HUM1021 Ethics and Values

B.Tech

Sivakumar, R
SMBS, VIT Chennai
 Lecture: 6

Module-2
Social Ethics
Social Consciousness and Responsibility -Individual Interest
Versus Society’s Interest-Ethical and Societal values according
to the Indian and International perspectives- -Understanding
of Justice, Rule of Law, and Democracy. Fundamental duties of
the citizens. Current Social Issues.
Current Social Issues
Social Issues
Social Issues
Objective elements of social problems
 Awareness of social conditions through life experiences
and through reports in the media
 We see the homeless, hear gunfire in the streets,
and see battered women in hospital emergency
rooms
 We read about employees losing their jobs as
businesses downsize and factories close
Current Social Issues
 Unemployment
 Poverty
 Illiteracy
 Corruption
 Disunity
Unemployment
Unemployment
 Working Definition: People able, available
and willing to find work and actively seeking
work – but not employed
 Unemployment is a major social problem
caused by poor economical system
 Lack of funds followed by unorganized
system and lack of new projects are causing
unemployment worldwide
Unemployment
Types of Unemployment:
 Seasonal
 Frictional
 Structural
 Cyclical
Unemployment
Types of Unemployment:
 Seasonal unemployment: It is due to
seasonal changes in employment
 Examples:
 Students employed in summer
 Employment in the construction
industry
Unemployment
Types of Unemployment:
 Frictional unemployment: It is a brief period
of unemployment experienced by people
moving between jobs
 Examples:
 New college graduates and people
quitting a job and looking for
something different or better
Unemployment
Types of Unemployment:
 Structural unemployment: It is caused by a
mismatch between the skills or location of
job seekers and the requirements or location
of available jobs
 Jobs may be available in other geographic
areas or for individuals with specific skills
and abilities
 Examples:
 laid off steelworkers
 Teenagers and others with a lack of
job skills are included
Unemployment
Types of Unemployment:
 Cyclical unemployment: It is unemployment
caused by a lack of job vacancies; an
inadequate level of aggregate demand
 Cyclical unemployment commonly occurs
during recessions
 Companies cut back on workers due to
reduced sales, fears of an economic
recession, and insufficient consumer
demand.
Unemployment
Economic and Social Costs of Unemployment:
 The private costs for the unemployed
 Loss of income
 Fall in real living standards
 Increased health risks
 Stress
 Reduction in quality of diet
 Social exclusion because of loss of
work and income
Unemployment
Economic and Social Costs of Unemployment:
 Loss of marketable skills (human capital) and
motivation
 The longer the duration of unemployment,
the lower the chances of finding fresh
employment - the unemployed become less
attractive to potential employers
Unemployment
Consequences for the Government:
 Increased spending on unemployment
benefits and other income –related state
welfare payments
 Fall in revenue from income tax and taxes on
consumer spending
 Fall in profits – reduction in revenue from
corporation tax
 May lead to rise in government borrowing
(i.e. a budget deficit)
 Outsourcing leads to loss of jobs to other
countries
Unemployment
Consequences for the Economy:
 Lost output (real GDP) from people being out
of work – the economy will be operating well
within its production frontier
 Increase in the inequality – rise in relative
poverty
Unemployment
Main Issues:
 How to provide employment to the new
entrant to the labour force and to the
unemployed? That is how to create
additional employment opportunities needed.
Action taken:
 Planned initiative through special employment
generation programme
Unemployment
Main Issues:
 How to improve quality of employment so that
productivity and income level of the workforce
increases?
Action taken:
 Provide skill training to the new entrants to the
labour force
 Improving skill level of the work force
 Organize Skill training as per the market
demand. That is, it should cater to the needs of
both organized and unorganized sector
Poverty
Poverty
 India’s economic structure has changed dramatically
over last 5-6 decades; among the most dynamic
economies recently
 Benefits of growth not widely spread to various
sections in society, reached only marginally to low
income groups
 Similar experience of other countries too
 Question then arose: Can we guarantee to all at least a
minimum level of living necessary for physical and
social development of a person?
 Absolute poverty literature grew out of this question
Poverty
Why estimate Poverty?
 Poverty estimates are vital input to design, monitor and
implement appropriate anti-poverty policies
 Analysis of poverty profiles by regions, socio-economic
groups
 Allocation of resources to different regions and to
various poverty reduction programs
 Precise estimates of poverty neither easy nor
universally acceptable. Yet, can act as a broad and
reasonably policy guide
Poverty
Indian Poverty Line
 It is a minimum level of living necessary for physical
and social development of a person
 Estimated as: total consumption expenditure level that
meets energy (calorie) need of an average person
 Poverty Line comprises of both food and non-food
components of consumption
 Considers non-food expenditure actually incurred
corresponding to this total expenditure
 Difficult to consider minimum non-food needs entirely
on an objective basis
Poverty
Factors affecting poverty
 Poverty depends on per capita household income which in
turn affected by employment, wage rate, land productivity,
industrialization, expansion of service sector and other
general growth and distribution factors
 Special role of
 per capita agricultural income
 Employment and real wage rate
 Inflation rate and relative food prices
 Government expenditure
 Per capita development expenditure
 Social sector expenditure
Illitracy
Illitracy
 It is Inability to read and write
 Reasons:
 Lack of resources
 High cost of education
 Lack of institutions and access
Corruption
Corruption
 Corruption is the prime reason behind the economical
unstableness
 Corruption has spread into the world and has ruined
the economy
 Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency
International (TI)) put India at rank 76 out of 168
countries in corruption perception index (2016)
Corruption
Major Areas of Concern
 Politics and bureaucracy
 Land and property - Where officials steal state property
 Service sector – Like education, banking,
communication, healthcare, etc. Eg: Non-availability of
medicines, fake medicines
 Income Tax Department- Favorable tax treatments
 Armed Forces – Allegedly selling defence stores in
black market in border districts of India

http://www.slideshare.net/DipuJoy/corruption-in-india-10830117
Corruption
Causes of Corruption
 Lack of effective management and organization of
administrative mechanism
 Lack of economic stability
 Lack of effective political leadership
 Diminishing values in the society
 Diminishing patriotism
 Lack of awareness about policies and procedures
 Low literacy rate

http://www.slideshare.net/DipuJoy/corruption-in-india-10830117
Corruption
Top 5 Corruptions scams in India
 2G Spectrum Scam
 Common Wealth Games Scam
 Telgi Scam
 IPL Scam
 Satyam Scam

http://www.slideshare.net/DipuJoy/corruption-in-india-10830117
Corruption
Consequences of Corruptions
 Loss of National wealth
 Hindrance and obstruction in development
 Poverty
 Authority and power in wrong hands
 Brain drain
 Rise in terrorism and crimes
 Rise in suicide cases
 Psychological and social disorders

http://www.slideshare.net/DipuJoy/corruption-in-india-10830117
Corruption
Cures for Corruptions in India
 Value education
 Effective and regular vigilance
 Responsible citizen
 Effective leadership and administration
 Strong Media support( through films, ads , serials)
 Strong Legislation
 Social organisation

http://www.slideshare.net/DipuJoy/corruption-in-india-10830117
Corruption
Cures for Corruptions in India
 Declaration of wealth and assets
 Transparency
 Appointment and admissions
 Loyalty and patriotism
 Dedicated and diligent leaders
 Coordination and control

http://www.slideshare.net/DipuJoy/corruption-in-india-10830117
Corruption
Suggestions
 Lokpal Bill Implementation (Introduced since 1968)
 Anti-corruption police and courts
 Vigorous punishments
 Anti- corruption websites
 Anti- corruption Organizations
 Self determination of not to give bribe
 Awareness and campaigns through medias, social
networking sites, road shows etc.

http://www.slideshare.net/DipuJoy/corruption-in-india-10830117
Disunity
Disunity
 India is a multi-cultural country
 Because of different culture, we find the differences
between the people
Other Social Issues
Other Social Issues
 Crime
 Drug addiction
 Racism
 Violence
 Pollution
 Child labour
 Health
 Terrorism
 Education
Social Issues
Social Issues faced by Indian Women
 Female abortion
 Dowry
 Restrictions on widow remarriage
 Gender bias
 Neglect during childhood
 Child marriage