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Purpose: The present study explored the molecular characterization of human Adenovirus (HAdV) and its strains among hospitalized SARI cases in the pediatric unit of a tertiary care hospital in North-East India. Methods: Nasal and throat swabs were collected from 70 patients of Pediatric Unit, of a tertiary hospital in NE India from April 2023-October 2023. The samples were screened for the presence of HAdV using an adenovirus-specific Real-Time PCR Kit. For molecular characterization, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was performed by targeting the hexon gene of HAdV followed by post-sequencing analysis. Results: Overall, 18.57% (13/70) of samples were positive for HAdV. In context of the severity of illness, 3/13 adenovirus-positive patients (23.07%) died after hospitalization, had severe pneumonia among which two were of less than one year of age. Molecular characterization using NGS indicated that 4/13 individuals were infected with HAdV-B type 3 and 5/13 patients were infected with HAdV type 7. Notably, 4/7 cases of severe pneumonia were under five years of age and associated with HAdV type 7 infection. The ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutation (dN/dS) was comparatively low in HAdV type 7 positive samples (dN/dS=0.31). No non-synonymous mutation was observed in HAdV-B type 3 positive samples. The higher neutrophil percentage among the death cases suggested an acute immune response. Conclusion: The study demonstrated HAdV type 7 and HAdV-B type 3 as strains associated with pediatric SARI cases from April 2023-October 2023. Further, HAdV type 7 infection was primarily linked with lower respiratory tract infections mainly severe pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, based on my doctoral ethnographic research amongst the Miya community in one of the chars of Western Assam, shows how a particular category of identity documents shape their subjectivities, experiences, and aspirations. I focus on the identity documents which have errors, like mistakes in names, dates of birth or addresses, and badly angled photos. I refer to them as thin documents. Because of the thin documents, the Miyas find it difficult to assert formal citizenship rights, which they could normally assert based on accurate documentation. For the thin documents to help prove the Miyas' citizenship, they must be further supported by an additional set of documents. The process questions the Miya's formal citizenship rights. I present narratives of the Miya people living with thin documents to illustrate how the materiality of the identity document binds the Miya people to a state of liminal citizenship. I ask: what do these errors in the identity document or thin documents tell us about citizenship, particularly liminal citizenship with reference to the Miya community of Assam? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the historical antecedents, character and implications of Assam's National Register of Citizens as a socio-legal instrument. It seeks to understand how dominant nationalisms and the state produce volatile paper citizenship regimes, and use law – as a reified transcendental performance of social will – to construct the 'minority citizen' through categories of 'belonging' and 'citizenship'. The paper does this by analysing three typologies of the law-society interaction. First, it examines what/who is a citizen from within law. Second, it critiques the mythology of law by giving an account of belonging and suffering of minority citizens without law. Third, it foregrounds peripheral subjectivities by offering an account of minority citizenship beyond law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper questions the hyper fixation on papers in producing citizens or proving citizenship, arguing that not papers but the agglomeration of legal, bureaucratic and social processes produce citizenship in Assam’s Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs). Based on ethnographic fieldwork with members (presiding over cases), lawyers, border police officials and victims of citizenship examination processes, this paper shows that citizenship cannot be easily proved or disproved based on the possession or absence of papers, as the ‘truth’ about one’s citizenship is produced equally outside these courts. One’s citizenship status inside the court depends on a series of procedural, documentary and certificatory correlations accompanied by social performances (testimonies from family and community members). This is contingent on the truth produced outside through the suspicion of being a ‘foreigner’, easily cast in terms of one’s physical appearance, social class, religion and language. Community structures outside courts also enable certain groups to be documented easily, aiding the production of the legal truth required inside for establishing citizenship status. Therefore, the way suspicion is informed and legal technicalities are deployed to generate information and knowledge along with the role of family and community social networks all contribute towards establishing one as a citizen or a ‘foreigner’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A new species of the tribe Malaxideae (Orchidaceae), Crepidium assamicum, is described and illustrated here as new species from Assam, North East India. The new taxon is superficially similar to Crepidium purpureum but differs in its habitat, plant size, long floral bract, very densely flowered inflorescences, leaf number, larger petiole size, both winged throughout and flower color. This species is confined to grow in open grassland near river bank of Dibru‐Soikhowa, Dibrugarh district of Assam, in a huge population comprising 500–600 individuals. The threat status of this new species is provisionally assessed here as “Threatened” following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria version 16 (2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster is often seen as a "leveller" that affects everyone equally but the impact of disasters varies due to structural inequalities, access to resources, gender roles, and power relations, leading to a disproportionate effect on certain populations. This paper is based on a case study of three flood-affected districts of Assam and explores how gender is often used in a restrictive manner, confining it to a binary and neglecting non-binary gender identities, their vulnerabilities, and capacities in disaster risk reduction. These case studies illustrate that communities are vulnerable not only because of their physical nature but also due to their social positioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a major public health concern in India as the aetiology remains unknown in the majority of cases with the current testing algorithm. We aimed to study the incidence of Japanese encephalitis (JE) and determine the aetiology of non‐JE AES cases to develop an evidence‐based testing algorithm. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were tested for Japanese encephalitis virus by ELISA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multiplex real‐time PCR was done for Dengue, Chikungunya, West Nile, Zika, Enterovirus, Epstein Barr Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus, Adenovirus, Cytomegalovirus, Herpesvirus 6, Parechovirus, Parvovirus B19, Varicella Zoster Virus, Scrub typhus, Rickettsia species, Leptospira, Salmonella species, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Plasmodium species and by ELISA for Mumps and Measles virus. Of the 3173 CSF samples, 461 (14.5%) were positive for JE. Of the 334 non‐JE AES cases, 66.2% viz. Scrub typhus (25.7%), Mumps (19.5%), Measles (4.2%), Parvovirus B19 (3.9%) Plasmodium (2.7%), HSV 1 and 2 (2.4%), EBV and Streptococcus pneumoniae (2.1% each), Salmonella and HHV 6 (1.2% each) were predominant. Hence, an improved surveillance system and our suggested expanded testing algorithm can improve the diagnosis of potentially treatable infectious agents of AES in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landform of the region highly influences the dynamics of the flood and plays a crucial role in directing the water flow, affecting the speed and volume of runoff. Assam, located in northeast India, experiences floods yearly due to adverse climatic conditions and complex terrain features. The objective of the present study is to understand the landform classification of Assam using the topographic position index (TPI) and geomorphon-based automated classification of landform (ACL) method and its spatial distribution with slope, geology, soil, LULC, and flood inundation. The ACL method shows that gentle slopes or flat areas occupy the maximum area ranging from 56.17 to 68.10% for TPI‐based slope position classes, and for geomorphon, slope feature occupies 20.61–25.39% of the total area. The spatial distribution of TPI and geomorphon-based landform classification was different because TPI compares the elevation of a point to the average elevation of its neighbourhood, while geomorphon classifies the landscape into predefined landform classes based on terrain shape and the spatial arrangement of elevation values. In both models, valleys are the most dominant landform class and are mainly present in the Central and Barak valley of Assam. The built-up areas and waterbodies on vulnerable landform classes increase their flood susceptibility. About 38.08% of the inundated area was found in wide valleys and 31% of the inundated area lies under flat landforms. The present study can be effective in land use planning, sustainable natural resource management, disaster risk management, and mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tea is a valuable economic plant grown extensively in several Asian countries. The accurate mapping of tea plantations is critical for the growth and development of the tea industry. In eastern India, tea plantations have a significant role in its economy. Sonitpur, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia are major tea-producing districts in Assam. Due to the rapid increase in tea plantations and the burgeoning population, a detailed mapping and regular monitoring of tea plantations are imperative for understanding land use alteration. Objectives: The present study aims to analyse the dynamics of tea plantations from 1990 to 2022 at a decadal scale, using satellite data, such as Landsat-5 and Sentinel-2. Methods: A supervised classifier called Random Forest (RF) was deployed in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to classify tea plantations. Results: The results showed significant growth in tea plantations in the district of Dibrugarh (112%), whereas the remaining districts had a growth rate of 45–89%. During 32 years (1990–2022), about 1280.47 km2 (78.71%) of areas of tea plantations expanded across five districts of Assam. Precision and recall were used to measure the accuracy of tea plantations classification, which exhibited considerably high F1 scores (0.80 to 0.96). Conclusions: This study helps to demonstrate the application of remote sensing techniques to evaluate the dynamics of tea plantations which can help policymakers to manage the tea estates and underlying changes in land cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the economic well-being and earnings of their owners/managers with reference to the Cachar district of Assam. A standardised questionnaire is utilised to collect data from 200 randomly chosen MSMEs operating in the Cachar district of Assam, a developing region of India, to accomplish the aim of the study. Descriptive statistics are used to analyse the collected data. Additionally, the study employs Wilcoxon signed-rank test to examine the statistical difference between the income of MSME owners/managers before and after joining MSMEs. The results demonstrate that MSMEs enhance the monthly income of 74 per cent of owners/managers. The results of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicate that the median income of MSME owners/managers has significantly increased after their involvement in MSMEs. The study also indicates that almost 9 out of every 10 MSMEs generate earnings of the owner-managers above the poverty line, whereas 83.9 per cent of MSMEs generate household income of owners/managers above the defined poverty line. MSMEs significantly improve the households' material well-being by enhancing the spending ability of their owners/managers and increasing asset holding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is one of the most precious natural resources in the densely populated regions of the world. The ever increasing population in the developing countries like India and the concurrent growth of industrial and urban centres along with modern agricultural systems have caused tremendous pressure on groundwater. In the present day context of groundwater depletion and degradation, it is necessary to identify and map the groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) of an area to manage and utilize them sustainably. The present study is, therefore, an attempt to employ the GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) techniques to derive the GWPZs in Nagaon district of the middle Brahmaputra valley agro-climatic region of Assam, India. Here, ten multi-influencing groundwater potential factors, including geology, lineament density, geomorphology, slope, soil texture, LULC, rainfall, drainage density, NDWI, and TWI are considered for the delineation of GWPZs. These criteria are assigned weightages using AHP wherein geology has been given the highest weight, followed by lineament density and the others. Based on these techniques, the GWPZs of the district are classified into four zones, namely, low, moderate, high, and very high which include 20, 301, 218, and 392 villages, respectively. The results are validated with the groundwater levels of 28 tube wells and 5 ring wells distributed throughout the district, and as such, an area under the curve value of 86.9% is found. The results, thus, validated imply that the methodology adopted in deriving the GWPZs is highly reliable, which can help in sustainable utilization, development, and management of groundwater resources in the district. Besides, the identification and mapping of village-wise GWPZs are very essential for the planning of water resource management and water risks mitigation which ultimately help in sustainable rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background For COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors, around 25 million children missed routine immunization in 2021. NFHS-5 for Assam reported 67% coverage with routine immunization in 2019–21 which is below national average (77%) and lowest among Indian States/UTs. Lack of knowledge and skill among provider can reduce coverage. To address vaccine hesitancy and demand generation for routine immunization, BRIDGE IPC Skills (Boosting Routine Immunization Demand Generation) training in routine immunization for frontline workers considered an effective tool. Objectives To estimate the service delivery in postpandemic period for routine childhood immunization in Assam following capacity building with a BRIDGE IPC Skill tool. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among immunization service providers from April 2022 to March 2023, where training coverage of service providers on BRIDGE IPC Skill was assessed. Comparison was made between functionalities of trained services by service providers with untrained ones. Results A total of 2312 session sites were visited, of which 67.7% of frontline workers were trained, while 32.3% were not trained. Alternate vaccine delivery was present in 58.5%. Updated due list was present in 64.1% vs 29.8% in trained and untrained sites. Significant association was found between delivery of key message and status of frontline worker on BRIDGE IPC Skill training. Conclusion Capacity building of frontline workers on BRIDGE IPC Skill can boost efficiency of frontline workers and may facilitate in addressing gaps that EXIST between health care system and community.

Abstract Flood is a widespread climate-related hazard with the potential to occur in almost any geographical location where fluvial processes are active and can occur due to the involvement of multiple factors. Flood frequency analysis (FFA) is considered a valuable hydrologic tool to know the magnitude and frequency of the recurrence of floods. In this research, we have examined the Lower Burhi Dehing River (LBDR) in Assam, India, which frequently experiences severe flooding due to its meandering course induced by heavy monsoon rainfall. Therefore, the present research aims to analyze past flood events and current trends and predict future flood frequencies using Gumbel’s extreme value distribution and Log Pearson Type III Method. In this particular investigation, 25 years of annual maximum peak discharge data from 1972 to 1997 was employed to examine the discharge records of LBDR. This research estimated the return periods of different flood magnitudes, quantifying the likelihood of future floods with varying degrees of severity. In this regard, the return periods are estimated at 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 years. The study reveals that the largest flood event occurred in 1972, with a discharge of 1134.4 m3/s, and the smallest flood event occurred in 1997, with a discharge of 214.65 m3/s. The 2-year flood is a relatively common event with a 50% probability of occurring in any given year, characterized by a moderate discharge of 1384.90 m3/s and minor impacts of 0.3665. The 5-year flood, occurring with a 20% chance annually, brings a significantly higher water level of 2008.81 m3/s and moderate-to-severe impacts of 1.4999, potentially causing widespread flooding. In the 10-year and 50-year return period, which has a probability of returning 10% and 2% chance annually, the discharge will reach 2421.89 m3/s and 3331.01 m3/s, respectively. The outcome of this research will sustainably guide policymakers and environmental planners to mitigate flood hazards.

This study investigates the epidemiology of subclinical mastitis, focusing on prevalence, risk factors, bacterial pathogens, virulence factors, antimicrobial sensitivity, and detection of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial isolates in organized and unorganized dairy farms of Kamrup and adjoining districts of Assam. The overall prevalence of bovine subclinical mastitis was found to be 43.81% using the California Mastitis Test (CMT). Risk factor analysis revealed that age-wise, the highest prevalence was noted in the 4-6 years age group (51.95%) and at 4th lactation (60.40%). Significant associations were found between mastitis prevalence and various factors including age, breed, lactation number, stage of lactation, quarter-wise distribution, farm type, management system, and season. A total of 185 bacterial isolates were obtained, predominantly Staphylococcus spp. (143), with notable occurrences of Streptococcus spp. (22), Escherichia coli (14), and Enterococcus faecalis (6). Staphylococcus aureus emerged as the primary etiological agent, with 81.82% of isolates producing coagulase and 45.45% producing hemolysin, while 54.0% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates tested positive for the protein A (spa) gene. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing revealed enrofloxacin, gentamicin, and ceftriaxone as the most effective antibiotics, with penicillin-G demonstrating the least efficacy. Methicillin resistance was detected in 11.96% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates phenotypically and in 2.56% genotypically (mecA) revealing the emergence of MRSA which is important from a public health point of view. These findings highlight the prevalence of subclinical mastitis, the predominance of Staphylococcus aureus as the causative agent, and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which warrants effective control measures and antimicrobial management in dairy farming practices.

Abstract The creation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam is indicative of the sharpening tensions surrounding citizenship, belonging and integration in India. Officially aimed at demarcating the “legitimate citizens”, its implementation is believed to have resulted in the partial exclusion of the so-called “Doubtful Voters” and denationalisation of the “illegitimate residents”. These frictions associated with citizenship identity and rights are nowhere as acute as in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, where measures of retroactive revocation, administrative erasure and withdrawal of citizenship rights have been systematically deployed against religious and linguistic minorities. Using new research with some NRC rejected applicants in western Assam and other materials, this article identifies the central aspects of the implementation gap in the crucial, albeit problematic task of locating the rightful “Assamese-Indian” citizens. Linking our work to the idea of the ‘process is the punishment’, we conceptualise these conspicuous inconsistencies in the NRC citizenship determination processes and their results as the “punitive gap”. We have identified the distinctive contours of this gap in terms of the massive economic costs, intensification of social (including gender and religion-based) inequalities, increased control through social suspicion and unpredictable outcomes for the marginal Miya Muslim community. The article highlights how this punitive gap has constantly eroded key components of due process, of procedural and substantive protections of the rights of individuals, during the NRC determination exercise and after the release of the final draft list.

Background: Body image is a multidimensional dynamic construct that involves internal biological and psychological factors as well as external cultural and social determinants. Body image concerns are connected with total poor self-concept in early adolescents, including poor physical, social, and academic self-concepts as well as low overall self-esteem (SE). Objective: The present study aims to examine the SE and body image satisfaction among primary school teachers in Sonitpur, Assam. Materials and Methods: The study was cross-sectional in nature. A total of 60 primary school teachers who were above 18 years of age were selected from 12 schools randomly and were included in the study. Data collection was collected with the help of the following tools: sociodemographic datasheet, Rosenberg SE Scale, Body Shape Questionnaire, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items by investigators from February 2022 to July 2022 in Sonitpur province, Assam. Descriptive statistics were used to determine categorical variables, and analysis was carried out by computing percentages and the Chi-square test. Results: The results of the present study revealed that 15.0% of the respondents showed mild-to-moderate stress, 30.0% had mild-to-severe anxiety, and 1.7% had mild depression. A significant negative correlation was found between SE and stress (r = −0.421, P < 0.01) and SE and anxiety (r = −0.433, P < 0.01). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between body shape (BS) and weight (r = 0.590, P < 0.05), BS and stress (r = 0.355, P < 0.01), and BS and anxiety (r = 0.333, P < 0.01). Conclusion: People with lower SE are progressively likely to report dissatisfied with their body size or shape and irrespective of age or gender. Since body image represents a large part of a person’s self-concept, it is unsurprising that SE and body dissatisfaction are related.

Dilobocondyla (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) is an uncommon and rare ant genus with only 21 species and one subspecies worldwide. The distribution of this genus is confined to the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions and reported from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Borneo, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, China, Australia and New Guinea. There is limited information about the species and some are only known from a single specimen. The characters of all the species are comprehensively compared and presented. From India, two species of Dilobocondyla, namely D. bangalorica from Karnataka and D. gasteroreticulata from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim have been reported. We observed D. gasteroreticulata in the campus of Gauhati University, Assam solitarily foraging on the tree trunk of Delonix regia, Mangifera indica, Monoon longifolium. Dilobocondyla may have preference for specific plants as we noticed D. gasteroreticulata on three plant species while D. bangalorica earlier reported to be present on Plumeria sp. We collected 8 specimens and identified them as D. gasteroreticulata following the taxonomic keys and morphological studies using a stereo zoom microscope and scanning electron micrographs. Assam is a part of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot where the presence of D. gasteroreticulata is the first report from this state. The other three states where the species exist are also part of the Himalayas region. Besides, the species has recently reported from China. The geographical and climatic conditions of the regions and physiological and evolutionary adaptations of the inhabitant species influence its confined distribution which demands further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice landraces from the fragile riverine ecosystems surrounding Majuli islands in Assam are pivotal for local livelihoods, as well as for their potential in developing flood tolerant varieties. We characterized 87 landraces from Majuli, Dhemaji, and North Lakhimpur districts in Assam by assessing 36 agro‐morphological traits, submergence tolerance, and microsatellite diversity. Multivariate analyses revealed that grain and leaf characteristics, plant height, and tillering are important traits differentiating the cultivar types. Sixty‐six SSR markers generated 271 alleles with an average of 4.1 alleles per marker with population structuring in two clusters having an allele frequency divergence of 0.124. The Bao or deep‐water landraces displayed the highest phenotypic and genetic diversity, with potential genetic links to the aus and wild species. Sali (winter rice) and bora (sticky rice) landraces were predominantly indica type. Nearly 47% of the germplasm exhibited tolerance to two‐week submergence at seedling stage. Surveying SUB1A and SNORKEL genes revealed the presence of SUB1A‐1 and SNORKEL genes in 64% and 57% of the tolerant accessions, respectively. This study highlights the untapped potential of rice landraces in a fragile ecological region, providing insights into their agronomical traits, submergence tolerance, and genetic diversity. The findings lay the foundation for improved germplasm management and developing flood‐resilient rice varieties, crucial for sustainable agriculture in riverine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the collection of root and tuber crop germplasm in the Southern districts of Assam, India. The study observes the diversity of tuber crops like yam, taro, sweet potato, xanthosoma, tapioca and arrow root. It examines factors to the declining trend in production and number of varieties including displacement by other crops, drought, short shelf life, shortage and non-availability of planting material, limited knowledge among youth, and susceptibility to pests and diseases.

The article discusses research that analyzes the adaptation strategies of farmers to climate change effects on agriculture based on evidences from field survey and using binary regression technique. The study examines the determining factors of farmers' choice of adaptation tactics including farming experience, size of family or households, size of operational land holdings, education level and proximity to the nearest town.

The greater one-horned rhinoceros or Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) faced extinction in British India at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1908, the Government of Assam established the Kaziranga Game Reserve (KGR, now Kaziranga National Park) to preserve the vanishing rhino. As the twentieth century progressed, creating wilderness -- by demonising the presence of the peasants and graziers -- became a global panacea for protecting wildlife. Contrary to that belief, this article will show how the rhino population revived amidst human existence dictated by agro-ecological interactions and bureaucratic expediencies. The rhino's ethology and its place in the imagination of rural people minimised its enemies. Moreover, in fluvial geography that constantly transformed the KGR's boundaries, peasants and graziers creatively negotiated their usufruct rights and supported rhino preservation. Locating the KGR in the historical analysis of fluvial agro-ecology, this study illuminates how a critical interaction between different actors, i.e. human and non-human and coloniser and colonised, accentuated the cultural and material contestations amidst which the rhino eventually survived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam is indicative of the sharpening tensions surrounding citizenship, belonging and integration in India. Officially aimed at demarcating the "legitimate citizens", its implementation is believed to have resulted in the partial exclusion of the so-called "Doubtful Voters" and denationalisation of the "illegitimate residents". These frictions associated with citizenship identity and rights are nowhere as acute as in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, where measures of retroactive revocation, administrative erasure and withdrawal of citizenship rights have been systematically deployed against religious and linguistic minorities. Using new research with some NRC rejected applicants in western Assam and other materials, this article identifies the central aspects of the implementation gap in the crucial, albeit problematic task of locating the rightful "Assamese-Indian" citizens. Linking our work to the idea of the 'process is the punishment', we conceptualise these conspicuous inconsistencies in the NRC citizenship determination processes and their results as the "punitive gap". We have identified the distinctive contours of this gap in terms of the massive economic costs, intensification of social (including gender and religion-based) inequalities, increased control through social suspicion and unpredictable outcomes for the marginal Miya Muslim community. The article highlights how this punitive gap has constantly eroded key components of due process, of procedural and substantive protections of the rights of individuals, during the NRC determination exercise and after the release of the final draft list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assam, a state in North East India, where tourist from the globe visit every year, has immense tourism potential creating different entrepreneurial opportunities in tourism industry. Though, the entrepreneurial process is the same for men and women, there are fewer entrepreneurs, and especially women entrepreneurs in tourism. Women entrepreneurs face many challenges as compared to male entrepreneurs. As such, this study is an attempt to explore the various problems in tourism entrepreneurship among the women in Assam. This study is based on primary and secondary information and tries to highlight the major problems faced by women entrepreneurs in Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous migration process in Assam and throughout India is not a new phenomenon. Migration has always occurred throughout India, in different regions at different times, even before the arrival of the British. Assam and North East India can be identified as the main centers of migration compared to other parts of India, as these regions are home to various ethnic groups. Of those communities, the tea community of Assam is regarded as an essential component of the state's culture and economy, but their ancestry is linked to an intriguing history of migration. Tea was originally found in the Brahmaputra Valley by British merchant Robert Bruce before the British East India Company annexed Assam. A commercial tea plantation was established in 1833 following the company's annexation of Assam. Thousands of laborers from north India were brought in by British tea planters to plant tea commercially in upper Assam. Thus began the importation of laborers into Assam, whose numbers progressively increased annually. The bulk of laborers in Assam were brought in by European tea planters through the use of middlemen and false promises. Thousands of them perished on their way to Assam and the rest of them were subjected to Planters' atrocities and inhumane treatment. This paper primarily examines the history of Assamese tea labor migration and its impact on the state's economy and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study makes an attempt to examine the nutritional status of the adult Bodo women of the North Guwahati area of Kamrup (Rural) district, Assam in order to understand whether there is any relation between socioeconomic and lifestyle factors with the nutritional status of the studied (18-59 years age group) Bodo women. The study participants were classified into three age groups of 18-32 years, 33-45 years, and 46-59 years to observe the variation in the nutritional status by age. The purposive sampling method was used to select participants of the sample size of 250 women. Nutritional status of the participants was assessed using Body-mass-index (BMI), Waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR), Waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR), and Mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC). Physical Activity (PA) level and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) of the participants were assessed using standard protocol. The result shows that undernourishment is prevalent in the younger ages, and overweight and obesity in the older ages. Age is found to be positively associated with body-mass-index, waist-to-hip-ratio, waist-to-height-ratio, waist circumference (WC), and mid-upper-arm circumference. On the other hand, physical activity is negatively associated with age, suggesting that physical activity decreases with age. Dietary Diversity Score shows positive and significant association with only waist circumference. Among the variables used in the study, only age and marital status appear to have an influence on the nutritional status of the adult Bodo women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body image is a multidimensional dynamic construct that involves internal biological and psychological factors as well as external cultural and social determinants. Body image concerns are connected with total poor self-concept in early adolescents, including poor physical, social, and academic self-concepts as well as low overall self-esteem (SE). Objective: The present study aims to examine the SE and body image satisfaction among primary school teachers in Sonitpur, Assam. Materials and Methods: The study was cross-sectional in nature. A total of 60 primary school teachers who were above 18 years of age were selected from 12 schools randomly and were included in the study. Data collection was collected with the help of the following tools: sociodemographic datasheet, Rosenberg SE Scale, Body Shape Questionnaire, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items by investigators from February 2022 to July 2022 in Sonitpur province, Assam. Descriptive statistics were used to determine categorical variables, and analysis was carried out by computing percentages and the Chi-square test. Results: The results of the present study revealed that 15.0% of the respondents showed mild-to-moderate stress, 30.0% had mild-to-severe anxiety, and 1.7% had mild depression. A significant negative correlation was found between SE and stress (r = -0.421, P < 0.01) and SE and anxiety (r = -0.433, P < 0.01). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between body shape (BS) and weight (r = 0.590, P < 0.05), BS and stress (r = 0.355, P < 0.01), and BS and anxiety (r = 0.333, P < 0.01). Conclusion: People with lower SE are progressively likely to report dissatisfied with their body size or shape and irrespective of age or gender. Since body image represents a large part of a person's self-concept, it is unsurprising that SE and body dissatisfaction are related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North-Eastern region of India is a biodiversity hotspot and home to many endemic and rare spices. The spices endemic to this region has vast scope in the national and international market owing to their uniqueness and organic quality. Geographical Indication (GI), a tag that recognises the unique intrinsic attributes of a product arising from specific geographical origin, is yet to be explored in its truest sense by the farmers of the region togain visibility and product differentiation in the market. Importance of GI tag is extremely high for the native farmers of the region to gain recognition in foreign markets. The paper discusses the scope of using GI as a tool for brand building by the spice sector of this region of India. It also examines a few instances where endemic spice varieties from the region have successfully undergone value addition and have been effectively marketed to create a promising presence both domestic and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on fieldwork in Tinsukia district of Assam, this article examines the interplay of Ekal, ideology and education among the Adivasis in the tea gardens. The Ekal schools are one-teacher, informal schools operated by the Sangh Parivar in the underprivileged regions of India and Nepal. Considering the backward status of Adivasis in these tea gardens, the official narrative of the school is to reduce the literacy gap among the community, impart sanskar and empower them with entrepreneurial skills. I argue that Ekal's organisational structure and funding are corporate, and its conception of 'empowerment' is neoliberal. This works as an effective model for Hindutva as the Sangh seeks to bring popularly Christian-dominated tea gardens into its Hindutva fold. This is done by practices both inside and outside the school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective is to find out the impact of the Tax Credit (ITC) in the GST structure on the utilitarian capacity and liquidity of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in India. Using a coordinated survey to gather information on working capital stocks and GST consistency, 200 MSMEs in Assam, India, were selected to conduct a quantitative assessment. The results show that there are significant areas for the relationship between better working capital conditions and the use of ITS. This suggests that MSMEs can have greater financial flexibility and fewer pay restrictions if they do register ITC claims. According to the practical implications of the assessment, policymakers should deal with the ITC system and offer additional assistance to ensure that MSMEs can fully benefit from the GST. This study is novel because it is uniquely relevant to the state of Assam, offering alternative, progressive views on the specific impact of the goods and services tax on small businesses in that state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North East Region of India, comprising Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram, is characterized by a distinctive blend of ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity. Connected to the rest of the country via the Siliguri Corridor, also known as Chicken’s Neck, this paper delves into the historical context of conflicts in the region. It assesses various contributing factors such as ethnic diversity, migration patterns, resource allocation, and political interests. Given China's proximity through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to the Siliguri Corridor, India's attention to this area becomes crucial. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the socio-economic impact of these conflicts and proposes potential strategies for conflict resolution and peace-building efforts. Specifically, it focuses on analyzing border disputes between Assam and neighboring Northeastern states, identifies primary causes of conflict, and offers actionable recommendations for resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early decades of the twentieth century in colonial Assam, the standardisation of language, the expansion of regional literature and literary circles, and the challenges arising for linguistic communities led to the formation of Asam Sahitya Sabha (ASS) that intended to work for the advancement of Assamese language in the interest of the public. Implicit in its model of association was the notion of collective identity that gradually set the pace for assertions. The ASS's motivations cannot be discussed in isolation. The historical junctures of colonial India must be taken into account that had set the stage for revolutionising the literary spaces. This article has two key aims, first to discuss the events of ASS's activism during the colonial and post-independence periods and observe the relevant transitions. Second, to look at the mobilisation agendas pursued by the ASS in contemporary times and whether there are alternative inspirations. To place the key issues of the present, the insights from ASS members, who were interviewed, are included. Overall, this article looks at the associational form of the language assertion in Assam, years earlier and the roles adopted with the changing times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, human-elephant conflict has been on the rise for the last few decades. The situation is worse in the state of Assam, where 5719 elephants are present, and the density of elephants is greater than that of other areas. Most of the elephant habitats in the state are fragmented or intermingled with human-used lands. As a result, human-elephant conflict (HEC) has been increasing in the state. Each year, an average of 80 elephants and 70 humans die in the state because of HEC. Most of these conflicts occur during the paddy harvesting season. At that time of year, the elephants come out from their habitats and take refuge in forest patches and tea gardens near agricultural fields and raid crops at night. Different methods have been adopted to identify conflict-affected areas, but none of the studies have tried to identify all the HEC-affected areas in the state. Here, we provide a rapid appraisal approach for identifying HEC hotspots in the state by using published news information as the primary source of data. A total of 216 villages were identified as HEC-affected areas in Assam. The identified areas can be used to understand site-specific problems and for HEC mitigation practices, as these areas are currently limited to only a few areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the outbreak of the Rice Swarming Caterpillar (RSC) in India and the potential use of drones for early detection and management of the pest. The article highlights the importance of synchronized ecological factors in the occurrence and sustenance of the outbreak. It suggests that drones can be used to survey rice fields, identify RSC hubs, monitor insectivorous birds, sample insects, assess the infested area, and assess crop damage. The article emphasizes the need for further research on optimizing drone parameters and determining the spatial scale for reliable forecasting. The use of drones in RSC outbreak management can help farmers save time, reduce labor, and make timely decisions to minimize crop damage. The document also includes references to studies on the use of drones in pest management and surveillance in agricultural fields, covering topics such as monitoring insect populations, scouting for pests, and applying insecticides. It discusses the challenges and advantages of using drones in pest management. [Extracted from the article]

Colour aberrations are rare conditions in birds that are caused by genetic as well as environmental factors. Among the colour aberrations in birds, albino, leucism, progressive greying, brown, dilution, ino, and melanism are the best known. This report describes an observation of colour aberration in a Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis suratensis) from India. It was recorded in the Deobali Jalah (an IBA site) of Nagaon district, Assam. The recorded individual exhibited a pale plumage with normal eyes and some light brown colour in some of the feathers, indicating this to be a form of dilution. The report also represents the first photographic documentation of colour aberration in Spotted Doves from Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India. Further research is necessary to comprehend the causes of colour aberration in Spotted Doves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the rapidly changing landscape of Majuli island, the world's largest inhabited riverine island, constantly reshaped by the river Brahmaputra. Investigating the period from 1991 to 2022, we employ Landsat imagery to analyse changes in land use/land cover patterns and their consequential impacts on the island's inhabitants, leading to significant relocation. We observed notable changes in the spatial coverage of the Brahmaputra, which increased while that of agricultural and barren land decreased. The land use/land cover change data are supplemented by population data to validate satellite data. This approach of analysing satellite imageries on population using both quantitative and qualitative data is novel and important since it not only highlights the rapidly changing land cover but also highlights the complex relationship between environmental dynamics and human responses. Our findings indicate that the population is increasingly (re)settling towards the northern and eastern stretches of the island. Since the population prediction map for the year 2051 indicates that this trend continues, our results can contribute an understanding of the human-environment relationship in the wake of climate change as an important component of planning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is crucial to India’s rural economy, with vegetable cultivation being a key component. This study focuses on 150 rural farmers in Assam’s Dibrugarh District, exploring their socioeconomic characteristics, marketing practices, factors influencing these practices and the barriers they experience. The rapid sale of vegetables, driven by their perishable nature, emerged as the most influential factor in farmers’ marketing practices. It was found that farmers face various barriers like perishability of vegetables, limited access to ICT tools and low level of knowledge. Findings revealed a significant association between socioeconomic characteristics and marketing practices.

The paper explores the mobilisation, interdependence, and organisation of the women's movement in Assam, locating it from the landmark events of the Assam Movement through a feminist lens. Instead of positioning women as passive recipients in Assam’s conflict-ridden areas, it captures the feminist recovery in the state’s men-led political movement. The study points out that while male leadership in Assam’s movements often relied on women’s involvement, women’s specific demands were frequently overlooked, and their voices were marginalised. In response, women have sought to reclaim their agency and narrate an alternative history. However, the social basis of the women’s movement is neither class nor ethnic minority but based on shared social circumstances. Therefore, studying the women’s movement in Assam, this paper considered an essential concern of feminism: dissimilarities and contrasting factors among women, depicting that gender alone does not marginalise. With a focus on this research gap, this study underscores the importance of an intersectional approach to understanding the fractured solidarity within Assam’s women’s movement, addressing a significant gap in feminist writing.

Background: On January 30, 2023, 26 acute diarrheal disease (ADD) cases and a death were reported from a village in Dibrugarh, Assam, India. We investigated and described the outbreak by time, place and person, identified the potential exposures, and formulated recommendations. Methods: We defined a case of ADD as the occurrence of loose stools (≥3 episodes) between January 27, 2023 and February 11, 2023. We conducted a door-to-door case search, calculated attack rates by age and gender, drew an epidemic curve, and plotted cases by residence. We performed a case-control study to identify possible exposure variables, calculated odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI), and collected stool and water specimens from households and schools for laboratory testing. Results: We identified a total of 55 cases, with an overall attack rate of 5.6 % and one death (case fatality rate of 1.8 %). School-going children exhibited a higher attack rate of 39 %. Shigella flexneri was isolated from one of the stool specimens. Furthermore, the water obtained from households' tube wells exceeded the permissible limits of E. coli for consumption. Consuming prasadam (Sacred food) at a school religious event (OR = 6.2, 95 % CI = 2.6–15.2) and not washing hands after defecation (OR = 8.2, 95 % CI = 1.7–38) were associated with ADD. Conclusion: The results indicated that the food served during the school religious event could potentially be the source of the ADD outbreak. The food served during the event likely acted as a medium for community transmission, possibly due to unhygienic practices and contaminated drinking water.

Abstract Background Operational large-scale flood monitoring using publicly available satellite data is possible with the advent of Sentinel-1 microwave data, which enables near-real-time (at 6-day intervals) flood mapping day and night, even in cloudy monsoon seasons. Automated flood inundation area identification in near-real-time involves advanced geospatial data processing platforms, such as Google Earth Engine and robust methodology (Otsu’s algorithm). Objectives The current study employs Sentinel-1 microwave data for flood extent mapping using machine learning (ML) algorithms in Assam State, India. We generated a flood hazard and soil erosion susceptibility map by combining multi-source data on weather conditions and soil and terrain characteristics. Random Forest (RF), Classification and Regression Tool (CART), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) ML algorithms were applied to generate the flood hazard map. Furthermore, we employed the multicriteria evaluation (MCE) analytical hierarchical process (AHP) for soil erosion susceptibility mapping. Summary The highest prediction accuracy was observed for the RF model (overall accuracy [OA] > 82%), followed by the SVM (OA > 82%) and CART (OA > 81%). Over 26% of the study area indicated high flood hazard-prone areas, and approximately 60% showed high and severe potential for soil erosion due to flooding. The automated flood mapping platform is an essential resource for emergency responders and decision-makers, as it helps to guide relief activities by identifying suitable regions and appropriate logistic route planning and improving the accuracy and timeliness of emergency response efforts. Periodic flood inundation maps will help in long-term planning and policymaking, flood management, soil and biodiversity conservation, land degradation, planning sustainable agriculture interventions, crop insurance, and climate resilience studies.

The agriculture sector, which continues to be pivotal to sustainable growth and development, has been recently mobilising farmers into member-owned producer organisations, or Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to enhance production, productivity and profitability of agriculturists, especially the small and marginal farmers in the country. The FPCs, which have been brought in for improved transparency and access to the input and output market with higher negotiating powers leading to sustainability of the small and marginal farmers, are said to provide higher legitimacy and credibility in the immediate business environment. Though Assam too is not behind in forming FPCs, challenges and issues abound. Majority of these FPCs are in the nascent stage of their operations with shareholder membership ranging from more than 500 farmers to over 1500 farmers. It is also seen that from capacity building to taking up business operations, many issues need to be addressed in these FPCs. These FPCs are in need of support in technical handholding and provision of adequate capital and infrastructure facilities including market linkages for sustaining their business operations. The present paper tries exploring and understanding the ecosystem of the FPCs in Assam, which are focussing on small and marginal farmers, and delving into the issues and challenges faced by the FPCs in the state and the possible ways out. JEL Classification: Q13 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiders usually show Batesian mimicry with different model ant species. There are no specific study of ant mimicking spiders and their association with model ants from North-Eastern part of India. In this study, from the campus of Gauhati University, Assam, we recorded total eleven ant-mimicking spiders of which two are new records from India and seven are new records from North-East India. We noticed the model-mimic association of Myrmarachne melanocephala with Tetraponera rufonigra, Myrmarachne cornuta with Tetraponera allaborans, Myrmaplata plataleoides with Camponotus compressus, Myrmarachne acromegalis with Polyrhachis laevissima, Myrmaplata aureonigra with P. laevissima and Polyrhachis dives, Cambalida flavipes with Camponotus compressus and Apochinomma elongatum with Tetraponera nigra. Four unidentified Mymarachne sp. were found mimicking the ant species namely Camponotus parius, Technomyrmex albipes, Polyrhachis tibialis and Dolichoderus moggridgei. The work will open a new window for future studies to explore the ant's and spider's diversity and their co-evolutionary interactions for avoiding predator, deceive other individuals etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]