Devendra K. Budakoti The inadequacy of health services in the country is often viewed primarily as a shortage of human resources within the public health system. However, the real issue may also lie in the efficiency, commitment, and systemic bottlenecks that hinder effective healthcare delivery. The recent announcement by the Uttarakhand government to increase nursing … Read more
Devendra Kumar Budakoti Roads in India are, more often than not, in a poor state of construction and maintenance. Frustrated road users routinely curse the system and the corruption they believe is deeply entrenched in it. In discussing this, I spoke with my friend Dr. Dinesh Sati, an eminent geologist with vast experience on major … Read more
By Devendra Kumar BudakotiOne India dreams of becoming a Neta or Abhineta, while the other strives to be a Mantri or even a Sentry. But perhaps, at the core, both are chasing the same four P’s — Power, Prestige, Paisa, and Pahchan.Thomas Hobbes, the political philosopher, believed that the desire for power is constant and … Read more
— Devendra Kumar Budakoti In an interactive session with students of a government intermediate college in the hills, one student asked me during the Q&A session, “Sir, will there be reverse migration in the future? ”My answer was simple: No. Before he could ask why, I continued: “Think back to the time of COVID-19, when … Read more
-Devendra K Budakoti A language and or a dialect carry the cultural heritage of the community in their geographical area. Teaching of the language and or the dialect becomes essential to carry on the cultural heritage of the specific regional folk culture. Historically this folk culture was carried forward, through local dialect and through oral … Read more
-Devendra Kumar Budakoti In British period, the feudal system was promoted to collect revenue from the individuals and from group of villages, with Landlords-Zamindars ans also called Choudhary is some parts of India. These Zamindars and big choudharys had plethora of servants, helpers to assist them in various activities at home and official residences. The … Read more
Morals, Ethics, and Blackmailing in India-Devendra K Budakoti India keeps witnessed a disturbing rise in cases of molestation and rape, particularly involving women and children. Alongside this, incidents of blackmail through “honey traps” set by foreign intelligence agencies come to light. Shockingly, many sexual assault cases are committed not by strangers, but by close relatives … Read more
– Devendra K. Budakoti The recent announcement by the Government of Uttarakhand to establish old age homes in every district prompted me, as a sociologist, to reflect on whether such a move is truly necessary—especially in a society like the hills, where family still often transcends the modern definition of a nuclear unit. In these … Read more
Devendra Kumar Budakoti Now that the dust has settled on the Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand, the spotlight turns to the newly elected representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The expectation is that they will now engage in the serious and participatory work of rural development. In theory, this process should be deeply democratic—rooted in … Read more
By – Devendra Kumar Budakoti When Vance Packard published, ‘The Hidden Persuaders’ in 1957, it was a powerful critique of the advertising industry and the “motivation research” it employed to sell everything—from products to ideas, attitudes, candidates, goals, and even states of mind. Packard identified eight compelling needs that advertisers promise their products will fulfill: … Read more