Development of an instrument to assess Human Resource Quality (HRQ) and measuring the impact of TQM efforts on HRQ using the instrument

This research is aimed at developing an instrument for measuring human resource quality in organizations. The researcher has developed the instrument for measuring HRQ based on extensive literature survey and expert opinion. Statistical validity of the Instrument has also been established. This instrument was used to measure the changes in Human Resource Quality in selected organizations wherein quality management practices are being implemented. Data collected was analyzed and presented in this thesis. It has been found that there are significant changes in all the indicators of Human Resource Quality. There is improvement in Cultural Change Index(CCI), Quality of Work Life Index(QWLI) and Employee Satisfaction Index(ESI). The Human Resource Quality index has also increased significantly in all the organizations. It has been observed from the study that implementation of TQM leads to significant changes in Human Resource Quality. This instrument is capable of measuring minor variations in each indicator of HRQ and can be used to identify areas of weakness and strength in the case of Human Resource Quality. The instrument can further be modified by future research. This research work provided excellent opportunities for the researcher for self-development and has made him confident to undertake such activities for the benefit of the learning community.

Coastal regulation zone rules in coastal panchayats (villages) of Kerala, India vis-a` -vis socio-economic impacts from the recently introduced peoples’ participatory program for local self-governance and sustainable development

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest of Government of India in February 1991 as a part of the Environmental Protection Act of 1986 to protect the coast from eroding and to preserve its natural resources. The initial notification did not distinguish the variability and diversity of various coastal states before enforcing it on the various states and Union Territories. Impact assessments were not carried out to assess its impact on socio-economic life of the coastal population. For the very same reason, it was unnoticed or rather ignored till 1994 when the Supreme Court of India made a land mark judgment on the fate of the coastal aquaculture which by then had established as an economically successful industry in many South Indian States. Coastal aquaculture in its modern form was a prohibited activity within CRZ. Lately, only various stakeholders of the coast realized the real impact of the CRZ rules on their property rights andbusiness. To overcome the initial drawbacks several amendments were made in the regulation to suit regional needs. In 1995, another great transformation took place in the State of Kerala as a part of the reorganization of the local self government institutions into a decentralized three tier system called ‘‘Panchayathi Raj System’’. In 1997, the state government also decided to transfer the power with the required budget outlay to the grass root level panchayats (villages) and municipalities to plan and implement the various projects in their localities with the full participation of the local people by constituting Grama Sabhas (Peoples’ Forum). It is called the ‘‘Peoples’ Planning Campaign’’(Peoples’ Participatory Programme—PPP for Local Level Self-Governance). The management of all the resources including the local natural resources was largely decentralized to the level of local communities and villages. Integrated, sustainable coastal zone management has become the concern of the local population. The paper assesses the socio-economic impact of the centrally enforced CRZ and the state sponsored PPP on the coastal community in Kerala and suggests measures to improve the system and living standards of the coastal people within the framework of CRZ.

Studies on development of novel rare earth doped (Bi,Pb)-2212 superconductors with enhanced properties

The objective of the present work is to study the effect of rare-earth (RE) doping on the superconducting properties of (Bi,Pb)-2212 system and to develop novel superconductors in the system with improved properties, especially, the self- and in-field critical current densities so as to use them for practical applications. This dissertation describes a range of findings in Bi-based superconductor using the cationic substitution of rare earth (RE) elements. Most of the experiments reported here take advantage of the difference in the valency and ionic radii of dopant and doping site.

Novel Melt Transurethane Process for Cycloaliphatic Polyurethanes and Their Self-Organization for Nano-Materials

In this introduction part, importance has been given to the elastomeric properties of polyurethanes. Emphasis has been laid to this property based on microphase separation and how this could be modified by modifying the segment lengths, as well as the structure of the segments. Implication was also made on the mechanical and thermal properties of these copolymers based on various analytical methods usually used for characterization of polymers. A brief overview of the challenges faced by the polyurethane chemistry was also done, pointing to the fact that though polyurethane industry is more than 75 years old, still a lot of questions remain unanswered, that too mostly in the synthesis of polyurethanes. A major challenge in this industry is the utilization of more environmental friendly “Green Chemistry Routes” for the synthesis of polyurethanes which are devoid of any isocyanates or harsh solvents.The research work in this thesis was focused to develop non-isocyanate green chemical process for polyurethanes and also self-organize the resultant novel polymers into nano-materials. The thesis was focused on the following three major aspects:(i) Design and development of novel melt transurethane process for polyurethanes under non-isocyanate and solvent free melt condition. (ii) Solvent induced self-organization of the novel cycloaliphatic polyurethanes prepared by the melt transurethane process into microporous templates and nano-sized polymeric hexagons and spheres. (iii) Novel polyurethane-oligophenylenevinylene random block copolymer nano-materials and their photoluminescence properties. The second chapter of the thesis gives an elaborate discussion on the “Novel Melt Transurethane Process ” for the synthesis of polyurethanes under non-isocyanate and solvent free melt condition. The polycondensation reaction was carried out between equimolar amounts of a di-urethane monomer and a diol in the presence of a catalyst under melt condition to produce polyurethanes followed by the removal of low boiling alcohol from equilibrium. The polymers synthesized through this green chemical route were found to be soluble (devoid of any cross links), thermally stable and free from any isocyanate entities. The polymerization reaction was confirmed by various analytical techniques with specific references to the extent of reaction which is the main watchful point for any successful polymerization reaction. The mechanistic aspects of the reaction were another point of consideration for the novel polymerization route which was successfully dealt with by performing various model reactions. Since this route was successful enough in synthesizing polyurethanes with novel structures, they were employed for the solvent induced self-organization which is an important area of research in the polymer world in the present scenario. Chapter three mesmerizes the reader with multitudes of morphologies depending upon the chemical backbone structure of the polyurethane as well as on the nature and amount of various solvents employed for the self-organization tactics. The rationale towards these morphologies-“Hydrogen Bonding ” have been systematically probed by various techniques. These polyurethanes were then tagged with luminescent 0ligo(phenylene vinylene) units and the effects of these OPV blocks on the morphology of the polyurethanes were analyzed in chapter four. These blocks have resulted in the formation of novel “Blue Luminescent Balls” which could find various applications in optoelectronic devices as well as delivery vehicles.

SHGs and Cooperatives in the Fishing Sector: An Inclusive Development Option for the Fisher folk of Kerala

The Kerala model of development mostly bypassed the fishing community, as the fishers form the main miserable groups with respect to many of the socio-economic and quality of life indicators. Modernization drive in the fishing sector paradoxically turns to marginalization drives as far as the traditional fishers in Kerala are concerned. Subsequent management and resource recuperation drives too seemed to be detrimental to the local fishing community. Though SHGs and cooperatives had helped in overcoming many of the maladies in most of the sectors in Kerala in terms of livelihood and employment in the 1980s, the fishing sector by that time had been moving ahead with mechanization and export euphoria and hence it bypassed the fishing sector. Though it has not helped the fishing sector in the initial stages, but because of necessity, it soon has become a vibrant livelihood and employment force in the coastal economy of Kerala. Initial success made it to link this with the governmental cooperative set up and soon SHGs and Cooperatives become reinforcing forces for the inclusive development of the real fishers.The fisheries sector in Kerala has undergone drastic changes with the advent of globalised economy. The traditional fisher folk are one of the most marginalized communities in the state and are left out of the overall development process mainly due to the marginalization of this community both in the sea and in the market due to modernization and mechanization of the sector. Mechanization opened up the sector a great deal as it began to attract people belonging to non-fishing community as moneylenders, boat owners, employers and middle men which often resulted in conflicts between traditional and mechanized fishermen. These factors, together with resource depletion resulted in the backwardness experienced by the traditional fishermen compared to other communities who were reaping the benefits of the overall development scenario.The studies detailing the activities and achievements of fisher folks via Self Help Groups (SHGs) and the cooperative movement in coastal Kerala are scant. The SHGs through cooperatives have been effective in livelihood security, poverty alleviation and inclusive development of the fisher folk (Rajasenan and Rajeev, 2012). The SHGs have a greater role to play as estimated fall in demand for marine products in international markets, which may result in reduction of employment opportunities in fish processing, peeling, etc. Also, technological advancement has made them unskilled to work in this sector making them outliers in the overall development process resulting in poor quality of physical and social infrastructure. Hence, it is all the more important to derive a strategy and best practice methods for the effective functioning of these SHGs so that the