The author first thanks God for providing strength and guidance throughout their journey. They also thank their thesis supervisor Dr. Sr. Rosy Joseph and research guide Dr. Maria Benita Marian for their constant support and supervision during the project. Finally, the author expresses gratitude to their father for his support through challenging times and to friends and family for their encouragement.

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I would like to thank God, without whom like to thank God, without whom I
would not have been able to come this far. I thank Him for his strength and His grace without
which I would not be who I am today.
I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Sr. Rosy Joseph fmm for giving me an opportunity to do this
thesis. I take immense pleasure in thanking Dr. Sr. Lourthu Mary fmm for her constant
supervision. I wish to record my profound and sincere gratitude towards my research guide Dr.
Maria Benita Marian for guiding me and my research partner throughout my thesis, I thank her
for her constant support and valuable time. I would like to thank all my respondents who spared
their valuable time in answering the interview schedule.
Last but not the least, I thank my father Mr. D. Kumar for his constant support during my hard
times and bringing me up to this level, I also thank my beloved friends and sister for being there
for me when I needed them the most.
APARNA. K