Role of home science in national Development and international integration

ROLE OF HOME SCIENCE IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION

National Integration is a mental attitude based on a feeling of oneness, common ideals of life and a common code of behavior. In India, one finds marked differences in the living standards, dress, customs, religion, dietary habits, culture etc, of the various people living in different parts.

Regionalism, linguism, casteism, communalism etc. are the disruptive influences, which have divided Indian society into various groups. In this context it is the duty of the parents and teachers to inform the child to appreciate in definite and positive terms the faith, customs, manners and practices of all persons belonging to religions, language, regions other than his own.

The family is the primary socializing group in society.

It exerts the most fundamental and profound influence on every human being. Not only does it influence the child's basic personality but it also introduces him to the mores and values of the larger culture. In it lie the tremendous socio-psychological forces, which determine the behavior of the child for good or for evil. Similarly when the child enters school, the teachers and peer groups have a great influence on the child's outlook. In this context home science plays an important role in moulding the child's character and widening his thoughts, ideas, feelings etc, both at home and in school. Similarly a child gets to interact with people outside our country. This happens when she/he moves to foreign countries for studies, work etc. or after marriage or on exchange programs. Due to advancement in technology and communication, there is so much of influence and impact from other advanced countries. Media plays an important role in this. Mothers and teachers are responsible in directing the child to the right path in guiding him/her to choose the best of what is provided for him/her and ignore the rest.

Life cannot be sustained without adequate nourishment, good health, protective environment, good housing, managerial qualities/skills, empowerments, suitable resources, communication skills, high literacy levels and aspirations. All these are essential for national development. Home science is an integral course which builds an individual with all these qualities and thereby aims at development of individuals, his family, the community and the nation in large. Home science also encourages children to participate in community extension activities and thereby make them realize their commitment to their society and less privileged and school dropouts in rural and urban areas.

One of the major roles played by Home Science in an individual's life is to make her/him to realize the need for extending the knowledge gained through formal education to the less privileged who are deprived of attending formal education. Hence we need to understand the meaning of extension education and the methods of non-formal teaching,