Causes of Poverty in Mauritius

Causes of Poverty in Mauritius Over the past two decades, Mauritius has continuously experienced considerable improvements in both social and economic levels. Mauritius is ranked as an upper middle income country since 2003, with a GDP per capita of $4000. Substantial improvement in life expectancy and literacy, Mauritius has shifted from medium to a high human development country during same period. This is evidenced by the latest UN Human Development Indices: Mauritius is ranked 81 (182 countries) in 2007, with an HDI value of 0.804. Challenge Despite these considerable improvements, poverty does exist in Mauritius. Rapid modernization and industrialization has lead to income inequality in the population, leading to an increase in number of pockets of poverty. This is a common phenomenon experienced by most developing countries. Governments or organizations have to reconsider their policies to decrease the level of income inequality in order to eradicate the problem of poverty. Meeting the challenge In Mauritiu s, government has implemented several social welfare programmes to bridge the gap between poor and non-poor. This include the distribution of social aid to needy people, subsidies on basic food item, ZEP programme in schools to enhance level of education, micro-financing to small and medium enterprises, female empowerment in labor market . In the 2008/09 National Budget, the Government provided Rs 395 million for the setting up of the of the Eradication of Absolute Poverty (EAP) Programme, an integrated development project which targets the households in the 229 pockets of poverty. In 2009, the Government has set up the National Empowerment Fund as an institutional framework to strengthen the role of various policy programmes such as the Empowerment Programme, EAP, Decentralised Cooperation Programme (DCP), etc. Despite the government policies, reforms and actions, poverty is still persistent in Mauritius. Poverty perceptions Poverty is a complex issue and multifaceted. This has alw ays been of concern for everybody. Many studies and policy programmes have been put forward to assess poverty situation in the country and also to target the poor. It is worth noting that the proportion of people living below $1.25 per day, international poverty line, is almost negligible in the country. In contrast, past studies have shown that there are people living in severe poverty. The Relative Development Index for administrative regions, Municipal Wards and Village Council Areas (Central Statistics Office, 2000) identified the least developed regions in the country. The Trust Fund of Social Integration for Vulnerable Groups (set up in 2001) identified 229 pockets of poverty. The qualitative study conducted by DCP pointed out that there were people struggling for basic food. As a matter concern poverty has even been linked to a particular ethnic group that is, poverty perceived as ‘malaise creole’. These perceptions of poverty are evidence that people show their concern and this concern has accentuated the need for good measurement. Objective of study The complexity and sensitivity of poverty has accentuated the interest of people in targeting the poor and assessing poverty. Debates, focus group discussions and studies regarding poverty alleviation are still going on. Researchers are looking for new measurement and approaches to assess poverty in the country. Policy makers are looking for high quality inputs to formulate targeted strategies and programmes.

ENERGY WEDGES Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

ENERGY WEDGES - Lab Report Example Lastly shifting to bio fuels seems as an easy way of reducing carbon emission The world yearns to reduce carbon emission especially after Kyoto protocol and Copen Hagan reports were released. Environmentalists and human rights activists are putting pressure on countries that are producing high carbon energy on the environment to reduce or pay heavy fines with the aim of reducing carbon emission for sustainable development. Our energy wedge is based on conservation of green resources and use of renewable sources of energy as a means of conservation. Nuclear wedges comes in second as a means of preventing of cutting carbon emission by half by the year 2055. Nuclear energy is capable of producing a lot of energy but is not widely used since it possesses high risks to the environment. The above two wedges are good ways of producing energy without production of carbon. (Wardlaw, 2009). A growth rate of 5.3% annually is projected in production of low carbon environmental goods and services (Nesta, 2009). There has also been tremendous increase in green jobs from 13 70 billion dollars from now to 2740 billion dollars by 2020, which is projected as a growth rate of 5.5% annually (Office, 2009). Due to the involvement of new technology while shifting from fossil energy sources to renewable sources of energy, it is expected that job creation will rise from 24% annually to 42% by 2020 (UNEP, 2007). The demand for low carbon activities is exceptionally high. The next wedge of conservation is efficiently producing electricity. Use of coal as a source of energy leads to production of about a fifth of worlds carbon. Conserving forests ensures that trees absorb carbon emitted and use it as a source of food production. Soil is also another form in which carbon products can be stored. This can be supported by planting cover crops and preventing soil erosion. Use of biofuels is believed to be cost

Final Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Final - Assignment Example tury liberal rights custom, in the feeling of being outlined fundamentally to ensure natives from state activity which encroaches upon singular freedom and self-governance. The assert that the right to " life, freedom and security of the individual" under area 7 assurances the right to deny unwanted health awareness medication is predictable with this origination of the Charter.2 Since its establishment, inquiries have likewise been raised regarding whether the Charter not just keeps the state from meddling with unique flexibilities, yet obliges governments to take positive measures to guarantee that Canadians can to be sure delight in the full profit of essential human rights. From this point of view, the issue whether the Charter assurances access to human services benefits as a component of the right to life, freedom and security of the individual under area 7, or of the right to equivalent insurance and equivalent profit of the law under segment 15(1) of the Charter, is a matter of much more amazing investment (Jacob, 2007). The medicinal calling has as far back as anyone can remember subscribed to a collection of moral explanations created principally for the profit of the patient. As a part of this calling, a doctor must distinguish obligation to patients as a matter of first importance, and to social order, to other wellbeing experts, and to self. The accompanying Principles embraced by the American Medical Association are not laws, however measures of behavior which characterize the essentials of fair conduct for the whole association and its administration. A regular skeleton utilized as a part of the examination of therapeutic morals is the "four standards" methodology hypothesized by Tom Beauchamp and James Childress in their reading material Principles of biomedical morals. It distinguishes four fundamental good standards, which are to be judged and weighed against one another, with consideration provided for the extent of their requisition. The four