Gujarat Research Articles

An innovative method for improving rainfall prediction in Gujarat state through a fusion model DWT, 1DCNN and LSTM

In countries like India where agriculture is a major industry, accurate prediction of rainfall is crucial. The ability to forecast rainfall helps in planning crop cultivation and has a positive impact on both local and national economies. Nevertheless, conventional statistical techniques prove inadequate for forecasting precipitation over extended periods of time owing to the erratic characteristics inherent in climate phenomena. To address this issue, various ML models such as Decision Tree (DT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Discrete Wavelet Transform, have been explored for precipitation prediction. Large-scale data analysis and overcoming intricate challenges have become achievable through the utilization of deep learning, which has proven to be a potent approach. It combines the advantages of multiple methodologies and algorithms in order to develop accurate precipitation forecasting models. In this study, researchers treated rainfall time series as signals and used the Discrete Wavelet Transform method along with Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network methods to analyze and reconstruct these signals. The research employed a dataset acquired from the Indian Meteorological Department and NASA, covering the years 1901 to 2022. This extensive collection comprised diverse meteorological parameters such as relative humidity, wet bulb temperature, Surface Pressure, soil dampness levels, relative humidity, temperatures (min and max), wind speed data in addition to rainfall records. The fusion of these three methods - DWT-CNN-LSTM deep model - consistently demonstrated excellent performance in key evaluation metrics such as MAE and RMSE. This approach achieved remarkable results in accurately predicting precipitation patterns for Gujarat State over the specified time period.

Integrating GEE and IWQI for sustainable irrigation: A geospatial water quality assessment

The surface and sub-surface water quality is one of the decisive parameters for sustainable agriculture and water resources management. Deteriorating water quality impacts the irrigation, crop production, and human health. Therefore, the present work made an attempt to identify the water suitability for irrigation using the contemporary approach i.e. Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) and Zone mapping using GIS techniques, and demonstrated for case of Wadhwan, Gujarat India. Three indices i.e., NDVI, NDWI, and LSWI were mapped using Landsat satellite imagery, whereas, Watermask index was mapped using Sentinel II satellite imagery for the assessment of the availability of water in different forms. The IWQI has applied to categorize the water quality as severe, high, moderate, low, and no restriction. The IWQI in the study area ranges from 6.4 to 62.5. The overall the water quality of study area shows that the 13.64 % of the region in severe restriction range, 56.82% in high restriction range, and 29.54% in moderate restriction range, which is in alarming for farmers and policy makers. The GIS zoning map effectively visualized the spatial distribution of IWQI, helping decision-makers to identify severity zones. Furthermore, the Piper diagram analysis has been performed, which shows that the water quality of the study area falls under mixed Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl-, mixed Ca2+-Na+-HCO3-, and Na-HCO3 types. The results revealed that major areas are in moderate to severe restriction zones, lying under deteriorated water quality, and need immediate attention for improvement before use. The IWQI advances SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by optimizing water quality for crop production and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by ensuring sustainable water resource management, while indirectly supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land) through improved soil health and land management practices.

Ambivalent Purview of Kinship Care: Insights from Stakeholders

The realm of alternative care for children covers a variety of care systems, which include residential care, small group homes, mother and child shelters, transit homes, adoption, foster care and kinship care. The United Nations General Assembly’s 2019 resolution on children’s rights emphasises the significance of family-based environments for children, particularly those without parental care, and underlines their right to grow up in a family setting. In light of this resolution, kinship care emerges as a crucial family-based care avenue for children lacking parental care. In India, kinship care stands as the predominant form of care for children lacking sufficient parental support and is the most common form of care in almost all regions, religions, castes and ethnic groups due to the tradition of the joint family system and close ties among relatives. While this care option is the most common form of out-of-home care, it is also the least systematically recorded, monitored or supported structure. The study, through the lens of kinship carers, ward and village-level child protection committees and community workers, focuses on the important aspects of support, motivation, love, responsibility and challenges that underlie providing care for children without parental care. This qualitative study employs ethnographic interview techniques to understand the most authentic experiences of kinship carers. Families were initially identified based on secondary data captured from the assessment and intervention planning done using the Thrive Scale™ tool as part of the case management process. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six families from two different communities (one urban community in the state of Maharashtra and one rural community located in the state of Gujarat in India) to assess the existing support structures available for kinship carers and their families, identifying gaps and measures being taken to address them to ensure meaningful well-being of children and kinship families. The study discusses various challenges of kinship families, from financial struggles to familial disconnection, lack of housing infrastructure or access to healthcare, family issues like alcoholism or child labour, lack of education or livelihood and social isolation. The study further recommends increased attention and resources directed towards supporting kinship carers, acknowledging their invaluable role in providing love, support and stability to children without parental care, and also emphasises the importance of recognising and formalising kinship care within a broader framework of alternative care for children. Miracle Foundation India is committed towards ensuring that every child has an opportunity to grow up in a family, to become a healthy, happy, income-producing person and to experience a true sense of belonging. The paramount significance of kinship care is recognised by Miracle India in its sphere of both the prevention of child separation from family and reintegration work. After a thorough assessment of these families on the five key domains of well-being—physical and mental health, education, family and social relationships, household economy and living conditions—and continuous monitoring and follow-up, Miracle India provided a comprehensive support service to these families, strengthened them and ensured sustained access to support services, ultimately promoting child welfare. During this study, the focus remained on prioritising the implementation of supportive policies and resources for kinship caregivers to ensure that every child in vulnerable circumstances thrives within the warmth and stability of a loving and caring family.

Enhancing real-time flood forecasting and warning system by integrating ensemble techniques and hydrologic model simulations

ABSTRACT Flooding poses a severe threat to communities and infrastructure worldwide, which requires advanced flood forecasting warning systems. In this research paper, a real-time flood forecasting and warning system for the Dharoi Dam in the state of Gujarat, India is developed. This novel system combines ensemble techniques and hydrological modeling simulations to enhance flood prediction accuracy and provides a timely warning. The study focuses on critical gaps in the current flood forecasting capabilities, recognizes the need for improved flood management in the region, and builds upon the existing research conducted globally and in India. The real-time flood forecasting and warning system uses information from various sources such as rainfall, river flows, and water level observations. The system enhances the accuracy of flood forecasts with a 1–5-day lead time by utilizing ensemble techniques, which incorporate multiple models and their corresponding forecasts. The 2-day and 3-day lead times combined with postprocessing techniques yield excellent results, as evidenced by the reservoir inflow correlation value of 0.86 and the receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve (ROC-AUC) value of 0.93. This work aims to reduce the impact of floods in this region and can be used by decision-makers as a disaster management tool.

FACTORS INFLUENCING CULTURAL HERITAGE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AMONG YOUTH: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AHMEDABAD CITY

Purpose – In this Paper, we have discussed about the knowledge sharing concept of cultural heritage and the essential factors which influence the same. This paper aims to examine the factors that influence cultural heritage knowledge sharing among youth in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat. The study determines to find out various factors that are influencing the sharing of cultural heritage knowledge among the Ahmedabad youth. It is found that reward and recognition was the prime factor in sharing CHK among the Ahmedabad youth. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 150 Ahmedabad youth from Gujarat state through a survey-based questionnaire. Data screening and reliability tests were carried out to confirm the validity and reliability of the instruments, factor analysis was carried out to check the stated hypotheses. Findings – From factor analysis, three major factors i.e. Rewards and Recognition, enjoy helping for developing good relationship, Self-efficacy and reciprocity were identified which influence knowledge sharing with each other. The study indicates that “rewards and recognition” is one of the major factors which influence the cultural heritage knowledge sharing. Originality/value – This study determines to identify the various factors that are influencing on sharing of cultural heritage knowledge among the Ahmedabad youth. It is found that reward and recognition was the prime factor in sharing Cultural heritage knowledge among the Ahmedabad youth. KEYWORDS: Knowledge sharing, Cultural heritage knowledge, Factors influencing knowledge sharing,

Mapping Patient Pathways in Tuberculosis Care: Insights From Gujarat and Jharkhand States of India.

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a significant public health challenge globally. Despite efforts to meet targets set by the End-TB Strategy, progress has been slow. Health-seeking practices that decide approaches to various sectors of healthcare providers result in inappropriate diagnosis and lack of awareness regarding available standard treatment, indicating inaccuracy in estimated incidences and underreporting. This study was designed to map the patient pathways for Persons with Tuberculosis (PwTB) from their initial point of contact through to diagnosis and treatment. It aimed to identify the socio-demographic characteristics and profiles of PwTB, as well as their choice of healthcare facilities, that influenced care-seeking behavior throughout the TB care cascade. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to July 2022 in Jharkhand and Gujarat, India. Data were collected from 997 PwTB using a pre-designed structured questionnaire, covering socio-demographic profiles, TB profile of PwTB, and care-seeking behavior. The study analyzed the number and types of facilities visited, categorized the data, and used chi-square and binary logistic regression tests to identify significant associations. In a study of 965 TBpatients, 58.8% were male, and 61.3% were aged 18-40. Patients visited an average of two healthcare facilities, with significant associations found between age, occupation, comorbidity status, and facility switching (p < 0.005). Public health facilities were the primary point of care, with 91.4% using them for first consultations and 80.6% for treatment. Regression analysis highlighted significant predictors of care-seeking behavior, underscoring the need to enhance public healthcare infrastructure. Understanding patient pathways and the factors influencing care-seeking behavior is crucial for improving TB management. Strengthening public healthcare infrastructure and enhancing coordination between public and private sectors can reduce transitions and ensure timely and appropriate care.

Temporal temperature shifts govern the population succession of picoeukaryotes and picocyanobacteria in a coastal ecosystem

Picophytoplankton are vital components of the marine microbial food web. Being the smallest in the phytoplankton group, their short life cycles make them excellent bioindicators of environmental conditions. Given this, an investigation was conducted at the Kandla Port ecosystem (Latitude 23º 01' N; Longitude 70º 13' E) in the state of Gujarat, India to assess the response of picophytoplankton community structure to temporal and spatial environmental conditions. The sampling was conducted in July 2015, October-November 2015, and February 2016 at twenty-six stations. The results revealed a wide annual temperature range due to the study site's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer. The salinity ranged up to 40 while the turbulence caused by the macrotides resulted in highly turbid waters, especially during July due to precipitation. The picophytoplankton community was represented by picocyanobacteria (three sub-groups of Synechococcus) and picoeukaryotes (three sub-groups including Cryptophytes). The picocyanobacteria were abundant during the less turbid, warmer October-November period and lower during the cooler February period. The dominant Synechoccocus groups are associated positively with NH4+ and negatively with PO43-. The Cryptophytes were present during the warm and cool periods indicating tolerance to a wide range of temperature, salinity, and light. Their positive correlation with PO43- and NH4+ concentrations during February and October-November, respectively suggests a causal relationship. The picoeukaryotic group dominated the picophytoplankton community during the cooler period (February). The relative importance of the two picophytoplankton groups changed throughout the year exhibiting temporal niche segregation and hence establishing their role as bioindicators of temperature.

Effect of lay counselling on mental health and TB treatment outcomes: an experience from Gujarat state, India

Purpose Depression and anxiety are the most common comorbidities in TB patients, adversely impacting TB treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of lay counselling in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety and TB treatment completion. Design/methodology/approach The study used a pre-post interventional research design. Patients were screened for depression and anxiety. All symptomatic TB patients were followed up and offered four to six or more lay counselling sessions whenever necessary. The authors assessed changes in depression and anxiety symptoms before lay counselling intervention and after fourth lay counselling session or the completion of TB treatment, whichever occurred the last. Findings Approximately 6,974 TB patients were screened for symptoms of depression and anxiety. The mean age was 36.7 ± 14.7 years. Total 25.9% patients were symptomatic. About 99.8% were provided lay counselling and received at least one to two follow-up sessions, while two patients who screened with severe depression were referred to a mental health specialist. Nearly 96.9% TB patients did not report symptoms of depression or anxiety after four lay counselling sessions, and TB treatment completion rate was higher among symptomatic TB patients who completed at least four counselling sessions (92.5%). Practical implications Lay counselling services delivered by field coordinators offer a promising approach to address mental health comorbidities among TB patients in resource-limited settings. Originality/value It explores a novel approach – lay counselling delivered by field coordinators – in tackling depression and anxiety among TB patients, which is a potentially scalable solution in resource-limited settings.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in nulliparous Indian sportswomen.

A common gynaecological problem among women that leads to a negative impact on quality of life and causes distress is the involuntary loss of urine which is addressed as urinary incontinence (UI). Females involved in playing various types of sports perform high-intensity activities which can serve as risk factors for UI and pelvic organ prolapse. According to the available literature, there is a scarcity of information regarding data on the prevalence of UI in Indian female athletes. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of UI in nulliparous Indian sportswomen. For a duration of 6 months, a cross-sectional study was carried out in various sports centres across the states of Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi. A total of 560 nulliparous Indian female sportswomen were involved based on the selection criteria. The various sports involved were malkhamb, kabaddi, kushti, weightlifting, gymnastics, basketball, badminton, and athletics. All the participants were provided with a questionnaire for female UI diagnosis (QUID), which was the primary outcome measure. Out of 560 women enrolled in the study, the highest prevalence was found for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), consisting of 126 (22.5%) women, followed by mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), involving 49 (8.8%) women, and urge urinary incontinence (UUI), including 47 (8.4%) women. Additionally, the prevalence of UI was highest in obese and overweight Indian sportswomen. Moreover, the highest prevalence of SUI among women was for weightlifting, whereas for UUI and MUI, malkhamb and kushti sports were the most prevalent, respectively. The present study concluded that the highest prevalence among nulliparous Indian sportswomen was for SUI, followed by MUI and UUI. Additionally, weightlifting sport showed the highest prevalence for SUI, followed by malkhamb for UUI and kushti for MUI. The prevalence of UI in Indian sportswomen is important as it imparts knowledge and awareness among women and benefits professionals in designing appropriate preventive and rehabilitative protocols for curtailing such problems in the near future.

Characteristics and contributing factors of adverse drug reactions: an analytical study of patients with tuberculosis receiving treatment under the National TB Program of India

Background Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a serious threat to the public health system in India. Although the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) is providing a wide range of interventions from early diagnosis to complete treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality from TB, adverse drug reactions (ADR) remain a challenge in treatment adherence and completion. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in selected districts of Gujarat state. A total of 593 reported TB patients were recruited with an adjusted unified distribution based on the type of cases, site of diseases, and service facility through a simple random sampling method. A semi-structured questionnaire tool was used to collect socio-demographic, clinical, and ADR-related data from the TB patients. Data was analyzed for the frequency, percentage, chi-squared, and adjusted odds ratio to find the association between the variables. Results The majority of the study participants were male (87.2%), aged 15 to 60 (57.8%), daily laborers (22.4%), and married (64.2%). Over 75% of individuals had pulmonary TB, with 87% having experienced their first episode, 83% being new cases, and 44.7% having a history of addiction. ADR with mild symptoms was reported by more than a quarter (29%) of TB patients during the intensive phase (77%). The association between ADR experience and drug susceptibility was significant (p&lt;0.005) and drug-resistant TB patients experience two times more ADRs than drug-sensitive TB patients (OR 2.04). Binomial logistic regression was carried out to describe the association between various variables and occurrence of ADRs. Conclusion The study highlighted a need to enhance health care providers’ capacity and program structure for managing ADRs among TB patients. In order to completely eliminate TB across the country, it also emphasized the attention for a holistic and all-encompassing strategy for managing TB patients at the field level.

New physiotherapy device for interincisal mouth opening in oral submucous fibrosis patients: A pilot study

Objectives: It is estimated that 0.2–0.5% of Indians suffer from oral submucous fibrosis. The states of Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are the most severely impacted by this illness. Antioxidants, effective physiotherapy exercises, and topical corticosteroid injections are among the treatment options available for oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). Despite being widely used, there are few studies assessing the effectiveness and patient compliance of the conventionally used technique for physiotherapy in patients with OSMF, such as ice cream sticks, tapered screws, and Heister jaw opener. Material and Methods: A device for physical rehabilitation that may be used at home was made using 3D printing technology. Ten patients participated in a pilot study that was carried out. These patients participated in the device’s pilot testing to assess the mechanical features and its ability to improve interincisal mouth opening, comfort (pain and control), and enjoyment. Comfort [Pain, comfort, control] with device use, ease of use [Portability] and satisfaction with device use. Results: A statistically significant (P &lt; 0.0006) improvement in the mean mouth opening of OSMF patients was shown by quantitative data. After 1 month of use, there was a 1.8 mm difference in mouth opening. This implies that the device worked well for these people. Based on feedback, the majority of patients reported that the device was comfortable, easy to use, and showed satisfaction with the device use. Conclusion: It was found that people with OSMF can open their mouth more with the use of a new physiotherapy device. In addition to pharmacological therapy, this pilot study needs more investigation with a bigger sample size and a randomized control trial. Considering that this method of managing OSMF seems to be effective.

EMPLOYEE PERSPECTIVES ON AI UTILIZATION IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CHHATRAL GIDC IN GUJARAT STATE: A SURVEY-BASED STUDY

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionised the industrial industry by bringing with it the promise of greater productivity, accuracy, and competitiveness. The purpose of this survey-based study is to investigate how employees feel about the use of AI in manufacturing enterprises in Gujarat State, India's Chhatral GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation). The purpose of the study is to learn more about the attitudes, beliefs, and difficulties that employees have when integrating AI technologies. Structured questionnaires were used to gather data from a representative sample of employees in Chhatral GIDC's manufacturing sectors. The results shed important light on the variables affecting the adoption of AI, emphasising how organisational environment and local dynamics affect employee reactions.

Measuring Financial Capability of the Street Vendors in Vallabh-Vidyanagar

Financial capability of an individual is the ability to use and manage financial products for current and future financial needs with adequate financial knowledge. This Paper assess street vendors: education, age, business experience, and daily turnover significantly affect the financial capability of an individual in Vallabh Vidyanagar. Moreover, street vendor’s awareness and usage of various governments scheme for their business. Also this paper examine financial capability on four dimensions- financial management to meet current needs, future financial planning, financial products management, and financial knowledge using a sample of street vendors in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat India.

A New Regime of Dispossession in Neo-Liberal India? Wind Energy, Hindutva, and Land Politics in Western Gujarat

Renewables in India are presented as modern technologies ensuring a pathway towards sustainable development and unlimited growth. But this story entails problematic land politics and the reconfiguration of space for resource frontiers’ expansion, local state formation, and ethno-religious authoritarian agendas: for the past 20 years, Kutch district of Gujarat state in Western India has experienced several waves of land liberalisation and industrialisation programmes, including wind power projects, but its proximity with Pakistan and the presence of Muslim pastoral populations on both sides of the border have also fostered Hindu nationalist movements since 1947. The development of wind energy projects in Western India follows traditional patterns of a regime of dispossession: a set of “inscription devices” assemble and disassemble land in a discursive, bureaucratic, and violent way and affix an official stamp of legality on damaging mechanisms of dispossession within a state-specific regime. But as wind projects move to borderland territories, their associated regime of dispossession aligns with long-term exclusive ethno-religious conceptions of space as Hindu. The unfolding land politics endorses the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral strategy to capture the remaining constituencies and co-opt minority leaders, while agents enforcing wind’s regime of dispossession see an opportunity to assert upper-caste Hindu supremacy.

On a small collection of Maeridae Krapp-Schickel, 2008 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Gujarat, India

The present study was based on amphipod specimens collected from the coastal areas of Gujarat state, India. From the collection, four species belonging to the family Maeridae Krapp-Schickel, 2008 were identified. Two species, Ceradomaera plumosa Ledoyer, 1973 and Ceradocus (Denticeradocus) alama Myers &amp; Nithyanandan, 2016 are reported for the first time from Gujarat state and India, respectively. Two more species, Maera gujaratensis sp. nov. and Quadrimaera okha sp. nov. are described as new species. Maera gujaratensis sp. nov. can be differentiated from its closely related congener M. hirondellei Chevreux, 1900 on the basis of shape of male gnathopod 1 coxa and number of setae present on the telson. Quadrimaera okha sp. nov. can be differentiated from its closely related congeners Q. brownorum Hughes, 2015 and Q. caliban (Ruffo, Krapp &amp; Gable, 2000) by the non-lobate anterodistal corner of gnathopod 2 basis, by the shape of the propodus of the male gnathopod 2, and in having a comparatively smaller uropod 3 peduncle to rami ratio.

Analysis of Physiology Theory Question Papers for Competency-Based Medical Education Implementation in Gujarat: A Pilot Study.

Introduction Theory question papers form an important part of assessment in medical education. As per the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) guidelines 2019, questions should test higher levels of cognition. This pilot study analyzes 60 question papers from different universities in Gujarat for their construct and content validity. The aim was to analyze the quality of physiology question papers from various medical universities in Gujarat to gain insights into assessment quality and its alignment with the CBME guidelines. The objectives were twofold: to evaluate the "construct validity" and "content validity" of these physiology theory question papers over the past three years according to the CBME standards. Methods An observational study using a cross-sectional records-based approach was carried out, evaluating 60 summative exam question papers in physiology from eight different universities of Gujarat for their construct and content validity. Using Bloom's taxonomy, the learning level of the cognitive domain for the questions asked was assessed. The findings compared and displayed a sample of papers. Results A total of 1842 questions were analyzed from the 60 question papers of eight different universities of the Gujarat state. The study found that the questions asked for different levels of cognition in Bloom's taxonomy, i.e., remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create, were 560 (30.40%), 434 (23.26%), 222 (12.05%), 118 (6.41%), 94 (5.10%), and 0.00%, respectively. A total of 414 (22.48%) questions did not have any verb, so they did not fit into any level of Bloom's taxonomy. The majority of questions (1773, 96.25%) were asked from the core competencies, while a small percentage (69, 3.75%) of questions were asked from the non-core competencies of physiology. Conclusion The majority of questions in the summative question papers in physiology were of level "remember" and "understand" as per Bloom's taxonomy. Of the questions, 26% did not have any verb. There is a need to incorporate more questions testing higher levels of cognition and to use blueprints by universities. Faculty training is also necessary to bring about course correction.

Compound hazard mapping for tropical cyclone-induced concurrent wind and rainfall extremes over India

India is the worst affected region in the world by tropical cyclones (TCs), causing an average 2% annual GDP loss. TCs instigate many other natural hazards that have a compounding effect on the adversely affected population and present significant challenges to the resilience of emergency response systems and infrastructure. Hence, any risk assessment on TC is inherently multivariate/compound in nature. This study investigates co-occurring wind and rainfall extremes during TCs across India (1979–2020) using a novel quasi-Lagrangian approach, focusing on location-specific hazards. Eastern coastal states and adjacent inland areas experience the highest frequency (≥10 cyclones in 40 years) of concurrent extremes (wind gusts ≥ 16 m/s and rainfall ≥ 18 mm/h). Whereas duration-wise, the eastern coastal states and Gujarat state experience frequent concurrent extremes lasting more than a day annually, with the Krishna–Godavari delta region particularly vulnerable to highly severe events (duration of concurrent extremes ≥ 24 h). This study provides a high-resolution cartographic product of compound hazard from TC-induced extremes for the first time over the entire India, highlighting regional heterogeneity and aiding targeted national-level risk mitigation and adaptation planning.

Non-genetic Factors Associated with 305 Days Milk Yield in Kankrej Cattle

The performance data of Kankrej cattle for the present study were collected from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Anand, under the pedigree selection programme (PS) in Banaskantha district of Gujarat state. After the standardization of initial records, the 305DMY records of 6037 Kankrej cattle sired by 54 bulls calved during the period of 19 years from 2003 to 2022 were utilized in the study. The least squares analysis of variance to reduce the nonorthogonality after considering their villages, parity, Age at calving groups, year-month of birth groups and year-month of calving groups were used to analyze the data on 305DMY production trait. The average 305DMY for the Kankrej cow was estimated to be 2302 ± 9.01 kg. The fixed factors such as parity, villages and year month of the calving group considered in the study had significant (p&lt;0.05) effects on the 305DMY traits except for the Age in the calving group (months) and year-month of the birth group. The non-significant effect of the year and month of birth highlighted the adaptive traits of the Kankrej cattle against the extreme temperature in the arid or semi-arid region of North Gujarat. The maximum estimated corrected yield and breeding value were estimated to be 3420 kg and 855 kg, respectively. The increased production performances observed in the study may be the result of the successful implementation of pedigree selection under the field conditions.

Sustaining a social movement through infrastructural followup: activist pedagogies and prefigurative politics in Narmada Bachao Andolan’s schools for life (jeevanshalas)

ABSTRACT This article is based on an exploratory study of jeevanshalas, a network of ‘schools for life’ run by the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), an anti-dam movement in the Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra that did not succeed in its mission of stopping the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Based on participant observation and conversations with movement leaders, teachers, administrators, parents and community volunteers, and on participatory research with children living in the localities of Jeevan Nagar and Trishul, Maharashtra, this article illuminates how the NBA reinvented itself through education. It argues that the jeevanshalas offer a model of long-term sustainability for social movements whose aim is not necessarily to grow the movement’s membership but to catalyse wider societal change that might eliminate the need for the movement. The findings suggest that the NBA’s understanding of the social purpose of education reflects a view of young people as political agents whose voices shape the community’s collective future, in marked contrast with India’s state-run depoliticising education system. The jeevanshalas thus represent a previously under-researched model of social movement led education whose explicit aim is not to train movement agents but to leverage the transformative potential of education to address underlying patterns of oppression. The article theorises this rearticulation of the concept of ‘social movement schools’ through Spivak’s notion of ‘infrastructural followup’, which parallels recent debates about the nature of prefigurative politics.

New distribution records of two jumping spiders of the genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Gujarat, India

The jumping spider genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886, belonging to the tribe Aelurillini (Maddison, 2015), is widely distributed and currently comprises 59 known species (World Spider Catalog 2024). Through recent investigations, we have identified two additional species of the genus Stenaelurillus that have not been documented in Gujarat state before. This paper therefore presents the new records and documentation of S. marusiki Logunov, 2001, and S. vyaghri Sanap, Joglekar &amp; Caleb, 2022, marking their first appearances in Gujarat, India.