Ludhiana District Of Punjab Research Articles

Augmentation of farmers' income in India through sustainable waste management techniques.

The Government of India has envisaged a journey of doubling farmers' income till 2022-2023 and envisioned many policy reforms for the same. Farmers in India rely on major farm produce and do not utilize the by-products or wastes emerging from their farms for monetary benefits. Sustainable utilization of agricultural, household and livestock waste have the potential in augmenting farmers' income significantly which was established by conducting case studies in Ludhiana District of Punjab on three dairy farmers, each pursuing vermicomposting, biogas production and traditional composting. Comparative economic analysis in terms of various costs were worked out for vermicomposting, composting and biogas production. On analysis, it was found that the highest net returns per metric tonne of dung were obtained from vermicomposting (INR 2224.72, USD 29.42), followed by biogas production (INR 536.66, USD 7.10) and composting (INR 45.59, USD 0.60). Net returns from the dung obtained from one cattle equivalent were highest from vermicomposting (INR 11012.34, USD 145.64), followed by biogas production (INR 2656.74, USD 35.14) and composting (INR 225.68, USD 2.98). High profitability was accorded to vermicomposting because it is sold at remunerative prices. The study emphasizes the utilization of wastes through vermicomposting clubbed with biogas production for augmenting farmers' income.

Information Needs of Women Regarding Health and Hygiene Practices

Information is a source of power and is important for individual growth and survival. Information about health and hygiene is crucial because it influences an individual’s quality of life. As far as health and hygiene practices are concerned, women play an active role in getting information about these; hence there is a need to study their information needs regarding health and hygiene. After finding out the needs of women regarding these aspects, accordingly information can be made accessible to them. Keeping this into account, the present study was conducted in Ludhiana district of Punjab. Data was taken from 200 rural and urban women of 25-50 years, by the help of an interview schedule. Health and hygiene practices were studied under three categories as personal, food related and household health and hygiene practices. Information needs were studied on a three point continuum i.e. highly needed, somewhat needed and not needed. Results of the study showed that under personal health and hygiene practice, information on hair care and obesity was most needed. The most needed information regarding food related health and hygiene was on low cost nutritious recipes. The major information need reported by the respondents was related to control of insects and pests in case of household health and hygiene practices and majority of the respondents had low level of information need for all health and hygiene practices. Information needs of the women were positively related with their education and mass media exposure, whereas age was negatively correlated with the information needs of women. Consequently, there is a need to educate women regarding health and hygiene practices through effective communication methods, so that they can realize the importance and need for information on these topics.

Assessment of fish harvest and post-harvest losses in Ludhiana district of Punjab- A case study

Assessment of fish harvest and post-harvest losses in Ludhiana district of Punjab- A case study

Insights into organic waste management practices followed by dairy farmers of Ludhiana District, Punjab: Policy challenges and solutions.

The study was conducted in Ludhiana District of Punjab (India) to understand the organic waste management practices followed by dairy farmers of the area. To investigate the practices pertaining to organic waste management, an ex-post facto research design was used and a total of 80 dairy farmers were selected randomly for the study, grouped as small and large dairy farmers. Results revealed that the majority of the farmers were using paddy straw as animal bedding followed by in situ burning. As far as paddy stubbles were concerned, most of the farmers were mulching them followed by in situ burning. All farmers were found to be using wheat straw as livestock feed and mulching wheat stubbles. For household waste, the majority of the farmers were found to be feeding kitchen waste to their livestock, preparing farmyard manure from garden waste and paper waste. For dairy waste management, all the farmers were preparing farmyard manure from dung and discarding livestock urine in drains. A little more than half of the farmers were producing biogas from the dairy waste. The majority of the dairy farmers of the research area were found to have low organic waste utilization scores. Relational analysis was carried out and social participation and knowledge level were found to be highly significant (p < 0.01) with a positive effect on the organic waste utilization score. Therefore, the study was concluded with the impression that the knowledge level of the farmers needs to be enhanced for better and effective utilization of organic waste.

Satisfaction level of farmers regarding custom hiring services through cooperative agricultural service societies (CASSs) in Ludhiana district of Punjab

Custom hiring services (CHSs) enable the farmers to take the required equipment on hire basis for a defined period only thus paying for the services of the machines without having them. The present study was undertaken to find out the satisfaction level of farmers availing the services from the cooperative agricultural service societies (CASSs). A sample of 150 farmers who were availing the custom hiring services from five CASSs was selected. It was observed that majority of the farmers were in the age group of 44 to 62 years; lived in joint families; had educational level up to matric and medium to semi-medium operational landholding. Majority of the farmers had low to medium mass media exposure. Maximum number of farmers acquired information regarding custom hiring services from the officials of CASSs. Majority of them had a high level of satisfaction regarding the CHSs. About one-fifth of the farmers were dissatisfied with the less number of machines in the society followed by non-availability of machines at the time of requirement. The other prominent reason for the dissatisfaction of farmers was non-availability of required number of machines.

Seasonal variation in oxidative stress markers of Murrah buffaloes in heavy metal exposed areas of Ludhiana

The parameters related to oxidative stress and heavy metal levels were assessed during summer and winter seasons in buffaloes from environmentally exposed areas (n=60) of Ludhiana district of Punjab (India) and control area (n=40). Buffaloes of heavy metal exposed areas exhibited significantly (p less than 0.05) increased blood levels of Cr, Ni, As and Pb along with significantly (p less than 0.05) higher erythrocytic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; whereas significant (p less than 0.05) decrease was observed in superoxide dismutase activity and the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamins C and E as compared to buffaloes from control area. The level of oxidative stress was higher in all buffaloes during summer as compared to winter as indicated by significantly (p less than 0.05) higher MDA level, and lower concentrations of GSH, vitamins C and E irrespective of the area. Blood Cr, Ni, As and Pb levels showed highly significant positive correlation (p less than 0.01) with MDA level but negative correlation with SOD activity and the concentrations of GSH, vitamins C and E. Thus, it may be concluded that buffaloes exposed to heavy metals encounter significant oxidative stress and potential to quench free radicals is compromised during summer.

Educational Inequalities, Class Structure and the State: Evidence from a Study of a Village in Punjab

This research project explores the level of education among various economic and social groups by examining the literacy rate, enrollment rate and the attainment of education in Sekha village located in Ludhiana district of Punjab. Wide levels of disparity were seen among groups and classes in accessing education, right from the primary level to the higher level. Differences were evident in the expenditure on education incurred by parents, in the average year of schooling, expected years of schooling and even in the Human Development Index of the area. It has been argued that structural inequalities inherent in a village further perpetuate inequalities in education. More than 70 years after Independence, the village surveyed showed that not only did inequalities remain in a village's class, caste and gender structures but they manifested themselves in education, too. Nation-wide the literacy rate has improved in India, but inequalities spanning generations have remained.

Psycho-social climate of school as a correlate of moral values among school children

The present study was undertaken to assess the correlation between perceived psychosocial climate of school and moral values among school children. The present study was conducted in Ludhiana district of Punjab. The respondents of the study were school going children (aged 10-12 years) randomly selected from Government High School and Senior Secondary Schools located in rural and urban areas of Ludhiana district. To assess the psycho-social climate of school of the selected respondents the School Environment Inventory (SEI) by K.S Mishra was used. For assessment of moral values among children Moral Value Scale (MVS) (Gupta and Sen, 1971) was used. It was observed that all the dimensions of perceived psycho-social climate of school were positively significantly correlated with total moral values but the dimension of rejection and control had negative correlation with moral values. The correlation between perceived psycho-social climate of school with moral values was observed to be statistically significant among rural and urban children as well as among boys and girls, in positive direction indicating that perceived psycho-social climate of school is a positive correlate of moral values among children.

Water management strategies at household level

The present study entitled ‘Water management strategies at household level’ was conducted in Ludhiana district of Punjab. A sample of 150 women was interviewed to know the extent of use of water while performing various activities and to get their suggestions to save water for future use. The findings of the study highlighted that majority of the respondents belonged to age group of 29-39 years, belonged to general and nuclear family. Further sixty eight per cent of the respondents wasted water upto ‘great extent’ while washing of vegetables directly under running taps and 53.33 per cent wasted water while brushing, shaving, cleaning the hand etc. most of the respondents suggested to avoid wastage of water at home. To protect the earth’s most precious resource to meet the current and future human demand, paper highlighted various water management technologies to be adopted at household level to save water resources.

SOCIAL COMPETENCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RELATION TO SELF-CONFIDENCE

The main objective of present study was to find out the relationship between Social Competence and Self Confidence of Government senior secondary school students. To achieve this objective, social competence scale (SCS) by V.P. Sharma, Prabha Shukla and Kiran Shukla (1992) and Self-confidence inventory by Dr. M. Baswana (1971) were used. The sample consists of 200 students of various government senior secondary school selected randomly from Ludhiana District of Punjab, India. The sample was equally categorized between Boys-Girls and Arts-Science Students. The results revealed that there exists a significant relationship between self confidence and social competence of Government Senior Secondary School Students. It means that self confidence affects the social competence of Government Senior Secondary School Students.

Assessment of water quality parameters of Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana district of Punjab

Assessment of water quality parameters of Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana district of Punjab

A STUDY OF THE ATTITUDE OF TEACHERS, PARENTS AND ADOLESCENTS TOWARDS SEX EDUCATION

This study is an attempt to investigate attitude of teachers, parents and adolescents towards sex education in relation to some demographic variables. The sample consisted of 50 teachers, 50 parents and 100 adolescents from Ludhiana district of Punjab. Descriptive survey method was used for the present study. Using convenient sampling method the data was collected. Three self-constructed attitude scales entitled 'Attitude towards Sex Education', one each for parents, teachers and adolescents were used for the study. From the results it was found that mostly teachers have favourable attitude towards sex education. Majority of the teachers reported that teachers need special training in discussing sexuality with students. Mostly parents believed that sex education would help children to be more responsible in their sexual behaviour. Findings also showed that male teachers had a significantly more favourable attitude towards sex education as compared to female teachers; Fathers showed significantly more favourable attitude towards sex education than mothers; Highly educated parents had significantly more positive attitude towards sex education than less educated parents. The results also reveal that economic status of parents has no effect on their attitude towards sex education. The attitude of boys towards sex education is significantly more favourable as compared to girls.

A study on difference in aggressive behaviour of adolscents boys and girls

The present study entitled difference in aggressive behaviour of was undertaken in the Ludhiana district of Punjab. The study was designed to compare aggressive behaviour of adolescent boys and girls across low and middle socio-economic strata. The sample comprised of 400 adolescents (200 boys and 200 girls) of the age group 13- 17 years equally distributed over two different socio-economic strata i.e. low and middle (200 LSES and 200 MSES). Socio-economic status scale by Bharadwaj and Buss- Durkee aggression scale by Sultania, was used in this research study. Gender differentials revealed that adolescent boys were more assaultive, negative and verbally aggressive than adolescent girls, while girls were more suspicious than boys. Low socio-economic status boys outnumbered girls in expression of negative behaviour and verbal aggression. In middle socio-economic status boys are more assaultive than girls while girls are more irritative and suspicious than boys. Mean difference showed boys exceed girls in showing assaultive behaviour, negativism and expression of verbal aggressive while girls were more suspicious than boys. Two way interaction involving socio- economic status and gender in different dimensions of aggression showed boys with low socio- economic status had nearly same intensity of negativism as girls with middle socio-economic status followed by boys with middle socio-economic status. The lowest level of negativism was found in girls with low socio-economic status.

Academic Achievement of Adolescents in Relation to Study Habits

The purpose of the present study was to find out the relationship between academic achievement and study habits of adolescents. A representative sample of 100 students studying in 9th class was randomly selected from senior secondary schools of Ludhiana district of Punjab (India). Marks obtained by the adolescents in previous annual examination were taken as an index of Academic Achievement .Study Habits Inventory by Dr. N.S Yadav has been used for data collection. Data was analyzed by using t-test and coefficient of correlation. The result indicates that there is a strong positive correlation between academic achievement and study habits of adolescents.

Price Spread and Marketing Efficiency in the Marketing of Broilers in Ludhiana District of Punjab

The present study was conducted to examine the production and disposal pattern of broilers in Ludhiana district of Punjab, to estimate the marketing costs, margins and efficiency of different broiler marketing channels in the study area and to analyze the various problems associated with the marketing of broilers. The study brought out that the major marketing channels identified in the marketing of broilers in the study area were: Channel-I (Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer) and Channel-II (Producer-Retailer-Consumer). The results revealed that, on an average, 58.33 per cent of the broiler farmers marketed their broilers exclusively through the wholesalers, whereas only 18.33 per cent farmers sold their broilers exclusively to the retailers and 23.33 per cent farmers sold their broilers both to the wholesalers as well as retailers. The retailers purchased only 12 per cent of the total marketable surplus of broilers directly from the farmers. The proportion of broilers sold by the farmers directly to the wholesalers was 88 per cent of the total produce sold. The producer's share in consumer's rupee in channel-I was found to be 74.38 per cent while the total price spread was 25.61 percent. In marketing channel-Il, the net share received by the producer was 80.60 per cent of the consumer's rupee. Further, the marketing costs and margins in this channel were found to be 13.20 percent and 6.20 percent respectively.. Hence, total price spread wasl9.40 percent. The marketing efficiency in Channel-II (Produce-Retailer-Consumer) was found to be higher (4.16) as compared to Channel-I (Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer) which was estimated to be 2.90. Since only one intermediary was involved in Channel-II where the producer farmer sold the broilers to the retailers, the marketing expenses were lower and hence the marketing efficiency was higher. Lack of regulated markets, Delay in payments and payments made in fractions, lack of producer associations and no appropriate price information were some of the problems faced by the broiler farmers. The broiler market is dominated by wholesalers, thus the farmers can be saved from exploitation by encouraging the group marketing, co-operative marketing, contract farming etc.

Moral Values among Children: A Study on Gender Differences

The present study was undertaken to assess the gender differences in moral values of school children. The present study was conducted in Ludhiana district of Punjab. The respondents of the study were school going children (aged 10–12 years) randomly selected from Government High School and Senior Secondary Schools located in rural and urban areas of Ludhiana district. For assessment of moral values among children Moral Value Scale (MVS) (Gupta and Sen, 1971) was used. The significant gender differences were observed in moral values among the total respondents across all the dimensions of moral values. The boys in rural areas had higher moral values viz. truthfulness, honesty, resistance to stealing, resistance to cheating as compared to girls although urban girls were more truthful while boys had better control towards their stealing habits but gender differences were found to be non-significant across various dimensions of moral values.

Optimistic-Pessimistic Tendency among Senior Secondary School Students

Descriptive research and survey method has been used. All the senior secondary school studying in different senior secondary schools in Ludhiana district of Punjab constitutes the population for the present study. The investigator has selected 200 students (100 each from govt. and private schools) from 20 schools by using simple random-sampling technique. To collect data, optimistic-pessimistic scale by D.S. Parasar was used and for result analysis, t-test has also applied. The findings of the study revealed that there exists no significance difference in optimistic-pessimistic tendency among senior secondary school male and female students studying in government and private schools.

Strategies for Accelerated Adoption of Improved Farm Technologies and Allied Enterprises for Income Enhancement

The present study was conducted in Jagraon block of Ludhiana district of Punjab during the year 2014 to analyse the adoption of improved farm technologies and allied enterprises by the farmers. A sample of 210 farmers was selected, representing all the farm size categories in a cluster of four villages. The data were collected with the help of structured interview schedule. It was found that agriculture in these villages was characterised by small land holdings with prevalence of rice-wheat cropping system with lesser adoption of subsidiary enterprises and over dependence on farm mechanisation. Strategies for adoption of recommended farm technologies and allied enterprises include the intensification of extension activities supported with institutional credit, creating marketing and agro-processing facilities. Integrated farming system is advocated as an option for income enhancement of marginal and small farmers. Rural unemployed youth should be imparted vocational trainings to facilitate adoption of allied farm enterprises. Marginal and small farmers must be encouraged to use farm machinery on custom hiring basis to curtail the input costs.

Critical thinking as a correlate of stress management among rural adolescent girls

Critical thinking is the ability to apply intelligent problem-solving techniques to a particular situation. It means asking the right questions of the right people, listening to the responses and developing an approach to resolution that makes sense. The study investigates the effect of critical thinking on the management of stress. For the study 132 rural adolescent girls were selected from the Ludhiana district of Punjab. Self structured tests on critical thinking and Stress Management have been used. The findings revealed that correlation was significant in the post test scores of critical thinking and Stress Management. Thus, the study implies that educators and parents should enhance the critical thinking of adolescent so that they manage their stress successfully.

Assessment of Empowerment among Women Entrepreneurs in Ludhiana District of Punjab

Empowering women is the best incentive for development of society. Half of the population of India is composed of women and their empowerment would decide the empowerment of the society. Empowerment means development of women in terms of economical, social, physical, mental, educational and political growth. This paper tries to find out whether economic activity of the women empowers them. We have interviewed 60 women entrepreneurs during the Kisan Mela (Farmer's Fair) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 2011. Kisan Mela (Farmer's Fair) is an agricultural exhibition which is organized by agricultural universities every year in Kharif and Rabi season of agriculture. Women are in a vulnerable position and face a host of challenges when starting or seeking to grow their business, some of the challenges are rooted in socio-cultural norms and patriarchal practices which put women in an inferior position to men. In addition, women are seen to work twice as hard as men to prove that they are capable of doing a good job. Entrepreneurship is considered to be a significa nt determinant of economic development.