Working Poor

The Struggle of the Working Poor Revised Essay Sociology 113 Yvonne Barney October 19, 2012 The Struggle of the Working Poor Society often describes the impoverished with one word, lazy. Society has taught us that if a person wants to be financially successful, it is a simple process of education and hard work that will equate to a successful income. This is the American dream. If the impoverished simply would get a job instead of being lazy, they would not need to rely on programs like welfare. The impoverished would succeed if they only would apply themselves.However, in an attempt to present another point of view, The Working Poor Invisible in America by David K. Shipler (2004) explored multiple variables this group struggles with daily. Chapter 1, â€Å"Money and Its Opposite,† explains the workings and effects of tax payments and refunds, the abuse of the poor by public and private institutions, the spending habits of the working poor, the consumerist culture of the Unite d States, and the omnipresence of money as a guiding factor in the lives of the working poor.Chapter 2, â€Å"Work Doesn’t Work,† chronicles the struggles of three working women as they attempt to climb out of poverty through employment. They hold jobs that pay between $6 and $7 per hour and attempt to eke out a living with the additional assistance of welfare checks, food stamps, Medicaid, and other services. However, a slight raise in their pay creates an offsetting loss in benefits. Chapter 3, â€Å"Importing the Third World,† addresses the poor immigrant workers, both legal as well as illegal, laboring in sweatshop conditions in the United States.Shipler recounts the working conditions of numerous sewing shops in Los Angeles, where legal and illegal immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, Korea, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Thailand, Cambodia, and other nations work for wages below the federal minimum wage and without overtime pay. Chapter 4, â€Å"Harvest of Shame,† tells of the harsh living conditions of migrant farm workers across the United States. They receive low wages—mostly minimum wage; live in deplorable housing; are exposed to azardous pesticides and herbicides; face little government enforcement of labor laws; are difficult to organize due to the transient nature of their work and the undocumented status of most; and are constantly on the move, which does not allow their children stable access to education. Chapter 5, â€Å"The Daunting Workplace,† addresses the diverse challenges the workplace holds for those from the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. Many working poor have no work experience, no education, a criminal record, a drug addiction, and a lifelong absence of role models.Dysfunctional families in which no one works, or even ventures outside the neighborhood, have provided no support system or role models. Chapter 6, â€Å"The Sins of the Fathers,† begins by unveiling an epidemic of sexual abuse that affects all classes and races in the United States. Both the wealthy and the poor are abused; however, the wealthy tend to have the financial as well as the family resources that enable them to overcome abuse. Chapter 7, â€Å"Kinship,† emphasizes the role that kinship plays in overcoming the hardships of poverty.Shipler writes, â€Å"Kinship can blunt the edge of economic adversity† (p. 179). He describes a family of five that has faced all forms of hardship and poverty—from job loss to cancer to the death of the mother—yet holds together through bonds of love and caring. He also chronicles the story of a woman who chose to earn significantly less and be plunged into poverty and debt in order to spend time with her children, one of whom eventually attended Dartmouth College. Chapter 8, â€Å"Body and Mind,† addresses health issues affecting poor families.Shipler mentions malnourishment, susceptibility to infections, disease, chronic conditio ns (such as asthma, diabetes, and allergies), premature birth, retarded cognitive and physical development, stress, and emotional distress, as well as material support that can help a family endure. It is not uncommon for children in poor families to suffer from poor diets, which can be the cause of numerous related health problems. Chapter 9, â€Å"Dreams,† begins with the ambitious professional aspirations of sixth and eighth grade children from poor families in Washington, DC.Shipler contrasts these aspirations with the enormous faced problems beyond their control. Chapter 10, â€Å"Work Works,† is dedicated to the positive impact that job training and working has had on some poor individuals and families. Job training programs that teach soft skills as well as hard skills and are successful in instilling confidence and self-esteem are appreciated by employers. Chapter 11, â€Å"Skill and Will,† emphasizes that American society must understand what it can do using the skills and resources it has to combat poverty.The approach to remedying poverty, Shipler argues, must be holistic, tackling all problems associated with it at once. The United States is often described as a place where anyone can â€Å"pick themselves up by their bootstraps† and realize the American dream of a comfortable lifestyle. But, for over 30 million Americans, this dream is no longer possible. Though we live in the richest and most powerful country in the world, there are many individuals who are living under or at the poverty level. While the United States has enjoyed unprecedented affluence, low-wage employees have been testing the American doctrine that hard work cures poverty† (Shipler, 2004). The status of poverty translates to families of four making around $ 18,850 a year. And as soon as they find work or move just slightly above the $ 18,850 a year (which is still a meager and deprived way to live), they are cut off from welfare subsistence and lose other support designed to help them, such as food stamps and health insurance; This situation often leaves them no better off, and sometimes worse off, than when they were not working.Proponents of welfare reform have verbalized that the working poor are poor because of their lack of effort and laziness; this statement is an oxymoron. The working poor work longer hours, with less pay and few, if any, benefits. Some make the right choices and save a little money, avoid overwhelming debt, and live modestly. Even for those who live carefully off a working wage, it only takes one issue for their world to crumble around them. If the car breaks down or a family member is injured at work, what little savings they have accumulated could be gone in an instant.Why do people stay poor when popular opinion tells us if we work hard, we will be okay. The answer lies in the valued social inequalities; the opportunities available to each socioeconomic status level differ greatly. One factor t hat seems to distribute over the impoverished is lack of education. Lack of knowledge affects every aspect of life from basic health care to effectively raising children in a safe and secure environment. Children who come from a working-wage family should not be disadvantaged.There is no reason why the public education system should not give every child an equal opportunity to graduate high school and continue on to college or trade schools. The fact is public schools are funded to a large degree by property taxes. Impoverished schools receive considerably less funding and have to find ways to make their budgets work. Furthermore, the best teachers are often in school districts that can offer competitive salary. It is a well-known fact that children from affluent families tend to do better in school.Children from low income families tend to do poorer on tests, have a lower graduation rate, and are less likely to attend and complete college (Melville 2012). Yet the income divide has received far less attention from policy makers and government officials than gaps in student accomplishment by race. Now, in analyses of long-term data published in recent months, researchers are finding that while the achievement gap between white and black students has narrowed significantly over the past few decades, the gap between rich and poor students has grown substantially during the same period (Levitan, Magnum & Magnum 1998). We have moved from a society in the 1950s and 1960s, in which race was more consequential than family income, to one today in which family income appears more determinative of educational success than race,† said Sean F. Reardon, a Stanford University sociologist. Professor Reardon is the author of a study that found the gap in standardized test scores between affluent and low-income students had grown by about 40 percent since the 1960s and is now double the testing gap between blacks and whites (Tavernise 2012).A-1 In another study, by resear chers from the University of Michigan, the imbalance between rich and poor children in college completion — the single most important predictor of success in the work force — has grown by about 50 percent since the late 1980s (Tavernise 2012). Tavernise (2012) concluded that 8 % of the working poor hold college degrees compared to 26% of all workers. Although, two-thirds of the working poor hold high school degrees; this proportion is much lower than the 88% of all workers who hold high school degrees.The consequence of not holding a high school degree is often poverty. 22% of workers who do not hold high school degrees fall below the official poverty level which is $23,050 for a family of four, and 34% fell below 150% of the poverty level which is $ 34, 575 for a family of four (â€Å"Problems facing† 2012) . There is some evidence that the working poor are less likely to receive job training from their employers. The combination of lower education and lack of training compared to other workers make it difficult for the working poor to climb out of poverty.Only 30% of the working poor live in married couple families, compared to 65% of all workers. Single, female-headed families are especially overrepresented among the working poor. Among the working poor, 49% live in families headed by a si ngle woman. Of those who live in families headed by a single female, 28% work but live below 150% of the poverty level. In addition, almost half (46%) of all single parents who work and have children under six years old are in poverty.Workers who were never married or those who were once married also face relatively high rates of working poverty. Twenty percent of workers who have never been married and 21% of those who were divorced, widowed, or separated lived below 150% of the poverty level (â€Å"Problems facing† 2012). The working poor are less likely to be covered by health insurance by their employers. Only 18% of the working poor are co vered by health insurance available through their employer or their union, compared to 55% of all workers.Malnourishment, susceptibility to infections, disease, chronic conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, and allergies), premature birth, retarded cognitive and physical development, stress, and emotional distress can be a side effect of lack of health insurance. It is not uncommon for children in poor families to suffer from poor diets, which can be the cause of numerous related health problems. Although many of the working poor qualify for food stamp benefits, few receive them. The average food stamp benefit for a family of four is $ 496 per month (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 2010).Of those who qualify for these benefits, two-thirds do not receive them. It is unclear why the working poor do not receive these benefits, but lack of need does not seem to be the reason. Research suggests that the working poor do not know that they qualify for these benefits. In addition, we lfare administrators in some states incorrectly tell applicants, especially men, that they do not qualify for these programs. Finally, often local agencies create added barriers to discourage welfare participation.The City of New York, for example, used to require that applicants return to the welfare office for a second visit in order to apply for food stamps. This requirement was eliminated only recently because of a court order (FamiliesUSA. org 2012). Many working poor families cannot find affordable housing. Almost one in six households are cost-burdened, paying more than 30% of household income on housing expenses. Median level shelter costs, including mortgage payments, real estate taxes, property insurance, rent, nd utilities, account for 20% of the average non-poor household's income. For poor households, the median expenditure can be as high as 60% of household income (Levitan, Mangum ; Mangum, 1998). In addition, poor families may face long waiting lists for available sub sidized housing units, especially in rural areas. However, access is improving as extension educators provide the working poor with information about home ownership and special mortgage programs, and how to access them. Balancing employment and parenting demands is especially challenging for the working poor.They have fewer financial resources, and the types of jobs for which most are eligible provide little independence, authority, and flexibility to respond to conflicting demands (Henly 1999). Child care is an important obstacle. Nationwide, high-quality child care is scarce and expensive. Respondents in one study paid, on average, $70 per week for child care, about 22% of their earned income. In the same study, about one-fifth of respondents reported they had no regular child care provider and had to piece together care for their children at the last minute or leave children home alone or with an older sibling.Thirty percent of respondents reported having left a job because of a child care disruption (Henly, 1999). According to a study conducted by the Urban Institute in 2005, more than two thirds of children ages 5 and under from low income families spend a significant amount of time in child care each week. This is significant because the quality of child care available to low income families is much worse than that available to higher income families, and the quality of the child care affects the child's development. High quality, center-based care is expensive and is simply not an option for many low income families.Instead, they turn to informal, sometimes unregulated child care (Melville, 2012). There are federal programs to improve and fund early childhood education, but these programs do not work with the hectic working schedule of low income parents. Child care subsidies are available in some states, but not available to all low income workers. In other words, low income families often have difficulty accessing support systems that help them balanc e work and family life. As a result, the children of low income families are not given the same opportunities as their middle class counterparts (Melville, 2012).Unfortunately, high-quality care tends to be more expensive, and childcare subsidies in many states pay only the average market rate. Moreover, childcare subsidies cover only a minority of the low-income workforce (Henly, 1999). Parents who choose to enroll their children in high-quality child care often would have to pay the additional costs; a choice many cannot afford to make given other demands on the family income. For many working poor families, these additional costs; make selecting high-quality child care financially impossible (Schulman & Adams, 1998).Extension educators can make sure the working poor know about and take advantage of available subsidies, and tax credits can offset the high costs of child care. Transportation is also a major barrier to financial self-sufficiency for many working poor families. Many of the working poor do not get to work with the ease that most working non-poor enjoy (Lambert, 1998). Even though some communities have identified creative solutions to local transportation needs, transportation remains a problem for many of the working poor. Mass transit, if available, is often sparse, not taking direct routes to most job locations.Outside of heavily populated metropolitan areas, public transportation is largely unavailable. Working poverty does not affect everyone to the same extent, and certain segments of our population are more likely to become members of the working poor. Individuals in this category include workers who are most likely to be allocated to the low-wage jobs that fail to provide full-year employment. Women make up a greater share of the working poor than do men, probably because on average they earn lower wages and work fewer hours.Although women comprise 47% of workers between the ages of 18 and 56, 56% of the working poor are women (FamiliesUS A. org, 2012). Non-citizens of the United States are also disproportionately represented among the working poor. Fifteen percent of such workers live below poverty, and 30% live below 150% of the poverty level. Blacks and Hispanics are especially affected; working poverty affects people of color to a much greater extent than it does white Americans. A surprisingly large number of blacks and Hispanics work below the poverty level.Twelve percent of all blacks who work fall below the poverty level, and 23% fall below 150% of the poverty level. Among working Hispanics, the poverty rates are even higher: 14% live below the poverty level and 29% of Hispanic workers fell below 150% of the poverty level (Shipler, 2004). The working poor face a number of difficulties: low wages, insufficient hours, layoffs, lack of skills along with limited health benefits affect their health and other conditions that may affect their work performance. Thus, prescribing one solution is not likely to solve th e problem of working poverty.The working poor need higher wages and jobs that offer full-year employment, wage supplements such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, and access to services such as health care and child care. Most importantly, we should not assume that we can solve the problems of working poverty without income supports. Because many of the working poor are disabled or suffer from other serious health limitations, some workers may not be able to work more hours or in higher paying jobs and must rely on income supports in order to survive above the poverty level. References Center for American Progress (2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012 from http://www. mericanprogress. org/issues/women/report/2008/10/08/5103/the-straight-facts-on-women-in-poverty/ Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2010). Retrieved October 10, 2012 from http://www. cbpp. org/cms/index. cfm? fa=view&id=1269 FamiliesUSA. org. (2012). Retrieved October 10, 2012 from http://www. familiesusa. org/resource s/tools-for-advocates/guides/federal-poverty-guidelines. html Henly, J. (1999). Challenges to finding and keeping jobs in the low-skilled labor market. Poverty Research News, 3(1), 1-5. Levitan, S. , Mangum, G. , & Mangum, S. (1998). Programs in aid of the poor.Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press. Melville, J. (2012). Effects of low family income on children. Retrieved 0ctober 10, 2012 from http://www. ehow. com/list_6195251_effects-low-family-income-children. html Problems Facing the Working Poor. (2012). Retrieved September 30, 2012 from http://www. dol. gov/oasam/programs/history/herman/reports/futurework/conference/workingpoor/workingpoor_toc. htm Shipler, D. K. (2004). The working poor: Invisible in America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Tavernise, S. (2012, October 10). Education gap grows between rich and poor, Studies say New York Times, February 9, 2012, A1.

Penn Foster – Why I Am the Best Candidate for the Job

Best candidate for the Job The Computer Help Desk Support Technician position at University of the West Indies correlates well with my skills and experience. The skills related for this job includes, assisting students, faculty, staff and any other customers who come to the front desk, dealing with computer issues, answering the telephone to give support with enquiries, and data entry using Microsoft Word, and Excel.I have significant knowledge of this field through my previous employment at T. A. Marryshow Community College, where I served as a Secretary within the Information Technology department. I acknowledged this vocation through my ability to troubleshoot problems and deal with customer issues. More specifically, I had a scenario with a visiting professor from a foreign country who came to the office for help with his laptop.Being new to the campus he was furious with the ups and downs of trying to find his way around and baffled because he had no idea of how to connect his l aptop to the internet. I seated the professor and assured him that he was at the right place. After a few minutes I was able to connect his device to the internet and I also handed him a map of the campus to help him get to different places on the campus easily. He was overly pleased with the customer service he received and the efficiency in which I handled his laptop.This occurrence has boosted my self-confidence and also motivated me to seek an advanced degree along that path. I enrolled at Penn Foster Career School program, where I recently completed a diploma in Computer Support Technician. This thorough training helped me to comprehensively understand the skills that are readily applicable to the position. With the acquisition of this knowledge I can guarantee you that am most competent for this position and that all concerned will mutually benefit.

Comparison of Сolonies

A century after Columbus sailed the ocean blue, Great Britain's dreams would finally come true. In 1607, Britain established the first English settlement in the New World, Jamestown. This led to the establishment of the British colonies of Virginia, Massachusetts, all the way until the final colony Georgia. And although many may think that the colonies operated as one similar unit, the truth is all the colonial regions were very similar and different in social, political and economical structure.Throughout history, education was always important; this was the same for the colonies. Therefore, in all three colonial regions, education was offered to white boys. In the New England colonies, education was more common since the population was dense. However, in the Southern colonies education was not as common since people were spread far apart. This made it hard to find space to build schools; so instead, the rich hired tutors for their sons. Religion was also very big in the colony. Eac h region had contrasting religion and ethnicity. In New England, Puritans dominated the area and established congregational churches. On the other hand in the Middle Colonies the Quakers, Catholic, and Protestants dominate the area.And in the South, the church of England dominated. Great colonies need great governments. The political structure in all colonial regions were similar and different. All of the colonies had governments, and governors leaded these governments. Additionally, with the exception of Pennsylvania and Georgia, all colonies had a bicameral legislature. Another similarity between the colonies was that only white males with property could vote. Although the colonies were similar in many political ways they were also very different. In New England, township government was the local form of government since everyone was so close. However, in the Southern colonies, county government was used since everyone was spread so far apart.The Middle colonies used a mix of both town and county government. Lastly, economy was both similar and different in the regions. The south used mainly slaves in the workforce; in fact, by 1760, there was approximately 400,000 slaves in the south. However, in New England, farmers raised their own workforce. It wasn’t uncommon to see a family of over ten. Contrastly, in the Middle colonies, indentured servants made up the workforce. The industries in each colony was determined by the geography; therefore  industry varied in each region.In the New England colonies, the main industries were fishing, whaling, shipbuilding, lumbering, and making beaver hats. This was not the same in the Middle colonies; their industries included beer, fur, glass, gun, iron, livestock, wagon, grains, and iron. On the other hand, the Southern colonies relied on mainly the tobacco industry. Some industrial similarities between the as were that tobacco was a main crop of the Middle and the Southern colonies and agriculture was very comm on in all the colonies.Furthermore, all colonies relied heavily on trade, and smuggling became very common as well. Also currency was not used in any of the colonies because they had no metal due to the theory of mercantilism. In 1607, the settlement of Jamestown was established. Following Jamestown, Britain would plant a total of thirteen colonies over the next hundred years. These colonies can be grouped into three regions. The social, political, and economical structure of the colonial regions were very similar and different. What would one day become the great United States of America, was once only thirteen colonies, separated into three regions, and founded by one mother country.

DVT and treatment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DVT and treatment - Essay Example Other risk factors for DVT include postoperative period, pregnancy, puerperium, local trauma and stasis, smoking, obesity, lupus anticoagulant, post-stroke or neurological trauma, type-A blood group, malignancy, deficiencies of protein C, protein S or antithrombin III, impaired fibrinolysis as in post operative patients, those on estrogens, acute myocardial infection and congestive heart failure, hyperlipidemia, increasing age, inflammatory bowel disease and homocystinuria. Studies have shown that patients receiving general anesthesia have a 500% increased risk of DVT compared with patients receiving epidural anesthesia for the same surgical procedure (Craig 2005). Vascular endothelial injury, even though minimal, exposes amorphous electron-dense substance which stimulates platelet adhesion and aggregation. The release of amorphous electron-dense substance is enhanced by activity of the intrinsic coagulation cascade. Platelet adhesion and aggregation causes formation of hemostatic plug after which coagulation pathways are activated and thrombin is generated. Fibrin cross-linking builds a true thrombus out of what was initially a loose aggregation of blood elements (Craig, 2005). Normally, these series of events are opposed. In conditions as discussed above, these events are unopposed resulting in propagation of thrombus throughout the venous system. This is further accentuated by presence of reduced blood flow wherein the activated coagulation factors will accumulate. In many cases DVT may remain asymptomatic. The classic signs and symptoms of DVT are pain, tenderness, and unilateral leg swelling, due to obstruction to venous drainage. Other signs include warmth, erythema, a palpable cord, pain upon passive dorsiflexion of the foot, and spontaneous maintenance of the relaxed foot in abnormal plantar flexion (Craig 2005). Cellulitis can occur and in severe cases, pulmonary embolism can

The WBS 2 module Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The WBS 2 module - Essay Example However, there were difficulties during the report-writing stage, especially when it came to choosing the scenario that would be discussed, all the while ensuring that the report was objective. In addition, accessing relevant journals and texts was difficult, especially when multiple sources were involved. The peer assessment feedback was a big help since it enabled the group and I to identify areas, which we needed to improve on. When I had to work on my portfolios by myself, I also faced various challenges, including time management. Moreover, while some of the instructions seemed straight-forward in the beginning, I realized that my tutor meant to improve my research ability, as well as ensure that I had an adequate objectivity level as opined by Hill. The tutor made it clear that any arguments used would have to be supported by valid references and/or explanations, which meant that I had to correct some of my text until I presented satisfactory work. Indeed, I am confident that I satisfied my module tutor’s requirements.It was challenging for me work independently, especially since the research in application of work based structure was very extensive, while, as stated, most of the sources accessed proved to be irrelevant to the portfolios. However, if I could do it again, I would seek to access my module tutor more when I came across issues that my classmates could not solve, as well. Time management is crucial in managing work based structures although I feel that was not my strongest point.

Financial Covenants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Covenants - Essay Example (Mckean, 2005; Law, 2005; Moles and Terry 1997). For example, Junk Bonds whether secured or unsecured are always subordinate to debts to banks and Subordinated debt that ranks behind other issues of the same class is referred to as junior debt. (Law, 2005). Mezzanine finance, a typical example of subordinated debt is funding that possesses both equity and debt characteristics and it is usually provided by specialists' financial institutions. This funding like other forms of subordinated debt carries a very high risk of default and as a result earns a higher rate of return than pure debt although less than equity. Mezzanine finance can be secured or unsecured. (Smullen and Hand, 2005). Due to its mixed nature of both equity and debt characteristics, investors have the opportunity to earn interest alongside their equity stake in the company. (Terry and Brian, 2000). Mezzanine financing is also attractive to banks since it offers interest higher than that paid for senior debt especially in environments where competition makes it difficult for them to provide funding at the normal lending rate thus encouraging banks to embark on mezzanine financing as a means of earning higher returns. (Terry and Brian, 2000). The borrowing base of potential takeovers in the UK has increased as a result of increase willingness by UK lenders or investors to provide mezzanine finance. For example, bids for the Gateway and Magnet companies in the UK involved very large amounts of subordinated debt and as such reflect the importance of mezzanine finance to borrowers in large acquisitions, were financing required is beyond the limits set by equity and senior debt providers in their own lending criteria. (Terry and Brian, 2000). Terry and Brian (2000) assert that because inclusion of mezzanine debt allows a lower equity share as a percentage of the total funds provided than straight equity investment, equity investors prefer such inclusion in deal structures since it will improve returns to the equity shareholders. Including mezzanine in a deal reduces the investment required from equity investors by a percentage, which is higher than a reduction in their ultimate shareholding and therefore increases the overall return on investment. Mezzanine finance has also been used as a strategy for leveraged buy-outs, corporate takeovers and other acquisitions. The first instance of using mezzanine finance in such a way was in the United States of America. (Terry and Brian, 2000). The first instance in the United Kingdom was for the buy-out of Evans Halshaw. (Terry and Brian, 2000). Because of the separation of ownership from control and also as a result of information asymmetry between debt holders and the management of the company, it is has become a common practice that the loan agreement or indenture contains ratio covenants and other covenants so as to prevent the debt holders from losing their money in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy liquidation. In the preceding paragraph, we take a closer look at some of the covenants and assess their validity in actually providing protection to lenders or debt holders. Covenants and Events of Default Terry and Brian (2000) define Covenants as promises by the borrower to do or not to do certain things during the term of the debt facility. Events of Default are defined events which, if

The importance of sustainable purchasing and supply Essay

The importance of sustainable purchasing and supply - Essay Example It can also be stated that purchasing and supply operations on a long term basis enable the organisations to gain greater stability and generate substantial profits. The paper intends to discuss the perception of procurement and the benefits of effective purchasing and supply in a business. Various aspects like the significance of the association between a good purchaser and a supplier, the notion of competitive advantage and how the selection of a reliable supplier is such an important issue in generating competitive advantage will also be discussed in the paper. 1. Concept of Procurement Procurement is the process of obtaining new products or services. It is often regarded as a strategic role for different organisations belonging to both public along with private sectors. It has been viewed to be a dynamic process that covers several significant activities relating to supply chain that comprise generating contracts, purchasing and performing logistical functions (Bower, 2003). It h as been apparently observed that the procurement process includes certain fundamental inputs in the form of physical structure like raw materials that is required for preserving the product standards and maintain greater product reliability supporting the organisations to accomplish superior competitive position. The process of procurement also consists certain other wide ranging aspects that include storing, receiving and inspecting among others. The process also signifies the requisition as well as the acquisition of materials. The perception of procurement generates a logical meaning that indicates to supply the right materials to the correct person and at a precise time. It can also be viewed that an effective process of purchasing or procurement assists an organisation in decreasing the costs and maintaining the quality of the products along with mitigating the risks linked with supply chain management. Moreover, effectual procurement would also enable the organisations to gene rate greater productivity, broader availability of raw materials and mitigate the risks relating to inventory levels of products (Altekar, 2005). In this similar concern, the aspect of sustainable procurement can be considered as a significant aspect as a form of business activity in this modern day context. It is regarded as a process through which considerable savings can be done with respect to decrease in the waste materials, increase in the efficiency of the business along with gaining greater competitiveness. Various oil companies have generally adopted sustainable procurement programs such as investing much upon transportation facilities and networking with the intention of competing with their major market competitors. It also develops the economy by offering employment facilities and sourcing organisation (Mahadevan, 2010). 2. Benefits of Effective Purchasing and Supply Effective purchasing and supply can be principally determined as one of the imperative elements in the pr ocess of supply chain mana