Group Discussion :: IT and human resource management

The invention of computer accelerated the speed of computing. The invention of internet has heralded revolutionary changes in the field of communication. The whole world has now shrunk into a global village. Geographical distances may keep nations and continents apart. But due to internet, the minds of people world over have been connected. A computer illiterate will be soon scorned by educated people world over. Internet enables people to access information, from any part of the globe. Through e-mail messages are flung across the globe in microseconds. Students from Asia seek their jobs 

Group Discussion :: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND HEALTH HAZARDS

Any undesirable physical, chemical or biological change caused to land, water, air and other natural resources is termed as environmental pollution. These pollutions make life very difficult. Though there are various causes for pollution, man himself is a major cause. Over-pollution is the chief cause. Air pollution is due to industrial and automobile exhaust. These contain carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. They cause breathing trouble and even cancer. Plants are unable to synthesis food. The protective ozone layer is affected thereby, exposing us to the ill effects of radioactive rays. Accumulation of rubbish, polythene and plastic containers, glass and porcelain, result in land pollution. They cause various diseases. The letting in of domestic sewage waste, industrial waste and tannery effluents, pollute drinking water. The use of excess of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides and DDT, pollute both land and water. They lead to many deadly, contagious diseases. Oil leaks in the oceans affect marine life. They endanger many marine species. Gas leakage, leakage of nuclear reactors also poses several threats to us. The latest is the leak of cyanide from a gold mining company in to the blue Danube. More than 80% of the marine species is dead. The river has turned grey. Unless suitable steps are taken to check pollution, mankind will be destroyed along with other organisms.

Any undesirable physical, chemical or biological change caused to land, water, air and other natural resources is termed as environmental pollution. These pollutions make life very difficult. Though there are various causes for pollution, man himself is a major cause. Over-pollution is the chief cause. Air pollution is due to industrial and automobile exhaust. These contain carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. They cause breathing trouble and even cancer. Plants are unable to synthesis food. The protective ozone layer is affected thereby, exposing us to the ill effects of radioactive rays. Accumulation of rubbish, polythene and plastic containers, glass and porcelain, result in land pollution. They cause various diseases. The letting in of domestic sewage waste, industrial waste and tannery effluents, pollute drinking water.

The use of excess of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides and DDT, pollute both land and water. They lead to many deadly, contagious diseases. Oil leaks in the oceans affect marine life. They endanger many marine species. Gas leakage, leakage of nuclear reactors also poses several threats to us. The latest is the leak of cyanide from a gold mining company in to the blue Danube. More than 80% of the marine species is dead. The river has turned grey. Unless suitable steps are taken to check pollution, mankind will be destroyed along with other organisms.

Group Discussion ::: Advantages and Disadvantages of co-education in college

By co-education we mean the participation of students of both the sexes in the learning process. Though co-education is common in foreign countries, it is not so in India. Segregation of the sexes has been in practise in India from very early times. Women were not entertained in certain fields. Certain misconceptions, prejudices and superstitions were against co-education. However, at present co-education is imparted in some educational institutions at the school and college levels.

Co-education has its own advantage in colleges. Since the college students have matured minds co-education will not in any way interfere with their learning efforts. They know their responsibilities. To them the opposite sex is not any more just an object of attraction. On the other hand it will provide them with better opportunities to understand life. Further, the presence of other sex always acts as an incentive. It creates in the students a healthy rivalry to surpass the other. We find women in almost all spheres. Co-education will go a long way to help the weaker sex gain self confidence.

India is a developing country with limited resources. So it cannot afford to have separate college and universities for men and women. As for the disadvantages, opposite sexes always have mutual attraction. The students are passing through a crucial period of their life. They are likely to be sexually attacted. It may affect their learning efforts. There may be one or two elements which would engage in eve teasing, and some acts of false bravado which they see in films. But anti-social and irresposible elements are present everywhere. Untoward incidents in co-educational institutions could be avoided with better administration.

Group Discussion :: Patriotism

"Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land?"
These memorable lines from Sir Walter Scott reflect the universal feeling of patriotism.

Patriotism is love of one's own motherland. Rightly interpreted this is one of the noblest felling of mankind and the most natural. Our country, in fact, is our second mother. We are born and brought up in our motherland and are nourished and nurtured by her. We should remember that whatever is done in the name of one's country is done by a group of people who rule the country. Hence a true patriot should always keep in mind the limitations of the rulers and should not consider rulers to be a synonym for the country.

Patriotism binds the diverse people of the country, breaking the barriers of caste, creed and religion with one strong bond. People forget their differences and stand unitedly to face the aggressor. We saw this enthusiasm during the Chinese aggression in 1999. The whole country stood behind our valiant soldiers and contributed their might in terms of material and money, to give a crushing blow to the enemy.

This surge of love and devotion to one's country is abundantly discernible when he wins matches, beauty contests or gold medals at international events. People burst crackers and celebrate the occasion with great fanfare. It nurtures fellow feeling and a spirit of brotherhood among people, besides inspiring others to excel and bring glory to their country. People who love their country pride themselves as Indians. However a true patriot is one, who places his country first and foremost. He is ever ready to make sacrifices for his country.

The country grows and prospers on the strength of its true patriots only. We owe our freedom to them, for wherever the country is in danger, they are in the forefront to defeat it, both in war and peace. We must therefore as a true patriot, stand for upholding all good things for the country, and be ready to make sacrifices in safeguarding it.

Group Discussion :: Need to preserve the environment

Pollution may be due to natural process or from artificial process originating from human activities. They are classified as air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, thermal pollution, sound pollution and radioactive pollution. All these cause health hazards not only to plant, and animal life but also to human beings. Gaseous pollution due to carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and automobile exhaust cause acute illness, chronic diseases, eye irritation and nervous impairment. Lead emitted from automobiles cause brain damage in children. Air pollution causes damage to property and materials. The Taj Mahal is an example of this sad state. Industrial wastes, sewage waste, and agricultural wastes contain toxins, organic hazardous materials. Insecticides and pesticides also pollute water which becomes unfit for drinking. Heavy metal water causes several adverse effects on man and cattle. Soil pollution causes bacterial infection. They are responsible for the spread of diseases like typhoid and cholera.

Land pollution is caused due to solid wastes from homes, farms and industries. Radioactive pollution induces cancer, abnormal births and mutation in man. Thermal pollution increases the temperature of lakes and rivers. It affected aquatic life and the quality of water. Noise pollution affects our hearing ability. It causes increased heart beat, headache, irritability and affects our tranquility and efficiency. All kinds of pollutions are health hazards. Therefore, today's need is to preserve the environment and guard it against all kinds of pollution. It is the duty of every human being, to preserve the environment for the future generations.

Group Discussion:: Mass media - advantages and disadvantages

There are two kinds of communication namely, interpersonal and mass communication. There are several media for mass communication. The post, telegraph and the telephone are the important means of communication. Radio, television, newspaper, journals and magazines are the other media. With the introduction of portable transistors, the radio has become the common mass media. According to the All India Radio, the AIR reaches about 200 million people. Hence, it is the most effective medium. Though the radio broadcast includes programs for family welfare, for youth, for the farmers and on education, health and hygiene, it is used mainly for listening to film songs.

The media which is next in importance and popularity is the television. In India the state owned television is known as Doordarshan. It reaches about 78.7% of Indian population through 534 transmitters. It transmits news, current affairs, educational programs, dramas, films and world affairs. We not only listen to but also see what happens in any remote part of the world at the same instant. Here again it is used only as an entertainment medium. But in advanced countries, major operations are telecast live for the benefit of others. With the advent of private televisions, the T.V. has become the main medium for advertisement and cheap entertainment. The newspapers and journals form the cheapest and the largest media. India publishes 27,000 newspapers, 2538 journals in about 93 languages. The circulation is estimated around 58 million. These papers and magazines cater to the needs of its subscribers. But it is useful only to the literate population. They do not reach the remote rural places. One advantage is they are not controlled by government as in the case of AIR and Doordarshan.