Building dreams
Dr. Rupinder Singh

Massive urbanisation all over the country has opened up a vast field of career opportunities in planning the urban landscape. This has increased the need for planners who can incorporate modern trends in the upcoming urban centres keeping in mind the environment, economy, design and physical facilities in order to maintain the quality of life of the people staying there. To analyse these, such planners need a proper and special education to understand assets, liabilities, geography, laws and policies of an area to be developed.

Job Profile

Keeping the aesthetic and the holistic approach parallel, an urban planner decides which building will fit the planning structure of a city. He/she predicts through his/her job how a city that is going to be developed will look and function after completion. His role is directly related to the smooth functioning of a city/town, needing a complete alleviation of the social economic and environmental problems, by deciding correct locations' mapwork in terms of lesser traffic problems, proper parking spaces, parks, lesser congested buildings and planning an overall balanced growth.

Getting in

A bachelor's degree in urban planning equips a student thoroughly for this profession. However, a master's degree provides a better understanding of the subject. Students can increase their employability quotient by going in for courses in structural/civil engineering, economics, architecture, finance, or geographic information systems. Those with a degree in law, earth sciences, demography, health administration and management can also be a part of the urban planning brigade. In order to have familiarity with computer models and statistical techniques; courses in statistics, computer science, and GIS are also required. This is so because, planners must be able to think in terms of spatial relationships and visualise the effects of their plans and designs. They should be flexible and be able to reconcile different viewpoints and make constructive policy recommendations.

Opportunities

Career opportunities in this field are immense. After completing a course in urban planning a student can begin his/her career as an Assistant/Associate Planner. Some of the popular career options include:

n Architects

n Civil Engineers

n Surveyors

n Cartographers

n Environmental Engineers

n Market and Survey

Researchers

n Geographers

n Political scientists

The job opportunities are growing for urban planners at a rate of 19 per cent which will require more people to fill in the positions that will be created in the near future. According to the National Employment Matrix, this occupation will see an increase to 45,700 jobs by 2018. Employment growth will be driven by the need for state and local governments to provide public services such as regulation of commercial development, environment, transportation, housing and land usage and development for an expanding population. Non-governmental initiatives dealing with historic preservation and redevelopment will also create employment growth.

The fastest job growth for urban and regional planners is projected in the private sector, primarily in the professional, scientific, and technical services industries. Specifically, planners will be employed by architecture and engineering firms to assist private developers and builders with broader issues, such as those related to water management, environmental regulation, security measures for a building.

The initial salary, earned by a fresher ranges from Rs 20,000 to 25,000 per month. This salary premium continues to increase with more experience.

Where to study

Very few institutes in India provide this course:

n Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar

n Amity University, Noida

n Mysore University

The writer is Dean for Architecture, Lovely Professional University 

Food Science & Technology
Food factor
S.C. Jain

Food technology involves the application of food science to the selection, preservation, processing and packaging of raw produce or the value added, safe, nutritious and wholesome food fit for distribution and consumption. Food science is a discipline concerned with all the technical aspects of food, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering or milking or catching and ending with its processing and consumption.

Despite rich endowment of Nature enjoyed by our country, only a small percentage (around 10 per cent of farm produce and only 2-3 per cent of fruits and vegetables) are processed into value added products as against the corresponding figures of 30 per cent in Thailand, 70 per cent in Brazil, 78 per cent in the Philippines and 83 per cent in Malaysia. The post harvest care of the agricultural produce in our country is highly disappointing, resulting in food spoilage worth Rs 37,000 crore annually. Vision 2015 — a document prepared by Rabo Bank and adopted by the Government of India, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, sets targets where the country will raise the levels of processing from 6 per cent to 20 per cent, value addition from 20 per cent to 35 per cent and food trade from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent by 2015. The higher levels of processing and value addition shall arrest food spoilage losses and enhance national income.

At present the food processing industry is highly fragmented and is dominated by the unorganised sector which is around 75 per cent. It is fervently hoped that the share of organised sector in food processing industry will increase from around 32 per cent currently to 40 per cent by 2015. The role of food processing becomes all the more crucial because food production is estimated to double in the next 10-15 years.

Career prospects

Food technology professionals, after graduation are qualified to man various positions of responsibility in food processing industries as supervisors, assistant managers, production managers, food packaging manager, R & D personnel, food scientist, food development manager, quality control officers, sensory scientist, food safety auditors, food stylists, marketing/ sales, to name a few.

Remuneration

A fresher/trainee after B. Tech. degree in food technology can expect a salary package of ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per annum. However, experienced B. Tech. or M. Tech. (Food Tech.) degree holder can get a salary in the range of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per annum depending upon the individual skills and caliber. On gaining experience, salaries increase commensurate with the nature of responsibility, length of experience etc for qualified personnel. Research degree holders in Food 
Technology should expect attractive salary packages as qualified Management and R & D personnel.

Getting in

Recognising the status of food processing as a sun-rise industry and in order to bridge the wide gap between the demand for qualified personnel in this field and their availability, several universities/institutes have started offering degree programmes in Food Science and Technology. But unfortunately, many of these are suffering from major inadequacies, having weak infrastructure in terms of both well equipped laboratories and pilot plant to carry out exercises on various unit processes and operations in food processing. As a result, the graduates have no industry orientation and, therefore, no scope for suitable employment in the food processing industry.

Admission criteria for different undergraduate and postgraduate courses in different institutes include qualifying a written test and interview. B Tech (Food Technology) course is of four year duration and those with physics, chemistry and maths/biology combination in Plus II are eligible to apply. Industrial training is an important part of this course.

Apart from the BTech course, students can also opt for BSc and MSc (Food and Nutrition) courses in various universities and M. Tech (Food Technology) and Ph. D (Food Technology) and are for those focused on identifying frontier and futuristic areas for research relevant to food processing industry.

In addition, short duration courses (three weeks) of Food Preservation and Processing for women/girls, providing a package of practices of food preservation at cottage / home level are also available for those wanting to start on their own.

The quality of food is the basic necessity of life right from the infant stage to the old age. Food processing attributes have, therefore, a direct bearing on the sustenance of life. The scope of food processing/technology shall always be on the rise, in any part of the world making it an ideal career choice.

In the words of our Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, "Just as Indian Companies have done in IT, they can do so in food processing also and emerge as global leaders."

The writer is the Director of Amity Institute of Food Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida

Where to study?

The Central Food Technological Research Institute, (CFTRI) Mysore, functioning under the umbrella of CSIR has been enjoying the pioneering status in Food Science & Technology Education & Research in the country. This institute awards M.Sc. (Food Tech.) and Ph.D degrees, and is well known for its standing, all over Asia.

Other institutes include:

Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Punjab University, Chandigarh

Amity Institute of Food Technology, Noida

Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar

Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, (Uttarakhand)

Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Jadhavpur University, Kolkata

Harcourt Butlar Technology Institute (HBTI) Kanpur

Nagpur University, Nagpur

University of Bombay, Mumbai

IIT, Kharagpur (W.B)

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University, Andhra Pradesh

Fast facts n India is the second largest producer of food second only to China. n The Indian food industry is the fifth largest industry in the country and accounts for 7 per cent of the country's GDP and 13 per cent of exports. n According to recent research, the Indian food processing industry has a growth rate of 14 per cent whereas Indian food industry has a growth rate of 7.5 per cent which, expectedly, will continue till 2013. n The Indian food industry, estimated at $181 billion in 2009, is heading to reach $258 billion by 2015 and $318 billion by 2020 with a share of processed foods increasing from 43 per cent to 50 per cent .

Career Hotline
BCA will give a good foundation
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I will be completing Class XII this year. I am thinking of going for BCA followed by MCA. But I have heard that the MCA entrance exam has no questions related to BCA. So should I do BCA or opt for some other subject instead?

— Arpit Baxi

A. Regardless of whether the MCA entrance test carries BCA-related questions or not, a BCA will give you a decent introduction to computers and computer languages that will hold you in good stead regardless of what you pursue subsequently. It will also give you a good idea whether MCA is something you should go in for. If you do decide to go for it, great! If not, it will give you the requisite familiarity and understanding of IT that will hold you in good stead in any other field you pursue in an increasingly technology driven world.

Fund Manager
Get a firm grounding

Q. I have done MBA with specialisation in Finance. At present I am working with Max Bupa. I am interested in becoming a Fund Manager. I want to know what are the special skills required to be a successful fund manager.

— Harpreet Tiwana

A. Despite soaring salaries, there's an acute shortage of fund managers at a higher level. Poaching from rivals is rampant. Adding to the crisis, many top-notch fund managers are moving to less stressful positions such as consultants or advisors that offer even fatter pay checks and a more leisurely lifestyle.

As a result, more and more equity salesmen with analyst background are getting into fund management because of this shortage.

But don't be in a hurry to jump in. It takes a few years to groom a good stock-picker i.e. someone who knows how to invest and where to invest - at minimal risk.

The agent or distributor assumes the role of a financial advisor and is the key channel for bringing mutual funds to a large number of investors all over the country. The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) which sets the industry standards for all funds operating in India has a certification process - the AMFI Mutual Fund Test.

This certification has been made mandatory by SEBI for anyone engaged in selling mutual funds - agents as well as those employed in distribution companies and banks.

Upon clearing the test, you can apply for your AMFI registration number which will certify you as an AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Advisor (ARMFA).

AMFI has prepared the necessary study material to help you prepare for the Test. The Workbook can be obtained from the AMFI office in Mumbai. For details log on to: www.amfiindia.com/testingprogram.html

There are some excellent books on the subject. Log onto: www.visionbooksindia.com for an exhaustive list.

IITs a good bet for science courses

Q. I am pursuing B.Sc (biotechnology) 3rd year with chemistry. I want to take admission in M.Sc (biotechnology) through IIT JAM. What kind of scores are required to make it to the IITs?

— Ruchika Gandotra

A. The Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. (JAM) is conducted to select students for admission to various M.Sc, Joint M.Sc-Ph.D., M.Sc-Ph.D. Dual Degree and other post-bachelor degree programmes at eight IITs as of now (Mumbai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee) based on their performance in a single test and to consolidate science as a career option for bright students from across the country.

You can take the Biotech paper for admission to M.Sc. Biotechnology (at IIT Bombay & IIT Roorkee) and M.Sc.-Ph.D. Dual Degree in Biotechnology (at IIT Bombay).

Don't worry about the fees. A number of financial assistantships and freeships are available to SC/ST and other deserving and meritorious students at individual institutes.

The sSyllabus of the Biotechnology (BT) test paper comprises biology (44% weightage), chemistry (20% weightage), mathematics (18% weightage) and physics (18% weightage).

Biology is of (10+2+3 level) and covers General Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Microbiology

Chemistry is of (10+2+3 level) and covers Atomic Structure and Functional Groups.

Physics & Mathematics syllabus is of 10+2 level

The current pace of technological advancement requires a coherent back up of basic science education and research. The vibrant academic ambience and research infrastructure of the IITs motivate the students to pursue careers in research and development in the frontier areas of basic sciences as well as interdisciplinary areas of science and technology.

You can get all the information you want on the programmes, test papers, test centres, eligibility, syllabus, application procedure, extended merit list etc on the website of IIT Roorkee which conducted JAM 2011 earlier this month: www.iitr.ac.in/jam/uploads/

The opening and closing ranks for all the categories in the previous year's exams are listed on the website. This will give you a good indicator of the level you should pitch for.

Find your passion

Q. What careers will be open to me after doing a general BA programme? I could not get any honours course with my percentage. Everyone in my family says there's very little scope with such a degree.

— Meera Saxena

A. First of all stop feeling sorry for yourself. Instead start asking the right question: "what career will be good for me?" To succeed and be happy at work, you must work out of passion - a love for what you do. One of the worse things in terms of careers is to wake up in the morning and say, "Oh God, why do I have to go to work"? It's not good for your employer, and it's certainly not good for you. Employers want their employees coming into work energised, charged and working out of enthusiasm and passion. They don't want them dragging themselves in because it's Monday, and scooting out of the door because it's Friday!

But finding your passion isn't always so simple. Still, the worst thing you can do is not to know what you want to do. In the beginning, you can take, what I will call, the safe courses. Every programme requires English, general or specific electives, social science etc. that will apply to any curriculum. Put your foot in the door and just do it! Now, while you're there, make an appointment with a good career counsellor. These are the people who are trained or specialised in helping you develop your career goals. They will interview you, give you an interest test, discuss options etc. Once you come to a decision that you feel is appropriate for you, start contacting people who are working in the field you think you're interested in. Ask them if you can shadow them for a day so that you can get a better feel of the day-to-day operations. Ask them how they feel about their work, the ups and the downs etc. Usually people are very open to discussing their trials and tribulations, failures, and successes within their field of expertise.

However, be warned! Don't speak with just one individual, because he may have an opinion that's either too negatively or positively skewed. Get a variety of perspectives. Sooner or later you'll find it! Just don't panic and rush the issue!

One last thing - there are dream stealers out there. Sadly, the people who are the first ones to steal your dreams away are those who love you the most - and these include your family and friends. They may say things like, "Why do you want to do that, Are you crazy?" They may say hurtful things like, "Oh, you can't do that!" They may even try to push you in a different direction. This isn't because they don't love you, but they may be worried. They may be afraid that you're making a mistake.

Remember this, the only way anyone can steal your dreams is if you let them. Just make sure you have an appropriate counsellor, mentor, or coach, and do your research. It's going to be OK!

COURSE WATCH
Public policy courses

Apeejay Stya University has introduced three new courses - BBA in Public Policy and administration; MBA in Public Policy and Administration; and MA-Public Policy and Development - to provide well-rounded professionals having a focused approach towards governance and development.

The courses have been designed to focus on understanding changing expectations about the government along with the changing modes of delivering public services.

The BBA in Public Policy and administration is a Bachelor programme designed for a duration of four years.

Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Public Policy and Administration is a five-year integrated programme, which will aim at producing graduates who will understand and apply relevant theories and concepts; develop skills to define and resolve issues in public policy and management; and blend theory and practice by working throughout the course on a wide range of practical issues.

MA-Public Policy and Development Studies is also a five-year programme, which has been developed due to the rising need for professionals having expertise in this particular field.

Digital Graphics

Zee Institute of Creative Art (ZICA), has introducedBachelors in Fine Arts (Digital Graphic’s Technology) course in association with Anna Malai University. The Course is an intense three-year degree programme for imparting education and training in fine arts, along with the new age digital Technology. Students will not only learn drawing, painting but also understand its importance in the real digital technology.

The association with AnnaMalai University for the new course will help aspiring students to acquire a UGC approved degree in the field of Graphics and Digital technology covering the art and technology of animation and visual effects. 

Health insurance for students going abroad
Ensure you are insured
Satkam Divya

If you are gearing up to persue studies abroad, you need to take a closer look at various travelling arrangements. Taking a health insurance is one such step that needs your due consideration. It is vital as it will help you financially, in case of medical emergencies. Even if you think you don’t need a health insurance while going abroad for study, your university might make sure that you think otherwise. Health insurance is usually a part of the many visa conditions that an international student must comply with.

What you should look for in your health insurance:

First and foremost, students must check out whether the university in which he/she intends to take admission acknowledges health insurance from your home country or not. In many cases, a student is required to take insurance from their network of local insurers only, as a part of their admission process and thus limiting your choice. For instance, universities in New Zealand require students to have a comprehensive travel/medical policy bought from the university. In rare cases, the policy can be bought from an external company, which is subject to the approval by the university concerned. The insurance policies offered by universities abroad usually provide only medical cover, leaving your non-medical risks uncovered. Others grant you a waiver, if you are insured by a health insurance (in your home country) comparable to theirs.

Specific requirements

Even if you are allowed to be insured from your home country, there are university specific requirements or guidelines that need to be followed. These guidelines are driven by universities/ state health and insurance standards and are a must to comply with, violation of which can result in withdrawal of admission by the university. For example, if you are going to Australia, one of the preliminary requirements is to get yourself registered under “Overseas Student Health Cover” programme before you actually land up in Australia. Also, many colleges and universities in US require students on 'F-1 visas' to have health insurance.

The prospective students can have the knowledge of these guidelines in detail from university prospectus/website.

Insurance amount

Once you shortlist the policy which complies with your university requirements, you must choose the one which provides the maximum coverage on minimum price. Student travel health insurance policies offered by Indian companies cover the risks right from when a student boards the out-bound flight. Hospitalisation expenses are paid even if something happens to the student mid-way and he/she required to be landed in some other country.

Most plans available in the market offer a medical cover ranging from $50,000 to $5,00,000, depending upon the variants. Besides, benefits related to dental treatment, personal accidents, repatriation of remains, sponsor protection etc. are also included in a good health insurance policy. In addition, many insurers offer to reimburse tuition fees paid in advance, if studies are interrupted due to medical/ compassionate reasons (study interruption benefit), while others provide sponsor protection benefit i.e., in case of death/permanent disability of your sponsor, generally your parents your school fee is reimbursed to a specified limit.

Apart from paying medical expenses and hospitalisation charges ranging $50,000-250,000, Tata AIG offers to reimburse a nearest family member's round ticket cost, provided you get hospitalised for more than seven consecutive days. Similarly, Bajaj Allianz offers to re-pay the tickets of most direct flights for the same. A few also take up students' liability risks, and pay up to $100,000 for any accidental damage caused by the student to either private / public property. TATA AIG Student Guard also does a reverse and provides "felonious assault", meaning reimburse the loss or damage to a student's property by racial attacks. Most insurers offer these covers even when the student is in any other country during his/her study tenure. Your choice of an insurer should depend upon your risk appetite, your premium capacity, specific geographical risks, etc.

Deductible and co-payment

An important consideration for buying a student health insurance policy is 'Deductibles and Co-payment' clauses. Unlike a general health insurance policy, there is an additional cost to a student policy, even when the insurance company pays the claims. "A deductible is a situation where the claim up to a certain figure has to be paid (voluntarily) by the person insured. For example, ICICI Lombard's Overseas Student Travel Insurance Plan has a deductible clause of $100 in total coverage of $250 for dental treatment. Similarly, co-payment means that students have to borne specific out-of-pocket expenses, like doctor visit and medicine costs. However, technically, both deductible and Co-pay are often linked to the premium.

Cost factor

It's widely accepted phenomenon that healthcare services in India are cheaper by 45-50 per cent than anywhere in US, UK, Canada and Australia. So, students are advised to buy health insurance in India rather than buying in destination country, if there is no such university requirement. As per industry sources, student insurance policies cost $500-900 per year in the US, and approximately $400 in Australia. The actual amount can depend upon the university and their local tie-up network. In comparison, the cheapest worldwide cover offered by Indian insurers is $168-234 and the most expensive is $355-575 per year. The benefits in prices are partially due to foreign exchange rates and hence students need to cross-check the actual figures.

Problems in getting claims

On the flipside, the foresaid cost-advantages are partially offset by the tedious process of making a claim. It includes student paying the hefty hospital bills upfront and then filing the claim for reimbursements. This offers an unfavorable proposition because:

n Bills are high in dollars and

n It is difficult for a student to arrange for that hefty bills

n The reimbursement process may take even up to 3-4 months, leading to short-term liquidity crunch for the student.

Here, insurers have their say and argue that claims can be faster if students can give them prior intimation about their hospitalisation, which usually is not the case. Thus, a prudent decision here is to choose your international student health insurance that offers you to direct cash-less settlement of claims.

However, there is a catch as well. Most International student health insurance providers have a tie-up with selected network of hospitals and doctors, commonly referred to as the 'Preferred Provider Organization' (PPO) network. When hospitals and doctors within the PPO are used, only then the claims are settled directly with the insurance company.

The writer is Business Head, Rupeetalk.com 

FROM THE Fields
Don't burn but earn 
Rajinder Singh

Agriculture has remained the mainstay of the economy of the Punjab and Haryana region for a long time with the wheat-rice crop rotation cycle being followed by farmers in the maximum cropped area in these two states. But over the years the participation of youngsters in agricultural activities has lessened and there is a shortage of farm labour also. As a result the manual harvesting of wheat crop is almost nil now. The harvesting of wheat crop is done through combine harvesters. But this mechanised threshing leaves about one-third of the feed stuff/crop residue/straws standing in the field and this left over straw of wheat is burnt by the farmers which pollutes the environment; causes the loss of dry fodder (which is very precious for our livestock wealth) and most importantly, kills the friendly microbes in the soil.

Thus, this whole process disturbes the geo-bio-eco- system. Another reason for burning of straw in Punjab and Haryana is the surplus availability (49per cent) of dry fodder and costly labour. But many other states of the country are deficit in the availability of dry fodder. Steps should be taken to avoid the burning of wheat straw. In a novel initiative the Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the region have come up with a profitable solution to the problem of burning of wheat straw. As per this initiative the farmers can earn a handsome amount by utilising the wheat straw as dry fodder as well as avoid the pollution-yielding straw-burning practice.

Tractor-mounted reapers can be used to reap the standing wheat straw in fields. Each reaper can harvest about eight quintals of wheat bhoosa per acre acre and rent charges are approximately Rs 1,000 per acre. The bhoosa which is received through this process can fetch up to Rs 350 per quintal. So a farmer can get Rs 2,800 per acre and earn about Rs 1,800 per acre after paying the rent of the reaper. The quality of this dry fodder is excellent as it contains no mud content as is found in the wheat bhoosa obtained through threshers. So the needy, unemployed, energetic youth can earn a decent amount by using this technique.

The surplus dry fodder can be enriched by applying modern animal feed technologies in the form of compressed complete feed blocks. This will enable the semi-educated unemployed youth to start their own densified complete feed block manufacturing units. These blocks will be helpful in drought, disaster management and other conditions.

The initial machine and other unit establishing cost range between Rs 5-8 lakh which has capacity of manufacturing of 20 quintals of dry fodder into blocks per day of 4.5-9 kg weight size by providing employment opportunity to five to six persons. The training and other knowledge about complete feed technologies, block manufacturing and machine availability etc can be sought from district level KVKs.

Financial support: Banks are ready to finance the project at a nominal interest rate.

— The writer is Senior Coordinator, KVK-Jhajjar 

Scholarships

Deakin University, Australia, has announced a series of new scholarship programmes for Indian undergraduate and post-graduate students. The value of scholarships is almost Rs 97 million (AUD$2m). The scholarships are designed to promote collaboration with industry through leading-edge research. Deakin is renowned for its research in advanced materials, nanotechnology, life sciences and health. These new scholarships will provide an opportunity for post-graduate students from these disciplines to extend their research capability.

The new scholarship programmes were announced in Delhi by Australia's Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, Senator Chris Evans and Deakin Vice-Chancellor, Prof Jane den Hollander. Students who apply for post-graduate scholarships will need to have met the minimum requirements in their previous qualification, with research scholarships also taking account of references and face-to-face interviews. The coursework scholarships are determined entirely on merit and face-to-face interviews with minimum average marks of 60 per cent required at Bachelor's level to apply for a Master's programme, and a minimum average attainment of 70 per cent at secondary school leaving standard to apply for an undergraduate programme.

As part of this package of scholarships, Deakin University is offering on-campus PhD scholarships in Australia valued at Rs 6.9 million (AUD$144,000) each and scholarships through the Deakin India Research Initiative valued at around Rs 4.8 million ($100,000) each.

For students enrolling in Research programmes, Deakin is offering:

n  Five On Shore PhD Scholarships valued at Rs 6.9 million (AUD$140,000) each for students to study with Deakin in Australia in 2012;

n  10 Deakin India Research Initiative Scholarships valued at Rs 4.8 million (AUD $100,000) each for PhD students who study in India under the Deakin India Research Initiative in 2012.

For Indian students enrolling for On Campus Studies at Deakin, scholarships include:

n  10 Deakin International Bursaries valued at Rs 240,000 (AUD$5000) each to study at Deakin in 2011-2012;

n  Deakin University International Scholarship Programme valued at Rs 386,000 (AUD$8000) for each student

n  Deakin's General Internationalisation Scholarships valued at Rs 1,45,000 (AUD$3000) each, to provide a fantastic opportunity to encourage high quality students to study undergraduate and post graduate programmes on shore at Deakin University.

Applications close on August 31. See www.deakin.edu.au/ for more details.

For the girl child

The last date to apply for Fair & Lovely Scholarship 2011 is August 20, This scholarship is exclusively for for girls wanting to pursue graduation, post-graduation and doctoral courses. The selcted candidates can avail aid upto Rs 1 lakh per annum. Aspiring candidates can download and submit the application form on www.fairandlovely.in or post it to Fair & Lovely Scholarship 2011, Fair & Lovely Foundation, P.O. Box No. 11281, Marine Lines Post Office, Mumbai 400 020

Aspiring candidates can also call on the toll free number 1 800 220 130 for more information.

The basic eligibility criterion for the scholarship is a minimum of 60 per cent in Class X and XII. For further details log on to www.fairandlovely.in 

OFFICE Mantra
Cut the clutter
D. C. Sharma

Is your office cramped and chaotic? If yes, why not create space that is pleasing, practical and comfortable. You can enhance your output and even remain relaxed if your office is organised and calm. Empty space is not only pleasing but also provides sufficient oxygen always keeping you fit and fine.

Have you ever visited an officer who is working in his spick and span office? If yes, then you must have realised how efficiently that officer has been performing his duties. On the other hand, an officer whose space is cluttered with files and other unnecessary things can’t function well. Cluttered items block the flow of positive energy which is a must for the smooth functioning of an office.

Do you wish to enhance your output and productivity? Just a little effort can keep your office well tuned for ever. However, if it is already cluttered beyond redemption even then don’t worry. Just decide to spring clean it. Be firm to take the initiative at the earliest. Even before the set date arrives your mind will start working on the problems created by clutter and their workable solutions.

Get down to work

As and when the fixed day comes, get started. Ask you colleagues to cooperate in this matter. There are two ways. Either you get the whole office emptied first, and then rearrange the necessary things. Don’t depend entirely on the cleaning staff. Keep guiding them from time to time in a kind and cooperative manner. Let every window pane, every ventilator, every door, and every piece of furniture be thoroughly cleaned. Supervise personally every nook and corner before the needed things and equipments are re-arranged in your office.

Organise

Keep the desired space for each item that is necessary in the office. Let the unnecessary items be kept away in the store. The comfortable space that you create in your office this way will help you concentrate on your work in a much better way.

Place each important item in a spot where it can be accessed easily.

Clean table clean mind

Table space should be kept as clean as possible. Only the papers or documents that need immediate attention should be kept on the table. As soon as a paper is dealt with, it should either be filed or stored at a place from where it can be located easily when required.

Your office space needs to work for you, not against you. It should provide you convenience, and not inconvenience. Organise your office accessories in perfect order. Office pads and paper sheets should be kept within an easy reach while you are working on your computer. The office phone, phone book, pencils, pens etc should be kept within easy reach.

There are two types of things which accumulate, and create cluttter. Firstly, the things which accumulate like dust are newspapers, magazines, and daily bills. Other things which accumulate are books, clothes, photographs, and furniture items. The first ones should be cleared daily after use. The second ones should be disposed of after they are utilised properly, and are no more required. Clutter is nothing less than tension, turmoil, and chaos. So it is wise to discipline yourself with 
anti-clutter habits? 

Ready for job hop
59% Indian employees surveyed may hop jobs in next five years: Study

More than half of the Indian employees surveyed expect to switch their jobs within the next five years for better growth opportunities, says a report.

According to a survey by global workforce solutions leader Kelly Service -- Kelly Global Workforce Index -- 59 per cent of Indian employees surveyed expect to switch careers within the next five years due to money and lifestyle issues.

The survey, which was carried out among over 2,000 employees, noted that the main cause, cited by 36 per cent of the respondents for change in career is the need for improved work-life balance.

Twenty three per cent employees said they would hop their job for higher income, while 21 per cent said changing personal interests could drive them 
to do so.

“The new career change trends, which we are witnessing clearly demonstrate a higher appetite for risk among employees as well as today's employees are becoming less tolerant to expectation mismatch,” Kelly Services (India) Managing Director Kamal Karanth said.

Many respondents said they believed they could resume their career at the same level after taking a break for maternity/paternity leave, illness or extended holidays. — PTI

Food for thought
NET SpoilSPORT
Internet use at work place for non-work related activities negatively impacts on productivity

A new survey has indicated that employees using the Internet for personal work during office hours is spoiling their relationship with their employers and senior management staff. Carried out by the website MyHiringClub.com, the survey of 22658 employees and 3296 hiring managers and senior executives from India, Gulf, Middle East and Singapore found that 62 percent of employers in India are monitoring the internet usage of their employees.

In the Gulf and other parts of the Middle East, the figure was 49 percent, while in Singapore, it was 77 percent.

From the employees’ point of view, the survey revealed that in India 59 per cent admitted tousing there personal internet or official internet for completing personal works in working hours.

In the Gulf and other parts of the Middle East, the figure was 37 per cent, while in Singapore, it was 53 per cent.

“Employees need to be mindful of company policies on internet usage and should designate their lunch hour or break times for shopping excursions or other non-work related activities. Internet use at work place for non-work related activities negatively impacts on productivity”, said Rajesh Kumar, CEO, MyHiringClub.com.

According to the survey, 73 per cent of employees use the internet for non-work related research and activities while they are at work. Among these employees, 31 per cent spend on average more than two hours of their workday on non-work related online activities and 11 per cent spend more than two hours.

It further said 72 per cent of employees say they send non-work related emails at work, with 23 per cent saying they send six or more personal emails per day.

About 27 per cent of employees report they send instant messages while at work. Of those who using IM at work, 45 per cent say IM makes them more productive.

It said that 42 per cent of employees have a social networking profile. 57 per cent of those with a profile spend more than hours time per day on their social networking page during the workday with 12 per cent spending less than an hour time.

MyHiringClub.com is Asia's and the Gulf/Middle East's largest recruitment tendering platform, having operations in India, Gulf / Middle East and Singapore. — ANI

Key to longevity

Want to live longer? Forget workplace enmity. Just try to be friendly with all your office colleagues, even those who don't like you, says a new study.

Researchers have found that getting along with workmates can significantly increase one's lifespan — in fact, a friendly work environment and a positive relationship with co-workers has long-term health benefits, while lack of it can increases one's risk of dying by 140 per cent.

For their study, the researchers at Tel Aviv University studied the health records of 820 adults who worked an average of 8.8 hours a day over 20 years.

Those who reported having low social support at work were 2.4 times more likely to die within those 20 years, the 'Daily Express' quoted lead researcher Dr Sharon Toker as saying.

On the other hand employees who believed they had the personal support of peers were more likely to live longer.

She explained: "We spend most of our waking hours at work and we don't have much time to meet our friends during weekdays. Work should be a place where people can get the emotional support they need." During the study, 53 participants died, most of whom had negligible social connections with their fellow workers.

Dr Toker said many workplaces have lost their way when it comes to building a supportive environment for employees.

To make an office more health-friendly, coffee corners should be introduced where people can congregate to sit and talk.

Informal social outings for staff, an internal social network similar to Facebook or a peer-assistance programme where employees can discuss personal problems in confidence, could all help give workers that vital emotional support, she said.

The findings have been published in the latest edition of the Health Psychology journal. — PTI

Breaking schedules

The lunch-hour, which is a traditional part of the working day, has for most been shifted to an earlier time due to too much work pressure. According to a survey by sandwich chain Subway, around three million staff are regularly forced to take a "mid-day break" before 11am due to the increasing work pressure.

A further 10 million employees sometimes do not get a break until after 3pm, and around 28 percent of workers in the poll of 2,000 people said their employers discouraged them from taking a full hour at lunchtime.

“These results reflect ever increasing work pressures,” the Daily Mail quoted Manaaz Akhtar, head of marketing at Subway, as saying.

Another survey found that many workers cut short their lunch break to try and impress their bosses, or use it to do personal chores rather than having a proper meal. — ANI 

Gems of ancient wisdom
Happiness @ work
Only the first step is hard

The task may appear hard and the route long, but as soon as you take the first step, doesn’t the long path to the goal become shorter?

Sixteen-year-old Venkataraman started off for Tiruvannamalai, where the sacred Arunachala hill is located, with just three rupees in his pocket. A maulvi appeared and disappeared after guiding him and another kind-hearted man gave him food. And on the day he reached Tiruvannamalai, even the door of the temple, contrary to practice, was open. He later became renowned as Ramana Maharishi.

On the 13th day of the Mahabharata war, Abhimanyu entered the chakravyuha set up by Dronacharya. To the Kauravas, he appeared to be death-incarnate. Among the multitude of others, he killed Karna’s brother and Duryodhana’s son. “He cannot be killed ethically. Attack him simultaneously and from behind,” advised Drona. So the sextet of Drona, Kripa, Ashwathama, Karna, Kritvarma and Brihatbala cut his bowstring, killed his charioteer, attendants and horses, broke his sword and finally killed the 16-year-old nephew of Krishna.

Little Kabir wanted to know the secret word that great Vaishnava saint Swami Ramanand was imparting to his pupils. So, in the wee hours one morning, he lay quietly on the stairs that led down to the river. When the master came up after his bath, he stepped on the boy on the steps. In apology, he said, “Hare Ram” and went his way. Doesn’t every Indian know the depth of these two simple words?

While her brother Rukmi, heir-apparent of Vidarbha, had made arrangements to wed her to Shishupal, King of Chedi, Rukmini desired to marry Krishna. Abandoning her maidenly reserve, she somehow conveyed her feelings through a Brahmin emissary to Krishna. The dark-hued Lord not only rescued her but he, along with Balrama, defeated the combined forces of Shishupal, Rukmi and their 1000 allies.

In his quest for Truth, Narendranath first went to the Brahmo Samaj and then, to many parsons and pandits with a simple question, “Have you seen God?” Getting all answers in the negative, he decided to go to Ramakrishna Paramhansa of Dakshineshwar, near Calcutta. The master simply said, “I see Him more clearly than I see you.” Under his guidance, Naren became Swami Vivekananda.

How can two exiled princes fight an emperor who has conquered all three realms, every reader of the Ramayana thinks after reading about the abduction of Sita? But Rama and Lakshman didn’t lose heart. Helped by Jatayu, Kabandha, Sabari, Sugriva and his army, Sampati and Vibheeshan, the two princes of Ayodhya rescued Sita from Ravana’s grasp.

Well begun is half done!

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com