at 39.2 percent, as compared to 42.62 percent in the same period. According to several policy observers, the decline in spending on cereals in the rural category in particular has been due to the implementation of the National Food Security Act of 2013. As of now, 35 kilograms of food grains are provided free of charge to each prioritized household under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The survey also notes a steady rise in the share of spending on milk, meat, and processed foods in terms of overall spending on food. This has been observed across rural as well as urban categories. This rise, in particular, has been more in the rural category. The share of spend on milk, meat, and processed foods as a part of the overall MPCE in this category has increased to 8.33, 4.91, and 9.62 percent, respectively, in 2022–23, as compared to 8.04, 4.79, and 7.90 percent noted in 2011–12. Experts have observed that the availability of more spendable money owing to the food-security benefits also means an increasing inclination towards high nutrition foods among the lower and middle income groups.

Looking at the area-wise distribution, the northeastern state of Sikkim emerged as the state with the highest MPCE across the rural as well as urban categories. In the rural category, MPCE for the state was seen at Rs 7,731, while the same for the urban category was recorded at Rs 12,105. According to the experts, this has been possible due to Sikkim also having topped the list of states with the highest per capita income at Rs 472,543 in the years 2021–22. On the other hand, Chhattisgarh emerged as the state with the lowest average monthly per capita spending across rural and urban categories. The MPCE for the state in the rural category was seen at Rs 2,466, while that in the urban category was noted at Rs 4,483. The rural-urban difference in average MPCE was also the highest in Chhattisgarh at 82 percent, only after Meghalaya at 83 percent. The report observed that those who were self-employed in non-agricultural professions in rural areas had more spending power than those engaged solely in agriculture. The average MPCE for those who identified as self-employed in agriculture stood at Rs 3,702, lower than the overall MPCE for rural areas. On the other hand, the average MPCE of those who identified themselves as self-employed in non-agriculture was seen at Rs 4,074. In terms of social categories such as Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Class, and the Unreserved, the average MPCE for all social categories was found to be higher in urban areas than their counterparts in the rural category.

These findings offer valuable insights into evolving consumption patterns and potential areas for policy intervention to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic development across India. The data suggests a move away from staples like cereals and pulses towards milk, vegetables, fruits, and processed foods. This could be due to factors like rising incomes, urbanization, and changing tastes. The rise in spending on non-food items, especially durables, in both rural and urban areas indicates an increase in discretionary spending power. This could be due to factors like government schemes, improved employment opportunities, or rural-to-urban migration. The decline in spending on cereals, particularly in rural areas, could be partly attributed to schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which provides free food grains to eligible households. The significant difference in MPCE between states like Sikkim and Chhattisgarh highlights the persistent regional disparities in income and spending patterns. Self-employed individuals in non-agricultural professions in rural areas have higher spending power compared to those solely engaged in agriculture. This could be due to factors like better returns from non-agricultural activities or diversification of income sources.

- Soham Sonar