Journal of Social Welfare and Management

Education is an important investment in human capital. It improves knowledge, skills, productivity, employment opportunities and the capacity to participate in economic development. Catholic educational institutions have played a significant role in expanding access to education in India, including Tamil Nadu. Their contribution can be examined not only from a religious or institutional perspective but also from an economic perspective. This study examines the contribution of Catholic educational institutions to human capital formation, employment opportunities, income mobility, women’s empowerment and inclusive development in Tamil Nadu. The study proposes a primary survey of 150 beneficiaries/alumni of Catholic educational institutions. The study uses a structured questionnaire and applies descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor analysis, correlation and regression techniques. The proposed analytical framework considers educational quality, skill development, affordability, social inclusion, value-based education and institutional support as explanatory dimensions. Economic outcomes include employability, employment status, income improvement, career progression and perceived social mobility. The study is based on the human capital approach, which considers education as an investment that increases the productive capacity of individuals (Schultz, 1961; Becker, 1964). It also considers education as an important mechanism for reducing social and economic inequalities. The paper argues that the economic contribution of Catholic education should be assessed through measurable outcomes rather than institutional size alone. The study provides a framework for understanding how educational institutions can contribute to inclusive and sustainable human development.

Purpose: This study examines students’ levels of awareness, engagement, perceptions, and ethical concerns regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education. It investigates whether differences in awareness and engagement influence perception and ethical concerns. It further explores the relationship between perception of ai usefulness and ethical concerns. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on primary data collected from 195 students enrolled at I.K.G. Punjab Technical University, Punjab. A structured questionnaire was developed by authors to measure awareness, engagement, perceptions, and ethical concerns related to AI usage. The data were analysed through SPSS, using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Findings: The results indicate that a majority of students were aware of Artificial Intelligence and actively engaged with Artificial intelligence tools for academic purposes. Students perceived AI as useful in enhancing learning, efficiency, accessibility, and academic support. Students also reported concerns regarding overdependence, plagiarism, reduced creativity, and potential ethical misuse. Practical implications: The findings suggest that students’ perceptions and ethical concerns remain fairly similar across different levels of AI awareness and engagement. This implies that greater exposure to AI alone may not be enough to shape attitudes. Instead, the results point to the need for responsible and balanced use of AI in higher education.

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as one of the most significant grassroots institutional innovations for translating the constitutional promise of gender equality into reality for rural women in India. This thesis examines the role of SHGs in the socio-economic empowerment of rural women in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, situating the empirical enquiry within the wider constitutional, policy, and institutional architecture that has shaped the SHG movement since independence — from the equality and welfare provisions of the Constitution and the recommendations of the Committee on the Status of Women in India (1974), through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development’s (NABARD) SHG-Bank Linkage Programme, to the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and its West Bengal counterpart, Anandadhara. Adopting a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design, primary data were collected from 400 rural women SHG members and non-members using a structured interview schedule, supplemented by secondary data drawn from government reports, committee recommendations, and peer-reviewed literature. Four null hypotheses were tested using simple linear regression and the chi-square test of independence. The findings indicate that SHG participation, access to microfinance, the level of financial support received, and the facilitation provided by Self-Help Promoting Institutions (SHPIs) are all significantly associated with the socio-economic empowerment of rural women, explaining between 28.8 per cent and 38.7 per cent of the variance in the empowerment dimensions examined. The study situates these findings within the international and national literature on microfinance-led empowerment and concludes with policy-relevant recommendations for strengthening the convergence between constitutional mandates, national programmes, and statelevel implementation in West Bengal.

Purpose: This study evaluates the financial resilience and sustainability of Tata Steel Limited and Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. (JSPL) during the post-pandemic period (FY2021–22 to FY2025–26). It assesses their ability to withstand financial disruptions, maintain operational stability, and achieve sustainable growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. Theoretical Framework: The study is based on the concepts of financial resilience and corporate sustainability, emphasizing liquidity, profitability, solvency, operational efficiency, and shareholder value creation as key dimensions of longterm financial performance. Methodology: A quantitative and comparative research design was adopted using secondary data from the audited annual reports of Tata Steel and JSPL. Financial resilience was assessed through financial ratio analysis, Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation), and Pearson correlation analysis for the period FY2021–22 to FY2025–26. Findings: The findings reveal that both companies demonstrated strong postpandemic financial resilience and sustainable performance. Tata Steel showed comparatively higher overall resilience through stable liquidity, efficient asset utilization, sustained profitability, and strong positive relationships among profitability and return indicators, despite earnings normalizing after FY2021– 22. JSPL exhibited financial strength through a conservative capital structure, low debt-equity ratio, stable revenue generation, efficient capital utilization, and a high earnings retention strategy that supports long-term growth. Overall, Tata Steel marginally outperformed JSPL in terms of balanced financial resilience, while JSPL displayed greater financial conservatism and long-term financing sustainability.

Businesses don’t have to brace for the consequences when it comes to the use of artificial Intelligence (AI) in the wrong manner. Malfunctions or biases in AI applications can lead to significant governance and compliance issues, potentially damaging the company’s reputation. Often these challenges occur due to challenges with the AI development process, including rushing through development, lack of knowledge about technology, and inadequate quality control. To resolve these issues, more and more companies are establishing rules and guidelines for AI to follow. Ethical AI Principles are not enough to ensure proper use of AI in the business environment. This research explores the potential uses of AI, including automation, machine learning, and natural language processing, and how these technologies could improve everyday work and free up people’s time for strategic and creative work. The approach assumes that financial development goes beyond a policy goal; it’s a catalyst for other major development goals like poverty reduction, gender equality, and long-term economic empowerment. Artificial intelligence ethics examines the ethical guidelines, laws, and principles for AI. To keep their standards, organizations need strong, mandatory governance systems, such as tools for managing processes and making sure there are relevant audit trails. Businesses with robust governance framework guided by an ethical council and backed by clear standards will minimise the risks associated with AI. The future of machines is in the shaping and particularly the area of artificial intelligence. As we go on to the next level of invention, it is becoming more and more important to understand the ethical consequences of these changes.

Barter system in the Indian economy existed as India was an agronomy primarily since ancient times. The article touches upon the issue of agriculture through the role of community, society & governance. In the beginning it briefly touches upon the area & the crops that were extensively cultivated. Following that, it moves on to methods in agriculture towards not only increasing the production but also protection of crops. It moves on to the tax system that evolved in the Mughal era & sails on to the British era. The British era gave birth to the idea of cash crop & staple crop. After that the article deals with the idea of food security & the ways & steps taken to address the elements that lead to food security. A table is given showing the share of agriculture in the Gross Value Added in the economy. This is a testimony towards the efforts & steps mentioned above. At the distal end of the article, the evolving methods of crop protection are given. The journey towards environment friendly methods to the use of chemicals & the advent of green revolution that focused exclusively on production is the last focus of this article.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming the landscape of libraries by redefining how information is organized, accessed, and utilized. Libraries, traditionally known as repositories of knowledge, are now evolving into dynamic, technology-driven spaces where AI is playing a crucial role in reshaping services and operations. AI offers opportunities to automate routine and timeintensive tasks such as cataloging, metadata enrichment, and classification, thereby allowing librarians to dedicate more time to user engagement and research support. Beyond automation, AI-driven tools enhance user experiences through personalized recommendations, intelligent search systems, natural language processing for reference queries, and virtual assistants that extend library services beyond physical boundaries. At the same time, the integration of AI brings with it significant challenges. Ethical concerns, including issues of algorithmic bias, transparency, and data privacy, must be carefully addressed to ensure that AI applications in libraries remain equitable and trustworthy. The reliance on user data for personalization raises questions about consent and the protection of intellectual freedom. Furthermore, libraries must balance technological advancement with their core values of inclusivity, accessibility, and neutrality. This paper examines the impact of AI on libraries by exploring its current applications, analyzing the ethical and privacy implications, and identifying challenges in implementation. It also considers potential future directions for AI integration, such as predictive analytics for collection development, immersive learning environments, and AI-assisted research support. Ultimately, the study highlights that while AI has the potential to revolutionize library services, its success depends on thoughtful adoption, ethical frameworks, and the continuous alignment of technology with the human-centered mission of libraries