Dindigul District Research Articles

Source of Menstrual Knowledge, Reaction, and Restriction during Menstruation in Chinnalapatti, Tamil Nadu: Evidence from a Cross-sectional Survey among Adolescent Schoolgirls

Background: The study aims to determine the factors associated with restriction during menstruation among adolescent girls. To find out the source of knowledge and information regarding menstruation and emotional reaction at the time of menarche. Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Schools of Chinnalapatti, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu in southern India. A sample size of 116 adolescent girls aged 9–18 years. The questionnaire included questions regarding demographics, socio-category, education, family income, age at menarche, emotion response at menarche, social restriction, source of knowledge, and information. Results: The mean age year of menarche was 11.72 ± 1.27 years. Most adolescent girls (52.59%) informed their mothers first menarche. Furthermore, significant participants responded that mothers and relatives were the common sources of knowledge and information regarding menstruation. Participants were not allowed to go in religious activities (99.14%), not allowed to go near plants (99%), forced to be separated from others (35.34%). Parent qualification had a significant influence on restriction during menstruation. Conclusion: A significant percentage of girls have to face many kinds of restrictions during menstruation. Socioeconomic factors were significantly associated with the types of restrictions during menstruation. The study suggests that elementary knowledge and awareness about menstruation must be dispersed by the schools/NGOs where teachers, students (male and female), and their parents should participate for better awareness, leading to overcoming the efficiency.

Heat shock protein-70 expression in CSCs tumor-associated macrophages induced by Typhonium flagelliforme tuber extract

Ethnomedicinal plants used to cure diarrhoea and dysentery in Pachalur hills of Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, Southern IndiaS Shanmugam, M Annadurai, K Rajendran

RESIDUES OF CHLORPYRIPHOS AND MONOCROTOPHOS IN SOIL AND WATER OF OTTANCHATHARAM BLOCK, INDIA

The indiscriminate use of pesticides to meet the demand of growing population led to environmental contamination and consequently health risks. The study was undertaken to assess residue levels in vegetable growing area of Ottanchathiram block of Dindigul District. The study revealed that about 55 per cent the farmers applied 4 kg or less of technical grade pesticides per ha and the remaining 45 per cent used more than 4 kg of active ingredient (a.i)/ ha in chillies and About 87 per cent of cauliflower growers applied pesticides amounting to 4 kg or less of a.i/ha and the remaining applied more than this quantity. The villages, Thasaraipatti, Veeralapatti, Ambilikai, Arasappapillaipatti, Vadakadu, Kosavapatti, Krishnakoundanputhur and Virupachi are intensive vegetable growing areas selected for the pesticide residue analysis. The village Thasaraipatti soil sample recorded maximum amount of Chlorpyriphos residues (5.6 μgkg-1) and Monocrotophos residues (4.5μgkg-1). Residues in water samples ranged from not detectable to 0.5 μgl-1 of Chlorpyriphos and Monocrophos

Gamma-ray protection capacity evaluation and satellite data based mapping for the limestone, charnockite, and gneiss rocks in the Sirugudi taluk of the Dindigul district, India

The remote sensing techniques for investigation and mapping of mineral resources along with the lithological variations have become a leading and optimistic way in recent years. Sirugudi taluk of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, is identified with many quarries of limestone and charnockite that have economic importance since that is used in the cement and construction industry. The present study validates the radiation shielding properties of limestone, charnockite, and gneiss rock and the mapping through remote sensing techniques. Several images processing techniques were performed using the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer data to delineate the boundaries of lithology at Sirugudi. The laboratory-based reflectance spectra obtained for the limestone, charnockite, and gneiss sample in the range of 350 nm–2500 nm shows a remarkable correlation with the significant oxides of the samples. The radiation shielding performance for the present rocks was investigated using the Monte Carlo simulation and the theoretical online program XCOM. The three investigated rock types’ linear attenuation coefficient (μ) values are at their maximum at low energies, and the μ rapidly decreases as energy increases in the low energy range. For gneiss, the μ decreases from 32.484 cm−1 to 4.731 cm−1 between 0.015 and 0.030 MeV. At all investigated energies, the μ values follow the order of Charnockite > Gneiss > Limestone. Based on the simulated linear attenuation coefficient values, the half-value layer, radiation protection efficiency, and the thickness equivalent were estimated. The estimated results demonstrated that thinner rock thicknesses are needed to shield the incoming photons at lower energies. The half-value thicknesses are 0.021, 0.026, and 0.018 cm for Gneiss, Limestone, and Charnockite at 15 keV.

Development and application of a contaminant transport model for groundwater remediation and reservoir protection: a case study from India.

The upper Kodaganar basin, located in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India, is composed of hard rock terrain. Groundwater is the major source of domestic and irrigation needs and it is being contaminated by tannery wastewater that is discharged into the nearby Sengulam Lake. The main aim of this work was to develop a contaminant transport model using the total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of groundwater measured in the basin. The model was developed to predict the fate of contaminant in the aquifer. The TDS concentrations in the wells ranged from 249 to 20,120mg/L, wherein extremely high values were observed in some of the severely contaminated wells. Three scenarios were proposed to predict the fate of the contaminant and to mitigate the effect of contaminant on groundwater receptors for the year 2020: scenario I: developed with the existing discharge conditions; scenario II: developed with discharge as per the standards; scenario III: developed with zero discharge. The results of this study showed that scenario III reduced the contaminated area from 12 km2 to 6 km2. The reduction in area for different concentration contours, namely 2000mg/L, 5000mg/L, 10,000mg/L, and 15,000mg/L, was 2 km2, 0.5 km2, 0.2 km2, and 0.1 km2, respectively, and the groundwater remediation was expected to take 2050years. Hence, there is an urgent need for the application of clean and resource efficienttechnologies in process industries, and the implementation of suitable wastewater treatment technologies to prevent ground water pollution in the region.

Problems and Prospects of Commerce on Digitalization - A Study in Dindigul District

The Government of India has encouraged the shift to a less-cash society with its push for digital payments. With the launch of Digital India Programme, the government is taking a big step forward to transfer the country into a digitally empower knowledge economy. E-Commerce is buying and selling goods and services over the Internet. It is part of e-business structure that includes not only those transactions that centre on buying and selling goods and services to generate revenue, but also those transactions that support revenue generation. These activities include generating demand for goods and services offering sales support and customer service, or facilitating communications between business partners. Airline and travel tickets, banking services, books, clothing, computer hardware, software, and other electronics, flowers and gifts are some popular products and services that can be purchased online. An attempt has been made to analyze the problems and prospects of commerce on digitalisation in Dindigul district of Tamil Nādu. Primary data are collected randomly from 100 respondents of various commerce cashless transactions used by buyers and sellers in Dindigul district. The sample respondents opined that it is very easy to carry cards instead of carrying money and 66 percent of the peoples agreed it. The study found that majority of the respondents revealed that there are problems on no knowledge of using NET banking and on no knowledge of using POS in the study area. From this, it is clear that people are not having the knowledge about the cashless transactions. This is the ultimate goal of cashless society paradigm. Important issues which have been, or will be encountered in cashless society brought on in part by electronic cash. The government move aimed at curtailing the menace of black or counterfeit money which is largely used to fund criminals and terrorists as part of a parallel economy. Today, there is a sea change in the mindset of people with regard to be digital means of monetary dealings which are safe,

MARKETING BEHAVIOUR OF JASMINE GROWERS IN DINDIGUL DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU

Jasmine flower is used for various purposes viz. making garlands, bouquets, decorating hair of women, religious offerings etc. Scientific cultivation of jasmine is one of the important prerequisites for increasing the production and productivity among the jasmine growers. Since the crop requires huge manpower for harvesting and other operations, only small farmers are cultivating the crop. In general, it is felt that studies on marketing behaviour of jasmine growers is neceessary. Hence, the present study was undertaken with the objective to study the marketing behaviour of Jasmine growers in Nilakottai block of Dindigul district. The respondents were selected based on proportionate random sampling method. The data were collected from respondents through pre-tested interview schedule. The results of the study revealed that majority of the respondents received full payment and it is seen that 76.60 per cent of the respondents sold their produce in the markets. More than two-fifths of the respondents considered the immediate payment as the main criteria for the selection of market followed by receipt in advance (10.00%). 53.30 % growers sell their produce with middle man involvement. Majority of the respondents reported that existing marketing facilities were not sufficient and the rest 40.00% and 60.00% were satisfied with the existing market facilities.

An Economic Analysis on Production of Hill Banana in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu, India

This study was primarily concentrated on hill banana cultivation. The purpose of this study is to find the economics of hill banana cultivation and the problems faced by the hill banana farmers during the production of hill bananas in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. Economics of the hill banana cultivation was done by finding the cost and returns associated with the hill banana cultivation and constraints faced by the hill banana farmers with Garrett's ranking technique. Many previous research on the production of various agricultural commodities was focused on a specific area and/or a specific commodity. There was a little study on banana production and limitations in some regions in Tamil Nadu. As a result, the focus of this research will be on hill banana production in the Dindigul district. Purposive and convenience sampling technique was used in this study. Primary data were collected by the personal interview with a well-structured interview schedule. The cost and returns of hill bananas were calculated per hectare. The average cost of production of hill bananas was estimated to be ₹2.04 lakh/ha. The average gross return was ₹5.04 lakh/ha and the average net return was estimated to be ₹2.99 lakh/ha. The result of the study shows that hill banana cultivation was highly profitable and the benefit-cost ratio (BC Ratio) was more than unity (2.46). The major constraints faced by hill banana farmers in the cultivation of hill bananas were pest attack (insects) followed by disease attack, lack of labor availability, animal attack, and drought. The findings will assist policymakers in developing appropriate programs and adjusting strategies for improving hill banana production in Tamil Nadu.

A Study of Tomato Growers' Marketing Behaviour in The Dindigul Area of Tamil Nadu, India

The present study was carried out in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India by using random sampling method with 120 respondents and data collected by well structured interview schedule. There are 8 blocks of Dindigul district (Tamil Nadu, India) out of which 4 blocks were selected on the basis of maximum area (1568 ha) and production (18002 MT). Objective of this research is to study the Marketing behaviour of tomato growers. Consumers' marketing behaviour when looking for, buying, selling, using, evaluating, and discarding products and services that they believe will meet their requirements. According to the findings, the majority of respondents (64.16 per cent) had a medium level of overall marketing behaviour, followed by 23.34 per cent of them having high and only 12.5 percent of them having low level of marketing behaviour.

Exorcism Rituals

The belief that nature and the spirits of dead humans, contrary to nature, haunt the living is prevalent. Man also worshiped these superstitions out of fear. Humans considered the spirits of the virtuous to be gods after death and the spirits of the wicked to attack and afflict people. Tolkappier points out that fear is one of the human emotions in numerical reality and is primarily one of the characteristics of women in particular. Based on such fears, they believed that the spirit of Theor was easily attacked by demons, demons, black snakes, etc., and could not bring various sufferings to women. Women believe in certain rituals to get rid of these. One of these is the ritual of exorcism with the priest. This article seeks to illustrate these rituals through a field study conducted at Kalikovil in Attupatti, near Vittal Nayakkan Patti, Dindigul District.

A Study on the Preference of Students towards Digital Reading Materials with Reference to Dindigul District

Innovation has become an irreplaceable marvel in contemporary time which has its effect on all social statuses and training isn’t an exemption to this. The educated understudies of today have effortlessly received the electronic course books as a substitution of printed reading material attributable to its usability, cost viability, and availability. Fluctuated sees on the understudies’ inclination of the predefined arrangement of reading material have laid the stage for more formal and centered exploration interests these days universally. Thusly, an exploration to separate the focal points and impediments of both the organizations and the reasons that are essential to decide on the one over the other at a provincial level is a lot of the need of great importance. The investigation planned to discover the premium and inclination that won in the brains of students of different collages in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu regarding the embracing of electronic course readings over the printed course books as this sort of study has been completed a lot of restricted in this locale. The examination embraced a quantitative exploration plan and the poll as an examination instrument to gather the information. The outcome attests that a greater part of the understudies knows about both the configurations of reading material and are more open to utilizing electronic course books and have communicated their readiness to move from printed course readings to electronic course readings. By the by, the discoveries clarify that the understudies choose electronic course readings relying on the nature and difficulty of the subject.

Prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in red chilli pepper (Capsicum annum L.) from India

SummaryThe aflatoxin contamination of chilli pepper grown and marketed in Tamil Nadu, a southern Indian state, was assessed. Chilli samples were collected at different stages of the value chain and were quantified using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Forty‐two representative samples were collected from four districts identified as the hub for production, distribution, agro‐processing industries and retail stores. In addition, interviews were conducted among the chilli farmers, vendors and agro‐industrialists across the hubs to assess their knowledge on aflatoxin contamination and safe handling practices. The maximum aflatoxin content determined in the chilli pepper was 37.8 µg kg−1. Almost 66.7% of samples collected from the retail outlets had aflatoxin values above 10 µg kg−1. The total aflatoxin content in the samples collected across the value chain was in the range of 3.83 to 37.80 µg kg−1. Statistical analysis on aflatoxin contents showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the districts representing different operations of value chain. The detected aflatoxin content was highest in samples collected from Dindigul district and least in Erode district. The results of the perception study showed that respondents into farming and trade activities had very little or no knowledge of aflatoxin contamination of chilli. The prevalence of unacceptable levels of aflatoxin in the chilli supply chain in the districts studied is probably due to tropical climatic conditions and poor handling practices of chilli.

Traditional Medicine among the Palliyars of Palani Hills, Western Ghats, India

From the advent of humankind, plants have been employed in traditional medicine for several thousand years. An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken to gather information from Palliyars on the use of medicinal plants in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for the medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews. A total of 48 plant species belonging to 39 families were used to treat various ailments. The information gathered from the Palliyars were arranged by ailments followed by plant botanical name as well as local names along with family, parts used, method of preparation of medicine, dosage, and ingredients were documented in study area. The phyto-ethno-restorative overview of Palni hills gives significant benchmark information of therapeutic plants in the region for future protection perspectives.

Isolation and identification of high fluoride resistant bacteria from water samples of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, South India.

Fluoride (F - ) pollution is one of the major issues in India and worldwide. Water samples were collected, and analyse the physicochemical characteristics. From the results, acceptable limit pH ranges, low and high electrical conductivity (EC) values, high-level of TDS (total dissolved solids) and chloride (Cl-) values, less than desirable and higher than permissible F - concentrations (4.7 and 11 ppm) were found. At first, ninety-three colonies were screened using rapid hicoliform agar plates. After that, sixty-six F - resistant colonies were picked up from 50 mM NaF (Sodium fluoride) containing LB agar plates. Finally, eight isolates were showing a high degree of F - resistance (200--300mM NaF) and selected for further studies. High F - resistance isolates exhibited β and γ-haemolytic activities were determined in blood agar plates. F - resistant isolates showed their salt tolerances ranged from 4% to 7% NaCl and resistant to multiple antibiotics. Biochemical and 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that the F - resistant isolates were identified as Enterobacter cloacae strain 3, E. hormaechei strain 14, Enterobacter sp. strain 21, E. hormaechei strain 22, E. coli strain S2-9, Aeromonas caviae strain 31, A. caviae strain 32, A. caviae strain 34. All strains were submitted in the NCBI database with the accession numbers (MW131637, MW131639; MW131650-655). The F - resistant gene 'crcB' gene was successfully amplified from the resistant isolates using gene-specific primers. These results have demonstrated that fluoride resistant bacteria would be useful for bacterial fluoride bioremediation near future.

Analysis of Chromate Transporters in Bacterial Species for Cr(VI) Reduction Isolated from Tannery Effluent Contaminated Site of Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, India

Leather industries are well-known causative for hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] pollution in the environment. This possess a greater risk to human survival and disruption of ecological balance. Conventional methods to manage chromium through physical and chemical processes are mostly expensive and generate subsequent solid wastes which are cumbersome to treat. Hence, biological treatment is often regarded as the alternative method employing microorganisms for detoxification of Cr(VI). In this investigation, almost 32 bacterial strains were isolated from Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India. Among them, five isolates showed exceptional Cr(VI) reduction within 48 h upon aerobic cultivation. Bacteria confers chromium resistance through Chr transporters which involve metabolic reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to nontoxic Cr(III) through reductase enzyme. Activity by this enzyme are often associated with soluble proteins located in cytosol of the cell. Existence of chromate (Chr) transporters in identified isolates were confirmed in their genome through bioinformatics tools, where their structures were predicted based on Protter, a web-based tool. Conclusively, bacterial strains that could evolve as potential ones to reduce toxic Cr(VI) to its nontoxic Cr(III) form in chromium contaminated sites.

High fluoride resistance and virulence profile of environmental Pseudomonas isolated from water sources.

In our previous study, all Pseudomonas strains THP6, THP41, and OHP5 were identified as fluoride-resistant bacteria isolated from Dindigul district, Tamilnadu, India. The selected strains exhibiting a high level of fluoride resistance was determined in Luria broth (LB) medium and LB agar plates. In a further effort, fluoride-resistant organisms were tested for hemolytic activity and showed β-hemolysis on blood agar plates. The virulence factors such as gyrB, toxA, algD and lasB, plcH, rhlC and biofilm response genes (pslA, pelA, ppyR) were detected by PCR analysis. The putative genus-specific and species-specific PCR also confirmed that the selected fluoride-resistant strains were belonging to Pseudomonas aeruginosa species. Fluoride-resistance gene crcB was amplified by gene-specific primers. The crcB gene was cloned in TA vector and transformed into E. coli DH5α. Comparative and blast analysis of THP6, THP41, and OHP5 strains crcB gene sequences were high homology with P. aeruginosa fluoride efflux transporter crcB and P. aeruginosa putative fluoride ion transporter crcB. The recombinants were efficiently growing in the NaF containing LB agar plates. The fluoride tolerance of these strains was also associated with resistance to multiple antibiotics. These results can lead to the use of the fluoride resistance gene of P. aeruginosa for the development of a biosensor for fluoride detection.

Economic Analysis on Covid-19 in Rural Economy

IntroductionThe government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus outbreak in four phases as Phase 1: 25 March 2020-14 April 2020 (21 days), Phase 2: 15 April 2020-3 May 2020 (19 days), Phase 3: 4 May 2020-17 May 2020 (14 days), Phase 4: 18 May 2020-31 May 2020 (14 days) and ban the people from stepping out of their homes and all human economic activities for their breadwinning are paralyzing all over India. The government of Tamil Nadu followed the central government order. It implemented the same, which leads a great loss of economic activities of every individual, specifically in the rural agricultural economy.Objectives• The general objective is to identify the Economic effect of Covid-19 in the study area, specifically.• To examine the socio-economic status of the respondents in Musuvanoothu Panchayat.• To find out the awareness, perception and adapted preventive measures apart from social distance in the study area and• To identify the challenges and problems due to lockdown in the study area.Methods and MaterialsIt is a cross-sectional study with primary data collected from a panchayat. A panchayat named Musuvanoothu was selected from Nilakkottai Taluk, Dindigul District. The panchayat is consists of six hamlets with 1078 ration cardholders receiving their ration items from two ration shops one in head village Musuvanoothu and another one in Kallukottai. The respondents were selected from the head village ration shop accessing people alone and the interviewed number is 615 out of 670. The remaining persons are reluctant to answer the questions raised by the interviewer. A Purposive nonrandom sampling method was used in this paper with simple percentage analysis.Results and DiscussionThree fourth of the respondents are belong to the high potential age group of the labor force and doing farming activities, specifically floriculture and intercropping with vegetables. The yields obtain during the lockdown period leftover on the farm and losing earnings in front of their eyesight. Advances of money taken from the flower and vegetable merchants for farming activities cannot repay/settle by the farmers in the study area. Also, respondents borrowed money from money lenders for their lockdown food consumption expenses.ConclusionHealthy innocent farming communities are suffering from stress and mental health issue due to lockdown. A good amount of economic loss incurred which can be mitigated or avoided if public cold storage is availed in the study area. Small and marginal farmer’s agricultural loans & credit may be waived for their betterment in forthcoming days.

Medicinal Plants Used to Heal Wound in Karandamalai of Dindigul District in Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Due to the presence of antibiotic or antiseptic nature’s chemicals, plants are remarkable for the treatment of wounds. Having this fact as research theme, the present study was carried out to document the therapeutic uses of medicinal plants used to heal wound in Karandamalai of Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu. The frequent fieldwork was conducted from October 2019 to January 2020 for this study. The scientific name, family name, local name (in Tamil), part(s) used, mode of preparation, and mode of administration of medicine were recorded. A total of 24 medicinal remedies prepared from 24 plants were recorded. Further research on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of these medicinal plants should be conducted.
 Keywords: Medicinal plants, Wound healing, Karandamalai, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu.

Assessing the climate change mitigation potential of coconut plantation in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are ceaselessly increasing in the atmosphere leading to climate change. Capturing and storing carbon by adopting a suitable agricultural practice is of the effective method of carbon sequestration. Dindigul, is one of the leading coconut producing districts of Tamil Nadu covering an area of 31,507 ha. Samples were collected from the Tall (Aliyar Nagar 1) and Dwarf (Chowghat Orange Dwarf (COD)) and Chowghat Green Dwarf (CGD) varieties during different ages (five, fifteen, twenty, and twenty-fifth year). The carbon sequestered by five, ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty five year old coconut tall variety trees were 1.91, 2.55, 2.91, 3.40 and 3.83 tons acre-1 year-1. Similarly five, ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty five year old coconut dwarf variety could able to sequester 0.92, 0.78, 1.27, 1.98 and 2.48 tons acre-1 year-1 in Dindigul district. The carbon sequestration potential of ten year old coconut tree (Tall or Dwarf) were 18 to 28 kg acre-1 year-1 approximately. The fifteen years (2003 to 2018) coconut plantation of both tall and dwarf varieties in Dindigul district had sequestered was 1463652 tonnes of carbon di-oxide from the atmosphere.

Social, Economic and Health Impact of Industrial Pollution in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu

Background: Pollution of air, water and soil poisons the environment and cause diseases. The illness in a social context needs further exploration in this particular context. That also led to a reduction in agricultural production, drinking water contamination, and cause illness to both human and animal. That is how it is contributing to alterations in social structure specifically the social institutions. By studying the problem of pollution, we address the impact of pollution on health, society and the environment as a whole.
 Methods/Design: For the mentioned objectives, the explanatory design was adapted. The study will have three components. A quantitative survey using an interview schedule conducted among the members of the selected villages of Dindigul, district. Specific questions on Social, Economic and Health impacts of industrial pollution will be administered. There will be two different locations, one closer to the Tanneries and villages located 10 Kilometers away from the Tanneries. Even the later villages there are other industries such as handlooms. This will help to understand the difference in the impact of industrial pollution with specific reference to tanneries. Qualitative data aims to conduct in-depth interviews among the village leaders and Focus Group Discussions among the community members. The basic water and soil tests form the villages near tanneries will give additional evidence to understand the physical effects of pollution on the rural environment. The study has received ethical approval from the Institutional Ethics committee.
 Discussion: Due to the industrialization in the city of Dindigul and the surrounding area, the pollution from industrial outlets not only affect the environment, but it also affects the social structure, interactions, and employment.