Nainital District Research Articles

Nutritional Status and Knowledge of Hill Women on Anemia: Effect of Various Socio-demographic Factors

Anemia is a common health problem among women throughout the world. However, there has been minimal research on women’s concepts of anemia. The present study was thus undertaken with the objective to assess the nutritional status of rural hill women and to study the knowledge of hill women regarding nutritional anemia . In addition to this, the effect of various socio-economic and demographic factors on the nutritional anemia related knowledge of hill women. The crosssectional study was carried out in three villages of Nainital District, Uttarakhand. The study was confined to the women of age group of 18-45 years. A total of 223 women were selected randomly. Their knowledge was tested and socio-demographic and nutritional profile was recorded. From the outcome of study it was observed that mean percent knowledge score of subjects was 23.28. Knowledge scores were found to be increasing with decreasing age and they were significantly associated with educational status. Mean height of subjects was 151.21 cm and mean weight of subjects was 48.76 kg. BMI calculations revealed that 41 % subjects were suffering from various degrees of malnutrition. Conclusion was that knowledge of rural women was found to be very poor in regard of nutritional anemia, nutritional status of as high as 41 % subjects was unsatisfactory. To eradicate the problem of nutritional anemia a more intense awareness campaign is required in the region.

Ypthima kedarnathensis Singh, 2007 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from the Kumaon Himalaya, India

pthima kedarnathensis A.P. Singh is reported from near the Gagar Pass, Nainital District, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India.

Occurrence of Proterozoic black shale-hosted uranium mineralisation in Tal Group, Sirmour district, Himachal Pradesh

Black shale type uranium deposits, though of low grade (<0.001 to 0.05% U3O8), contain large uranium resources because of their immense volume. The Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Krol-Tal Himalayan sequence covering a cumulative area of about 1000 sq km in five different synclinal basins from Sirmour district, Himachal Pradesh in the west to Nainital district, Uttar Pradesh in east contain such black shale horizons. The uranium mineralisation found in black shale in the Nigalidhar syncline of Himachal Pradesh and its implication of being an indicator for search of such uranium deposits in Himalayas is discussed.

A Comparative Study of the Attitude of Pre-Service &amp; In-Service Teachers Towards the Use of Computer

ICT play an important role in changing the attitude of teachers towards overall development of the students as well as the institution. Today we are living in the world of information revolution where the mass media plays vital role in creating an atmosphere of awareness among masses. The role of technology in education came to be emphasized greatly in the second half of the 20th century all over the world. Today technology and education are inseparable. In Educational technology various teaching aids are used which are known as visual aids, audio aids and audio visual aids. The present study has been conducted on in-service and pre-service, male as well as female teachers of Nainital district. It has been found in the study that 78% of the entire sample of teachers have a relatively favourably attitude towards computer, 17% of them have neutral attitude and only 5% have unfavourable attitude towards it. The present study is very helpful in finding the extent to which the teachers are favorably disposed towards computers.

Assessment of ground water quality for drinking purpose, District Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

The ground water quality of District Nainital (Uttarakhand, India) has been assessed to see the suitability of ground water for drinking and irrigation applications. This is a two-part series paper and this paper examines the suitability of ground water including spring water for drinking purposes. Forty ground water samples (including 28 spring samples) were collected during pre- and post-monsoon seasons and analyzed for various water quality constituents. The hydrochemical and bacteriological data was analyzed with reference to BIS and WHO standards and their hydrochemical facies were determined. The concentration of total dissolved solids exceeds the desirable limit of 500 mg/L in about 10% of the samples, alkalinity values exceed the desirable limit of 200 mg/L in about 30% of the samples, and total hardness values exceed the desirable limit of 300 mg/L in 15% of the samples. However, no sample crosses the maximum permissible limit for TDS, alkalinity, hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and fluoride. The concentration of chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and fluoride are well within the desirable limit at all the locations. The bacteriological analysis of the samples does not show any sign of bacterial contamination in hand pump and tube-well water samples. However, in the case of spring water samples, six samples exceed the permissible limit of ten coliforms per 100 ml of sample. It is recommended that water drawn from such sources should be properly disinfected before being used for drinking and other domestic applications. Among the metal ions, the concentration of iron and lead exceeds the permissible limit at one location whereas the concentration of nickel exceeds the permissible limit in 60 and 32.5% of the samples during pre- and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. The grouping of samples according to their hydrochemical facies indicates that majority of the samples fall in Ca-Mg-HCO(3) hydrochemical facies.

An outbreak of hepatitis E tracked to a spring in the foothills of the Himalayas, India, 2005

In July 2005, cases of hepatitis were reported from three villages in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, India. We investigated this cluster to identify the source and propose recommendations. A door-to-door search for cases of acute hepatitis was carried out in the three villages. We described the outbreak by time, place and person and conducted a cohort study to identify the source of infection. In addition, sera from cases were tested. We identified 205 cases among 1238 persons (attack rate: 16%, no deaths) between May and September 2005. Of the 23 sera tested, 21 were positive for IgM antibodies against hepatitis E virus. The attack rate was highest among 15-44 years old (19%). Cases began on May 3, 2005, peaked in July and decreased rapidly. The incidence was highest (23%) in one of the villages predominantly using water from an unprotected spring, which was distributed after stone bed filtration alone. In this village, the attack rate increased from 9% among those not using the spring, to 13.8% among those partly using it (RR [95% CI] 1.6 [0.8-3.4]), and to 29% among those exclusively using it (RR [95% CI] 3.4 [2.0-6.0]). Untreated drinking water from an unprotected spring may have been the source of this outbreak in a rural area. Sources of water supply must be protected and treated, including with chlorination. Reporting and investigation of smaller outbreaks in rural areas should be improved.

Prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in the rural child population of Nainital District, Uttaranchal

Dental caries is a rapidly emerging oral health problem amongst the children of India. Its incidence in different states varies between 31 and 89%. This study was undertaken with a twin objective of assessing the prevalence of dental caries in parts of Uttaranchal state and designing the interventional strategies with a view to attend the oral health care needs of children. A total of 722 school children in the age range of 7-12 years of Nainital district were examined using WHO (1997) criteria. An overall caries prevalence of 77.7% was recorded, which is 67.26% in the age group of 7-9 years and 80.86% in 10-12 years with DMFT+deft of 1.97 and 2.61, respectively. It was observed that there were greater treatment needs in older age group. Another significant finding of the study was that the 59.96% required restorative treatment out of the various dental treatment needs evaluated.

Malaria Persistence in Kumaon Foothills of District Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

Clinic data depicted a high incidence of malaria in a forest ecotype in the Kumaon foothills of District Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. A study was therefore conducted to determine the risk factors associated with the transmission of malaria from 2002 to 2004. The man-hour densities of Anopheles culicifacies and An. fluviatilis varied from 2 to 139 and 1 to 69, respectively. The sporozoite rate of 0.24% was recorded in An. culicifacies. Sibling species investigation revealed prevalence of species B (53.8%) and C (46.2%) of An. culicifacies and of species T (100%) of An. fluviatilis complexes. The slide positivity rate and slide falciparum rate were 50.4% and 28.3%, respectively. The infant parasite rate was 42.9% and the enlarged spleen rate among the children was 25.95%. The findings revealed the persistence of malaria in the area mainly due to indigenous transmission through the malaria vector An. culicifacies and the inadequacy of intervention measures. Transmission could be curtailed by indoor residual application of malathion.

Magnetic susceptibility and biotite composition of granitoids of Amritpur and adjoining regions, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya

Felsic magmatism in Amritpur and adjoining localities of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya is represented by Palaeoproterozoic (~1890 Ma) Bt-Ms granitoids and quartz feldspar porphyries, referred to as Amritpur granitoids (AG) and Amritpur porphyry (AP) respectively. The AG are porphyritic and equigranular as well, and extend from Suraijula (west) to Barhoan (east) in the Nainital district of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya. The Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) forms the southern boundary of AG, and quartzite-metabasalts association is exposed in the north. The equigranular variety of AG, referred to as Amritpur leucogranite (ALG) dominates over porphyritic ones, and is medium- to coarse-grained, hypidiomorphic, mainly composed of K-feldspar (perthite), quartz and plagioclase (sericite). Muscovite is present associated with biotite but varies in proportion ranging from rare to noticeable amount. The magnetic susceptibility (MS) measurements of AP and AG were carried out in the field on smooth rock surfaces using hand-held SM-20 magnetic susceptibility meter. The obtained MS value (SI unit) was further corrected according to the degree of the rock-surface unevenness. Primary biotites from ALG were analyzed by wavelength dispersive electron-probe microanalysis. Ferrous and ferric iron from total iron (FeO) of biotite was estimated following charge-balance procedures. The MS values of AP vary from 0.399 to 0.912×10 -3 SI unit with an average of 0.528×10-3 SI (N=17), which typically represent ilmenite series (χ ≤3.0×10 -3 SI) granite (Ishihara 1977). Medium- grained ALG measures relatively lesser MS values (χ= 0.003- 0.148×10 -3 SI) with an average of 0.062×10 -3 SI (N=55) compared to coarse-grained ALG which vary from 0.025 to 0.195×10 -3 SI with an average MS of 0.117×10-3 SI (N=18), both being related to ilmenite series granite. Coarse-grained gneissic AG, exposed at places, record the MS values ranging from 0.295 to 0.527×10 -3 SI with an average MS value of 0.379×10 -3 SI (N=26). Porphyritic AG, an older lithounit, are xenolith-bearing and xenolith-free, and their MS values range from 0.368 to 0.629×10-3 SI and from 0.142 to 0.247×10 -3 SI with average MS of 0.522×10 -3 SI (N=10) and 0.190×10 -3 SI (N=10) respectively. The observed MS variations of porphyritic AG appear related with xenolith incorporation, which might have slightly oxidized the porphyritic AG. The MS values of AP and AG including the ALG typically correspond to ilmenite series granites, and the noted MS variations may be related with their differing contents of ferromagnesian minerals, ilmenite and textural variations. The AG including the ALG are typically peraluminous (S-type) consistent with their nature similar to ilmenite series granites. About 60% of whole-rock data (N=13) of AP (Gupta et al. 1994; Nautiyal and Rawat 1990) are metaluminous (I-type) despite of their exclusively ilmenite series nature. In Japan nearly all the ilmenite series are I-type, and it has been observed that magnetite-/ilmenite-series classification is not exactly equivalent to the I-/S-type classification in terms of alumina saturation index (ASI). The ALG biotites have ΣX variation between 1.02 and 1.25 atoms in their structural formulae, which are dominantly contributed by potassium. The observed ΣX values more than one in ALG biotites may be due to the replacement of K by the elements Ba, Rb and Cs. Biotites of ALG plot into the field of primary biotite crystallized in felsic magma but scatter at and above the Ni-NiO buffer. However, presence of ilmenite and substantially low MS values (0.003-0.157×10 -3 SI) of ALG suggest the prevalence of elevated reducing conditions during the evolution of ALG magma. The ALG melt was further reduced at emplacement level as evident by the presence of graphite pods and patches hosted in the ALG near the contact with country- rocks. The biotites of ALG are ferri-biotites showing enrichment in siderophyllite component, which is commonly available in crustally-derived felsic melt. The ALG biotites in terms of MgO- FeO t

Socio-economic factors and delivery practices in an urban slum of district Nainital, Uttaranchal

Socio-economic factors and delivery practices in an urban slum of district Nainital, Uttaranchal

Performance of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) for spike yield in organic and inorganic nutrients in the Uttaranchal

Present investigation was conducted at NBPGR, Regional Station, Bhowali, Niglat, District Nainital, Uttaranchal in which Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Syn. L. officinalis Chaix Syn. L. vera DC. planted at the distance of 25 x 25 cm in five treatments viz; Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 200 q/ha, Leaf Yard Manure (LYM) @ 200 q/ha, NPK (@ 100 kg/ha N:80 kg/ha P:40 kg/ha. P) and Ash @ 50 q/ha during 2004-05. The results indicated that LYM treatment in Lavender IC273870 was the best for spike yield and essential oil yield per ha. The essential oil content was the highest in IC273870. The major compound were identified by GC and high amount of linalool (31.90%) was found in IC273870 against linalool (29.98%) in IC212822 of Lavender whereas, linalyl acetate did not vary significantly between the two cultivars/accessions. Geraniol (2.20%) was also high in IC273870 accession.

Implications of ignoring the old disaster management plans

PurposeThe paper aims to discuss the causes of the landslide event at Amparav in Kumaun Himalaya (Nainital district of Uttaranchal in India) and attempts to bring forth the importance of mass awareness regarding the past disaster events in their surroundings.Design/methodology/approachOn the aftermath of the landslide tragedy of 23 September, 2004 field investigations were carried out to probe the causes and lapses that resulted in tragedy at a place where a detailed mitigation plan had been implemented.FindingsThe investigations reveal that a detailed landslide management strategy was prepared and implemented to protect this zone almost a century ago, with a thorough understanding of the mass wastage processes. Implementation of this plan safeguarded this zone for a long time, but the lack of awareness among the masses led to the violation of the very spirit of this plan. This culminated in the Amparav tragedy that took three human lives, besides the loss of a huge public and private infrastructure.Research limitations/implicationsThe old study that led to the landslide management strategy could not be assessed and the article is based on information provided by the village elders.Practical implicationsThe paper is an attempt to bring forth the finer details of the landslide management plan enacted in the region almost a century ago. It suggests the need for detailed surveys and planning in enacting any disaster management plan.Originality/valueThis paper would bring forth the importance of documenting the disaster management strategies of the region and sharing the significance of these with the masses so that they are deterred from even unintentionally violating the spirit of these plans.

Various aspects of soils and tree layer vegetation analysis in reserve forests of Kumaon in Central Himalaya

Present study deals with the certain soil and vegetation characteristics of reserve forest occurring in the Nainital (2000-2050 m) district of Kumaon in Central Himalaya in temperate region. Vegetational analysis for tree layer was carried out by quadrat method, the forest tree composition was divided into three categories, viz. Seedlings, saplings and trees. The number of tree, the density, frequency, abundance, A/F ratio, basal area and important value index (IVI) of the study sites were also reported. Total 17 tree species were present. The total density ranged from 323.2-1200 ind. ha-1 for seedlings, 122.6-583.3 ind. ha-1 for saplings and 42.9-170.1 ind. ha-1 for trees in all sites of reserve forest. The total average basal area of reserve forest ranged from 6.1-8.5, 21.1-33.8 and 32.7-153.8 m2 ha-1 respectively for seedlings, saplings and trees. The soil texture for coarse gravel ranged from 22.0-56.2%, sand 33.9-56.7%, silt 2.7-7.1% and clay 5.9-14.2% in the reserve forest. Soil bulk density varied from 0.95-1.20 gm cm-3, however the soil porosity and pH ranged from 52.8-64.2% and 5.5-6.5, respectively.

Regional imbalances and sustainable crop farming in the Uttaranchal Himalaya, India

In Uttaranchal state of the Indian Himalayas, where population pressure continues to increase, significant agro-ecological features of rainfed hill crop farming include continuously changing land use patterns, high cropping intensity (161%), the dominance (>70%) of small size landholdings (<1 hectare (ha)) and scarcity of arable land (0.10–0.15 ha capita −1). Using various agricultural regionalization techniques, cropping patterns and their productivity have been analyzed by different methods to ascertain regional imbalances and gaps in the spatio-temporal distribution of sustainable crop systems. While there are various cropping patterns in the study area—a wheat–paddy combination, involving the two important staple crops is dominant in six of the eight districts analyzed. In some other districts, a few other crops have very high concentration. Crop diversity as a whole is low in the Uttaranchal Himalaya. Regarding crop productivity, five districts out of eight can support only five persons ha −1, as measured by the standard nutrition units (SNUs) per ha, which is below the sustenance level. These five districts have been identified as the weakest productive regions of the study region and require additional development attention. SNUs per person are poor in the same regions of the hills, with the exception of Nainital district. The Kumaun region of Uttaranchal, which has a relatively moderate topography compared to the Garhwal, hill region is productive enough to nearly provide adequate food for its people.

Modernization, the State, and the Construction of a Tharu Identity in Nepal

In the lowlands of nainital district in northwestern Uttar Pradesh, occupying discrete and adjacent territories, live two ethnic groups known as the Tharu and the Buxa.1 Both are indigenous to the area. They have much in common, in their dress, language, and ritual practices, and their origin myths even posit a shared ancestry for both groups (Hasan 1979). Despite these similarities, the two groups consider themselves to be distinct peoples orjāt(Stewart 1865, 148; Hasan 1979); they do not intermarry, although elopements (socially disapproved unions) are not uncommon. Both are listed as Scheduled Tribes in the Indian Constitution, a status that entitles them to special protection and benefit in education and government service. The Buxas live in the westernmost part of the district, while the Rana Tharu to their east also live in large numbers in the adjacent Nepali district of Kanchanpur.

Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in India: a preliminary study on the causative agent and control of the disease by inactivated autogenous vaccine.

Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in broiler birds of 3 to 6 weeks of age was recorded for the first time in the Haldwani area of Nainital district (UP) in India in November, 1994. The overall mortality in 6 poultry farms was 61.62 per cent. The disease was experimentally transmitted by bacteria free infected liver homogenate extract passed through membrane filters of 0.22 and 0.1 mu APD. The aetiological agent was inactivated by heat treatment at 56 degrees C for one hour and 80 degrees C for 10 min. A precipitin band was demonstrated in agar gel immunodiffusion and counter immunoelectrophoresis using infected liver homogenate extract as antigen and homologous antisera raised in the laboratory. The disease was effectively controlled by formalinised and heat inactivated autogenous vaccine prepared from the infected livers of birds which died of natural infection.

Role of remote sensing in demarcation of alluvial fan deposits in Tarai-Bhabar belt of Nainital District (U.P.) and the environmental impact assessment

Remotely sensed data has unique advantage aver conventional data collection techniques in the study of geomorphology, as physiographical and geo-structural parameters are mostly discernible on the imagery. In the present study an attempt has been made to identify and evaluate the process of geomorphological evolution and hydrogeological conditions, temporal changes in pattern of geomorphic elements and overall impact on environment in alluvial fan region in Nainital District using multidate satellite data from Landsat (1975, 1986) and IRS (1993), through visual interpretation technique. The landuse changes are quite prominent in alluvial fan of upper and lower zone. As a consequence of deforestation, an area of 16 sq. km. of natural forest cover has been lost over a span of 18 years (1975–1993) leading to the increase in rate of erosion as well as environmental degradation in upstream areas. The study suggests that the ground water utilization in Tarai belt without replenishment of confined aquifers and installation of more tubewells in Bhabar belt may lead to total failure of flowing wells and subsequently disturb the balanced ecosystem.

Fungal diseases of fish in Nanak Sagar, Naini Tal, India.

Eight zoosporic fungi viz., Achlya debaryana, A. flagellata, A. klebsiana, Aphanomyces laevis, Saprolegnia diclina, S. ferax, S. parasitica, and Pythium sp. were isolated from a large number of adult fishes of the species Mastacembelus armatus, Mystus vitatus, Nandus nandus, Tor putitora and T. tor of Nanak Sagar reservoir in Naini Tal district, India. Species of the parasites and the hosts were different in their pathogenicity and immunity, respectively. However, A. flagellata and S. parasitica appeared to be the most virulent. The severity of mycosis was primarily correlated to moderate water temperatures of 22-25 degrees C. High temperature (> 28 degrees C) retarded the disease process. The experimental inoculation with all the associated fungal species on Puntius conchonius in the laboratory produced clinical signs similar to the ones seen on infected fish in the reservoir. This is the first report on fish mycosis in the large reservoir located in the foot hill of Kumaun Himalaya.

Epizootic infection due to Achlya debaryana in a catfish.

Achyla debaryana (Saprolegniales, Oomycetes) is being reported for the first time as a fish pathogen, causing an epizootic of mycosis in a catfish, Mastacembelus armatus, in Nanak Sugar, a huge artificial reservoir and recognized fish production centre in Naini Tal district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The incidence of infection was found to be influenced by the physicochemical characteristics of water. The maximum disease severity (52 and 47.4%) occurred in March with moderate water temperature (22-24 degrees C), high dissolved oxygen content (9.5 mg l-1) and pH 8.6, while the lowest level of infection (3 and 1.8%) was recorded at high temperature (29-32 degrees C) during June.

Traditional Phytotherapy of Some Medicinal Plants Used by the Tharus of the Nainital District, Uttar Pradesh, India

AbstractThe Tharu tribe inhabits the Himalayan foothills from Nainital in the West to Darjeeling in the East, and utilize plants in the treatment of diseases and other disorders. The present study deals with the therapeutic uses of 63 plants used by the Tharus of the Nainital district, U.P., in health care. Local names, preparation of ethnomedicine, dosage and mode of administration have been provided by selected informants and experienced medicine men. The study has provided some interesting data concerning medicinal plants which may enable phytochemists and pharmacologists to determine their true therapeutic properties.