K-Pop Research Essay

K-Pop ê °â‚¬Ã¬Å¡â€ (an abbreviation of Korean pop or Korean popular music): is a musical genre consisting of dance, electronic, electropop, hip hop,[2] and R&B music originating in South Korea.[1] In addition to music, K-pop has grown into a popular subculture among teenagers and young adults around the world.[3] Although in a bigger scope K-pop may include other genres of â€Å"popular music† within South Korea, outside of the country the term is more commonly used for songs sung by Korean teen idols, which covers mostly dance, electronic, rap, hip-hop, and R&B genres.[4] Starting in 1992, dance and rap music became popular due to Seo Tai-ji & Boys, which is seen by many as the beginning of modern K-pop.[4] Genres such as ballad and rock are still popular today; however, the term can be debatable. With the rise of social media networks during the mid 2000s, the ability of K-pop to reach a previously inaccessible audience via the Internet is driving a shift in the exposure and popularity of the genre.[5] The Korean Wave has spread K-Pop to the Pacific Rim, the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. As an important part of the Korean Wave, K-pop has come from humble beginnings to gain a huge fan base not just in Asia but also other parts of the world. As South Korea continues to develop its IT infrastructure, K-Pop music is being shared over the internet and through mobile devices more rapidly than ever.[6] According to The New York Times, â€Å"attempts by K-pop stars to break into Western markets had largely failed prior to the proliferation of global social networks.† However, K-pop artists are now gaining more international exposure through social media networks such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, making it easier for K-pop artists to reach a wider audience.[7] Fans come from all around the world[8] and K-Pop is considered by some to be South Korea’s greatest export because of its popularity and growing influence.[9] Kpop bands as highly produced, sugary boy- and girl-bands with slick dance routines and catchy tunes.†[10] Many K-Pop music videos have colourful visuals and a catchy beat.[11] K-Pop multiple vocal genres, especially hip-hop and rap, emphasize performances and strong visuals.[12] Dance is an integral part of K-pop. When combining multiple singers, the singers often switch their positions while singing and dancing by making prompt movements in synchrony. K-Pop is also recognized for pretty-boys and girl groups[13] that are young and considered attractive. I couldn’t stop humming the beat; it had been cemented in my head. At first it was just a mere song that I would play to make fun of, but I couldn’t help it. Over and over again, I played it. There was something intriguing about, something different. It pulled me in and drew my brain. My ears craved the tune again. I did my best to resist the urges, afraid that I’d be swept into its trance and be associated with those who would listen to it. I eventually went back to listen to it, disgusted with myself for enjoying listening to the repetitive track. The chorus was ridiculous, the Engrish was unbearable, yet I was still called for by it. It was different than most of the type of music I had indulged in. K-Pop. I was herded into the world of delusional fandoms that couldn’t bear insults towards their oppas. The world where Engrish is a normal thing you would sing along with. Besides the occasional fan wars and drama (not the K-Dramas, but actual drama), I felt like I had a family within my own fandoms. It was simple; we were all interested in that particular group, and we all respected each for that. It gave us common grounds. But it’s even more than that, we all still shared the general idea: We all liked K-Pop. Most people who are used to western music made fun of this genre. This is probably the biggest thing that binds us together. Most of us non-Korean listeners have probably dealt with being made fun of for liking K-Pop, and this makes us even closer.

The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia

The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia The role of Islam in the transition to democracy in Indonesia This paper will discuss how Islam and democracy interact in Indonesia. The paper will look at the role of Islam in the transition to democracy, in which Islam has played a critical part in the pro-democracy movement.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Islam has played a crucial role in the research on the compatibility in Islam and democracy, in elections and in the building of a civil society in Indonesia. During the past decades, democracy and Islam have been a debatable topic and continues to be a major issue in political discussions. In the western world, Islam and democracy are viewed as fundamentally irreconcilable. Samuel Huntington argued that collapse of democratic system in the Islamic world is owed to the fact that the Islamic customs and society being unwelc oming to Western freethinking principles. According to some Muslim conservatives, the democracy values are contradicted with the concept of fundamental Islam. On the other hand, Indonesia has been considered as one of the Muslim countries that have been able to incorporate and consolidate democratic values into its political system. Robert Hefner points out that in countries such as Indonesia, Islam has became vital to democratization and has turn out to be the single most vital force for political transformation and democracy. This paper will argue the concept of Islam and Democracy can be compatible by looking at Indonesia as the majority Muslim country in the world. Throughout the history, the concept of democracy is marked by conflicting interpretation. The idea of democracy is always contested and vague where it is tricky to apply into practices. Huntington (1984, p.195) argues that the definition of democracy are legion where the term has been far from political area such the term has just been apply to institution. This is where citizens have the capacities to choose freely among political alternatives by making their own decisions that have a direct effect on their lives. Jillani (2006, p.728) states that such values of freedom, tolerance and equality are the principle of democracy that form government in a sovereignty state.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, in the western perspective, democracy and Islam are view as fundamentally incompatible. Huntington (1984, p.208) states that Islam are seen to be inhospitable to democracy. This is because Islamic revival especially the Shish fundamentalist in Middle East are strongly oppose and against the development of democracy as it is identified with Western liberal principles and such principle will denies the Islamic concept of the sovereignty of God. The Islamic fundamentalist is seen to be anti-democratic in the view of religious resurgence (Heryanto Mandal 2003, p.122). According to Effendy (2008, p.41) the concept of democracy is not foreign to Islamic thought. The values of democracy such as justice, consultation, egalitarian, trust and freedom are inherent to the corpus of Islamic ideas. As a result Islam is seen to be compatible with democracy through this perception where these values are obliged implemented in Muslim’s social culture, economic and political activities. Heryanto and Mandal (2003, p.123) argues that values have to be substantiate through educational reform and the creation of social institutions that encourage participation of society in the political and religious realm. On the other hand, the most important confront for democratization in the Muslim world are rely on Muslim leaders and intellectuals themselves to come up with rational systems of Islamic democracy that are not easy reformulations of Western philosophy offe red in Islamic expression. The diversity of Islam in Indonesia Among other Islamic country, democracy has been able to thrive among the largest number of the Muslims in Indonesia due to the moderate forms of Islam the citizens has been able to adopt (Azra Hudson 2008, p.47). There has been a blend between the myriad ways and the pre-existing religious practices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has resulted to a richly distinctive variant. The form of Islam originally from Indonesia does not have the attribute of severity and rigidity. This has enabled it to get praise due to its moderation and tolerance. Hefner (2000, p.18) argues that democracy in Indonesia has become the single most important force for political change and democracy in the Muslim world in regards to the compatibility of Islam and democracy. According t o Carnegie, (2006, p.3), Indonesia is the country with the largest population of Muslims. Michael Buehler also states that the country is the third biggest democracy in the world, only after the U.S. and India (2009, p.51). Islam has a prominent sway in the Indonesia’s political landscape and offers an array of political and conceptual potentials for the nation. For instance, home-grown Abangan Islam is highly practiced in the Central and Eastern Java while Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)-the conventional Sunni Islam- is common in East Java. The current Islamic tenets of Muhammadiyah are prominent outside Java and synonymous with contemporary welfare services and education in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah is also popular among the young population who are more intellectual and autonomous in Indonesia (Carnegie, 2006, p.3). One of principal reasons that explain the cordial rapport between democracy and Islam in Indonesia is the disintegration of Islamic power in the country’s social soc iety (Buehler, 2009, p.53). The diversity of Islam in Indonesia is attributed to manner in which the Islamic alteration took place in the previous eras. The conversion of Indonesians to Islam was influenced by a number of factors such as accommodating prior Islamic tenets and observances that were common in various parts of Indonesia. The colonial rulers also contributed to Islamic diversity in Indonesia when they denied indigenous rulers authority to set up unified institutions of Islamic education, worship and pilgrimage.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The absence of a unified Islam structure has led to tectonic movements in the democratization of Islam in Indonesia. The country has thus witnessed the elimination of official constraints on the spiritual life of its population. Moreover, new types of religious practices have emerged thereby reducing the control of Islamic leaders in the whole country (Buehler, 2009, p.54). The role of Islam during election period in Indonesia The diffusion of Islamic authority and the vulnerability of social structure are more visible during voting periods. For example, during the gubernatorial vote in 2005, the authority of religious leader- the Tuan guru- was trivial as a result of a large number of Islamic leaders in South Kalimantan province. The candidates involved in the election knew that political support from religious figures was not adequate to augment their chances since all contestants had a Tuan guru in their campaign teams. Some resorted to use other strategies such as providing fina ncial support to social amenities such as schools, hospitals and mosques to woo voters. In addition, the waning influence of religious leaders has been manifested by the voters who have ditched Islamic leaders that support unpopular political parties (Buehler, 2009, p.55). The modern Muslim parties continue to play a vital role in the Indonesia’s democratic landscape. For example, in spite of their diverse political inclinations, the Muhammadiyah and NU parties strongly support the existence of a secular state and have censured terrorist activities and the parochial interpretation of Islamic laws (Smith, 2005, p.115). The role of radical Islamist in Indonesia According to Amir Santoso, the relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia has been characterized by the antagonism and tension between the ruling elites and Islam (1995, p.3). Right from the colonial period to post-Soeharto era, Muslims have used their religion as their platform for struggle against colonial r ule, oppression and as a tool for religious chauvinism (Jillani, 2006, p.727). During the formative years of Suharto’s totalitarian New Order and Islamic organizations were major political forces that strongly sustained the New Order in defeating communism. However, the cordial partnership collapsed in the late 1960s when the state was fully focused on the general election in early 1970s. There are a number of theories put forward to explain the demise of the alliance between the government and Islam in Indonesia. First, the demise of communism in the country meant that Islam was the main ideological option to Suharto’s regime. Second, Suharto’s New Order regime strongly believed that Islamic groups wanted to introduce Islamic tenets in the country. Finally, since the government’s main goals were political stability and economic growth, the government introduced containment policies to weaken the influence of Islam in Indonesia (Santoso, 1995, p.3). The c urrent democratic landscape in Indonesia has reduced the influence of radical Islam by giving its proponents democratic space to form political parties, take part in electoral process and freedom of press. This type of regime has thus been able to establish the politics and policies employed by Islamists. This theory is relevant to Middle East countries since flexible autocratic power of some regimes such as Indonesia have allowed the contribution of radical Islamists. The inclusion of radical Islamic groups in the democratic process compelled them to abandon their initial radical stands and in the end, adopted moderate positions (Nasr, 2005, p.13). In nutshell, the theory of flexible autocratic structure is that the involvement of radical Islam in political process leads to moderate Islam while their exclusion through oppression enhances Islamic radicalism (Hafez, 2005, p.4). References Azra, A. Hudson, H. (2008) Islam beyond Conflict: Indonesian Islam and Western Political Theory . Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. Buehler, M. (2009) Islam and Democracy in Indonesia. Insight Turkey, 11(4), 51-63. Carnegie, P. (2006) The Politics of Indonesia’s Islamic Identification. Dialogue, 4 (1), 1- 24. Effendy, B. (2008) Islam and the State in Indonesia. Web. Hafez, M. (2003) Why Muslims Rebel: Repression and Resistance in the Islamic World. London, Lynne Rienner. Hefner, R. (2000) Civil Islam: Muslims and democratization in Indonesia. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Heryanto, A. and Mandal, S. (2003) Challenging authoritarianism in Southeast Asia.  London: Routledge. Huntington, S (1984) Will more countries become democratic? In Political Science Quarterly, 99 (2), 206-228. Jillani, H. (2006) Democracy and Islam: An Odyssey in Braving the Twenty-First Century. Brigham Young University Law Review, (3), 727-753. Nasr, V. (2005) The Rise of Muslim Democracy. Journal of Democracy, 16 (2), 13-27. Santoso, A. (1995) Islam and politics in Indonesia during the 1990s. Asi an Journal of Political Science, 3(1) 1-34. Smith, P. (2005) Terrorism and Violence in Southeast Asia. London: Sharpe.

University of Texas-Cancer Center Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

University of Texas-Cancer Center - Essay Example MD Anderson has established itself as an outstanding cancer treatment center through strategic management and continued development (Harris & Lenox, 2013). Multidisciplinary care is basically working with a team of medical professionals from different areas of specialization (Ginter, Duncan & Swayne, 2013). Research has shown that patients who undergo thorough multidisciplinary care setting always display better outcomes than those who attended to by a single doctor. A multidisciplinary care setting offers the doctors with an opportunity to share experiences and therefore come up with multiple solutions to the problem. Moreover, some types of cancer require a combination of two or more treatment methods and specialists; thereby require a multidisciplinary approach to facilitate sharing of skills. In essence, multidisciplinary care brings together experts from various specialization areas in one forum to determine the most appropriate course of treatment to adopt. Through the multidisciplinary care, the patients get better treatment thereby reducing mortality rate and improving the patient’s quality of life. For instance, MD Anderson remains committed in the cancer prevention campaign and offers education to cancer patients to control the spread and mitigate new infections of the disease. The head and neck center is headed by a medical director, a specialist in head and neck cancer treatment. The center is organized to facilitate efficient interdisciplinary relations among the health professionals. The dentists and physicians are derived from different areas of specialization such as medical oncology, head and neck surgery, ophthalmology among other fields. The center specializes on the treatment of tumors of various kinds such oral cavity, skull base, thyroid and parathyroid, larynx and many others (Feig, 2006). The activities head and neck center

Lesson Plan Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lesson Plan Analysis - Essay Example They start connecting to what they already know and prepare themselves to process new information; as well it encourages them to begin to formulate correct responses in L2. In assessing this part of the plan, students are evaluated as to active participation in the discussion, ability to comprehend and interpret new idioms by responding correctly to discussion questions and the general flow of the discussion, and their degree of peer engagement in L2. Provide alternative learning outcomes by revising the expectations and reducing the number of expectations. (p.260) By reading some selections aloud to students, it models pronunciation and helps students develop a feel for rhythm and intonation of English sentences. ( p.222) It is important for all teachers to guide students through texts, demonstrating effective reading strategies and focusing on specific text. This teacher-directed intensive reading known as â€Å"guided reading†; it helps students develop strategies that they can use to read independently challenging texts.

What Does It Take To Lead Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

What Does It Take To Lead Change - Essay Example It is the process of exploring one's own self-evaluation, thinking whether the way they acted in a particular situation is correct or not. Reflecting on one’s own actions is important for business development. It is a must to improve our communication style, clarify our expectations and put into practice the various theories learnt. In fact there are many programs like the Ignatius exercises which use role modelling to focus on various critical issues, kindle the emotions of a person, get a response and help them reflect on the same. These exercises give a person a chance to act with more maturity and calmness if they face the same problem in real life (Moberg & Calkins, 2001, p. 257 - 270). The project we selected to do was ‘Eliminating Job Satisfaction’. Our team believed it will help us to understand the work environment in the corporate industry better and enable us to act as better managers because we will get to know what different types of workers expect fr om their management and superiors. My group project enabled me to talk to various types of people. What we found out was that, nearly half of the people excelling in today's corporate world do so because they did not have a chance to excel in their field of choice. I realized the meaning of the word 'identity workspace' (Petriglieri & Petriglieri, 2010, p. 44 - 60) only by working in this project. The experience made me wonder if these people are so productive and capable in a field they have no like or dislike, how much they would contribute if they were only given a chance to work in their field of choice. Surely, the world would be a much better place with many more inventions then. The aim of our project was to reach out to at least a few people who are totally dissatisfied with their job and make them pursue their passion for their own happiness and the betterment of their passionate field. My team attended a workshop at the end of the project, which enabled us to reflect on wh at we have done so far. I got a chance to reflect on several incidents which took place throughout the project. The workshop instilled in me various reflections regarding the way I communicated to my peers, how I failed to make them understand some of my views and how I acted as a self-elected leader in some instances. The workshop did not teach us anything new, but helped us reflect on the way we acted throughout the project and question ourselves what would have been the outcome, if we have acted differently. There is a general notion that management studies will not be much useful, if a person does not have prior management experience. The idea was stressed by Mintzberg (2004) in his work. No matter how many hours you study volumes and volumes of management theories it isn’t equivalent to one day's experience of managing a team in the real world. Managing this project helped me understand this practically. I tried in every possible way to help my team but it only resulted in building more tension within the team. â€Å"Communication within a group deals with the spoken and the unspoken, the verbal and the non-verbal, the explicit and the implied messages that are conveyed and exchanged relating to information and ideas, and Feelings† (Group Dynamics, 2004). I understood where I went wrong and how communication was limited in our team while playing the reflective exercises in this workshop. I strongly felt the way I acted

Function of Storytelling Essay Example for Free

Function of Storytelling Essay The novel Atonement by Ian MCewan and the short story â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tom OBrien both employ storytelling as a form of redemption. This is achieved in each text through the narrators freedom to manipulate the content and truth of the narrative in order to amend past wrongs and to imagine a more comforting, alternate reality. In Atonement, the narrator , Briony uses her literal imagination to alter the story of her life in hope to seek redemption for past actions with great consequence, while the narrator in Tim OBriens â€Å"The Things They Carried† tells and retells his version of the memory to help it become real. Both narratives show storytelling to be a possible healing process. P1-First step to redemption is to admit the reason for your deception. A novels allows narrator to confess the motive behind his/her sin. Briony initial stage towards redemption is by confessing the dangers of interpretation. quote- To herâ€Å"reading a sentence and understanding it were the same thing; as with the crooking of a finger, nothing between them. There was no gap during which symbols were unravelled†(37) -quote shows Brionys belief in the ease of interpretation which leads her to jump to conclusions she can never change. The blame for the tragedy is not only due to Brionys misinterpretation of events , but the misguided nature of interperation provided by books. â€Å"The Things They Carried† -The narrator describes the difficult conditions of war by describing the emotional and physical baggage they carry. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried the love letters from Martha. These horrible conditions forced Lieutenant cross to day dream about Martha which lead to Ted Lavenders death. -quote:told they carry â€Å"pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatchesand two or three canteens of water† which weigh â€Å" between 15 and 20 pounds†(241). -quote allows the reader to feel the overwhelming weight of being a soldier, which words cant simply explain. The narrator demonstrates the reasoning for Lieutenant crosss daydreaming as a way to escape from chaos of Vietnam war. P2-Using storytelling another step towards redemption is taken by characters revealing repentance by punishing themselves for their wrong doing (reveal repentance/remorse) -briony becomes a nurse and turns away Cambridge. She writes about the hard work she does as a nurse. quote: â€Å"Whatever skivvying or humble nursing she did and however well or hard she did it, whatever illumination in tutorial she had relinquished ,or lifetime moment on a college lawn, she would never undo the damage. She was unforgivable† -Lieutenant Jimmy burns Marthas letter and pictures, thus destroying his distracting fantasy in order to become a true soldier -quote: â€Å"Lavender was dead. You couldnt burn the blame† -Something is missing in explanation. How can I tie in that acts of remorse both did not make amends. P3-Novel is attempt by narrators to erase the wrong he/she did. The outcome of redemption differs for each narrator. -Briony alters the ending of the ending of the story in hope to seek redemption but does not achieve it because quote: â€Å"The problem of these fifty-nine years has been this:how can a novelist achieve atonement when, with her absolute power of deciding outcomes, she is also God? There is no one , no entity of higher form that she can appeal to, or be reconciled with, or that can forgive her† -No matter how many times she rewrites the story she will never receive Robbie and Cecile’s forgiveness. She cant achieve self forgiveness because no alternate ending that she imagines will replace the true ending. -The only way Briony will end her guilt is when her memory fails and she dies. (disease) -Narrator for â€Å"The Things They Carried† achieves redemption for Ted Lavenders death because storytelling allows the memories of Ted Lavender to stay alive. -Storytelling enables the narrators memories to be shaped and rearranged in order to make sense of past events and make them real -The narrator achieves redemption for Ted Lavenders death by storytelling because each time the story is told or retold the soldiers in the Alpha Company are being given a new life each time by the reader. -quote:At first, we learn â€Å"he was shot and killed outside Than Khe† (OBrien 241) and gradually learn â€Å"Ted Lavender was shot in the head on his way back from peeing† (OBrien 246).

Sustainable Urban Development In India Environmental Sciences Essay

Sustainable Urban Development In India Environmental Sciences Essay India is the worlds largest democracy and second most populous country and is emerging as a major power. Since 1991, India has seen a far-reaching, rapid and successful transformation of its economic order, making the country one of the most dynamic in the world. This process was driven by high levels of productivity in services and manufacturing. According to the commonly used development indicators, India is progressing at a rapid pace, second only to China. The incidence rate of poverty has declined. However, India is still tackling huge social, economic and environmental problems. With rapid expansion of urban population around the world there is an increasing awareness about minimizing the environmental costs of urbanization. Concerns are raised at environmental damages and depletion of nonrenewable resources and rising levels of pollution in urban areas. In recent times urban centres have become places of urban environmental degradation and wasteful use of resources, which is proving to be costly to generations present and future. Sustainable urban development is achieving a fine balance between growth, development of the urban areas and protection of the environment with an eye to equity in employment, shelter, basic services, social infrastructure and transportation in the urban areas. Brundtland Commission (1983) describes sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The UN Conference on Environment and Development (also known as Earth Summit) held at Rio-de Janeiro in 1992 adopted an action plan, popularly known as Agenda 21. The agenda 21 promised to reduce poverty, provide clean water and health care, and protect the natural resources for sustainable development. The Millennium Declaration by the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2000 reaffirmed its commitment to the right to development, peace, security and gender equality, for overall sustainable development. Countries were expected to take efforts in the fight against poverty, illiteracy, hunger, lack of education, gender inequality, infant and maternal mortality, disease and environmental degradation. Millennium Development Goals have urged for ensuring environmental sustainability and reduction of the percentage of the population under extreme poverty. Thus all the initiatives taken so far on environment and development have stressed on economically viable development, socially equitable development and protection of the environment .Attaining sustainable development requires addressing social and environmental equity in development in ways that are socially, economically and politically acceptable. STATUS OF URBANISATION IN INDIA India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world today. Economic growth rate of 5.5 per cent per annum during 1981-2001, accelerated to 7.7 per cent per annum during 2001-02 and further to 8-9 per cent per annum GDP growth in 2010-11Economic development also leads to rapid urbanization .As an economy grows, its towns and urban centres expand in size and volume and the contribution of the urban sector to the national economy increases. The contribution of urban sector to Indias GDP has increased from 29% in 1950-51 to 47% in 1980-81. The urban sector presently contributes about 62%-63% of the GDP and this is expected to increase to 75% by 2021 . According to census of India, the urban population in the country as on 1st March 2001, was 286 million. This constituted 27.8% of the total population of 1028 millions. The rapid pace of urbanization has resulted in explosive growth of urban centres, This phenomenon has led to tremendous pressure on civic infrastructure systems, water supply, sewerage and drainage, uncollected solid waste, parks and open spaces, transport, etc. It has also led to deterioration in the quality of city environments. In several urban centres, the problems of traffic congestion, pollution, poverty, inadequate housing, crime, and social unrest are assuming alarming proportions. As per Census of India 2001 has grown upto 23.5 per cent of the total urban population and projections for 2011 indicate that this percentage is likely to go up to 30 per cent .In some urban centres, the proportion is 40-50 per cent. The proliferation of slums in metropolitan urban centres has become so extensive that as of 2001, 54 per cent of the total population of Mumbai lives in slums. Slums generally lack basic infrastructure, housing, social amenities and this has implications on health and productivity of the people living in such areas. This also has serious implications for future generation of people residing in such areas.In some urban centres, the proportion is 40-50 per cent. The proliferation of slums in metropolitan urban centres has become so extensive that as of 2001, 54 per cent of the total population of Mumbai lives in slums. Slums generally lack basic infrastructure, housing, social amenities and this has implications on health and productivity of the people liv ing in such areas. This also has serious implications for future generation of people residing in such areas. The trends of urbanization in India in the recent decades indicate the following key features: The degree of urbanization in India is one of the lowest in the world. With about 27.8% of the total population living in the urban areas, India is less urbanized compared to many countries of Asia, viz., China (32%), Indonesia (37%), Japan (78%), South Korea (83%), and Pakistan (35%). There is a continued concentration of the urban population in large urban centres and existing city agglomerations (Class I urban centres with population over one lakh) account for 68.9% of the urban population and this proportion has been growing. The growth of rural settlements which are acquiring urban characteristic is very slow and there is reluctance on the part of the States to notify the rural settlements as a town. There are large variations in the spatial patterns of urbanization across the States and urban centres. The pattern of population concentration in large urban centres reflects spatial polarization of the employment opportunities. Urban India is thus undergoing a transition in terms of physical form, demographic profile and socio-economic diversity. The important role of urban centres in national economic process and their global linkages demand more attention for their development, Urban centres are expected to perform efficiently in keeping with emerging demands for employment, commerce, trade, industry and other services. Urban centres have to attract investments for improving their efficiencies by way of upto date infrastructure, improved governance and affordable housing/ living with modern amenities. The urban centres of India need to be prepared for playing their new role of hosting rapid growth and providing services for an inclusive society. Not only do urban centres need much more by way of basic infrastructure but systems have to be put in place so that A socio-economic environment can be created, Affordable and Effective delivery of public services for all Affordable housing for the poor. This would require more public financial resources and more public goods, bringing the delivery of services to standard norms for all, greater willingness on the part of citizens and businesses to pay taxes and user charges for services, and a process of complementary urban-rural development. It is a challenge for policymakers, planners, intellectuals, officials, administrators and city manager and leaders to re-engineer urban planning especially settlements for better living conditions and better quality of life of all the citizens, especially the urban poor INSTITUTIONAL SET UP India is a federal polity with division of powers between centre and states. In the Federal structure of the Indian polity, the matters pertaining to the housing and urban development have been assigned by the Constitution of India to the State Governments. The Constitutions (74th Amendment) Act have further delegated many of these functions to the urban local bodies. State Legislatures also authorize the Union Parliament to legislate. Government of India plays a pivotal role and exercises influence to shape the policies and programmes of the country as a whole. The National Policy issues are decided by the Government of India which also allocates resources to the State Governments through various Centrally Sponsored schemes, provides finances through national financial institutions and supports various external assistance programmes for housing and urban development in the country as a whole. Policies and programme contents are decided at the time of formulation of Five Year Plans. The indirect effect of the fiscal, economic and industrial location decisions of the Government of India exercise a dominant influence on the pattern of urbanisation and real estate investment in the country. The Ministry of Urban Employment Poverty Alleviation is the apex authority of Government of India at the national level to formulate policies, sponsor and support programme, coordinate the activities of various Central Ministries, State Governments and other nodal authorities and monitor the The Ministry was constituted on 13th May, 1952 when it was known as the Ministry of Works, Housing Supply. Subsequently it was renamed as Ministry of Works Housing when a separate Ministry of Supplies came up. The name of the Ministry was changed to Ministry of Urban Development in September, 1985 in recognition of the importance of urban issues. With the creation of a separate Department of Urban Employment Poverty Alleviation on 8th March, 1995, the Ministry came to be known as the Ministry of Urban Affairs Employment. The Ministry had two Departments: Department of Urban Development Department of Urban Employment Poverty Alleviation. The two Departments were again merged on 9th April, 1 999 and in consequence thereto, the name has also been restored to The Ministry of Urban Development. The Ministry has again been bifurcated into two ministries viz : (i) Ministry of Urban Development; and (ii) Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation. The Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for formulating policies, supporting programs, monitoring programs and coordinate the activities of various Central Ministries, State Governments and other nodal authorities in so far as the relate to urban development concerning all the issues in the country. programmes concerning all the issues of urban employment, poverty  and housing in the country. HOUSING Housing, besides being a very basic requirement, holds the key to accelerate the pace of development. Investments in housing like any other industry have a multiplier effect on income and employment. It is estimated that overall employment generation in the economy due to additional investment in the housing/construction is eight times the direct employment1. The construction sector provides employment to 16% of the work force .Housing also has a direct impact on steel and cement industry, which accounts for considerable contributions to the national economy. Housing also contributes substantially to the services sector of the economy, which leads to generation of employment. Other significant aspect of housing development is its potential to generate employment for a wide section of population with varying degrees of skills and education. Housing Shortage and fund Requirement Urbanisation factors are coupled with housing shortage and insecure housing conditions, inadequate infrastructure transportation leading to a diminished quality of urban life in urban centers in majority of developing countries. In India ,according to the report of the Technical Group on estimation of housing shortage constituted in the context of formulation of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, housing shortage is estimated to be around 24.71 million. As per Planning Commission earlier estimates for the 10th Plan beginning in 2002, the urban housing backlog was 8.8 million dwelling units and the total requirement was 22.44 million dwelling units. The overall housing shortage thus during the plan period (2007-2012) including the backlog was estimated as 26.53 million. About 99% of such households are from EWS and low income groups (LIG). For estimating the investment requirements for the Eleventh Plan, the Working Group on Urban Housing made different assumptions on unit cost of construc tion of houses in million plus urban centres and other urban areas. The total investment requirement for meeting the housing requirement would be of the order of Rs 361318.10 crore consisting of Rs 147195 crore required for mitigating housing shortage at the beginning of the Eleventh Plan and Rs 214123.10 crore for new additions to be made during the Eleventh Plan period This includes pucca ,upgradation of semi-pucca, and kutcha housing units and investments in housing by individuals and corporates. POLICY INITIATIVES The National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy provide the basic framework for achieving the objective of shelter for all. The policy was evolved in 1998 with the long-term goal of eradicating houselessness, improving the housing conditions of the inadequately housed, and providing a minimum level of basic services and amenities to all. It was formulated to address the issues of sustainable development, infrastructure development, and for strong PPPs for shelter delivery with the objective of creating surpluses in housing stock and facilitating construction of two million dwelling units each year in pursuance of the National Agenda for Governance. However, the housing sector has witnessed several changes since then. The 1998 National Housing Policy has been replaced by a National Habitat and Housing Policy, 2007 with land and the development of civic amenities to make land habitable as its two critical elements. In order to improve the quality of life in urban areas, it is of critical significance that the housing stock is improved through urban renewal, in situ slum improvement, and development of new housing stock in existing urban centres as well as new townships. However, despite many policy measures and initiatives, the coverage of urban poor with these intended benefits has not been achieved to the desired extent. Expanding equitable access The 11th Five Year Plan adopts inclusive growth as the theme for planning. An inclusive city requires all marginalized sections of urban society to function affectively in their social, economic, political and cultural domains and also needs to preserve its cultural identity absorbing dynamic population growth. It is important to integrate urban poor, women, destitutes, widows and children and old-age people in the city life and fabric. Developing inclusive urban centres of Slum-free Urban India is the challenge. In order to improve upon the living conditions in slums, the Government of India had launched The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).JNNURM is the largest initiative ever launched by the Government of India to address the problems of infrastructure and basic services to the poor in urban centres and towns in a holistic manner. The Mission is being implemented over a period of 7 years (2005-2012) with Central Assistance to States to the tune of Rs.50,000 crores. The objective of the Mission was to give focused attention to integrate development of infrastructure services, establishment of linkages between asset-creation and asset-management through reforms, ensuring adequate funds to meet the deficiencies in urban infrastructural services, planned development of identified urban centres including peri-urban areas, outgrowths and urban corridors leading to dispersed urbanization, provision of basic services to the urban poor including security of tenure at afforda ble prices, improved housing, water supply and sanitation, and ensuring delivery of other existing universal services of the Govt. for education, health and social security. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) provides a new paradigm for inclusive city building inclusive urban communities based on holistic approach. It envisages reform-driven, fast-track and planned development of urban centres, with focus on efficiency in urban infrastructure/ service delivery mechanism, community participation and accountability of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) towards citizens.The Mission covered both components from core infrastructure as well as last mile services to the urban poor, ensuring convergence with the sectors of human development as well. The two sub-missions for 63 identified urban centres are: Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) The Ministry of Urban Development is dealing urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG) and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme in Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT). The Ministry of Housing Urban Poverty Alleviation is dealing with BSUP IHSDP especially the slum dwellers. JNNURM contemplates that urban centres develop planned urban perspective frameworks for a period of 20-25 years (with 5-yearly updates) indicating policies, programmes and strategies of meeting fund requirements. This perspective plan is to be followed by preparation of Development Plans integrating land use with services, urban transport and environment management for every five-year plan period. Access to land and legal security of tenure are strategic prerequisites for the provision of adequate shelter for all and for the development of sustainable human settlements affecting both urban and rural areas. The major challenges facing is the scarcity of land for planning of housing for slum redevelopment projects for urban poor. This has been accentuated due to high cost of prime land where the slum dwellers reside. The present policy of the Central Government lays stress on an enabling approach. While recognizing the existence of different national laws and/or systems of land tenure, governments at the appropriate levels, including local authorities, are striving to remove obstacles that may hamper equitable access to land and ensure that equal rights of women and men related to land and property are protected under the law. The Jawahar Lal Nehru Mission and Rajiv Awas Yojana gives an institutional framework by focusing on 7 point charter and creating tenurial rights for slum household especially women as joint ownership. This has been further strengthened in the Rajiv Awas Yojana wherein each state has been requested to create legislative and enabling environment for slum free India. JNNURM with its focus on important aspects like urban reforms, pro-poor infrastructure investments, inclusive urban planning, integrated management of urban infrastructure, slum rehabilitation including affordable housing and tenure security is a very positive step towards achieving the goal of inclusive and sustainable urban centers. However, challenges facing urban local bodies needs to be seen in the emerging scenarios of urbanization, inclusion and financial challenges. Sustainable urban development in INDIA therefore requires holistic and integrated planning with optimum use of resources within a good governance FRAMEWORK for creating sustainable human environment. This requires paradigm shift in the existing institutions and the institutional framework for implementation. The decision making needs to be decentralized and resources financial and manpower needs to be devolved to the urban local bodies i.e. urban centres (urban local bodies) with replicable, scalable, flexible institutional format.