• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.151-158
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• 2022

Even after three decades of economic reforms, India's labor market is characterized by stark inter-gender differences in terms of both participation rate and working time. Identification of the causes is necessary to remove the disparity and unequal sharing of economic opportunities to make way for women's empowerment. This research attempts in that direction, examining the prevalence of these inequities in rural areas of North-East Indian states using unit-level data from the 2017-18 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The methodology for the estimation here is based on Blinder- Oaxaca decomposition method after correcting for sample bias forwarded by Heckman. The analysis shows that in both labor force participation and the wage gap, the females in the region lag behind their male counterparts by a huge margin. Further, the analysis shows that one of the main factors leading to the difference is the disparities in human capital assets. On top of female educational enrollment being low, there is also a huge lack of higher educational attainment, while males have accomplished much better in both the parameters. Moreover, the presence of social stigma against women working and discrimination put the female labor outcomes in a gloomy state.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.254-254
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• 2017

This study evaluated the grain quality of local brand rice from 6 major rice exporting countries which are anticipated to export their rice to Korea. Recently, with the end of the postponement of rice import tariffs in 2014, Korea is in a very easy environment to import foreign rice. Therefore, the quality evaluation of local brand rice in those countries is needed to secure the quality competitiveness of Korean rice, also to protect the rice industry in Korea. We provided total 38 local brand rice from USA(7), China(16), Australia(4), Thailand(3), Vietnam(5) and India(3), and 2 imported brand rice through MMA from USA and China to find out the status of the grain quality for each country. For the quality evaluation, we analyzed the physicochemical properties, milling and palatability-related characteristics. The amylose content on country average ranged from 24.4(India)~16.2%(Thailand). The protein content was 6.66% by overall average, and was higher in order of India(7.86), Australia(6.80), Vietnam(6.61), Thailand(6.59), China(6.28), USA(5.82). In Toyo glossiness value, it ranged from 75.7~45.2, and the figures in USA and China were the highest level. The head rice ratio ranged from 95.2~72.4%, and the figures in Thailand, USA and China were distinctly high. When we analyze the palatability of boiled brand rice with Chucheongbyeo as check variety by expert panelists, several rice brands from USA and China showed equal or better scores in shape, smell, taste, stickiness, texture and overall score, although most rice brands showed a tendency to decrease significantly in the taste characteristics compared with Chucheongbyeo. From the above results, it can be seen that the grain quality of USA and China rice is very competitive when imported into Korea. The results will provide basic information for the quality control of foreign rice which will be imported into Korea in the near future, also for the quality information which could be applied on the development of high-quality Korean rice varieties. Continuous monitoring about the foreign brand rice is advisable to improve the quality competitiveness of Korean rice.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2010

The hand printed cottons of India are historically world-renowned for their rich fast colours, elaborate designs, and matchless quality. Until the discovery of synthetic dyestuffs in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the unsurpassed master dyers of cotton were the craftsmen of India-birthplace of cultivated cotton. The Indian printers and dyers monopolised this arcane art of permeating cotton cloth with richly hued, colour-fast designs, and the fruits of their labour proved hugely influential in international trade and the development of modern textile technologies. This paper focuses on a lesser-known body of hand printed cottons, traditionally produced in rural Rajasthan for everyday use by the local pastoral communities. Drawing on extensive research carried out with the region's Chhipa community of hereditary cloth printers, the complex and multiple applications of mordant, dye and resist are illustrated. Often taking months to complete, the enduring popularity of these labour-intensive hand printed cottons is then discussed, particularly in the light of the hugesocial importance borne by cloth in Rajasthan. Cloth and clothing are widely recognised as indicators of social status, gender, rank, and individual and group affiliations. In addition, cloth and clothing have been established as indicators of social, economic, political and technological change. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the recent influx of machine-printed polyester textiles, often replicating the designs or colours of the traditional locally produced cottons. Thus women of the region, whilst using these modern synthetic textiles as part of newer ways of expressing their identity, also visibly retain the values associated with hand printed cottons and traditional dress codes.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2021

Purpose: The rural market in India provides tremendous scope for FMCG consumer healthcare companies to market their products because of a significant increase of rural purchasing power. Many empirical studies in this area highlight the challenges and opportunities for marketers in the FMCG space. Research articles are not in abundance to understand intermediaries' expectations in the supply chain specific to consumer healthcare products. The existing literature did not significantly address the challenges of channel partners in the rural market. The present study aims to determine the retailer expectations from manufacturers and channel members' mutual expectations in the FMCG distribution channel. Research design and Methodology: The present study adopted a qualitative research methodology. Fifty respondents from each level of distribution channel such as super-stockist, distributors and retailers in central India were identified and an interview method was adopted to collect the data. Results: Nineteen factors were identified to influence the intermediaries for involvement in the business with any FMCG brand. Factors like Profit margin, reverse logistics, credit terms, return on investment, timely payments were crucial for managing the expectations of all intermediaries. This study provides academic as well as practical implications in terms of enabling the industry to align its channel management strategies accordingly.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5969-5973
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• 2012

Introduction: Andhra Pradesh (AP) is one of the largest tobacco producing states in India. About 29% of adults in AP currently use tobacco in some form. Almost 24% of males and 4% of females are smokers. The prevalence of tobacco use in the state is higher than the national average of 15% for male and 2% for female smokers. However, few attempts have been made to understand the current situation of tobacco control resources, activities and strategies in the context of such a high tobacco prevalence state. The present study aimed to identify the gaps in existing tobacco control program and areas where tobacco control efforts can be integrated. Methods: Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a total of 95 key officials of state health departments, program managers, and project directors in six districts to understand ongoing tobacco control efforts. To facilitate the interviews, semi-structured guides were developed. Simple descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data using SPSS version 17. Results: The results of the situational analysis suggest that a sufficient health workforce and infrastructure with the potential to integrate tobacco control activities is available in the surveyed districts. However, lack of integration of the tobacco control program intothe tuberculosis control program and the National Rural Health Mission was observed. Information, education and communication activities were lacking at block level health facilities. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that lack of trained health professionals, paucity of dedicated funds, lack of information, education and communication materials and low priority given to tobacco control activities are some of the factors which impede integration of tobacco control into existing health and developmental programmes in the districts of Andhra Pradesh, India.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7075-7080
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• 2013

Background: Oral submucosal fibrosis (OSMF) is one of the most prevalent premalignant conditions in India which is easy to diagnose but difficult to manage. At present it is considered as irreversible and incurable. It has also been referred to as an epidemic in India. Aims and Objectives: To correlate the frequency and duration of habits with clinical staging, functional staging and histopathological grading and to correlate the clinical and functional staging with histopathological grading. Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 90 subjects, 80 with OSMF in the experimental group and 10 patients in the control group. Patient personal history was recorded with chewing habits, including frequency and duration of chewing. The site of keeping the quid, time duration and whether he/she swallows it or spits it were also noted. Clinical staging was done on the presence of palpable fibrous bands. Functional staging was accomplished by measuring mouth opening. Incisional biopsy was done for all the patients for histopathological examination. Histopathological grading was according to Pindborg and Sirsat. Results: The experimental group comprised 71 males and 9 females, the majority of which were in the age group of 21-30 years. Correlation of habits with clinical staging, functional staging and histopathological grading were significant (p<0.05). Clinical and functional staging did not correlate with histopathological grading, but the correlation of clinical and functional staging was highly significant (p<0.01). Conclusions: The widespread habit of chewing gutkha is a major risk factor for OSMF, especially in the younger age group. In this study, it was found that with increase in the duration and frequency of the habit the severity of the disease increased.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.270-306
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• 2024

This study investigated the diversity of 323 mung bean accessions from Korea, China, and India, along with six cultivars, using 22 agronomical traits. The standardized Shannon-Weaver index (H') for the qualitative traits ranged from 0.11 (terminal leaflet shape) to 0.98 (pubescence density of pod). Likewise, the coefficient of variation for the quantitative traits ranged from 8.76% (days to maturity (DM)) to 79.91% (lodging rate (LR)), indicating a wide genetic variance. Hypocotyl color, pod color, seed shape, and seed coat surface lust showed different distributions among Korean, Indian, and Chinese accessions. Chinese accessions had the highest average germination rate, DM, days from flowering to maturity, and one-hundred seeds weight, followed by Korean and Indian accessions, while the number of seeds per pod (SPP) displayed the opposite trend, with all except SPP showing significant variation (p < 0.05). Similarly, plant height, days to flowering, and number of pods per plant increased in the order of India > Korea > China, with LR showing the opposite trend (p < 0.05). The mung bean accessions were grouped into four major clusters using hierarchical cluster analysis supported by principal component analyses, and all of the quantitative traits showed significant variations between the clusters (p < 0.05). Generally, the mung bean accessions investigated in this study exhibited wide phenotypic trait variations, which could be beneficial for future genomics studies. Moreover, this study identified 77 accessions that outperformed the controls. Consequently, these superior accessions could provide a wide spectrum of options during the development of improved mung bean varieties.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2014

Purpose: Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the major public health problems in India. Hence, there is a need to identify risk factors that, when modified, will reduce the burden of unhealthy children on the healthcare system. The objective of this study was to determine whether periodontitis among mothers in the rural population of India is a risk factor for LBW babies. Methods: A hospital-based case control study was conducted among 340 postpartum mothers. The cases consisted of 170 women who had given birth to babies weighing <2,500 g, while the control group consisted of 170 women who had given birth to babies weighing ${\geq}2,500g$. Details of the mothers were taken from the hospital records and through a personal interview, and a full-mouth periodontal examination was performed postpartum, which included probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing on six sites per tooth. Results: LBW cases had a significantly worse periodontal status than the controls, having an odds ratio (OR) of 2.94 (P=0.01). The multivariate logistic regression model demonstrated that periodontal disease is a significant independent risk factor with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.85 for the LBW group (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-5.5). Other factors showing significant associations with LBW were pre-eclampsia (aOR, 4.49; 95% CI, 1.4-14.7), preterm labor (aOR, 5.5; 95% CI, 3.2-9.9), and vaginal type of delivery (aOR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.4-5.2). Conclusions: Periodontitis represents a strong, independent, and clinically significant risk factor for LBW. Periodontal therapy should form a part of the antenatal preventive care among rural women in India.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4169-4172
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• 2012

Background: The majority of women in rural India have poor or no access to cervical cancer screening services, although one.quarter of all cervical cancers in the world occur there. Several large trials have proven the efficacy of low-tech cervical cancer screening methods in the Indian context but none have documented the necessary components and processes of implementing this evidence in a low-resource setting. Methods: This paper discusses a feasible model of implementation of cervical cancer screening programme in low-resource settings developed through a pilot research project carried out in rural Tamilnadu, India. The programme used visual inspection of cervix after acetic acid application (VIA) as a screening tool, nurses in the primary care centres as the primary screeners and peer educators within Self-Help Women groups to raise community awareness. Results: The uptake of screening was initially low despite the access to a screening programme. However, the programme witnessed an incremental increase in the number of women accessing screening with increasing community awareness. Conclusions: The investigators recommend 4 key components to programme implementation in low-resource setting: 1) Evidence-based, cost-effective test and treatment available within the reach of the community; 2) Appropriate referral pathways; 3) Skilled health workers and necessary equipment; and 4) Optimisation of health literacy, beliefs, attitudes of the community.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5053-5058
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• 2015

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the commonest cancers among women all over the world. The association of cervical cancer with human papilloma virus (HPV) is well established. Knowledge about the causal relationship between HPV and cervical cancer is important to make appropriate, evidence-based health care choices. In this context we conducted a community based study among women about the knowledge, attitude and practice about HPV infections and their health effects. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional interview based house to house survey was conducted with a validated data collection tool covering sociodemographic factors, knowledge, attitude and practice about HPV and its health effects, among 1020 women from a rural village, Perdoor, in Udupi district, Karnataka, India in 2013-14. Results: The mean age of participants was 38.9 years (SD=12.6). Study participants showed a high literacy rate (85.7%). Only 2.4% of sexually exposed women had undergone Pap smear testing. Partners of 4.4%women had undergone circumcision and they belonged to the Muslim community. Male condom usage was reported by 26 women (2.6%). However, none of the participants had heard of HPV and its health effects. Conclusions: This community based study found complete ignorance about HPV among rural South Indian women in spite of a high literacy level.