Three Decades of Working Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Issues and Challenges

Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are the cornerstone of local self government and it provides democratic platform for people's participation at various levels of governance in India. PRIs have been given constitutional status through 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1992 to make democracy more functional at the local level and driven by citizens needs in addition to with their participation to ensure economic development, strengthen social justice and implementing Central as well as State government welfare schemes including those 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh schedule. In its present form and structure, the PRIs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have completed three decades of existence and well entrenched with the rural life and have brought about major development in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, a lot remains to be done in order to further deepen decentralization and strengthen democracy at the grass root level in the absence of legislature at Union Territory level. Given the general conceptual implication, the present paper seeks to make an in-depth study of issues and challenges encounter by PRIs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in particular. Keywords: Governance, Participation, Gram Sabha, Zilla Parishad.

Making sense of the everyday women rugby player

<p>This thesis examines the cultural and social significance of women’s rugby. It attempts to make sense of the experience of the everyday women rugby player at a grass roots level and is an area that has received limited attention in sociology. The purpose of this thesis was to document, explore and reflect upon personal stories and experiences of women rugby players by using qualitative research methods. The participants in the research were 12 women rugby players from different rugby clubs. They were arranged in small focus groups that ran over a period of four weeks where personal stories and experiences were shared and critical reflection of the narratives took place. Common themes identified throughout the research process included the current structure and organisation of women’s rugby that still results in women’s rugby being less valued on and off the field. The stories and experiences revealed the fine line that woman rugby players tread as they try to manage the tension of playing to the ideal image of a rugby player on the field and maintaining their femininity after the game. The findings suggest that the pleasures of rugby found in physicality, roughness, drinking, and associated with masculine culture, are equally pleasurable for these women rugby players. These findings provided insights into the lived experiences of the everyday women’s rugby player at a grass root level. They also suggest that the various experiences of women rugby players, both positive and negative, need to be recognised so that women can be better valued as rugby players rather than as women who just play rugby.</p>

Making sense of the everyday women rugby player

<p>This thesis examines the cultural and social significance of women’s rugby. It attempts to make sense of the experience of the everyday women rugby player at a grass roots level and is an area that has received limited attention in sociology. The purpose of this thesis was to document, explore and reflect upon personal stories and experiences of women rugby players by using qualitative research methods. The participants in the research were 12 women rugby players from different rugby clubs. They were arranged in small focus groups that ran over a period of four weeks where personal stories and experiences were shared and critical reflection of the narratives took place. Common themes identified throughout the research process included the current structure and organisation of women’s rugby that still results in women’s rugby being less valued on and off the field. The stories and experiences revealed the fine line that woman rugby players tread as they try to manage the tension of playing to the ideal image of a rugby player on the field and maintaining their femininity after the game. The findings suggest that the pleasures of rugby found in physicality, roughness, drinking, and associated with masculine culture, are equally pleasurable for these women rugby players. These findings provided insights into the lived experiences of the everyday women’s rugby player at a grass root level. They also suggest that the various experiences of women rugby players, both positive and negative, need to be recognised so that women can be better valued as rugby players rather than as women who just play rugby.</p>

Evaluation survey of knowledge, attitude, belief and practices amongst nursing and paramedical students about appropriateness and challenges related to COVID-19 surcease measures

Background: COVID-19 pandemic is harassing human beings for about 2 years from now. We are constantly designing and devising remedial modalities to get over it. A massive vaccination campaign is going on all over the world to achieve desired level of herd immunity. Still the key is preventive strategies including COVID-19 appropriate behaviour at the individual level.Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken amongst paramedical students of a university campus to capture their understanding about different aspects of this pandemic by an 18 items based questionnaire.Results: More than 80% of study participants answered correctly about the asked question except aspects related to COVID-19 in children and about spread of infection via asymptomatic cases.Conclusions: Governments of various states should start multiple educational programs at grass root level to bring about a change. Behaviour change communication (BCC) and information, education, communication (IEC) strategies would be ideal to impart health education to meet the desired goals and objectives of bringing awareness amongst lay public.

Attitude of Sericulture Beneficiary Farmers towards the Activities of Technical Service Centres (TSCs) in Karnataka State of India

Sericulture in Karnataka is in the process of modernization in many phases through new demand driven extension approach called Technical Service Centres (TSCs) located at the grass-root level (Hobli and Taluka level). These centres mainly involved in the dissemination of the technologies developed by the Research Institutes and also in supply of mulberry cuttings/saplings, monitoring mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing and providing information about loan facilities and subsidy schemes. There is a need to study the attitude of sericulture beneficiary farmers towards activities of TSCs. The study was conducted during 2018-20 in the Karnataka state of India. The Karnataka state was contributing 35.00 per cent of silk production in India. An ex-post facto research design was used or the study. An attitude was measured by Likert scale construction. The Ramanagara and Mandya districts were selected because these district having highest number of TSCs in Bangalore and Mysore division respectively. Mandya, Malavalli and K.R Pet taluks from Mandya district on the other hand Ramanagara, Channapatna and Kanakapura taluks from Ramanagara district were purposively selected for the study. Above taluks were selected based on top 3 taluks in TSCs in district. The four TSCs from each taluk leads to twelve from each district, Totally, 24 TSCs were selected for the study. Ten sericulture farmers under each TSC, collectively 240, were selected by using random sampling method. The study revealed that just little more than half (50.42%) of the sericulture farmers had medium favourable attitude towards activities of TSCs followed by high favourable attitude (35.00%) and only 14.58 per cent of the sericulture farmers had low favourable attitude. The probable reason might be majority of the sericulture farmers participated in trainings at Sericulture Training Institute at K.R Pet of Mandya District and Channapatna of Ramanagara district and also they were undergone for study tour to Kolar district. They were supplied subsidized mulberry saplings, bed disinfectants, growth promoters among sericulture farmers.

Effect of Urea-molasses Multinutrient Block Supplementation on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Rural Buffalo Farms

Background: Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) have an immense importance in rural economy by virtue of their high production potential as triple purpose animal. Application of scientific technologies can further lead to significant productivity enhancement in buffaloes. Hence, the study was aimed to investigate adoption and effect of urea-molasses multinutrient block (UMMB) supplementation on buffalo productivity in rural areas of Punjab, India. Methods: An expost-facto research design was employed to collect data from selected buffalo farmers (N-501) through personal interview by using pretested research instrument. Based on the response, the buffalo farms were categorized as technology adopter farms (TAF) and non-adopter farms (TNAF). The effect of UMMB supplementation on productivity was evaluated by considering various productive and reproductive parameters of buffaloes. Both parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were employed to analyse the data by using SPSS software. Result: The results indicated that the buffalo farms (36.93%; 185/501) following an additional supplementation with UMMB had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher average daily milk yield per animal and lowered values of all reproductive parameters. This has proved the viability of UMMB technology at buffalo farms in study area. The study revealed that the technology plays valuable role in buffalo productivity enhancement, hence should be recommended to the government and propagated through vigorous activities at grass-root level to improve adoption.

The impact of CME on the Knowledge of General Physicians

Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers among fertile females. Once such problem is encountered by a female it is not the quality of life that it affected rather financial burden, social and family stress adds to the misery. In developed nations the average survival rate with breast cancer is 72% whereas in developing nations it is around 50%. The reason for the difference in the survival rate is better healthcare system in the developed nations where the disease is diagnosed an earlier stage as compared to late diagnoses in underdeveloped nations. If awareness is provided to family physicians through CMEs at grass root level, earlier diagnosis can help all such females who are at risk of developing breast cancer. The study was conducted in three cities of Punjab i.e. Lahore, Sheikhupura and Kasur. The medical colleges who participated in the study were Fatima Jinnah Medical College (29.9%), Amna Inayat Medical College (19.9%) and Central Park Medical College (14%). A pre validated questionnaire was filled by the participants, analysis of the study was univariate and was based on McNemars test. In the post test proformas participants showed good response as compared to pretest evaluation, which showed the effectiveness of CMEs. Aim: The aim of the study is to explore the impact of continuous medical education (CME) of general physicians during their clinical practice. Methodology: A prevalidated questionnaire was required to be filled by the physicians who participated in the study which comprised of two parts, a pretest was taken before CME and other posttest was taken after CME to evaluate the effectiveness of CME. Results: Positive results were observed in the pre-test and post-test proforma of nearly all the participants. Conclusion: To conclude the effectiveness of the study, it was a very fruitful study which showed some very good results. If proper awareness and training is imparted to family physicians at grass root level regarding breast cancer, early diagnosis, management and awareness can be provided to these physicians, which result in early referral of the patients who can easily be managed at this level saving not only life of many patients but also reducing time revenue and cost of treatment of all such cases. Key Words: General physician, CME, breast cancer.

Care seeking behaviour of infertile couples attending a government infertility clinic in Delhi

Background: Childbearing is the reproductive right of every infertile couple. Infertility brings with it, multi-dimensional implications like social, economic and psychological. Care seeking by infertile couples is poorly understood as infertility services are deficient at grass-root level. We aimed to examine treatment seeking behaviour among infertile couples.Methods: A descriptive study was carried from 15 October 2019 to 15 March 2020. Primary data was collected by interviewing 196 married couples seeking care from an infertility clinic in Delhi. Data was tabulated and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 23.Results: Majority of the couples had primary infertility (73%). In 47% of the couples, care seeking was advised by the household members. Most of the couples (82%) took decision to seek care themselves. Treatment was initiated within 3 years of marriage in 45% of couples. For first consultation, infertility treatment was sought from private sector (73%), public sector (16%) and informal sector (11%). Among public sector consultations, Government Medical College was preferred by 44% of couples while in private sector, 80% of them preferred private clinics. Infertility care was sought in 79% of couples from allopathic specialists. Mean duration of treatment and visits per consultation was 5 months and 10 visits respectively. Main source of information for treatment were friends and close relatives. Females (98%) faced more pressure from family to seek treatment than the males (72%).Conclusions: Main source of infertility care was from private sector. Females faced more pressure to seek treatment. Services in the public sector needs to be developed and strengthened to make infertility care accessible, equitable and affordable.

WOMEN & EQUALITY IN WESTERN ODISHA: THE GROUND REALITY.

The 21 century is well-known for its advancement and development in every aspect.Similarly it cannot be ignored that st everywhere one strong belief has been established that women are equal with men. No doubt women are being empowered and have proven themselves in the higher position in different sectors. There are provisions for the promotion and protection of women's rights in UDHR, several international covenants, Indian constitution, and in the various schemes enunciated by the state government at the local or grass root level too. But in real world, are women actually treated equally with men in every field? Whether the legal provisions are been actually practiced? Are they leading a free and independent life as their counterparts? Are they enjoying equality with their men folk? Are these legal provisions really helping them? All the above questions remained unanswered. In this regard this paper analyses the provisions guaranteed by the Indian constitution providing equality both for men and women i.e.Right to equality with its ground reality.To answer the above questions it discusses the current status and position of women in western Odisha.