Kerala Research Articles

Student Incivility in Classrooms: An Insight From The Student’s Point of View with Focus on Kerala

Educators endeavour to establish classroom settings that foster learning. Nevertheless, it is a frequent occurrence to come across disruptive student conduct that hampers the learning environment we aim to establish. Classroom incivility may be characterized as student conduct that hinders the anticipated progression of the lecture or disturbs the educational environment within the class. After COVID-19, offline classes have begun and students are adapting to the traditional method of classroom coaching once again. The shift from digital to online mode of teaching has also created a sense of change in the general classroom discipline. This research investigates the student incivility from the student’s perspective. The target population is from the State of Kerala, India. The sample size was 244 students from different educational institutions across the State. A structured questionnaire was used to measure different incivility behaviors of students. The study used proportionate analysis for the demographic characteristics and general questions related to classroom incivility. Exploratory factor analysis was used to group the factors that contribute to classroom incivility. The outcome of this research aims to provide some insight into the students perspective of classroom incivility. This understanding would enable to educators to strengthen their classroom management skills and also develop their own strategies to deal with certain disruptive behaviours found.

On the Limits of Islamic Cinema: The Politics of Halal Cinema Discourse in Kerala, India

Some of the most crucial debates surrounding Islamic legitimacy and cinema rotate around the question of the permissible ( ḥalāl) and prohibited ( ḥarām) in Islamic law and how these function for Muslim theology and politics. Emerging from these debates, halal cinema has been one of the recent critical interventions in the field of Indian and Islamic cinema. Rather than making cinema Islamic from an ideological position, the new halal experiments with the visual language of cinema without compromising the popular dimensions of its viewership. This article looks at the politics of halal cinema within the context of the state of Kerala in South India and argues that the space of halal cinema shows the aspirations and negotiations of the Muslim community in Kerala. Halal cinema thus becomes an immanent critique of Islamic cinema by destabilizing the dominant practice that connects the relationship between Islam and cinema.

Narrating the Desert: The Sublime and Desert Experiences in V. Muzafer Ahamed’s Camels in the Sky

Abstract This essay studies the travel narrative Camels in the Sky: Travels in Arabia by V. Muzafer Ahamed. The book narrativizes the author’s extensive explorations of the desert spaces in Saudi Arabia where he worked as a newspaper reporter for 13 years. This desert writing, arguably the first of its kind by a writer from the southern Indian state of Kerala, registers a wide range of emotions including desire, excitement, wonder, and fear as the author traverses the unfamiliar terrain. The desert, in Ahamed’s narrative, is not an essentialized ecological enclosure, but rather a politicized naturecultural space infected by human interventionist presences. The sublime is a visceral experience in Ahamed’s text as he negotiates the imbrication of beauty and precarity in the desert. In the concluding section, the essay argues that sublime feelings have the potential to evoke environmental humility and foster non-anthropocentric awareness, both of which are crucial for the sustainability of our endangered planet. Considering the critical decline in interest in the sublime, as contended by Emily Brady, this essay seeks to re-engage with the trope to make a case for its continued relevance.

Income and Expenditure Patterns Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Fisherfolk Households in Malappuram District, Kerala, India

This study examines the income and expenditure patterns among migrant and non-migrant fisherfolk households in Malappuram District, Kerala. Based on a sample of 375 households, with 172 migrants and 203 non-migrants surveyed between August 2023 and December 2023. Malappuram district which is located in the southern Indian state of Kerala, is known for its Kerala model of development and foremost position in the marine fisheries sector. Employing statistical tools such as chi-square, independent sample t-tests, and multiple linear regression, the study analyses how migration affects the income and expenditure patterns of the marine fisherfolk community. The chi-square results reveal significant disparities in occupational choices influenced by migration. The independent sample t-test indicates a statistically significant difference in mean income between migrant and non-migrant households. The multiple linear regression model examines the influence of migration status on expenditure alongside other explanatory variables, revealing that migration status and income significantly predict expenditure, while family size and age do not. These results, taken together, offer a sophisticated picture of how migration affects the income and spending habits of the Malappuram district's fishing community. Several policy suggestions can be made in light of these findings to reduce inequalities and improve the standard of living for households headed by migrant and non-migrant fishermen. Migrant fishermen can increase their income levels and have more career options by implementing focused skill development and training programs. The community can be empowered and long-term benefits can be ensured by supporting education and awareness programs that emphasize sustainable fishing practices and financial literacy.

Detection of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in mosquitoes in areas co-endemic with Brugia malayi in Balasore district, Odisha, India

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a crippling and disfiguring parasitic condition. India accounts for 55% of the world’s LF burden. The filarial parasite Wuchereria bancrofti is known to cause 99.4% of the cases while, Brugia malayi accounts for 0.6% of the issue occurring mainly in some pockets of Odisha and Kerala states. The Balasore (Baleswar) district of Odisha has been a known focus of B. malayi transmission. We employed molecular xenomonitoring to detect filarial parasite DNA in vectors. In six selected villages, Gravid traps were used to collect Culex mosquitoes and hand catch method using aspirators was followed for collection of mansonioides. A total of 2903 mosquitoes comprising of Cx. quinquefasciatus (n = 2611; 89.94%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (n = 100; 3.44%), Mansonia annuliferea (n = 139; 4.78%) and Mansonia uniformis (n = 53; 1.82%) were collected from six endemic villages. The species wise mosquitoes were made into 118 pools, each with a maximum of 25 mosquitoes, dried and transported to the laboratory at VCRC, Puducherry. The mosquito pools were subjected to parasite DNA extraction, followed by Real-time PCR using LDR and HhaI probes to detect W. bancrofti and B. malayi infections, respectively. Seven pools (6.66%) of Cx. quinquefasciatus, showed infection with only W. bancrofti while none of the pools of other mosquito species showed infection with either W. bancrofti or B. malayi. Although the study area is endemic to B. malayi, none of the vectors of B. malayi was found with parasite infection. This study highlights the ongoing transmission of bancroftian filariasis in the study villages of Balasore district of Odisha and its implications for evaluating LF elimination programme.

Exploring the quality of life of palliative care patients: empirical evidence from India

PurposeThis research paper aims to study the achievement of the objectives set by the Government of Kerala through the Arogyakeralam Pain and Palliative Care project.Design/methodology/approachThe research paper delves into diverse facets of an individual’s well-being including medical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects, when confronted with an incurable and incapacitating disease through the intervention of the PPC project. This insightful study was conducted in the state of Kerala, India.FindingsThe analysis reveals that quality of life (QoL) is most influenced by spiritual, social and psychological factors. This paper raises pertinent questions about the effectiveness of PPC initiatives within the realm of medical care.Social implicationsThe thought, conception and preparation of the subject is on improving social health care by assessing the existing practices followed by the local governance. This, by far, would benefit millions by formulating appropriate policies for improving the QoL.Originality/valueThe Kerala model of health care has garnered global acclaim, standing shoulder to shoulder with the health systems of developed nations. Adopting “active total care” to address pain and allied indications, the Arogyakeralam palliative care program significantly enhances patients' QoL. The focus was to uplift the QoL of patients suffering from terminal illnesses post-pandemic.

Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal two new species of Candolleomyces (Psathyrellaceae) from India

Our continuous investigation into the diversity of psathyrelloid mushrooms in Kerala State, India, has led us to discover two new species of Candolleomyces viz., C. niveosquamosus and C. rubrobrunneus. Comprehensive morphological evaluations and multigene phylogenetic analyses involving nrITS and nrLSU served as the basis for describing these two new species. Comprehensive descriptions, photographs, and a discussion with related species are provided.

Entrepreneurial Initiatives of Women Self-Help Groups to Facilitate Sustainable Tourism: A Case Study with reference to Kudumbashree- Kerala

Abstract: Sustainable Ecotourism and cultural tourism have been emerged as an integral part of the tourism industry, that enhances economic development, and cross-cultural understanding between people and countries, and protection of environment. Kudumbashree, an all-women Community based Organization in Kerala has introduced several programs to integrate cultural heritage of the State with Tourism sector, which in turn provides livelihood to thousands of women and to empower the local communities. This paper is an enquiry into the role of Kudumbashree in the promotion of Eco- tourism and cultural tourism in Kerala State, and its implications.

Access to the Banking Services for the Religious Minorities and other Marginalised Groups in Kerala State in India in the Digital Era: A Critical Review

Balanced and equitable growth is the hall mark of sustained economic development of nations that is coupled with the welfare and prosperity of all their citizens. This in turn requires special care and attention to the religious minorities, the poor and other marginalized, and all other disadvantaged social groups. Financial inclusion that seeks to ensure access to formal banking services is a vital need for financially empowering the religious minorities and such other marginalized as well as disadvantaged groups. In fact, ICT has added another dimension to financial inclusion and the overall empowerment of the poor and the marginalized including the religious minorities, especially in the present setting of growing affordability of ICT-based devices like mobile phones. In the above context, this paper makes a closer look into exposure of banks in Kerala for providing access to the minorities and other marginalized groups.

Assessment of albendazole efficacy against Ascaris lumbricoides at three sites of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala in India

Objective: To assess efficacy of albendazole against Ascaris (A.) lumbrìcoides among school-children at three sites of Rajahmundry, Sundergarh and Wayanad. Methods: Sites were selected based on soil-transmitted helminths prevalence, different sociocultural-geographical characteristics and operational feasibility. 9-12 Years old children from 14 schools were included. The study was conducted in two rounds: baseline & follow up survey. All eligible children found positive for A. lumbricoides at baseline were administered supervised single tablet albendazole 400 mg under the National Deworming Day Initiative. During post-treatment follow-up survey, eligible children who provided second stool sample were included in the final analysis. Stool samples were examined using WHO recommended Kato-Katz technique. Efficacy was estimated based on cure rate (CR) and Fecal Egg Count Reduction Rate (FECRR) among children found positive in baseline and follow-up surveys. Results: 328 Out of 625 (52.5%) were found positive for A. lumbricoides in the baseline survey and 85 out of 178 samples (47.8%) during post-treatment follow-up survey. Overall, the estimated CR was 52.2%. FECRR (95% CI) for albendazole was 72.6% (79.2%-66.0%). The FECRR was highest in East Godaveri [89.7% (96.8%-82.6%)], followed by Sundergarh [86.4% (95.3%-77.5%)] and Wayanad [69% (81.7%-56.4%)]. Conclusions: Our study confirmed overall reduction in FEC although with varying albendazole efficacy for A. lumbricoides infection at three different locations in India. However, these finding may be assessed in context of ongoing MDA under Filaria control program and further studies by in vivo as well as in vitro methods are required to reach to a conclusion on possible resistance if any.

Comparative Analysis of Mathematical Models and App-Based Measurement for Estimating the Cutaneous Wound Areas of Captive Asian Elephants.

Objective To evaluate the variation in the area estimation under different mathematical calculations against measurement by a smartphone application in estimating the cutaneous wound areas in captive Asian elephants. Methods The study was conducted on captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) with cutaneous wounds reported to Veterinary Hospitals of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and elephant camps within and outside Kerala state (mostly southern states of India, namely, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) over the period September 2019 to October 2022. Thirty-five clinical cases diagnosed with skin wounds of different aetiologies at various parts of the body were subjected to measurement, and 111 measurements were taken using a smartphone application, Imito Measure (Imito AG, Zurich, Switzerland). Based on the outer wound perimeters hand-marked on the mobile screen over the image taken, Imito Measure calculated the length, width, perimeter, and area. The length and width measurements from this were applied to four mathematical models of wound measurements. Wound surface area calculations were further done by these models and were compared. Results The observed results indicated no significant difference between the five methods of area measurement in all the studied cases since the P > 0.05. Conclusion The findings revealed no significant difference between the five techniques of wound area measurement. From the practical clinical utility point, the smartphone application has an edge over the mathematical methods in animals, especially captive Asian elephants, as it has the major advantage of being non-contact and thus addresses some major welfare concerns.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): Normative Data for the State of Kerala, South India.

Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) is a tool that is widely accepted across the world to measure mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The original cut-off score of MoCA falsely screens a large population of Indians as having MCI. The aim of this study was to develop the normative data for MoCA for the older population of Kerala, South India. We conducted the study among 959 cognitively normal older individuals of Kalliyoor village of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The validated Malayalam version of MoCA [MoCA-M] was administered by trained volunteers. The mean, median, and 10th percentile of the scores [domain-specific and total] were calculated in various age and educational groups. The mean (SD) MoCA score was 19.4 (7.3). The 10th percentile for the total MoCA score was 9. The 10th percentile for all domains was zero, except for orientation. As age advanced, MoCA scores significantly reduced. The mean total MoCA scores dropped from 20.1 (7) [for ages between 65 and 75 years] to 7.4 (1.6) [for ages above 85 years]. We also obtained a significant improvement in scores among subjects with higher educational standards. The study throws light into the performance of MoCA among the Indian population. This study defines the norms for the Indian population and suggests redefining the threshold for positively screening for MCI using MoCA-M.

WOMEN AND WORK: DEMAND FOR LOW-PAID WORK AND MOVEMENT TO CITIES IN KERALA

Despite the achievements of the Indian state of Kerala in development indicators with a negligible gender gap, when it comes to employment, the performance of women’s paid participation falls below expectations. The low work participation rate of women in Kerala over the decades has been showing signs of improvement in the recent PLFS surveys. Apart from the reported increase in work through Kudumbaree and MGNREGA, the paper argues that the recent economic changes have created an increase in demand for low-paid work of women, contributing to this change. The paper tries to understand the nature of this demand created especially in the cities, by focusing on two low-end categories of work -salesgirls and domestic workers. The paper also tries to trace an emerging pattern of intrastate movement of women for work in the cities in these newly created job opportunities. The paper is based on primary survey, supplemented by secondary data and literature.

The Socio-Economic and Ecological Impacts of Water Hyacinth Proliferation in water bodies: A Case from Greater Kochi area in South India

Purpose of this study is to critically analyze the socio-ecological impact of water hyacinth on the water bodies passing through 7 wards of the Thrippunithura Municipality in the Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala, India, by checking the quality of water and conducting surveys among the people. Research Design The study employs a combination of exploratory and descriptive research approaches. Purposive sampling targets individuals directly impacted by water hyacinth proliferation. Methodology Data collection involved direct surveys using a structured questionnaire and water samples from selected regions. Results: reveal significant socio-economic ramifications of water hyacinth proliferation, particularly impacting fishing communities. Challenges include job losses, diminished access to fishing grounds, navigational hindrances, reduced catches, and fish scarcity. Ecologically, water quality parameters show notable disparities between heavily-infested and less-infested areas, highlighting the weed's impact on aquatic ecosystems. The phytoremediation potential of water hyacinth was also explored, revealing its ability to accumulate heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, iron, and arsenic. Originality of Research This study records the socio-ecological impact of water hyacinths on the communities and environment, particularly the water bodies, of the Greater Cochin area, Kerala, India.

MAPPILAPPAATTU AND OPPANA: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL NOTE ON MAPPILA SONGS AND PERFORMING ART

The Muslim population of Kerala state is known as the Mappilas. The community is formed due to commerce between the Arabians and the Malabarians. Indigenous culture had a significant effect on Mappila's arts and ceremonies. The Mappilas created a distinctive cultural pattern that encompassed a variety of artistic aspects, including their traditional song, Mappilappaattus, and one of the most exquisite performing arts, Oppana. Most scholarly research on Mappilas is historical and ignores anthropological elements like arts and rituals. Thus, this essay aims to offer an anthropological perspective on Mappila songs, known as Mappilappaattu and the performing art of Mappila women, known as Oppana. While examining the nature of Mappilappaattus and its many genres, this research highlights that the secularised Mappilappaattus, which was primarily romantic in substance, drew people from beyond the Mappila community. Oppana also had a secular and romantic tone, which appealed to the public. The popularity of Mappilappaattus and Oppana can be explained, for example, by looking at the history of Malayalam films. Mappilappaattu and Oppana were staples of Malayalam film from the beginning of the 1950s.

FORMATION OF A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY IN KASARAGOD: A HISTORICAL STUDY

Kasaragod in the northern part of Kerala State has its own cultural background from ancient period onwards. The people of this area is still living there without considering social, religious and caste differences that may be started since the Pre-historic period. Like any other civilized society, the people of Kasaragod also very much imbibed by their traditional beliefs and ritual practices handed down from generation to generation.Politically, this region has been witnessed plenty of military conquests. The geographical features, early political conquests, religious migration and the commercial contacts paved the way for the development of a composite culture in Kasaragod. Because of the external contacts, new type of beliefs and ritual practices came into the life of the native people at Kasaragod. In the course of time, it became a meeting ground of different communities with mutual co-existence and thereby a multi-cultural society developed in the northern part of Malabar.The present study is an attempt to know the general features of Kasaragod and to discuss how a pluralistic society developed in the northernmost part of Kerala.

Cost-effective analysis of hepatitis A vaccination in Kerala state, India

Cost-effective analysis of hepatitis A vaccination in Kerala state, India

Dalit Echoes, Green Stories: Understanding the Caste-Environment Nexus in South Indian Raps

The southernmost Indian state of Kerala has recently experienced a massive engagement with rap music, unlike another region in the global south. These raps have been at the forefront of addressing social, ecological, and political issues. In India, caste is a significant social, political, and ecological issue that greatly hinders cultural sustainability. Caste, a deeply ingrained social hierarchy, significantly influences access to natural resources, living conditions, and environmental health, perpetuating social inequalities. Though caste and nature are interwoven inextricably, their discussions in the academic space are limited. However, discussions on the ecology of caste have found their space in the rap music of Kerala. This paper focuses on how this new-age digital manifestation explores human and intra-human relationships within the context of caste and has generated a discourse of resistance in the process of reclaiming Dalit rights and agency as ecological beings. The theoretical framework of Dalit hip hop ecology devised through the integration of ‘hip hop ecologies’ and ‘Dalit ecologies’ aids in conceptualising the relationship between caste, environment, and rap music. This brings in a new dimension of reading Dalit environmental politics through the lens of music, exploring its resistive and transformative potential as these raps not only reflect but also challenge and resist caste-based environmental injustices.

Antecedents of organic prosumption behaviour: examining the moderating effect of ease of organic prosumption practice

Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to examine the moderating effect of ease of organic prosumption practice on the causal relationships between the antecedents of organic prosumption intention and organic prosumption behaviour of organic prosumers in India. Methodology / approach. The Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) is used to examine the intention and behaviour of engaging in organic prosumption. An empirical investigation was conducted among 128 organic prosumers in Kerala State in India. Data were collected using a survey instrument. Hypotheses were tested using PLS-based structural equation modeling using Smart-PLS software. Results. The relevance of the TPB model is confirmed with modifications in the present study in Indian context. Attitude towards organic prosumption, and perceived behaviour control together accounted for 35.7 % of variation in the organic prosumption intention, and subjective norms had no effect on intention of organic prosumers. Organic prosumption intention explained 48.1 % variation in organic prosumption behaviour. Ease of practicing organic prosumption significantly moderated all cause effect relations predicting intention and behaviour. In the context of increasing awareness on the benefits of organic farming and prosumption behaviour, the study provides a theoretical explanation for explaining why people engage in organic prosumption behaviour. Originality / scientific novelty. This paper examines the Theory of planned behaviour in the context of organic prosumption behaviour in agriculture. No literature exists in Indian context to explain such behaviour. Moreover, the perception of these farmers on the ease of practising organic prosumption is also examined as a moderator. Development of a theoretical model to explain organic prosumption behaviour in an Indian context is the novelty of the present study. Practical value / implications. Organic farming and prosumption has gradually gain wide acceptance as a sustainable way of life. The United Nations have also highlighted the need for sustainable practices in production and consumption. Thus, in the immediate future, governments across the globe will have to look into policy formulations in organic farming and prosumption practices. This paper can contribute towards such efforts by throwing light into how prosumption behaviour is formed, and what are the factors that contribute to and moderate such behaviour.

The Resilience of the Built Environment to Flooding: The Case of Alappuzha District in the South Indian State of Kerala

In recent years, floods and climate-induced cataclysms have caused significant annual damage to livelihoods worldwide, with limited research on their vulnerability, impact, resilience, and long-term adaptation strategies in developing countries. In the South Indian State of Kerala, the major flood in 2018 caused immense economic losses in the low-lying and densely populated Alappuzha District. While the region has a heightened risk of periodic flooding, the considerable destruction of buildings and infrastructure highlights the need for effective solutions for flood resilience in the existing housing stock and new construction. In this context, this study examines flood resilience in the built environment of Alappuzha, focusing on flood vulnerability, building practices, and potential approaches suitable for the region that the current literature does not address. This study employs a qualitative research approach to understand current trends in adaptation strategies and the influencing socioeconomic and cultural factors. The study employs various data collection methods, including interviews, site observations, and content analyses of existing government reports, journal articles, and popular media sources. The findings indicate that although there are three types of established flood resilience techniques (static elevated, floating, and amphibious structures), their suitability for the low-lying areas of Alappuzha depends on the geographic, climatic, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts. Stilted houses have become the most common construction method, in response to climatic and socioeconomic conditions. In addition, the findings highlight the bounce-forth resilience quality of amphibious building techniques and suggest further exploration by integrating them with local technologies and materials. The study concludes that a comprehensive approach is needed that integrates traditional and modern knowledge and practices in disaster risk reduction and management to enhance the resilience of the built environment to flooding.