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Purpose: This program evaluation aimed to investigate the benefits and challenges of an international, intercultural, e-community-engagement experience involving youth and higher education students. The authors sought to understand the meaning that participants would make of an international, intercultural, e-community-engagement experience. Design/methodology/approach: The program evaluation component of this project was qualitative, participatory and action-oriented. It was composed of online reflection sessions with small, international groups of higher education students from Iraq, India, Morocco, South Africa and the USA immediately following each of five interactive exchange sessions with youth from South Africa. It also included one culminating reflection session to which all of the higher education student participants were invited and a written questionnaire that was completed by the youth participants at the conclusion of the project. The reflection sessions were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts and survey data were reviewed for emergent themes. Findings: Cultural exposure emerged as the primary theme with participants valuing the opportunity to learn about different cultures and to connect with individuals from across the globe. Research limitations/implications: This program evaluation was not designed as a generalizable study. This pilot initiative provides evidence of the potential value and importance of international, intercultural e-community-engagement experiences for youth and higher education students. Practical implications: The potential value of technology to build exchange opportunities for young people is immense and largely untapped. International, intercultural e-community-engagement initiatives can be made available to students globally with relatively limited resources. A highly structured and focused plan provides clarity about expectations and requirements for students. A high level of commitment is required by all participants, including the faculty coordinators. Social implications: Although the project was brief, exposure to numerous countries and cultures allowed participants to challenge their assumptions about different peoples and places in the world. The potential benefits for greater compassion and understanding of communities and cultures in an international context are high. Originality/value: This program evaluation contributes to and extends the literature on the possibilities and challenges of international e-community-engagement; it demonstrates the potential for e-community-engagement across multiple countries to broaden students' exposure to and interest in global perspectives.

The paper intends to discuss India's humane cultural traditions and its animal protection laws, justify the current need for humane education in Indian schools and preschools, offer examples of humane education curriculum ideas, and highlight the work of animal welfare organizations in India. Since ancient times, reverence and compassion for animals have been woven into India's cultural motif. All major religions in India uphold these beliefs. Hinduism, in particular, has endowed animals with a sacred status and perceives animals within the same spiritual unity that pervades the cosmos. Although not presented formally in schools, children in India grew up listening to stories that highlighted compassion for animals and participated in family rituals that showed reverence for animals. However, such cultural beliefs and practices are losing ground for a host of reasons in recent years. For example, while pet ownership has increased in recent years, incidents of pet abandonment, as well as stories of cruelty towards animals, have also wound their ways into the news headlines. Many animal protection laws have been introduced over the years, yet violations of these laws continue. Laws will not protect the rights of animals in India, but humane citizens will. Humane education programs have the potential to help plant the seed of compassion and justice for all animals early in children's hearts. Teachers may implement a carefully crafted humane education curriculum based on free resources provided by animal welfare organizations worldwide. A review of the literature shows that humane education is still uncharted territory for scholars in India. It is hoped that the article will draw attention to the topic of humane education among Indian researchers.

Articulation of religious guidelines in the political milieu never takes place in a disembodied form; rather politically inscribed religious discourses are embedded within and conveyed through specific institutional channels, including media organizations and education institutions. My experiences of working as a media educator in villages in Gujarat have helped me understand how the learning of such discriminatory practices begin early as students use various linguistic and socio-cultural cues in order to make sense of the society. In this paper, I use critical media literacy as a way to redefine classroom as a liminal space and create conditions for emergence of an alterity. Critical media literacy (CML) can provide young students with the skills required to upend the dominant discourse of religious violence, to create new narratives from the interstices- from the in-between, and pendulate between the fixed identities subsumed in binaries such as self-other, victim-perpetrator, us-them, and most importantly Hindus-Muslims. In this paper, I attempt to answer two research questions. First, how is this dominant rationality of religious hatred perpetuated through media texts and the socialization process in schools? How does it influence the everyday experiences of young students in two villages in the Sanand tehsil of Ahmedabad district in Gujarat? Second, how can the classrooms be designed as spatial sites to encourage young students to counter their feelings of individualized prejudice and enact resistance? I illustrate how media educators can use CML to design classrooms as a liminal space and help students operate from the margins of the socialization they receive and thus be more open to different regimes of truth practiced in different religious communities.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls", emphasises the need for "providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes [which] will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large" (UN, 2015). Millions of girls are forced into early marriage for economic and cultural reasons and denied the opportunity for education. Within the context of sustainable development, it is critical to raise awareness among communities that child marriage has wide ranging negative consequences for development and that allowing girls to have education and training can add enormous value to their society as well as their personal and family lives. This study aims to identify the role of community engagement and local community organisations in contributing towards ending child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) through ensuring equitable access of marginalised and out-of-school girls to education and training. The study was based on data collected from surveys that had been administered to 755 out-of-school girls, affected by CEFM in both urban and rural areas of three selected South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) countries, that is, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.

In India, sexual violence today is a routine form of violence directed against Dalit women--those from the most subordinated castes of India. Dalit is a socio-political identity affirmed by India's ex-untouchable communities, historically considered "service castes" and exploited based on their birth. While all Dalits are exploited for their physical labor and given brutal punishments for challenging or not abiding by the caste hierarchy, Dalit women particularly face gendered violence like sexual violence by upper-caste men. The author emphasizes that researching the phenomenon of caste-based sexual violence becomes essential. In this paper, the author argues that along with researching, even discussing and teaching about this violence through various social sciences like sociology, history, and women's studies becomes crucial. A teacher can transform the classroom as a space to discuss this violence, acknowledge this violence, and even initiate some healing.

As the global community strives for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly, the first goal of 'ending poverty in all its forms everywhere', university students' learning experiences and understanding about global poverty remain comparatively unexplored. This in-depth qualitative study examines how university students in the USA understand global poverty and what it means to 'help the poor' in a year-long international interdisciplinary experiential education program at a Midwestern American university. The program is dedicated to teaching students about global poverty and to problem-solve for people living in subsistence contexts in the USA, India, Uganda, Tanzania and Argentina, through experiential learning projects such as sustainable product, services and business design. The study shows, despite students' expressed intention to help the poor, they draw upon a variety of understandings of global poverty and what it means to help the poor. Contrasting these different understandings, I suggest a dialogic pedagogy with some conceptual tools and theoretical resources for students to better understand their bottom-up experiential learning experience.

The Research in the field of mental health and educational needs of children with intellectual disabilities has increased over the years. However, the focus on milder disabilities such as mild intellectual disability and borderline intellectual functioning (MBID; intelligence quotient: 50-85) is still limited. The current study aimed at understanding peer victimization and its relationship to the self-esteem of children with MBID in regular and special schools. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design with a sample of 40 children who met the inclusion criteria. On analysis, the results showed that peer victimization was more common in regular schools (U=51, p[less than or equal to]0.001), wherein the peer victimization had a significant negative correlation with their self-esteem (r=-0.536, p[less than or equal to]0.001). Overall, the findings implied the need for promotion of inclusive education in regular schools by sensitization against peer victimization of children with disabilities.

This paper explores the long-term impact of study visits to south India undertaken by UK teacher education students from 1999-2002. The research involved students who had been on the study visits ten to fifteen years earlier. All the participants completed an extensive open-ended survey and the themes which then emerged were investigated through in-depth interviews and graphic representations. Previous studies have explored the immediate impact of study abroad programmes but the long-term effects are poorly understood. The findings from this research suggest that the study visits had lasting impacts on (a) the students' intercultural understanding (b) their professional practice and (c) their personal development. Additonally, the study visits generated the kind of educational risk that facilitates meaningful encounters with the world and helped the students change their frames of reference from ego-centric to world-centric perspectives. Such dispositions operate at a foundational level and are so deeply embedded they are often not acknowledged. A rhizomatic model is proposed in which the students' responses are seen as manifestations of an ethical engagement with self, others and the environment -- an essential quality for ITE students at a time of growing global social and environmental crisis.

A moon exploration is one example of what Jasmine, and other children in the experimental township of Auroville in India, experience on a regular basis--the Auroville equivalent of a physical education class. It is one of the practices in Awareness Through the Body (ATB), which is described by its creators as "a comprehensive curriculum of activities and exercises that aims to raise awareness and enable both children and adults to become conscious of their own perceptions and abilities, so that they may become more self-aware, self-directed individuals." ATB is an innovative practice that makes a difference in the way children and adults live their embodied lives. In this article the author shares his own experiences in ATB workshops, as well as the perspectives of three Aurovillians: Amir, who has been facilitating ATB sessions for 17 years; Jasmine, a 17-year-old student; and Jasmine's mother Natasha, who works with phenomenology. This article will briefly describe the origins of ATB; discuss its aims, principles, and practices; and end with a few reflections on why the author believes this work is important in the world today.

Cultural Heritage means to inherent and cultivate the cultural disinclinations from one generation to next generation. It is possible by education as well as following the traditional livelihood of ours; it is conducted formal/consciously or informal/unconsciously. One of the traits of education is to hand on the cultural values and behaviour pattern of the society to its young and potential members. By this, means society achieves a basic social conformity and ensures that traditional modes of life are preserved. This has been called the conservative function of education. Handing on tradition is bound at times to be in conflict with a desire to initiate change. When a society is changing slowly, the new elements of its culture can be more easily absorbed. However, the rapid changes in the industrial society in the changing scenario have led to much conflict between old and new habits of life and thought. Here there are two contradictory functions of education which are both necessary and it can be shown that there are conditions of society under which these can be reconciled. Hence in order to emphasize the need to link education and cultural heritage, its inheritance, preservation and cultivation, I decided to have a study of awareness of cultural heritage among the teachers at university level, so that we may have come to know that our teachers, formulating the "Destiny of India" (as stated by Education Commission, 1964-66, "Destiny of India is being shaped into their classroom") are aware about the Indian culture, its heritage or not because teacher are at the core of education structure, policy, values and cultural heritage to inculcate these values among our educands. Heritage awareness is a crucial part of any heritage conservation and management. The creation of awareness is time-consuming and it requires commitment and local support. It is often the most recognizable component of a heritage management. One of the most effective ways to build and maintain respect for community's heritage is through a selection of activities that raise public awareness and increase appreciation. The success of heritage conservation initiatives depends on the understanding and participation of the local community.

Diversity studies have mostly been done outside India and have largely focused on race, gender and ethnicity. The relevance of these studies to India remains less explored. Hence, faculties from various disciplines were interviewed across six states and a union territory. Diversity awareness was substantial regarding familiar social categories that have received socio-political attention so far like gender. However, faculty limited gender diversity to entry-level recruitment and they seldom mentioned the need for women at professorial and leadership levels. Awareness about diversity domains such as gender identity, sexual orientation and race was inadequate. While diversity was considered essential for student admissions, it was not so for faculty recruitment. Though the majority acknowledged disability and age as diversity domains, there was insufficient preparation for engagement with disabled people and members outside formal age-groups. There is a need for instilling global and country-specific diversity awareness in the faculty.

Based on a two-year ethnographic study of global virtual teams (GVTs) (n = 323) in a technology-enhanced global course among six universities (i.e. U.S., China, South Korea, Germany, Israel, and India), this paper presents "how and in what ways" the participating students made sense of and constructed understandings about the interactive learning environment. Focusing on the student engagement, this study identified three pathways in which they negotiated and developed their respective understandings about technology, culture, and teamwork in GVTs. In each pathway, it was found that students engaged in the development process of reflecting upon problematic experiences, revolving unanticipated challenges, and establishing new ways of being, doing, and thinking. This study highlights the dynamic nature of understanding construction and provides important implications about how to implement GVTs and support students to succeed in GVTs.

Promoting students commitment to protect local biodiversity is an important goal of education for sustainable development in India and elsewhere. The main focus of the biodiversity education was to create knowledge, interest and necessary skills to solve various biodiversity problems with reference to the local context. In order to develop the biodiversity consciousness among students, the action oriented biodiversity education methods were identified in this study such as active classroom sessions, hands-onactivities, experiential education, and field exposures that are vital to achieve sustainable biodiversity knowledge and motivate to protect and conserve local biodiversity. We developed a comprehensive framework to assess the efficacy of biodiversity education modules in enhancing teaching and training in biodiversity conservation at high school level. Since the pre-test indicated little lesser than average interest in the relevance of biodiversity, the observed increase in post-test phase could be attributed to our education for sustainable development efforts.

The coastal town of Tuticorin is situated in the southern part of the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park on the Southeastern Indian coast. The four islands off the Tuticorin coast are fringed by corals reefs and seagrass beds. Destructive fishing methods including blast fishing, near-shore trawling, coral mining, sedimentation and pollution have, however, caused considerable damage to the coral reefs and seagrass beds, threatening the reef fisheries of the region. A significant portion of the fisher folk in the 23 coastal villages along the Tuticorin coast, due to low literacy levels and lack of other employment, is dependent on the dwindling fish catches in and around these reefs and seagrass beds. Crowded fishing grounds, increasing demand for fisheries' products and declining catches compel fishers to increase the use of more effective and destructive fishing methods. Adult education was introduced in five coastal villages (Rajapalayam, Siluvaipatti, Arockiyapuram, Tirespuram and Inigo Nagar) on the Tuticorin coast in 2007. Included in this adult education, environmental education practices, including conservation of natural resources, particularly coral reefs and seagrass habitats, its importance and role, the need for conservation and management, eco-friendly fishing practices and sustainable use of fishery resources, were taught to the fisher folk in all five coastal villages. The trained fisher folk play key roles in their respective villages in awareness creation about the conservation of natural resources. The campaign during International Year of the Reef in 2008 helped to make aware many people in the villages about the importance of corals and associated seagrass and other resources. As a part of mitigating climate change impacts and income generation, family members of the five villages were also taught and helped to increase plantation. (Contains 1 figure.)

This article assesses the effectiveness of The Great WASH Yatra handwashing awareness raising campaign in India on changing visitors' intention to wash hands with soap after using the toilet and the underlying behavioural determinants. Interviews based on the RANAS (Risk, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, Self-regulation) model of behaviour change were conducted with 687 visitors before and after their visit to the campaign. Data showed that a campaign visit had little effect on the intention to wash hands with soap, even when comparing visitors who had actively participated in handwashing games with those who had not. After a campaign visit, knowledge about the benefits of washing hands had increased by almost half a standard deviation. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that when considering all behavioural determinants change scores simultaneously, they were able to explain 57% of the variance in the intention change score. These findings suggest that substantively changing behaviour requires more than improving knowledge and emphasizing the importance of washing hands. Identifying the crucial behavioural determinants for handwashing may be an important first step in planning effective large-scale promotion programmes.

Girls with disabilities from lower economic homes are disadvantaged (in terms of gender, disability and poverty) in India, and are often regarded as useless by their communities. There is a need to improve and provide a chance for self-sufficiency among women with disabilities in India. The purpose of this study was to examine the life-chances (i.e. the likelihood of living a self-sufficient life) of girls with disabilities in rural India and subsequently suggest ways through which one can improve these life chances. The study was a single-case study that used data from semi-structured interviews carried out in rural Bangalore. It was found, based on the interviews and available literature on the issue, that women with disabilities are at a disadvantage, especially those in rural settings. The most significant factors that seem to affect the life chances of the subject in the study were parental hesitation, a lack of opportunities and low self-esteem and confidence. The study suggests awareness programmes, counselling and the implementation of home-based education services as some ways through which the life-chances of girls with disabilities are likely to improve.

This paper is a study of a Malayalam documentary play "Not Just the Victims" staged by Abhinaya Theatre Research Centre Trivandrum. Along with analyzing the documentary method of the play this study looks at how the theatre group employed the play for "re-educating" the people regarding certain existing norms. The play initiates a discourse in theatre regarding various atrocities happening against woman and children in society. The need for re-educating our parents and educational institutions regarding their out-dated techniques in nurturing woman and children as well as male counterparts is highlighted in this study. Also, the paper investigates how traumatic narratives of victims could make a greater impact on the audience for a change in their attitudes.

This paper examines the factors that prevent slum children aged 5-14 from gaining access to schooling in light of the worsening urban poverty and sizable increase in rural-to-urban migration. Bias against social disadvantage in terms of gender and caste is not clearly manifested in schooling, while migrated children are less likely to attend school. I argue that the lack of preparation for schooling in the pre-schooling ages and school admission procedures are the main obstacles for migrated children. The most important implication for universal elementary education in urban India is raising parental awareness and simplifying the admission procedures. (Contains 6 tables and 2 figures.)

In India, tobacco kills 900 000 people every year though the burden of tobacco is faced disproportionately in poorer states such as Bihar. Teachers may be a particularly influential group in setting norms around tobacco use in the Indian context. However, tobacco use among teachers remains high and perceptions of tobacco-related health risks are unexplored. To qualitatively explore perceptions about tobacco use among teachers in Bihar and to examine how risk information may be communicated through a variety of message formats, 12 messages on tobacco health risks varying in formats were tested in focus groups with teachers from Bihar. Participants stated that teachers were already aware of tobacco-related health risks. To further increase awareness of these risks, the inclusion of evidence-based facts in messages was recommended. Communicating risk information using negative emotions had a great appeal to teachers and was deemed most effective for increasing risk perception. Messages using narratives of teachers' personal accounts of quitting tobacco were deemed effective for increasing knowledge about the benefits of quitting. To conclude, messages using evidence-based information, possibly with negative emotions, testimonials with role models and those messages emphasizing self-efficacy in the format of narratives appear to appeal to teachers in Bihar.

The English Geography National Curriculum encourages primary teachers to focus on similarities and differences when teaching distant places. The issues this raises are particularly acute when teaching geography in the context of the Global South. In this article I argue that comparisons based on object-based thinking can lead to views of the "Other" that undermine attempts to challenge stereotypes and develop positive attitudes towards difference. Relational thinking is proposed as an alternative, where difference is seen as a relation rather than a distinction. Drawing on an Economic and Social Research Council research project, these alternative ways of thinking are explored through research participants' constructions of culture and identity during study visits to Southern India and The Gambia. The implications for primary teachers are considered.

Training birth attendants (TBAs) to provide essential maternal and infant health care services during delivery and ongoing community care in developing countries. Despite inadequate evidence of relevance and effectiveness of TBA training programmes, there has been a policy shift since the 1990s in that many donor agencies funding TBA training programmes redirected funds to providing skilled attendants during delivery. This study aimed to assess the ways in which a TBA training programme in India has been successful in disseminating evidence-based knowledge on birthing practices. TBAs practicing within 16 villages targeted by training programme initiatives were administered with structured questionnaires. The post training birthing practices of trained (24) and untrained (14) TBAs was compared and birthing practices adopted by women assisted by trained (16) and untrained (9) TBAs was analysed. Positive post training practices were hand washing, use of a clean blade for cutting the cord, immediate breastfeeding and weighing of babies. Nevertheless, the training could be further improved with up to date and evidence-based information and more comprehensive instructions. The findings suggest an integration of local and evidence-based knowledge is needed to improve the training. Raising community awareness of public health measures related to maternal and child health is also recommended.

Background: Human rights education initiatives have proliferated in the past three decades and can be found in policy discussions, textbook reforms and grassroots initiatives across the globe. This article specifically explores the role of teachers in human rights education (HRE) by focusing on a case study of one non-governmental organisation's (NGO) programme operating across India. Purpose: This article argues that teachers' "own" transformation should be central to discussions of the educational reform, and presents data from an NGO-run HRE initiative in India. Additionally, while HRE teachers may be encouraged to equalise power relations within the classroom, many semi-literate communities hold teachers (and textbooks) in high regard, suggesting that their advocacy of human rights may prove instrumental for HRE to go beyond the school walls, the ultimate aim of the educational project. Evidence from India contributes to the discussion of HRE by presenting teachers' experiences with training and their use of existing hierarchies to effect change in primarily rural, semi-literate communities. Sample: Participants in this study included 118 HRE teachers, 625 students, 80 staff and policy makers of HRE, and eight parents. Observations of teacher trainings included hundreds more participants. The majority of student respondents came from "tribal" (indigenous) or Dalit (previously called "untouchable") communities, both comprising the most marginalised sections of Indian society. Design and methods: This study was primarily qualitative and was carried out from August 2008 to January 2010. Methods included semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observations of teacher trainings in human rights and human rights camps for students. Results: The study found the following: (1) teacher training that is appropriate, contextualised and engaging incentivises participation and legitimises both the message and messengers of human rights; (2) teachers' own transformation and interest in human rights can benefit their households, schools and communities in multiple ways; and (3) teachers and textbooks can provide legitimacy for human rights and be vital community resources for intervening in abuses. Conclusions: Further attention to the role of teachers in HRE can illuminate how HRE overlays and is mediated by existing community realities and societal structures. (Contains 1 figure and 11 notes.)

Research Findings: This article traces the status of child rights in India, with special attention to traditional beliefs that have shaped and sustain gender discrimination. The article examines the possibilities and limitations of the newly implemented Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009 for operating as an equalizing agent. It further examines the need to go beyond legislation of rights to challenge harmful traditional beliefs that perpetuate discriminatory practices against children. Practice or Policy: The article concludes with the recommendation that raising public awareness and participation along with meaningful and ethical child participation are essential before children in India can enjoy the rights already afforded them. (Contains 24 footnotes.)

The shadowy, criminal nature of human trafficking makes evaluating its nature and scope difficult. The U.S. State Department and anti-trafficking groups estimate that worldwide some 27 million people are caught in a form of forced servitude today. Public awareness of modern-day slavery is gaining momentum thanks to new abolitionist efforts. Among today's leaders is Ken Morris, president of the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation. "Awareness is the key to one day resolving the issues," says Morris. "We need to help people better understand the inhumanity of slavery in every form, with the idea that once people pay attention to the issue, they will be motivated to address it." Organizations like the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation are committing much of their efforts to getting the message out to young people about slavery today. They are teaming with educators to teach students about its current forms, and get students motivated to share their newfound awareness.

This article is a result of my MSc Deaf Studies dissertation that is situated on an intersection between Deaf geography, anthropology and Deafhood theory. During five weeks of participatory observation and interviews in Mumbai, my attention was drawn to the city's lifeline: the suburban train system. It appeared that Deaf people tend to travel in specific compartments for people with disabilities that were set up about eight years ago. They started to use these compartments--and also the train platforms--as important meeting places. The article explains how this evolved and the reasons for traveling in compartments for disabled people rather than in general train compartments--reasons that have nothing to do with a "deficit" perspective on deafness. Not only has this way of traveling several sociocultural consequences that appear to strengthen links in the Mumbai Deaf community; in addition the visibility of signing Deaf groups has caused a growth in Deaf awareness among hearing people in these "disabled" compartments in particular and at the train stations in general. It is because of Mumbai's geography, its resulting population density and the heavy use of suburban trains unique for this city, that these several different effects were so strongly spread in both the Deaf community and among hearing people. (Contains 24 notes and 7 figures.)

Develops an understanding of the literate learner who remains unreached in total literacy programs and campaigns initiated by the government of India. Examines the approaches used by the Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (association of scrap waste pickers) to promote critical awareness and education among its members. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education) (Author/VWL)

Background: Children in India who have been diagnosed with celiac disease deal with a variety of challenges and difficulties as a result of their condition. Understanding their experiences is important to help the patients adapt better to the demands of celiac disease and gluten-free diet. Methods: The present study has used a constructivism paradigm as a study design. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. In-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with 10 children with celiac disease. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Results: The main themes and sub-themes that emerged from the data were emotional responses (the feeling of deprivation, the feeling of being different from others, the novelty of gluten-free diet leading to excitement), physical health impact (getting tired easily, delayed growth), social constraints (social limitations brought on by celiac disease, peer pressure to eat gluten, and non-acceptance of celiac disease by others), future concerns (uncertainty about the future, improved physical health, celiac disease cure, dependency on others), navigating dietary changes (fear of cross-contamination, food restrictions caused by celiac disease, non-availability of gluten-free food, and limited food options outside the home), coping strategies, and management of celiac disease (eat home-cooked meals, receiving support from family, and friends, adhering to gluten-free diet). Conclusion: Governmental organizations and experts in mental health must acknowledge the needs of Indian children with celiac disease. The need of the hour is to improve gluten-free product labelling and raise awareness of celiac disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of agricultural water interventions for climate change adaptation has been slow and limited despite their established efficacy and benefits. While several studies have identified socio-economic, biophysical, technological and institutional factors that influence adoption, psychological factors have often been overlooked. This study examines the socio-economic and psychological factors, using RANAS behavioral model, that influence the adoption of agricultural water interventions in the semi-arid region of Saurashtra in India. Two contrasting and dominating agricultural water interventions in the area: drip irrigation and borewells are evaluated. Despite subsidies being available for drip irrigation systems, the adoption rate remains low (-16% adopting rate) compared to borewells (-24.5% adoption) with no subsidies reflecting farmer's preference for supply augmentation measures over demand management. Incorporating psychological factors in the analysis improved the explanatory power of the logistic model by almost threefold, underscoring the significance of psychological factors in explaining farmers' adoption decisions. Based on the logistic model, major factors determining farmers adoption behaviour identified are farmer's perceived ability, risk preference and positive beliefs about the technologies along with socio-economic (e.g., land size) and biophysical factors (e.g., proximity to water). The study recommends a multi-pronged approach to increase the adoption of interventions, including augmenting subsidies with efforts on extension services, post-adoption services, training, and awareness campaigns to build farmers' capacity and raise awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low‐ and middle‐income countries most of the cancer patients attend the hospital at a late stage and treatment completion of these cases is challenging. The early detection program (EDP), in rural areas of Punjab state, India was initiated to identify breast, cervical, and oral cancer at an early stage by raising awareness and providing easy access to diagnosis and treatment. A total of 361 health education programs and 99 early detection clinics were organized. The symptomatic and self‐interested (non‐symptomatic individuals who opted for screening) cases visited the detection clinic. They were screened for breast, cervical, and/or oral cancer. Further diagnosis and treatment of screen‐positive cases were carried out at Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (HBCH), Sangrur. Community leaders and healthcare workers were involved in all the activities. The EDP, Sangrur removed barriers between cancer diagnosis and treatment with the help of project staff. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 221,317 populations were covered. Symptomatic and self‐interested individuals attended the breast (1627), cervical (1601), and oral (1111) examinations. 46 breast (in situ‐4.3%; localized‐52.2%), 9 cervical (localized‐77.8%), and 12 oral (localized‐66.7%) cancer cases were detected, and treatment completion was 82.6%, 77.8%, and 50.0%, respectively. We compared cancer staging and treatment completion of cases detected through EDP with the cases attended HBCH from Sangrur district in 2018; the difference between two groups is statistically significant. Due to the early detection approach, there is disease down‐staging and improvement in treatment completion. This approach is feasible and can be implemented to control these cancers in low‐ and middle‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workplace mental health challenges have emerged as a significant concern post-pandemic. Despite this, the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness leads to the concealment of symptoms and reluctance to seek professional help among employees. This study aims to explore the perception of different stakeholders towards the 'Detection and disclosure' of workplace mental health challenges in the Indian context. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with human resource professionals, counselors, and employees who had previously experienced mental health challenge(s). Thematic analysis was done to identify recurring themes and sub-themes. Three critical pathways were identified: minimizing the inhibitory factors, including lack of awareness, denial, low self-efficacy, stigma, and underestimating organizational capability; maximizing the encouraging factors, including psychological safety, perceived social support, and communicating success stories; and implementing supportive organizational practices, including generating awareness and literacy, build the organizational capability, strengthen the role of managers, leadership advocacy, policies, and processes. By fostering a culture of support and prioritizing employee well-being, organizations in India can create healthier and more resilient work environments, benefiting both individuals and the larger society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Amidst rising cardiovascular disease rates globally, hypercholesterolemia emerges as a critical factor, especially in rapidly urbanizing nations like India. This study determines the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia among older adults in India, and ascertains its sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical determinants. We also ascertained the adherence to cholesterol lowering therapies and their determinants among previously diagnosed patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of secondary data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI Wave 1: 2017–2018) involving 66606 participants aged ≥45 years including 2310 participants with high cholesterol. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to analyze determinants of high cholesterol and medication adherence, which was assessed by whether participants selfreported taking regularly cholesterol-lowering medication. RESULTS The weighted prevalence of (self-reported) high cholesterol was 2.28% (95% CI: 2.07–2.51). On adjusted analysis, participants of a higher socio-economic status (AOR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.40–2.92), urban residence (AOR=1.80; 95% CI: 1.46–2.22), obese (AOR=4.94; 95% CI: 2.80–8.70), with comorbidities such as diabetes (AOR=2.41; 95% CI: 1.52–3.83) and hypertension (AOR=3.41; 95% CI: 2.18–5.32), had significantly higher odds of having high cholesterol. Medication adherence among those with high cholesterol was suboptimal, with nearly 40% not taking medications regularly. The factors associated with higher odds of nonadherence included being underweight (AOR=3.66; 95% CI: 1.49–9.01), tobacco use (AOR=1.59; 95% CI: 1.01–2.50), and the absence of diabetes or hypertension comorbidity (AOR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.08–2.17). CONCLUSIONS Only six in ten patients in India take medications regularly for high cholesterol, indicative of non-adherence in a substantial proportion of previously diagnosed patients. Tailored interventions are needed for raising awareness, early screening and managing high cholesterol, with healthcare providers focusing on lipid management and comprehensive care, regardless of comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the feasibility of remanufacturing shoemaking machines for sustainability using a combined AHP and DEMATEL approach. The AHP prioritizes machine types for remanufacturing, while the DEMATEL analyzes the interdependencies of influencing factors. Results indicate sole-making equipment as the most suitable candidate, followed by surface and forming equipment. Furthermore, appropriate product design, modularity, and a complete recycling system emerge as crucial for successful strategies. The DEMATEL confirms the foundational role of these factors in influencing a positive corporate image and business model. This study offers valuable insights and recommendations for Taiwan-based shoemaking machine OEMs in India to formulate strategies that promote remanufacturing. The findings highlight the critical role of OEMs in raising customer awareness regarding the environmental and economic benefits of returning end-of-life products and utilizing remanufactured machinery. Effective strategies should emphasize the importance of design for remanufacturing principles, modular machine architectures, and the establishment of comprehensive recycling systems. By fostering customer engagement through such initiatives, OEMs can create a collaborative ecosystem that facilitates the successful implementation of remanufacturing practices within the Indian market. Overall, the study presents a compelling case for remanufacturing as a strategic approach for OEMs to promote a circular economy, resource efficiency, and a sustainable future for footwear production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study of forest fires in the fringe villages of the sal forest in Dehradun district of Northern India assesses the local communities' awareness of forest fires and willingness to pay for fire prevention measures. We also examined the effect of fire on the regeneration of sal. Our results indicate that the number of sal recruits in frequently burnt areas was significantly lower than in unburnt areas. Community perceptions revealed that around 80% of participants believed that fires were intentionally set to collect ectomycorrhizal fungi, thinking it would enhance the production of Astraeus hygrometricus. Furthermore, approximately 70.45% attributed the cause of fires to recreational activities of young people. All respondents acknowledged the negative consequences of forest fires, including loss of fauna (100%), adverse effects on air quality, and human-wildlife conflict (81.2%). A maximum likelihood estimator based multi-normal logit method was used to estimate WTP. Communities were aware of the consequences of forest fire and expressed a willingness to contribute (₹ 63.78 per month for 10 years) towards forest fire prevention efforts. These findings emphasize the importance of raising awareness and involving local communities in effective forest fire prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plan of the paper is to study autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children as complex conditions that affect cognitive, emotional, social, and physical health. Broadly tracing the medical journey of the condition, it addresses the challenges faced by parents as they make sense of, and navigate their way through the appearance of early symptoms, impediments in correct diagnosis, acceptance, and adapt to live with the condition. The paper attempts to understand autism in medical and neurological terms, as well as the challenges faced by children and parents through the case study of Kyari (meaning a flower bed), a lone centre providing accessible autism care in about 150 km around Moradabad (west UP, India), which has been instrumental in raising an awareness of autism and has a reach that is unprecedented in the city in bringing sensitive autism intervention. It further comprehensively studies the symptoms of ASD, and the role of augmentative and alternative communication, behaviour modification, and the work of organisations like the Centre for Autism, CBSE mandate for inclusive education as applied in the case and Indian government policy for autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to affordable and reliable energy sources can substantially enhance the lives of marginalized communities in rural areas. Unfortunately, numerous households in these communities rely upon unclean sources of energy such as kerosene to light the house even during daylight. To address this issue, solar off-grid technology - Micro Solar Dome (MSD) was implemented in various states across India, specifically benefiting the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. The study, across the eight selected states, highlights the advantages of adopting off-grid technologies and their roles in promoting awareness of renewable energy solutions. The survey used purposive sampling to collect community members' perceptions of the product's benefits and their awareness of renewable technologies. The results indicated that the utilization of the product not only enhanced illumination levels within households but also contributed to improved safety, increased study hours for children, and facilitated economic activities during the evening hours. Furthermore, the study revealed that education plays a crucial role in adopting solar energy. However, interventions such as awareness programs and hands-on experiences with the products can also greatly enhance awareness and promote adoption in rural areas. Overall, the study provided compelling evidence of the significant and positive impact that small-scale initiatives like the MSD can have on the lives of marginalized communities. It also emphasized the potential of such solutions to empower these communities and improve their overall wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In a rabies-endemic country like India, every animal bite is potentially taken as rabid exposure and timely and appropriate postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is crucial as rabies is an almost 100% fatal disease. Methods A retrospective record-based study was conducted at an anti-rabies clinic (ARC) in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Data of the animal bite victims attending the ARC for PEP from January to December 2022 were extracted from the records. A semistructured questionnaire was used for collecting information regarding the interval between exposure and the initiation of anti-rabies PEP, age, gender, residence, the bite site on the body, category of exposure and other risk factors associated with the delay in PEP. Results Most of the victims were male (67.6%), from an urban background (61.3%) and aged up to 20 y (43.9%). Out of the 222 victims, 62 (27.9%) had delayed initiation of PEP (>48 h after exposure). Factors found to be significantly associated with delayed initiation of PEP were residence (p=0.01), age (p=0.04) and the type of biting animal (p=0.002). Conclusions Delayed initiation of PEP is common among animal bite victims in this region of India, although PEP is affordable. Educational programmes and awareness-raising campaigns for timely administration of PEP should be a priority, especially targeting rural residents, those aged<18 y and those bitten by animals other than dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effects of household air pollution on urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms have not been studied. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between household air pollution and UI/SUI symptoms among middle-aged and elderly adults in India. Methods: We employed data derived from individuals aged 45 years and older who participated in the inaugural wave (2017–2018) of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI). The assessment of household air pollution exposure and the occurrence of UI/SUI symptoms relied on self-reported data. The analytical approach adopted was cross-sectional in nature and encompassed a cohort of 64,398 participants. To explore relationships, we utilized multivariate logistic regression analysis, incorporating subgroup analysis and interaction tests. Results: 1,671 (2.59%) participants reported UI symptoms and 4,862 (7.55%) participants reported SUI symptoms. Also, the prevalence of UI/SUI symptoms is much higher among middle-aged and elderly adults who use solid polluting fuels (UI: 51.23% vs. 48.77%; SUI: 54.50% vs. 45.50%). The results revealed a noteworthy correlation between household air pollution and the probability of experiencing UI/SUI symptoms, persisting even after adjusting for all conceivable confounding variables (UI: OR = 1.552, 95% CI: 1.377–1.749, p < 0.00001; SUI: OR: 1.459, 95% CI: 1.357–1.568, p < 0.00001). Moreover, significant interaction effects were discerned for age, education level, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, and physical activity (p for interaction < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that the utilization of solid fuels in the home increases the likelihood of developing urinary incontinence and stress urinary incontinence. As a result, we argue that there is an immediate need to reform the composition of cooking fuel and raise public awareness about the adverse effects of air pollution in the home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparison to the worldwide burden of asthma, although India contributes to 13% of the total asthma prevalence, it has a threefold higher mortality rate and more than twofold higher DALYs, indicating a substantial gap in asthma diagnosis and treatment. Asthma causes significant suffering, affecting people's quality of life and draining the country's resources; therefore, we must devise ways and means to fill these gaps. The most successful and cost-efficient strategy to battle asthma is to form strong partnerships between patients, the general public, the government, the pharmaceutical industry and non-governmental organisations. This necessitates a comprehensive approach that involves raising awareness, developing universally applicable recommendations, increasing access to high-quality asthma care, and other measures. The purpose of this article was to review the existing scenario of asthma management in India and the factors that contribute to it and devise unique and all-encompassing strategies to fill these gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the correlation of serum Vitamin D levels in male alcoholic individuals. Materials and methods: A total of 54 male individuals, aged between 21 to 70 years with history of alcohol consumption were included.. Analysis of serum vitamin D by Vitros autoanalyser was done. Result: It was observed that maximum number of individuals consumed 15-16 drinks per week. Very few individuals consumed 20 - 21 drinks per week. Vitamin D levels were in sufficient range in participants who consumed 15 - 16 drinks per week. Whereas levels were lowered as the number of drinks consumed were increased. Moderate negative correlation between number of drinks consumed per week and Vitamin D levels which was statistically significant was observed. Conclusion: Our results clearly show that individuals who consume more than 15 drinks per week have insufficient serum Vitamin D levels compared to the normal reference range. This was statistically proven using Karl Pearson's correlation formula, establishing a moderate negative correlation. Therefore, we can conclude that as the number of drinks per week increases, serum Vitamin D values decrease. It is necessary to develop national monitoring systems to track alcohol consumption and its consequences, raising awareness among the public and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss worldwide and hasa major impact on quality of life. As glaucoma is a multifactorial disease, it is important to identify the association between its ocular and systemic risk factors. AIMS: To assess the demographic profile, type of glaucoma, grade, risk factors and severity of same in first time diagnosed patients of glaucoma. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: Primary open angel and Primary close angle glaucoma patients were selected according to inclusion criteria and cross-sectional observational study was carried out. METHODS: This analysis includes study of 200 patients diagnosed with glaucoma for the first time at a Western Regional Institute of Ophthalmology in Western India. Patients visual BCVA, age, intraocular pressure, corneal pachymetry, gonioscopy, central disc ratio, visual field findings and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were analysed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analysed using independent t test and statistical software Spss 26.0 version and Microsoft excel. P < 0.05 was considered stastically significant. Results: The study revealed that the mean age of patient of POAG was 60 and PACG was 57 years. POAG mean IOP was 20.98 ± 2.78 and PACG mean IOP was 28.37 ± 5.33. We observed 11.5% patients with advanced glaucomatous damage clinically and on perimetry report. POAG patients were more aged than POCG patients and also had advanced glaucomatous damage clinically and on perimetry report. Hypertension and diabetes were most commonly observed risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: this study undermines the utmost importance of raising awareness about glaucoma and the significance of early screening before irreversible glaucomatous damage occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivering validated information to rural areas is a major challenge in low-income countries. In this paper, we study information provision to rural communities in the context of a global outbreak of an infectious disease—COVID-19. Two weeks after the initial lockdown in March 2020, we conducted a randomized experiment in rural Bangladesh and India to disseminate health information over the phone. We find that relative to information provided via SMS, phone calls can significantly improve people's awareness and compliance with health guidelines. We also find compliance to be substantially higher among women, which also persists after three months of the campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]