Meghalaya Research Articles

Intra-household allocation of educational expenses: Gender discrimination and investing in the future

Gender discrimination within the household exists in many contexts. In societies where the norm is to not expect future support from daughters, parents may invest even less in the health and human capital of girls. In India, as in other patriarchal societies, the eldest son occupies a special position as the potential head of the extended family and is expected to assume responsibility for parents' welfare in their old age. In this paper, I explore intra-household differences in educational expenditure and enrollment for children by gender and birth order. Using child level data from the nationally representative India Human Development Survey-II (2011–12), I confirm the presence of a pro-male bias and an additional preference for the eldest son. In families with more children and greater competition for resources within the household, the pro-male bias falls and the bias in favor of the eldest son is greater. Parents in the higher income bracket, who are also less likely to be dependent on their children, discriminate less in favor of the eldest son. As expected, pro-male bias is highest in the north, central and eastern zones of the country. The north-eastern zone exhibits the lowest levels of intra household discrimination based on gender. Finally, I find evidence suggesting reverse discrimination, i.e. discrimination against sons, in the state of Meghalaya which follows a rare matrilineal system where the youngest daughter takes over as the head of the household.

Performance of an improved breed of common carp - Amur (Hungarian strain) in the North-eastern hill state of Meghalaya, India

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) is an important fish species for aquaculture in the North-east hill region (NEH) of India. However, in recent years, the growth performance of the existing stock of common carp has been a major concern. In an effort to improve fish production from farmers’ ponds and to evaluate the performance of the breed in mid hill condition, a genetically improved breed of common carp, Amur (Hungarian strain) was introduced in Meghalaya in 2010. Fingerlings of Amur common carp (weight ~14.5 g and length ~10.5 cm), reared under mid-altitude conditions in the fish farm of the ICAR Research Complex for North-eastern hill (NEH) Region, Barapani, Meghalaya, attained maturity in about 14 months period. The first breeding trial with this newly introduced variety was conducted successfully in March 2011 when the atmospheric temperature ranged between 16.0-18.30C. The fertilised eggs hatched in 78-83 h (water temperature 19.0-22.80C and pH 6.5-6.8). Three year studies revealed that the performance of Amur common carp is superior over the local existing breed in farmers ponds under the mid hill conditions.

Teretamon spelaeum, a new species of freshwater crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Potamidae) from a limestone cave in Meghalaya, India.

A new species of freshwater crab of the genus Teretamon Yeo Ng, 2007 is described based on material collected from a limestone cave state of Meghalaya, in the northeastern Himalayan region of India. Teretamon spelaeum n. sp. can easily be distinguished from its congeners by a well suite of carapace and gonopod characters: a relatively wider carapace, setose chelipeds and legs, a highly reduced cornea of the eye, and a diagnostic male first gonopod that has a low rounded median dorsal flap on the terminal joint. The morphology of the new species is clearly adapted for the cave dwelling and is the first true troglobitic freshwater crab known from India.

A Comparative Study of the Scheduled Commercial Banks of Meghalaya and India

Banking sector as a part of financial infrastructure of the economy facilitates mobilizing surplus funds from the public and channels it to finance both consumption and investment for deficit sector. Expansions of banking sector is an indicator of regional development. Several studies point out unequal banking facilities and unbanked/under banked areas in India reflecting disparities in financial infrastructure and hence regional growth. The present study aims to focus on the comparative scenario of scheduled commercial banks in India with reference to the State of Meghalaya on the basis of selected parameters viz. branch expansion, per office deposit & credit disbursed, credit-deposit ratio, per capita deposit & credit, and population served per branch. The study reveals that the state like Meghalaya is in disadvantaged position as compared to the national level. The author undertakes selected literature review related to the field and findings of the literature corroborate the observations of this research work.

Crop Discrimination Using Multispectral Sensor Onboard Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

This paper presents the results and observations made from pilot exercises on crop discrimination using Parraot Sequoia multispectral sensor onboard a Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV). The exercise was carried out in two selected sites in West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya state with mixed horticultural crops. Parraot Sequoia sensor having four bands has been found to be effective in crop discrimination based on variation in spectral response and crop height. Discrimination of three horticultural crops viz. banana, orange, and plum and the neighbouring bamboo grooves were evaluated using three commonly used indices viz., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE) and Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI). NDVI and GNDVI showed nearly similar spectral response, whereas separability among the crops marginally improved with the use of NDRE. The percent variations of spectral response for orange and bamboo were 14 and 19 in terms of NDVI and GNDVI respectively, whereas the same value is 49 in case of NDRE. Similarly percent variations of spectral response for banana and bamboo were 7 and 15 in terms of NDVI and GNDVI against 27 in case of NDRE. In the second study site, variation in Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM) was generated to discriminate different crops grown at different elevation. The difference in the surface model has helped in discriminating different crops and other neighboring vegetation with rice recording difference of − 0.05 to 0.05, followed by maize (0.05–0.5) and pineapple (0.5–10).

Genetic diversity of Indian isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum causing bacterial wilt of eggplant (Solanum melongena)

Thirty-eight isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum were isolated from wilted eggplants from seven states of India, i.e. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka and Meghalaya on TTC medium to study their genetic diversity using BOX, ERIC and REP-PCR’s. All isolates of R. solanacearum produced fluidal, irregular pinkish-white colonies and they belonged to biovar 3, race 1 and phylotype I. The study also included five out-group bacteria (Bacillus subtilis DTBS-5, Pseudomonas fluorescence DTPF-3, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris Xcc-C4, X. citri subsp. citri Xac-C63 and X. oryzae pv. oryzae Xoo-4). The isolates of R. solanacearum and out group bacteria were grouped into10 DNA types at 75% similarity coefficient. Maximum 11 isolates of R. solanacearum isolated from West Bengal were grouped into DNA Type 2. The isolates collected from Uttarakhand grouped into DNA types 6, 7, 8 and 10. However, all out-group bacteria were clearly separated from the isolates of R. solanacearum as DNA type 9. Multilocus sequence analysis of 18 isolates of R. solanacearum along with sequences obtained from NCBI database of 2 out- group bacteria (Burkholderia multivoransATCC-17616 and X. campestris pv. campestris ATCC-33913) was done using sequences of hrpB (hypersensitive response gene), fliC (flagelline protein) and egl (endoglucanase gene). Sequence comparisons showed high level of variability within these three regions of the genome involved in pathogenicity. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, the selective pressure on virulence-related genes of R. solanacearum was identified. This genetic diversity presents major challenges for developing effective long-term management strategies to control the wilt disease of eggplant.

DNA barcoding confirmed the occurrence of invasive vegetable leaf miner, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera:Agromyzidae) in Northeast India

The vegetable leaf miner, Liriomyza sativae (Diptera:Agromyzidae), is an invasive polyphagous species originally known to be found in America and now spread in many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region. During 2016, L. sativae was observed for the first time infesting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaves in experimental farms of an institute at Umiam (Meghalaya state of northeastern India). Based on museum specimens, this species was reported from India on tomato during 1994. Nevertheless, no further information is hitherto available from India apart from just new record. Considering the pest status of L. sativae across the globe, it is crucial to understand its expansion range, severity, biological attributes, and seasonal incidence on tomato in India. Taxonomic identification of different species of Liriomyza leaf miners is very complex due to morphological resemblance, and consequently, species-level identification is often done incorrectly by mistaking one species for another. Therefore, we characterized L. sativae at the molecular level and developed species specific DNA barcodes by using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene. Moreover, the information on the correct distribution, seasonal incidence, and basic biological attributes of different stages of L. sativae is reported and discussed.

Doktor Kot, Doktor Sla – book doctors, plant doctors and the segmentation of the medical market place in Meghalaya, northeast India

ABSTRACTDespite decades of research on India's plural health care market, the practices of many local health traditions outside the allopathic and codified traditions are under-studied. Drawing on interview and observational data, this paper explores the space in which indigenous traditional Khasi healers in Meghalaya state, northeast India, practice. Khasi indigenous healers describe themselves as doktor sla, plant doctors, to distinguish themselves from doktor kot, or book doctors. This distinction operates as a rhetorical resource, utilised to carve a distinct sphere of expertise in relation to the allopathic sector, and to mark claims for the specifically local appropriateness of traditional practices within a shifting market of state-sponsored provision. Khasi healers are a heterogeneous group who treat a wide variety of conditions, including physical ailments which have no obvious correlates in biomedical systems, and musculoskeletal disorders, with which they have recognised expertise. In addition to claiming these discrete strengths, healers also present themselves as accommodating deficiencies in biomedicine, including inherent generic weaknesses of allopathic care as well as specific local gaps in rural health care provision. Thus, the expertise niches of traditional healers have evolved through their interactions with, and the needs of, the community, but also through managing a shifting boundary with biomedical practitioners, who are explicitly sceptical of their efficacy, but tacitly accepting of the ways in which they manage the gaps in biomedical provision. While codified non-biomedical traditions in India have engaged in universalising professionalising projects, in this setting at least, non-codified practitioners have instead utilised discourses of localism.

The Challenges in Eradication of Measles and its Re-emergence in North-Eastern Indian state of Meghalaya

The Challenges in Eradication of Measles and its Re-emergence in North-Eastern Indian state of Meghalaya

Autonomous District Councils and the Governor’s Role in the Northeast India

The office of governor with respect to the Sixth Schedule states does have many important functions unlike the other states of the country, and for that matter even the Fifth Schedule area states. The governor has been endowed with some discretionary power to maintain balance between the Constitution and the autonomy and identity of the smaller minority hill tribes of the northeast region, especially in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The object of the article is to examine the discretionary power of the governor in the context of the autonomous district councils (ADCs) under the Sixth Schedule areas of northeast India. Specifically, the discretionary powers that are bestowed with this office need serious look as to their operation as well as relevance. The second section of this article briefly describes the historical as well as constitutional origin of the ADCs. The third section deals with the relevant constitutional provisions per se vis-à-vis the discretionary powers of the governor under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution with some examples, especially relating to Mizoram. The concluding section provides some general remarks regarding the relevance of ADCs in ensuring real autonomy of the hill tribes in the context of the various structural and operational constraints.

Decentralised Governance and Tribal Development in Scheduled Areas of Northeast India: A Case Study of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council

Decentralised governance has been conceived as an instrument in promoting development. In realising the rights of the tribals, the Constitution of India has provided special provisions by delineating special administrative structures for tribal development with enacting the Fifth and the Sixth Schedules. The Sixth Schedule is applicable to four states of northeast India, namely, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, and the Fifth Schedule is in operation in other regions of the country where tribes form a majority in a district or districts. The Sixth Schedule provides for autonomous district councils, thus offering space for tribal self-governance. The autonomous district councils are both administrative as well as legislative entity. In Tripura, due to the movement launched by the tribal people for the protection of their rights, the State Legislative Assembly has passed an Act, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Act, 1979, under which the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) was established. Subsequently, in 1984, the special provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution were extended to the tribal areas in the state of Tripura. Since then, a new political process has been started in the state of Tripura by establishing TTAADC for the realisation of the rights of the tribals (Das, 2001, p. 208). It is in this context, that this article provides an overview of the decentralised governance and tribal development in the Sixth Schedule areas of northeast India with special reference to Tripura. It discusses the organisational and functional aspects the TTAADC. In this connection, the article reviews the various Acts, rules, regulations and amendments relating to TTAADC. It also examines its role and impact in tribal development in the state of Tripura. Further, an attempt has been made in the article to relate the deficiencies in the functioning of the TTAADC, recommending suitable changes.

Food and nutrition security in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.

The status of food and nutrition security and its underlying factors in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is investigated. In this region, one third to a half of children (<5 years of age) suffer from stunting, with the incidence of wasting and under-weight also being very high. The prevalence of stunting, wasting and under-weight in children is particularly high in some mountain areas such as Meghalaya state in India, the western mountains and far-western hills of Nepal, Balochistan province in Pakistan, eastern Afghanistan, and Chin state in Myanmar. Food habits in the HKH region are changing. This has led to a deterioration in traditional mountain food systems with a decline in agrobiodiversity. Factors such as high poverty and low dietary energy intakes, a lack of hygienic environments, inadequate nutritional knowledge, and climate change and environmental degradation are also influencing food and nutrition security in the HKH region. To achieve sustainable food and nutrition security in the mountains, this study suggests a multi-sectoral integrated approach with consideration of nutritional aspects in all development processes dealing with economic, social, agricultural and public health issues. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Monitoring of Marketed Pork of Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur for Fenbendazole Residues

Monitoring of Marketed Pork of Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur for Fenbendazole Residues

Toward opening a new route for coal trading: a case study on a Bangladeshi SME

Study level/applicability Undergraduate/Masters/MBA. Case overview Anamika Enterprise Limited (AEL) is an export-import company founded in 1988. Today, AEL primarily imports coal from India which it then sells to customers in Bangladesh. However, a recent ban on coal mining in the Indian state of Meghalaya has created a huge problem for AEL. It is now considering opening trade routes to China and Indonesia. For that, it will need to consider both the short- and long-term factors related to its decision. It will need to take into consideration the cultural, economic and social factors in all three countries and trade accordingly. Tariff barriers and transportation costs will be a problem for AEL in the short run but in the long run, that may be overcome because of the experience effect arising from international business. Information and communication technology is also expected to have a huge impact. Expected learning outcomes Students are expected to learn the challenges of running international business in the real world and ways to overcome these challenges. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 5: International Business.

Molecular characterization of novel Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating Eriosema chinense and Flemingia vestita, important unexplored native legumes of the sub-Himalayan region (Meghalaya) of India

Root nodule bacterial strains were isolated from the little-studied legumes Eriosema chinense and Flemingia vestita (both in tribe Phaseoleae, Papilionoideae) growing in acidic soil of the sub-Himalayan region of the Indian state of Meghalaya (ME), and were identified as novel strains of Bradyrhizobium on the basis of their 16S rRNA sequences. Seven isolates selected on the basis of phenotypic characters and assessment of ARDRA and RAPD patterns were subjected to multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using four protein-coding housekeeping genes (glnII, recA, dnaK and gyrB). On the basis of 16S rRNA phylogeny as well as a concatenated MLSA five strains clustered in a single separate clade and two strains formed novel lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium. The phylogenies of the symbiotic genes (nodA and nifH) were in agreement with the core gene phylogenies. It appears that genetically diverse Bradyrhizobium strains are the principal microsymbionts of these two important native legumes. The novel genotypes of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated in the present study efficiently nodulate the Phaseoloid crop species Glycine max, Vigna radiata and Vigna umbellata. These strains are genetically different from strains of Bradyrhizobium isolated earlier from a different agro-climatic region of India suggesting that the acidic nature of the soil, high precipitation and other local environmental conditions are responsible for the evolution of these newly-described Bradyrhizobium strains. In global terms, the sub-Himalayan region of India is geographically and climatically distinct and the Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating its legumes appear to be novel and potentially unique to the region.

Study on the association between Physical growth and Socio-economic condition of North-West and South-West Khasi children in the State of Meghalaya

This Paper makes an attempt to understand how the under-nutrition of children is associated with age, sexand certain socio-economic factors. In the study we include 495 girls and 557 boys aged 3 to 18 years inwhich their weight and height were taken and their socio economic status was recorded. Certain socioeconomicvariables were collected and classified arbitrarily into different groups or categories with a view tounderstanding their influence on demographic variables i.e. base on income group, educational level andfamily size. The data collected for the present study were quantified and analyzed statistically, using SPSSWindow software. These variables were considered as risk factors of under-nutrition as indicated by oddsratios derived from logistic regression analysis. The present study has revealed that the prevalence of undernutrition,especially underweight, is significantly associated with household income and parental education. Itis evident that household income is an important factor in influencing the prevalence of stunting in thepresent population. Unlike in the case of underweight and stunting, the effects of socioeconomic factors onwasting are not statistically significant in the present population.

Filling in the Gaps for Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation – Biomonitoring forBaseline Information and Capacity Building in Meghalaya, India

This paper describes a stream biomonitoring program that builds capacity in undergraduate college students in the field of freshwater ecology and conservation. The program involves sampling of aquatic macroinvertebrates and hydrological parameters in streams of the state of Meghalaya, India. Several colleges from Shillong initiated short-term, one-year and long-term biomonitoring of streams in East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts. Nine stream locations sampled over October-December in 2014 provided a snapshot of physical and biotic conditions, thus enabling the examination of spatial trends in water quality parameters and aquatic biota. A year-long sampling study from 2014-2015 provided a seasonal view of stream parameters at Lwai (clean) and Umkaliar (moderately polluted) streams. Results from both sampling sets suggest that turbidity negatively affected the richness of pollution sensitive taxa. Dissolved Oxygen values were lower in polluted streams and were non-significantly lower in summer than in winter. After an initial training in the field, the sampling was conducted by college students under supervision from their lecturers. Data obtained on macroinvertebrates adds to the sparse information available on stream ecosystems in the biodiversity-rich northeast Indian region. We hope the paper provides a template for monitoring of vital ecosystems in this and similar regions.

A new species of Pyrenaria (Theaceae-Theoideae) from Northeast India

A new species of the genus Pyrenaria (Theaceae) from Cherrapunjee-Mawsynram Hills in the Meghalaya State, north-eastern India, P. cherrapunjeana Mir, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to P. diospyricarpa Kurz var. camelliiflora (Kurz) S.X.Yang, P. khasiana R.N.Paul and P. menglaensis G.D.Tao. Notes on distribution, habitat and conservation status of the new species are provided, along with a key to the Indian species of Pyrenaria.

Indigenous Medicinal Plants of Northeast India in Human Health

Objective: This study was conducted to prepare records of medicinal plants used in various traditional practices in Northeast India for the management of different diseases. Introduction: Northeastern region comprises the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim. Topography of the region which is the prime source of diversity of flora and fauna covering the part of natural medicine is from tropical, subtropical, temperate, and alpine regions of vegetation distribution. This topography reflects the occurrence of diverse types of medicinal plants suitable for different climatic conditions. The study deals with the medicinal plants used in the management of various prevalent diseases in Northeast India by the use of locally available herbs. Outcome: Medicinal plants distributed in the different climatic zones of Northeast are Aconitum heterophyllum, Acer palmatum, Adiantum capillus veneris, A. lunulatum, Aquilaria malaccensis, Bacopa monnieri, Berberis aristata, B. wal- lichiana, Bergenia ciliata, Curcuma caesia, C. zedoaria, Crateva nurvela, Cordyceps sinensis, Embelia ribes, Emblica officinalis, Gentiana kurroo, Gmelina arborea, Gynocardia odorata, Hydnocarpus kurzii, Nardostachys jatamansi, Panax pseudoginseng, Paris polyphylla, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Rauvolfia serpentina, Rubia manjith, Saraca asoca, Solanum nigrum, Taxus wallichiana, Terminalia arjuna, T. bellerica, T. chebula, T. citrina, Valeriana jatamansi, Zanthoxylum armatum, Z. rhetsa, Zingiber zerumbet, Z. officinale, etc. Conclusion: The commercial cultivation, systemic collection for trade is the mode through which local inhabitants may earn money for moving toward prosperity.

Cherrapunjee: Wonder of nature - scope and challenges of tourism industry in Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya

Exploration of new places is the natural urge of every human being since inception and this led to the development of the tourism industries all over the world. As per the report of Ministry of tourism of India, tourism industry is one of the fastest growing service industries in India in 2015 but the growth of tourism industry in North eastern states of India is slow compare to other Indian states. North east is known for its pristine beauty. The place where clouds romance, which was once the wettest place on earth, having beautiful falls, foaming rivers, lush green forest and thrilling caves, the wonder of nature, is none other than Cherrapunjee, in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Despite of the heavenly beauty of nature, till today Cherrapunjee is unable to attract the attention of a large number of tourists because of its inferior tourism management. This study has been conducted in Cherrapunjee to analyze the tourism market and to find out the scope of tourism industry in Cherrapunjee. To achieve the objectives of the study, survey conducted among the tourists and the employees of tourism industry and analyzed the challenges and the scope of tourism in Cherrapunjee.