Kamrup District Research Articles

Challenges in Implementing Early Childhood Care and Education in Anganwadi Centres: A Case Study of Rangia Sub District of Kamrup District of Assam

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is essential for the cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development of young children. In India, the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), along with the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS 2022), emphasizes the importance of providing quality ECCE through Anganwadi Centres to lay a strong foundation for children's overall growth and future learning. The study titled "Challenges in Implementing Early Childhood Care and Education in Anganwadi Centres: A Case Study of Rangia Sub Division of Kamrup District of Assam" examines the obstacles Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) face in delivering ECCE as outlined by NEP 2020. The research identifies key challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, a lack of essential classroom materials, insufficient indoor and outdoor play equipment, and irregular supplies of food and medical resources. Using a survey approach, the findings reveal that most AWCs in the Rangia Sub-Division are under-resourced, limiting their ability to provide the comprehensive educational experiences vital for early childhood development. The study advocates for targeted interventions, including better resource allocation, infrastructure upgrades, and improved training programs, to address these shortcomings and achieve the ECCE objectives set by NEP 2020 in the region.

Exploring Edible Insects: An Investigation in Kamrup District (Assam) and Ri-Bhoi District (Meghalaya), North-Eastern India

Exploring Edible Insects: An Investigation in Kamrup District (Assam) and Ri-Bhoi District (Meghalaya), North-Eastern India

Impact of Infrastructure Limitations on Quality ECCE in Anganwadi Centers of Rangia Subdivision of Kamrup District, Assam: A Study in the Context of NEP 2020 and NCF-FS 2022

Impact of Infrastructure Limitations on Quality ECCE in Anganwadi Centers of Rangia Subdivision of Kamrup District, Assam: A Study in the Context of NEP 2020 and NCF-FS 2022

Physical, mental health versus socio-economic status of elderly citizens of suburbs of Kamrup (metro) district of Assam, India

Background: Population ageing has insightful social, economic, and political consequences. Ageing in general is often associated with poor health, lack of independence, social declination, isolation, and loneliness. The elderly people face many problems due to factors such as limited or no income, intergenerational conflict, and even face abuse by family members. This study delves into to assess the socio-economic status, the physical and mental health conditions and to determine the association of socio-economic status with physical and mental health problems, among elderly citizens in the semi- urban areas of Kamrup (Metro), Assam, India. Methods: Total 250 elderly were included in the study. The primary data have been collected through personal interview from the respondents who had visited the health camps. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 25. Results: Out of 250 elderly, 69.6% were female, majority (91.2%) were found to be Hindus, 68.67% were married. 46.53% of the respondents had attended primary school and 66.53% were unemployed. 87% elderly suffered from chronic illness. Cognitive Impairment was absent in majority of the elderly people (91%) whereas depressive symptoms were present in 11% respondents. 19.3% respondents had moderate nutritional risk. The association between nutritional risks and age was statistically significant. The association between nutritional risks and caste and educational level were also found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The status of physical and mental health of this group of people has a significant relationship with the socio-economic status.

Technical Efficiency Of Private Hospitals In Kamrup (Metro) District, Assam: An Application Of Two Stage Data Envelopment Analysis model

Healthcare resources should not be misused as such resources can save people's life. Further, avoiding excessive resource employment can help minimize production costs. In this regard, measuring technical efficiency is essential as it helps identify the resource utilization level against the output level. The present study has estimated the relative technical efficiency scores of private hospitals in the Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam. The data for the study is collected from primary and secondary sources for the year 2019. Bootstrapping Data Envelopment Analysisis applied considering two outputs and six input variables. All the hospitals are technically inefficient; however, small size hospitals have shown better performance in terms of technical efficiency than big size hospitals. The study has not distinguished the number of inpatients based on the resources consumption. In this context, there is a further scope to improve the study. However, this is the first attempt to analyse the performance of private hospitals in terms of technical efficiency in Assam. It will help the management of concerned hospitals to improve their resource utilisation strategy.

A Correlation Study to Comprehend the SAR-CoV-2 Viral Load, Antiviral Antibody Titer, and Severity of COVID-19 Symptoms Post-infection Amongst the Vaccinated Population in Kamrup District of As sam, Northeast India.

As per the recommendation of the United States Food and Drug Administration, more research is needed to determine the antibody titer against COVID-19 vaccination. The study aimed to understand the relationship between the antibody titer to the demographics, infection severity, and cycle threshold (CT) values of confirmed COVID-19 patients. Initially, we obtained consent from 185 populations and included sixty RT-PCRpositive COVID-19 patients from Kamrup District in the Northeast State of Assam, India. The vaccination status was recorded and tested for the level of serum immunoglobulin (IgG). The CT values, gender, and clinical symptoms-based scoring (CSBS) correlated with their IgG value. Around 48% of participants gained an antibody titer more than the threshold value and showed CT values between 18-25. Moreover, the maximum distributed score above the average was found between the CT values 18-25. The IgG titer value differs significantly amongst the vaccinated population, which may depend upon their genetic and demographic variability.

Knowledge of the respondents towards improved Kaji lemon cultivation practices in the Kamrup district of Assam

Knowledge of the respondents towards improved Kaji lemon cultivation practices in the Kamrup district of Assam

Study on ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used by local people inhabiting char area, Kamrup District, Assam, North-East India

The inhabitants of char areas of Kamrup district, Assam (India) have relied on medicinal plants to treat various livestock diseases. Due to the lack of proper documentation, these plants have received little attention. Therefore, studying these plant species' diversity, utilisation, and phytochemistry is crucial. By doing so, we can preserve their traditional knowledge and comprehend the possibility of using these plants to develop new drugs. The present investigation documented 30 medicinal plant species belonging to 29 genera and 22 families. These plants were used against the treatment of 12 disease categories. The families Fabaceae and Zingiberaceae, with three species for each, were dominant, while the leaf (22%) and seed (16%) were the most frequently used plant parts. The informant consensus factor (Fic) was found to be highest in neurological disorders and neglected tropical diseases (NTD) with a value of 1.0 each. In contrast, the relative frequency of citation (RFC) was found to be highest in Curcuma longa L. (0.41) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe (0.37). This study provides reliable data on medicinal plants and indigenous ethnoveterinary knowledge that could act as a reference for future researchers dealing with new drug discovery.

Enhancing Secondary Education in Kamrup District Through Value-Added Courses

The concept of value-added courses in education is rooted in supplementing the core curriculum with additional learning opportunities beyond standard academic subjects. The secondary stage of education should emphasize optimal learning based on students' cognitive development through experiential and hands-on experience by incorporating value-added courses in the curriculum. Today, while the world has become globalized with limited resources, colleges and universities should pay more attention to preparing students to be sustainable (McCaffrey & Hamilton, 2007) both in act and behavior. The preparation of the students for the industry should begin from the secondary stage. So, the policymakers should contemplate and pay attention to the pedagogy to meet future needs. The conceptual framework underlying value-added courses emphasizes their role in supplementing the core curriculum, providing students with practical skills and competencies essential for holistic development. Also, the sustainability of behavioral changes induced by value-added courses is contingent on several factors. The goal is to gain access to an expansive repertory of knowledge to grow professional skills. This study attempts to determine the sustainability and the challenges of incorporating value-added courses in the Secondary School curriculum.

Assessment of health care seeking behaviour and its associated factors amongst the residents of a rural community of Kamrup District in Assam: a mixed method study

Assessment of health care seeking behaviour and its associated factors amongst the residents of a rural community of Kamrup District in Assam: a mixed method study

Comprehensive study on physico-chemical soil analysis for optimizing paddy (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation in Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam, India

Rice being the staple food in Assam, its productivity should be increased for the availability of the common people. The main objective of this study is to compare the qualities of soil samples and to correlate the results with the production (per year) of paddy (Oryza sativa) from 3 different studied areas. The soil samples were collected during March-May, 2023. The oven dry method and drying and weighing method are used to determine bulk and particle densities respectively. The electrical conductivity and pH of the soil samples are determined using a benchtop conductivity meter and pH meter. Walkley-Black chromic acid wet oxidation method and methylene blue method are used to determine the organic carbon and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil samples respectively. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium of the soil samples are estimated using the instrument Mridaparikshak. The moisture content, bulk density, particle density, soil porosity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, P2O5, and K2O are observed in the range of 24.69 % to 39.42 %, 1.12 g cm-3 to 1.25 gcm-3, 1.83 gcm-3 to 1.99 g/cm-3, 33 to 43, 2.8 × 10-5mol dm-3to 11.7x10-5 mol dm-3, 7.4 to 8, 0.23 dS/m to 0.40 dS/m, 0.645% to 1.49%, 213.20 kg/ha - 235.14 kg/ha, 17.92 kg/ha - 20.44 kg/ha and 148.92 kg/ha -164.45 kg/ha respectively. The soil characterized by moisture content =27.52 %, bulk density=1.25 gcm-3, particle density =1.86 g cm-3, porosity =33%, cation exchange capacity =11.7 x 10-5 mol dm-3, pH {(1:5) at 210C} = 7.9, electrical conductivity = 0.40 dS/m, organic carbon =0.825 %, organic matter =1.42 %, N =235.14 kg/ha, P2O5 = 20.44 kg/ha and K2O =164.45 kg/ha showed good yield.

Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Lead (Pb) by Enteric Bacteria and Metagenomic Analysis of an Endogenic Earthworm Metaphire nanaoensis Found in the Semi-urban Paddy Fields of Kamrup District, Assam

Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Lead (Pb) by Enteric Bacteria and Metagenomic Analysis of an Endogenic Earthworm Metaphire nanaoensis Found in the Semi-urban Paddy Fields of Kamrup District, Assam

Contributions to the Botany of Kamrup District (Southern Part), Assam

This is an account of the vegetation and an enumeration of the vascular plants of the southern part of Kamrup district, Assam, the area lying between the Khasi Hills and the Brahmaputra river, based upon a three weeks collection and study in June and October.

Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on school preparedness of pre-school children in Kamrup district of Assam

Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on school preparedness of pre-school children in Kamrup district of Assam

Ascertainment of technical efficiency of fish farmers of Kamrup district of Assam

Ascertainment of technical efficiency of fish farmers of Kamrup district of Assam

IJCM_113A: Prevalence and contributing factors of obesity among school going adolescents living in Guwahati city

Background: Obesity has become a global epidemic. The prevalence of obesity is increasing in developing countries like India in recent years. Objectives: 1) To estimate the prevalence of obesity among school going adolescents living in Guwahati city. 2) To determine various socio- demographic factors affecting obesity among school going adolescents living in Guwahati city. Methodology: Taking the prevalence of obesity from one previous study as 5%, absolute error as 2%, the sample size was calculated to be 475, rounded off to 480. A list of all government and private schools present in Guwahati city were collected from Inspector of Schools, Kamrup (M) district. By simple random sampling, a total of 4 schools (two governments and two privates) were selected. From each chosen school, 120 children from 5th-10th standard were selected and included in the study. Since the number of classes is 6 from 5th-10th standard, 20 children were selected from each class randomly to get the desired sample size of 480. Students were interviewed and examined by pre-designed semi-structured schedule. Results: The prevalence of obesity was found to be 3.75%. Obesity was significantly higher among those who were non-vegetarian; those who indulged in unhealthy eating habits, were physically inactive and watched television for a longer duration. Conclusion: Prevalence of obesity was more among students having modifiable risk factors. So, timely interventions should be taken to improve awareness about healthy lifestyle behavior to prevent obesity and its complications among adolescents.

Abstract 2221: Reducing cancer disparity among indigenous people by locally prepared Whey protein isolates having selective cytoprotective ability against chemotherapy induced bone marrow stem cell toxicity

Abstract Background: Cancer disparity is a major problem for the indigenous people living in the rural area of Kamrup district of Assam, a remote north eastern state of India. Often, rural people are prescribed with expensive dietary supplements during chemotherapy by urban for profit medical centers, increasing disparity, as per a study conducted by KaviKrishna Telemedicine Care (KTC) (1). We seek to reduce cancer disparity by using locally available diet/nutrition of Sualkuchi-Hajo cultural complex, including the whey protein prepared by indigenous healers practicing Vedic Jiva Upakara Cikitsha Tantra (Vejiupacita) (2,3). However, the efficacy of the indigenous Vejiupacita Whey protein is not clearly known. Here we have performed pre-clinical and clinical studies to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Vejiupacita Chena Pani (VCP) whey protein in reducing cancer chemotherapy induced bone marrow stem cell niche toxicity. Methods: Using a previously described pre-clinical model of cisplatin and busalphan induced BM stem cell niche toxicities (4), the cytoprotective activity of VCP Whey protein was evaluated. Commercially available whey proteins Ensure plus, and Immunocal were used for comparisons. Next, the indigenous cancer patients (n=55) of KaviKrishna Telemedicine Care taking the whey protein (20 gm twice daily for three months of chemo and or radiation) were monitored for hemoglobin, total blood count as well as Glasgow prognostic score (ratio of serum albumin and CRP) and ECOG performance score. Third, using a Vejiupacita based Sahasa-ojash scale of well being (3) patient's quality of life was evaluated. Results: In the pre-clinical model of cisplatin-induced BM toxicity in black 6 mice (n=10 in each group), the VCP whey protein exerted cytoprotection of BM stem cells similar to Immunocal but 2-fold higher protection compared to Ensure plus. Serum glutathione and squalene level was significantly increased only in the VCP whey protein group. The hypoxic niche of CD271+ MSCs showed enhanced stem cell niche protection. Notably, VCP and Immunocal whey protein treatment increased the hypoxic BM stem cell niche defense against cisplatin-induced toxicity. Next, 34/55 patients taking the VCP whey protein (20 gm/twice daily for three months) showed increased hemoglobin level, increased total blood count, and increased weight gain. The Sahasa-ojash scale showed significant improvement in quality of life compared to the period when they did not take whey proteins in a manner similar to Glasgow prognostic score, and ECOG performance score. Conclusion: The Vejiupcita based whey protein concentrate therapy exerts cytoprotection against chemotherapy induced toxicity.

Species Composition and Conservation Status of Ornamental Fishes in Khambrenga Wetland, Kamrup District, Assam, India

Ornamental fish culture, also known as aquariculture, is a significant industry globally, contributing to foreign exchange earnings and employment generation. India, particularly the northeastern region, is endowed with diverse indigenous ornamental fish species. However, the ornamental fish trade in India remains relatively underdeveloped. This study aimed to document the ornamental fish diversity in Khambrenga Beel, a freshwater wetland located near Guwahati City, Assam, India.
 From December 2022 to April 2023, fish samples were collected and photographed in the study area. Local knowledge and identification literature were utilized to identify the fish species, while the IUCN Red List was referenced to determine their conservation status. A total of 48 species belonging to 30 genera, 20 families, and 10 orders of ornamental fishes were recorded in Khambrenga Beel. The Cypriniformes and Perciformes orders were the most diverse, comprising 16 species each.
 The majority of the recorded species were categorized as least concern (LRlc), indicating a relatively stable conservation status. However, three species were categorized as near threatened (NT), one species as vulnerable (VU), and one species as endangered (EN). The abundance of ornamental fishes varied across different sampling sites and seasons, reflecting the influence of habitat heterogeneity and seasonal dynamics.
 The findings highlight the importance of conserving Khambrenga Beel's unique ecosystem and its diverse ornamental fish species. Conservation measures such as habitat protection and sustainable fishing practices are crucial for ensuring the long-term survival of these species. This study provides valuable information for the development of conservation strategies to protect the ornamental fish populations in Khambrenga Beel, thereby contributing to the overall conservation of indigenous ornamental fishes in India.

An annotated checklist of the birds in Loharghat Forest Range, Assam, India

Loharghat Forest Range, within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, features diverse habitats like wetlands, scrublands, grasslands, tropical and deciduous forests. Chandubi, a vital tectonic wetland in the landscape, is designated as Important Bird Area (2003) and Key Biodiversity Area (2005) but remains largely unexplored. This study aims to establish a baseline database of avifaunal assemblages from the Loharghat Forest Range in Kamrup District, Assam, which includes the Mayang Reserved Forest and Barduar Reserved Forest. The forest is protected and managed by the local community. The surveys were conducted between August 2021 to June 2023. The study revealed the occurrence of a total of 224 avian species belonging to 20 orders and 58 families. The birds are further categorised on the basis of their seasonal movements, diets, and rarity in the region. Our findings indicate that the community-managed forests have a rich and diverse avifauna.

First documentation of diversity of the Heteroptera of Cotton University Campus, Kamrup (Metropolitan), Assam, India

Cotton University, a developing university in Guwahati city of Kamrup district from Assam is undergoing a lot of developmental changes leading to a change in land use pattern which will have an impact on insect distribution. Heteroptera studies being severely lacking from this region needs attention for their documentation. A survey conducted on the campus from July 2018 to July 2019 every week between 0700–0900 h on all types of vegetation documented a total of 163 bugs of 20 different species under 10 families of Heteroptera. Pentatomidae was found to be the most dominant family with eight recorded species. Wild vegetation supported more diverse bug forms than the other garden plants. This survey is the first record of these insects from the Cotton University campus and such data forms an important database of available bugs from this region in the wake of the developmental changes the university is going through. Any change in their distribution, if found in the future, will reflect the impact of anthropogenic activities on their existence and distribution. Studies of this kind may be minuscule in level, but it forms an important record of their presence before we lose them to time.