Diffusion

Diffusion is the process by which a particular phenomenon --- such as a contagious disease, a technological innovation or even an idea --- is spread from person to person over a period of space and time. One method of diffusion is known as expansion diffusion, which is broken down into three distinct types. Expansion Diffusion * Strictly defined, expansion diffusion is the process of spreading something from one place to another in an ever-expanding "snowballing" process. Expansion diffusion is used to explain a variety of phenomena in numerous disciplines, from the spread of disease in medicine to the process of human settlement in the study of geography. Expansion diffusion is distinguished from regular diffusion when something spreads outward from a central point. Technology such as television and the Internet, for example, have been instrumental in spreading ideas from place to place, while the advent of air travel has had a similar effect on contagious diseases.
Contagious Diffusion * As its name suggests, contagious diffusion occurs when a particular characteristic is rapidly transmitted throughout the population. In this form of expansion diffusion, most adjacent individuals will be affected. An example of contagious diffusion is the early spread of Christianity, which spread from the Middle East to Europe. Another example can be seen in the spread of the bubonic plague that ravaged London during the 16th century, or the widespread influenza pandemic of 1918. 1.

Hierarchical Diffusion * Hierarchical diffusion occurs when an idea is spread from a person or organization that holds authority over others. This type of diffusion is typically seen in cases where an idea is communicated by a political leader or person of influence and spreads. This typically begins in an urban setting before eventually reaching less populated areas. An example of hierarchical diffusion can be seen in the popularity of rap and hip-hop music, which began in low-income black neighborhoods in densely populated urban areas before spreading out and gaining widespread acceptance among members of other socio-economic and geographical groups. Hierarchical diffusion also explains the widespread imitation of the hairstyle worn by actress Jennifer Aniston on the hit sitcom "Friends."
Stimulus Diffusion * Stimulus diffusion is when an idea, principle or innovation underlying a phenomenon spreads to a small portion of a population, even though the phenomenon itself may not be diffused. This typically occurs when, due to cultural differences, certain aspects of a phenomenon become diffused as opposed to the phenomenon as a whole. An example of this can be seen in U.S.-based fast-food restaurant McDonald's expanding its operations to India, a country in which the chain's primary product --- beef hamburgers --- are culturally repellent to the country's millions of Hindus. As a result, McDonald's serves no beef in its Indian restaurants, offering vegetarian patties instead. In this way, the phenomenon of McDonald's has spread to India although the fundamental principle underlying the company's success has not.
Sponsored Links V. CONCLUDING REMARKS The basic focus of any development activity, especially in a lowly developed region, is to combat poverty and thus maintain the social stability. That the development initiatives so far undertaken in North-Eastern part of India is grossly inadequate can be manifested by the existing poverty ratio.
However, it is the deterioration in the poverty scenario, as compared to that at the national level becomes more crucial issue than the mere existence of poverty in the region. Data show that, while in 1970s, the poverty ratio in any individual state in the region was less than that at the national level, in
1990s, barring three states – Manipur, Meghalaya and
Mizoram, the poverty situation in rest of the other states became grimmer than the national poverty level. During 1999-
2000, only Meghalaya and Mizoram were found to have less poverty ratio than that at the national level. The insurgency activities and communal conflicts, which has been continuing in this part since India’s independence, has infact increased many folds since 1990s and the resultant communal conflicts has caused economic slowdown of the region.
All the measures, so far taken by the authorities – local, state or central, have mostly called for uniform policy prescription for the entire region. The North-Eastern Council
(NEC) and the Department of North-Eastern Region
(DONER) – two wings of Government of India are responsible for implementation of various Government sponsored development projects in the region. International agency like the World Bank is also there to take care of the problem. But the World Bank sponsored projects are generally for improvement of infra-structure. Initiatives are required to take care of the growing socio-economic differences among the communities. It can be done through empowerment of the tribesmen which will enable them to understand the nature of the problems and also to come out with effective solution. In this way, their participation in the governance can also be ensured which, in turn, will maintain the spirit of democracy.
This will also remove the state of isolation, that the people here are facing. Employment generation through creating more infrastructure in agriculture and through creating opportunities in non-farm sector will hammer at the root of poverty. Given the typical climate existing in the region, service based employment opportunity can also be created.
Education is one sector which, besides creating human capital, can also create employment opportunities. So far all the
Central Educational Institutions are set up in the capital cities only. Of them the largest concentration is found in Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya. This type of concentration needs be broken and opportunities should be created at the district level also. Apart from the existing sectors, planners can also think for an extension of these. For instance, the cold climate prevailing in many parts can also become the hub of watch industries. What is required on part of the Government is to arrange training program to equip people with enough skill which will ensure success of the venture. Border trade is another important medium of income generation. Given the existence of a large volume of informal cross-border trade, mostly through head-loads and also with the help of other mode of transportation, the need of the hour is to formalize these informal activities. There is potential for a large volume of such trade through Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and
Meghalaya border. If production of those items – especially the agricultural, agro-based industrial and processed food products, which are mostly traded, can be facilitated in the border states through creation of necessary overheads and proper training of local manpower, the level of income in the region will not only increase but also sustain at a higher level.
All these initiatives require proper planning and its implementation. For effective result of any development initiative, the approach should be a need-based one. The measure of disparity exhibited in the present paper points to the differences in the status of the states in the ladder of development. The Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and
Threat Analysis (SWOT) analysis, though based on a limited number of parameters, indicates the relative weaknesses of the states which vary from one state to another. So, any initiative should incorporate such diversity of the problems and frame problem-specific and location-specific policy measures to take the states out of underdevelopment and thus break the viscious circle of poverty in the entire region.