Mahbubnagar District Research Articles

Socio-demographic Characteristics of School Dropouts in Mahbubnagar District of Telangana State, India

Free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of fourteen years is the commitment of the Constitution of India. The governments of India and state governments have initiated a number of programmes to achieve the goal of universalization of elementary education. Among them Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the recent addition. According to the handbook of education statistics (2013-14), 38.2 per cent of children in the state who had enrolled in Class I did not reach Class X and were thus, deprived of basic education. To improve retention in government schools, understanding the socio-demographic characteristics of the parents of school dropout children would be advantageous. For the purposes of the study, a field survey was conducted in 18 villages of six rural Mandals of Mahbubnagar district with a sample of 401 respondents. Study finding revealed that both boys and girls in the age group of six to 18 years were equally vulnerable to dropouts. About 90 per cent of the school dropout children were from the government schools and three in five children in the age group of 15 to 18 years were dropped out from the school

Socio-demographic Characteristics of School Dropouts in Mahbubnagar District of Telangana State, India

Free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of fourteen years is the commitment of the Constitution of India. The governments of India and state governments have initiated a number of programmes to achieve the goal of universalization of elementary education. Among them Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is the recent addition. According to the handbook of education statistics (2013-14), 38.2 per cent of children in the state who had enrolled in Class I did not reach Class X and were thus, deprived of basic education. To improve retention in government schools, understanding the socio-demographic characteristics of the parents of school dropout children would be advantageous. For the purposes of the study, a field survey was conducted in 18 villages of six rural Mandals of Mahbubnagar district with a sample of 401 respondents. Study finding revealed that both boys and girls in the age group of six to 18 years were equally vulnerable to dropouts. About 90 per cent of the school dropout children were from the government schools and three in five children in the age group of 15 to 18 years were dropped out from the school

Economics and constraint analysis of non traditional maize farmers in Mahbubnagar district under Tank of Andhra Pradesh

This paper has been drawn from part of work done by the authors to assist Varsha NGO, Hyderabad in project on the value chain analysis of maize with an objective to study the economics of maize farmers cultivating under tank irrigation and constraints faced by them in Mahbubnagar district. The study showed that out of total cost of cultivation of Rs. 32041.23 per hectare, the operational costs contributed 84.41 per cent and the remaining 15.59 per cent by fixed costs. Farmers secured a net benefit cost ratio of Rs.0.56, i.e., receiving Rs. 0.56 for every rupee invested in maize cultivation. Small farm holdings and limited resource availability and vagaries of monsoon like drought associated with highest cost on labour increased pressure of diseases/pests are the major constraints faced by the farmers in the study area.

Middle Finger is an Estimate of Stature

Unknown bodies pose a big challenge and demand an extra effort from the Forensic Expert. The task of a Forensic Expert in the Mortuary in an Unknown body is to note down all the data available to fix the Identity. Numerous equations and formulae are available to deduce the stature from various big bones[1]. This study has been taken up to corroborate the findings of those few studies which were already done, with the same methodology[3]. Since stature varies with race, sex and geographical locations, the present study was done to see the relationship of middle finger length with stature in Mahbubnagar District. The present study was carried out in the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at SVS Medical College, Mahbubnagar, Telangana State. A total of 200 subjects were included in the study, out of which 100 were males and 100 were females within the age group of 18 to 23 years. Middle finger lengths of both sides were recorded along with stature of the person. The data collected was subjected to statistical analysis using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to know the correlation of the stature with the middle finger length. The reliability of estimation of stature from the lengths of middle finger was determined with the help of ‘p’ value, SEE, r, r Square and regression equations. A moderate correlation was observed between middle finger length and height of a person which is statistically highly significant.

Assessing health and rehabilitation needs of people with disabilities in Cameroon and India

Purpose: To assess the association between disability and serious health problems, and the access and uptake of health and rehabilitation services in Cameroon and India.Methods: We undertook a population-based case–control study, nested within a survey in Fundong Health District, North West Cameroon (August–October 2013) and in Mahbubnagar District, Telangana State, India (February–April 2014). Disability was defined as the presence of self-reported difficulties in functioning or clinical impairments. One control without disability was selected per case, matched by age, gender and cluster. Information was collected using structured questionnaires on: socioeconomic status, health, access to health services and rehabilitation.Results: Cases with disability were significantly more likely to report a serious health problem in the last year compared to controls in both India (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 2.1–4.8) and Cameroon (OR = 1.9, 1.4–2.7). The vast majority of people sought care when seriously ill, and this did not vary between cases and controls. Awareness and use of rehabilitation services was extremely low in both Cameroon and India.Conclusions: Further focus is needed to improve awareness of rehabilitation services among people with disabilities in India and Cameroon to ensure that their rights are fulfilled and to achieve the goal of Universal Health Coverage.Implications for RehabilitationPeople with and without disabilities equally seek health care in India and Cameroon.However, people with disabilities experience more frequent serious health problems than people without.Extremely few people with disabilities were aware of rehabilitation services despite their existence in the study settings.

Hydrogeochemistry and Assessment of Ground Water Quality in Mahbubnagar District, Telangana State, India with Special Emphasis on Fluoride Distribution and its Impact on Health

Hydrogeochemistry and Assessment of Ground Water Quality in Mahbubnagar District, Telangana State, India with Special Emphasis on Fluoride Distribution and its Impact on Health

Changing trends in the prevalence of visual impairment, uncorrected refractive errors and use of spectacles in Mahbubnagar district in South India

Background/Aim:The Andhra Pradesh Eye disease Study (APEDS) was a conventional cross-sectional study conducted in four locations during 1996-2000. Ten years later, a Rapid Assessment of Refractive Errors (RARE) survey was conducted in one of the geographical regions. The prevalence of visual impairment (VI), uncorrected refractive error (URE), spectacles use obtained from both the surveys was compared.Settings and Design:Rural settings; cross-sectional studies.Materials and Methods:In both the surveys, distance visual acuity (VA) was assessed using a logMAR chart. Pinhole VA was assessed if presenting VA was <20/20 in APEDS and <20/40 in RARE. VI was defined as presenting VA <20/40 in the better eye. URE was defined as presenting VA <20/40 and improving to ≥20/40 with a pinhole.Statistical Analysis Used:Performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Chi square tests and t-test were used.Results and Conclusions:The results from a RARE survey with 3,095 subjects were compared with an APEDS dataset that had 1,232 subjects in the same age group of 15-49 years. The prevalence of VI has decreased from 9.5% (95% CI, 7.7-11.1) in APEDS to 2.7% (95% CI, 2.1-3.3) in RARE. Similarly, the prevalence of URE in the better eye decreased from 5.8% (95% CI, 4.5-7.1) to 2.3% (95% CI, 1.8-2.8). The usage of spectacles increased from 6.6% (95% CI, 5.2-8.0) to 9.7% (95% CI, 8.7-10.7). There is a decreasing trend in the prevalence of VI and URE in Mahbubnagar district in Andhra Pradesh over a decade.

IS CASTOR A SUITABLE ALTERNATE UNDER TANK IRRIGATION? A CASE STUDY IN MAHBUBNAGAR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

The present study was an attempt to analyse the resource use efficiency of castor cultivated under Gunta Cheruvu tank with ayacut area of 121.7 acres in Mahbubnagar district as castor is adopted under the tank. Total cost of cultivation was Rs.21867/ha of which operational costs accounted to Rs. 18573/ha (84.94 per cent). Mean yield was as good as Rs. 9.95 Qt/ha higher than district average which ranged from 730 to 800 Kg/ha. Gross income from one hectare castor was Rs. 35813.30/ha. Farmers were able to secure a net benefit cost ratio of 0.55. The results of Cobb Douglas production function revealed that the farms are under increasing returns to scale (1.326) indicating the scope for improvement in yields. Among the inputs, positive and significant were machine labour, farm yard manure and plant protection chemicals (0.211, 0.363 and 0.34) which can be increased in quantum for increasing the yields. Bullock labour component is excessively used as confirmed by negative production elasticity -0.102. The coefficient of multiple determination is 66.4 i.e., 66.4 per cent of the variation in output is explained by the variables considered. Farmers opined that if good management practices are adopted, with quality of seed, resistant to diseases viz., wilt and botrytis and emerging pests like capsule borer, yields can be better. So castor can be considered as a suitable alternate under tank areas when ever paddy cannot be grown due to insufficient water.

Value Addition to Crop Residues

A two-year field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2004 and 2005 in the farmers' fields of Mahbubnagar district in Andhra Pradesh, India, to test the practice of cattle shed bedding with groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) shells by preparing Groundnut Shell Manure (GSM) and its application along with Farmers' practice (FP) and in comparison with five treatments namely, FP only, FP and GSM, FP and compost, regenerative (only organics) and Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF), FP and RDF being the checks on rainy season rainfed groundnut and castor (Ricinus communis L.) crops. The results indicated that crops receiving GSM and compost performed well during the deficit rainfall year (2004) as well as during the normal rainfall year (2005) and recorded 12–16% higher yields of groundnut and 9–14% higher yields in castor over the FP. During 2004 which was a deficit rainfall year, GSM and compost application enhanced soil moisture by 14–40%, percentage of filled pods by 59–65% and 100 seed weight by 18% in groundnut while in castor 6–33% improved soil moisture enhanced capsules per plant from 45 to 57% without any significant effect on 100 seed weight. These treatments were followed by groundnut shell applied crop, RDF and regenerative (organics only) treatments. However, during 2005 the order in which higher yields achieved by treatments were GSM application, compost followed by RDF due to well-distributed rainfall. Therefore to sustain yields in rainfed groundnut and castor crops, present experimentation emphasized application of organics to improve soil fertility and drought management ability by recycling crop residues through a simple process of cattle shed bedding. This was an attempt to introduce the practice of cattle shed bedding as value addition to process other locally available crop residues to the practitioners of farming (especially parts of Africa and Latin America).

On the Fish Fauna of Koil Sagar, Mahbubnagar District, Andhra Pradesh, South India with Suggestions for Conservation of its Vulnerable species

On the Fish Fauna of Koil Sagar, Mahbubnagar District, Andhra Pradesh, South India with Suggestions for Conservation of its Vulnerable species

New Proterozoic KAr ages for some kimberlites and lamproites from the Cuddapah Basin and Dharwar Craton, South India: evidence for non-contemporaneous emplacement

We report new KAr age determinations carried out on mica separates from kimberlites and lamproites that occur within and adjacent to the intra-cratonic Cuddapah basin in southern India. This work includes the first ages obtained from the Ramannapeta lamproite (at the northeastern margin of the Cuddapah basin) and from one of the kimberlites in the Mahbubnagar district. The Ramannapeta lamproite and the Kotakonda kimberlite were both emplaced in the Proterozoic and have ages of 1384 ± 18 and 1363 ± 48 Ma, respectively. These dates are similar to the 1350 ± 52 Ma age obtained here for the Chelima lamproite (within the Cuddapah basin). The Muligiripalle kimberlite (Pipe 5 of the Anantapur district) on the other hand yielded a much lower age of 1153 ± 17 Ma. Our results demonstrate that the emplacement of the Indian kimberlites and lamproites during the Proterozoic did not take place within the span of 30 Ma around 1090 Ma as some workers have recently advocated, but occurred over a period of 300 Ma. The Chelima (within the Cuddapah basin) and Ramannapeta lamproites represent some of the oldest lamproites world-wide and, together with the Kotakonda kimberlite, they might constitute a hitherto unrecognised Proterozoic episode of potassic magmatism at ∼ 1350–1380 Ma.

Issues in energy subsidies for irrigation pumping A case study from Mahbubnagar District, Andhra Pradesh, India

The provision of power for irrigation pumping has been an important policy in India since the 1960s. It includes huge investments in the national grid and subsidies to farm households for the use of electricity, involving major losses to the state electricity boards. The government of India is now reviewing its subsidies policy. The present paper seeks to contribute to the current debate by examining the relative benefits of use of electricity is-à-vis diesel engines for irrigation pumping in a backward rain fed area in the semi-arid region of Andhra Pradesh. It demonstrates the cost advantage to farmers of electric pumpsets over diesel engines given the low operational costs arising from high subsidies. The losses incurred by the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (APSEB) and the difficulties it encounters in improving the power supply situation are also discussed. It concludes with a call for a revision of the tariff rates.

Watersheds prioritisation using remote sensing techniques—a case study of the Mahbubnagar district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract The development potential of land and water resources and their utilisation are governed by a set of physical, geomorphic, climatic and socioeconomic factors. It can be perceived that most of these factors are related to watershed morphology. Hence, watershed forms an ideal unit for planning rather than any unit chosen on an ad-hoc basis. Remote Sensing technology integrated with conventional techniques is emerging as an efficient, speedy, cost-effective and important tool for the management of natural resources. The Mahbubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, India has been taken up for the demarcation of priority macro watersheds on the scale 1:250000. Out of a total 49 watersheds in the district, 35 watersheds have been identified as very high and high priority categories. Further, one very high priority macro watershed has been analysed on the scale 1:50 000 and priority micro watersheds have been demarcated showing the areas for immediate conservation measures.