Northern Indian State Research Articles

The killing fields of Punjab: representing the Sikh militancy in cinema

ABSTRACT The Sikh Militancy was a violent movement that began in the northern Indian state of Punjab in the late 1970s and lasted through the early 1990s. The movement consisted predominantly of Jatt Sikhs, who waged a bloody campaign for an independent, theocratic Sikh state, Khalistan. Despite the sanguinary nature of the conflict and the highly influential role that Punjabi culture plays in India’s mass entertainment culture and even the large numbers of Punjabi directors in India’s mass film industry, Indian language films about this period are relatively sparse. In this essay, we study two films about the Khalistan conflict: Maachis and Punjab 1984.

Developed Rhizobium Strains Enhance Soil Fertility and Yield of Legume Crops in Haryana, India.

Three strains of Gram-negative bacterium,Rhizobium, were developed by gamma (γ)-irradiation random mutagenesis. The developed strains were evaluated for their augmented features for symbiotic association, nitrogen fixation, and crop yield of three leguminous plants-chickpea, field-pea, and lentil-in agricultural fields of the northern Indian state of Haryana. Crops treated with developed mutants exhibited significant improvement in plant features and the yield of crops when compared to the control-uninoculated crops and crops grown with indigenous or commercial crop-specific strains of Rhizobium. This improvement was attributed to generated mutants, MbPrRz1 (on chickpea), MbPrRz2 (on lentil), and MbPrRz3 (on field-pea). Additionally, the cocultured symbiotic response of MbPrRz1 and MbPrRz2 mutants was found to be more pronounced on all three crops. The statistical analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficientsrevealed that nodulation and plant biomass were the most related parameters of crop yield. Among the effectiveness of developed mutants, MbPrRz1 yielded the best results for all three tested crops. Moreover, the developed mutants enhanced macro- and micronutrients of the experimental fields when compared with fields harboring the indigenous rhizobial community. These developed mutants were further genetically characterized, predominantly expressing nitrogen fixation marker, nifH, and appeared to belong to Mesorhizobium ciceri (MbPrRz1) and Rhizobium leguminosarum (both MbPrRz2 and MbPrRz3). In summary, this study highlights the potential of developed Rhizobium mutants as effective biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture, showcasing their ability to enhance symbiotic relationships, crop yield, and soil fertility.

Infrastructure Investment and Industrial Competitiveness in Uttarakhand

In this research paper, I have provided a comprehensive analysis of “Infrastructure Investment and Industrial Competitiveness in Uttarakhand.” In Uttarakhand, the relationship between infrastructure spending and industrial competitiveness symbolizes a transforming story. By strategically investing in digital infrastructure, electricity production, and transportation networks, this northern Indian state has changed the face of its economy. Strong network of roads, railroads, and airports have eased logistical restrictions, promoting the expansion of a variety of enterprises. The state of Uttarakhand has become a global pioneer in sustainable energy because to investments in clean energy projects, notably hydroelectric electricity and solar energy, which has increased industrial production. Effective e-governance and online education have been made possible by digital connection, spurring industrial innovation. Uttarakhand is a developing industrial powerhouse because to its aggressive policies, competent people, and favorable business climate. Manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, information technology, and agriculture have all seen rapid growth as a consequence, greatly enhancing the state's economic competitiveness. This seamless fusion of economic prowess and infrastructural investment highlights Uttarakhand's amazing trajectory toward becoming a model of sustainable development and international acclaim.

Prevalence of Household Food Security and Health-related Quality of Life: Special Consideration on the Expectant Mothers in Punjab

Household food security (HFS) affects the quality and adequacy of nutrition and can significantly impact an individual’s health. The study aims to examine the association between HFS and maternal quality of life in Punjab. The cross-sectional study was conducted in the northern Indian state of Punjab from January to March 2021 on 384 expectant mothers. The urban health facilities were chosen using the random cluster selection approach from geographical locations in Punjab, India. A well-structured questionnaire was adapted from HFS and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) that was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics were used to investigate the socioeconomic status and food security. HFS and HR-QOL relationship was studied using multilinear regression. The results revealed that 43.9% of expectant women experienced food insecurity. Mean (±SD) scores for the domains of ‘social performance’ (84.4 ± 16.6) and ‘role limitation due to physical reasons’ (64.5 ± 35.5) were the highest in pregnant women. Quality of life scores for expectant mothers with food insecurity were the lowest. Due to physical reasons, role constraint scored the weakest for pregnant women with food insecurity (64.3 ± 45.5, 69.1 ± 43.2 and 49.3 ± 57.2, respectively, for mild, moderate and severe food insecurity). High-risk pregnant women screened for HFS in their primary prenatal care can increase their diet quality and quantity. Additionally, there is a need for multi-level actions such as policy development, resource allocation and proper amenities to ensure expectant mothers have access to nutritious food. JEL Codes: D1, I0, I30, I31

Pollen morphology of Acanthoideae species from the Shivalik Foothills in Rajaji National Park (Uttarakhand, India).

Apart from its role in plant taxonomy, the understanding of pollen morphology is considered an essential interdisciplinary tool in diverse applied fields, including plant systematics, melissopalynology, aeropalynology, forensic palynology, paleopalynology, and copropalynology. In palynotaxonomy, it is frequently employed to classify and validate natural groups across a range of hierarchical levels, from higher categories down to the infrageneric level. The subfamily Acanthoideae, within the Acanthaceae family, consists of a diverse group of flowering plants that are distributed globally. The present study attempted a comprehensive analysis of the pollen morphology, employing both light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), for a total of 13 Acanthoideae species from the Shivalik Foothills in Rajaji National Park (located in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya). The findings indicated that the Acanthoideae is characterized by eurypalynous features, and the studied species exhibited pollen grains that were monads, radially symmetrical, and varied in size from small to large. The pollen grains were predominantly tricolporate or heteroaperturate, with porate occurrences being rare. The significant variation in exine sculpturing, including reticulate, coarsely reticulate, and bireticulate patterns, holds substantial taxonomic significance. The detailed presentation encompasses pollen morphological characters described with LM and SEM micrographs, along with a species-level identification key. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This article provides a thorough analysis of the pollen morphology of Acanthoideae taxa using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, covering 13 species across 10 genera and revealing a broad spectrum of pollen characteristics, including size, shape, aperture type, and exine sculpturing. The microscopic investigation of these Acanthoideae species not only enhances our understanding of their pollen morphology but also aids in species identification through the development of a pollen-based key.

Problems and Prospects of Employees in the Manufacturing Sector in the Haridwar District of Uttarakhand, India

The manufacturing sector serves as a critical driver of economic growth and employment generation in numerous regions worldwide. Haridwar, located in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, has emerged as a vibrant industrial hub, attracting significant investments and witnessing rapid industrialization in recent years. The manufacturing sector in Haridwar encompasses a wide range of industries, including automotive, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and textiles, among others. The sector’s growth has led to a substantial increase in employment opportunities, attracting a diverse workforce seeking stable livelihoods. While Haridwar’s manufacturing sector development has brought many advantages, it has also produced a number of difficulties for the workers in this fast-paced sector. In order to comprehend the effects on the general well-being, work satisfaction, and future possibilities of the manufacturing sector employees in Haridwar, it is imperative to examine and analyse these difficulties. Every employee is a fortune for their organization, and their skills contribute to its growth. The present research article aims to investigate the problems and prospects faced by manufacturing sector employees in Haridwar. The primary data used in the study was collected from 100 employees (from 20 factories) in the manufacturing sector through a well-structured questionnaire administered by interview. Tools used in the study are Microsoft Office and the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), which are used to interpret the data. Wilcoxon signed-rank test statistics are used to test the hypothesis. The study’s main findings are that male dominance occurred in this sector; most employees graduated and got professional degrees. More than 80% got below 40k as their monthly income, while about 65% were unsatisfied with their current wages. The main problems faced by the employees are poor working conditions, followed by low salaries, a lack of employment security, long working hours, health problems, a lack of social benefit schemes, a lack of medical facilities, a lack of awareness about the government’s welfare schemes, and a lack of transportation to reach their workplace.

Building an outreach culture for fairer access to higher education in Haryana, India: A ‘bottom up’ contribution to policy implementation

This article is concerned with an institutional initiative designed to encourage the development of an outreach culture which can support fairer, more equal, access to higher education (HE) in India. The initiative constituted the final impact phase of a 5-year Fair Chance Foundation (FCF) research project (2017–2022) which explored gendered pathways to fair access to HE in the northern Indian state of Haryana. We present the methodology used to prepare a toolkit, named an Outreach Activity Resource (OAR), which enabled staff in government colleges in Haryana to plan and conduct pilot ‘taster days’. The article provides an assessment of the outcome of these events. It argues that a practitioner as researcher methodology and a collaborative ‘bottom up’ research approach provide the basis for the development of contextually appropriate outreach activities to support fairer, more equal, access to higher education (HE). We argue that the adoption of ‘top down’ initiatives, in very different economic, social and cultural contexts to the those where they were originated, may fail to address the way in which the local ‘problem’ presents itself and may hinder the development of a contextually informed outreach culture which will support fairer, more equal access to HE. In contrast, initiatives such as the one presented here can contribute essential locally informed expertise, built on contextually informed research, to national and international policy making in relation to widening access to HE in an era in which massification is extending across the globe.

Porcine Astrovirus Detection and Characterization in Healthy and Diarrheic Pigs from Haryana, India

Background: Porcine astrovirus (PAstV) is an emerging pathogen detected from the feces of both healthy and diarrheic pigs with limited studies comparing the presence of PAstV and diarrhea in pigs. PAstV has been reported worldwide with a few reports from India. In addition, there are limited reports on variation in the amino acid sequence of the ORF2 region, which codes for viral capsid protein. The present study was aimed to study the presence of PAstV, association with diarrhea in pigs of various age groups and its molecular characterization from Haryana, a northern Indian state. Methods: A total of 176 rectal swabs of pigs were collected from different parts of Haryana. The samples were screened for PAstV by RT-PCR of the partial ORF1b/ORF2 genomic region. The positive samples were characterized by molecular typing and phylogenetic analysis. Result: In the present study, PAstV was detected in pigs in 16.47% of fecal samples, including 21/127 (16.53%) diarrheic and 8/49 (16.32%) non-diarrheic. The results indicated that weaning piglets were more susceptible to PAstV infection followed by suckling piglets. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the circulation of PAstV4 and PAstV2 lineages in Haryana. The study revealed endemic presence of virus in the region with high genetic diversity among the PAstV strains, suggesting a wide range of heterogeneity.

Multidimensional Nature of Substance Use Disorder: Explorations in Gangtok

ABSTRACT The study investigates the prevalence of substance use disorder and role of institutions in preventing it in Gangtok, a capital city of the northern Indian state of Sikkim. A survey of 816 respondents was undertaken using a short and easy-to-understand questionnaire. Results reveal that 64% of respondents identified persons with harmful drug use in their immediate families or in their neighborhoods and nearly same percentage of people conceal the actual cause of death in cases where death occurred due to drug overuse. The paper uncovers that cases of substance use disorder have increased and a considerable number of people are reported dying due to it, but families often hide the actual cause of death. The role of institutions is found to be limited in preventing it, as the process of knowledge transmission among families and patients with heavy drug use is abysmally slow. The study argues to empowering society with a potential tool, that is, knowledge transmission, and enabling them to devise meaningful tools to tackle rising cases of substance use disorder.

Indian forest governance during the COVID-19 pandemic

The unexpected nature of COVID-19 tested the institutional strength and resilience of state agencies across the world. Preliminary evidence is presented on how reduced mobility due to COVID-19 affected the functioning of the Forest Department in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and triggered changes in forest use by local communities as perceived by forest officials. Our evidence shows mixed outcomes in terms of the effectiveness of the forest bureaucrats in handling the COVID-19 pandemic as assessed through their own perceptions and other forestry records. The positive and negative elements relating to the bureaucratic forest administration during the COVID-19 lockdown are presented, and some possible reasons behind these varying patterns across the state of Himachal Pradesh are suggested. Lessons drawn from the COVID-19 crisis that can help guide forest bureaucracies to deal effectively with unpredictable events in the future are presented.

Exploring limits to tree planting as a natural climate solution

Large-scale tree planting has been advocated for decades in many countries as a cost-effective strategy to mitigate carbon, rejuvenate degraded landscapes, and support local livelihoods. Recent studies, however, suggest limited ecological and livelihood impacts of tree planting programs, indicating possible limits to tree planting as a natural climate solution. In this paper, we explore these carrying capacity-like limits by evaluating the site suitability of forestry landscapes of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh using theory/expert-based rules and machine learning algorithms. We find that the state can only achieve a maximum of 31.54% forest cover due to socio-ecological and biophysical constraints, much less than India's goal of bringing 66% of the total geographical area of Himalayan states into forest cover. The low availability of suitable lands for growing trees, together with poor plantation site selection by forest range officers limit the use of tree planting as a sole climate mitigation strategy. To approach theoretical planting limits, we propose an ePSA (e-Plantation Site Assistant) recommendation system based on our site-suitability results to assist forest rangers in selecting suitable sites for planting trees. An initial deployment of the recommender system suggests its potential utility in shaping the long-term success of tree plantations as an effective carbon strategy in northern India and beyond. Overall, we argue that there is a need to realign over-ambitious national and international tree planting targets with actual limits from site characteristics to avoid massive wastage of funds and to obtain feasible carbon mitigation outcomes.

Predicting negative human-tiger (Panthera tigris) interactions in mosaic landscapes around Dudhwa and Pilibhit tiger reserves in India

Negative interactions between humans and large carnivores like tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus) are of concern for the conservation of these carnivores, as well as for the health and wellbeing of people who experience such interactions routinely. Such interactions not only lead to human deaths, injuries and loss of domestic animals, but also can result in retaliatory persecution of carnivores and cause their population declines. The Dudhwa-Pilibhit landscape in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is popularly regarded to be the second most affected hotspot of human-tiger conflicts in the country. Yet, very little information is published on human-tiger conflicts in this landscape. In this study, we recorded 7.4 ± 5.8 (range: 1-20) negative interactions per year between people and tigers that led directly to human deaths and injuries. Although there appeared to be peaks in negative interactions in more recent years, these were found to be statistically non-significant. The peaks in the numbers of cases in 2009-10 and 2016-17 can be attributed to higher numbers of human casualties cause by individual ‘problem’ tigers, and not due to an increase in the number of tigers engaging in conflicts. We used binomial generalized linear modelling to model the risk to humans from being attacked by tigers depending on landscape characteristics. This approach demonstrated that the mosaics of forests and human settlements, especially the presence of agriculture, forest patches and waterbodies, were the predominant factors at play. Notably, higher risks were not mediated by the presence of larger cattle population. Proximity of villages to forests or natural vegetation patches was the most significantly contributing factor identified by the model output. This suggested that despite the prevalent perception of attacks on humans occurring in human-dominated areas of this landscape, areas with forests or other natural vegetation entailed higher risks. This was corroborated by field observations, with most attacks occurring within, or close to, forests or dense vegetation. Based on these findings, we recommend that restricting human movements and taking precautionary measures in high-risk areas can significantly reduce negative interactions with tigers in our study area.

Investigation of an outbreak of sheeppox among native sheep breeds in the Western Himalayas of India.

An outbreak of sheeppox was investigated in a cluster of villages situated in Western Himalayan ranges of a Northern Indian state. Non-migratory sheep (n = 80) of native breeds namely Gaddi and Rampur Bushair were infected and 15 have died. The outbreak started after a few animals contracted the disease during the summer grazing period at the highland pastures from migrating flocks of sheep. This initial outbreak resulted in a further spreading of the disease into the valley. Clinical examination revealed varying degree of cutaneous papular lesions and respiratory distress. Upon necropsy, visceral lesions in the lungs, trachea and kidneys were also found. Clinical and morbid samples were found positive for sheeppox virus using group specific P32 gene and I3L gene based multiplex PCR differentiating sheeppox and goatpox viruses. Histopathological, hematological and blood biochemical analysis also supported the pathology of an acute viral infection. The causative sheeppox virus strain was isolated using lamb testicular cell culture and phylogenetic analysis, based upon P32 and RPO30 genes, showed its clustering with other Indian strains reported from neighboring states. This study demonstrated the spread of sheeppox virus to new niches by migratory sheep flocks leading to establishment of endemic infections in many new pockets of higher Western Himalayas.

Long term outcomes in patients with RF/RHD: Eight-year follow-up of HP-RF/RHD (Himachal Pradesh Rheumatic Fever/Rheumatic Heart Disease) registry in a Northern Indian state

BackgroundThe long-term outcome data in patients with rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease (RF/RHD) is limited. We report the cumulative incidence of adverse outcomes in a cohort of RHD patients from a northern state of India at a median follow-up of 5.4 years. Methods1714 patients with RF/RHD diagnosed using clinical and echocardiographic criteria were registered from 2011 to 2018, and their baseline clinical characteristics and treatment practices were recorded. Patients were followed up annually for a median of 5.4 years (range 1–8 years) for incident adverse outcomes. The cumulative incidence of adverse composite outcomes, all-cause mortality, hospitalization for heart failure, stroke, and/or peripheral embolism was estimated. The baseline clinical characteristics were explored to identify the potential risk predictors using a multivariate cox proportional hazard model. ResultsThe cumulative incidence of adverse composite outcomes was 17.1% (15.3%–19.0%) at a median follow-up of 5.4 years. The predictors for the adverse composite outcomes (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval) were age (1.03, 1.02–1.04), education status below primary level (1.60, 1.23–2.05), severe valvular heart disease (1.74, 1.36–2.23), NYHA class III/IV at enrollment (1.56, 1.18–2.07), right heart failure (4.48, 2.85–6.95), history of stroke and/or peripheral embolism (3.7, 1.5–9.2) and mitral balloon valvuloplasty (0.62, 0.40–0.96). ConclusionsThe incidence of adverse outcomes is substantial in patients with RF/RHD. Thus, early detection of high-risk patients and their risk management is needed to improve outcomes.

MODIS NDVI Multi-Temporal Analysis Confirms Farmer Perceptions on Seasonality Variations Affecting Apple Orchards in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Apple cultivation in the Kinnaur district of the northern Indian State of Himachal Pradesh faces challenges from climatic changes and developmental activities. Farmers in the neighboring districts have already faced a major loss of livelihood due to seasonal changes. Therefore, it is important to study the extent of seasonal variations in the apple growing locations of this region. This study makes that attempt by assessing seasonality variations during a 15-year period from 2004 to 2018 when maximum construction activities occurred in this region. The study uses geospatial and statistical techniques in addition to farmer perceptions obtained during a field visit in November 2019. A temporal pattern using a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was studied for seven apple-growing locations in the district. The results show high seasonal variations and reduced snowfall at lower elevations, resulting in less chilling hours, which are necessary for the healthy growth of apples. The normalized difference snow index (NDSI) and rainfall show a high correlation with apple growth. Local farmers are unprepared for future seasonal disturbances, as they lack early warning systems, insurance for apple crops, and alternative livelihood options.

Buffalo Infection by Fasciola gigantica Transmitted by Radix acuminata in Uttar Pradesh, India: A Molecular Tool to Improve Snail Vector Epidemiology Assessments and Control Surveillance.

Fascioliasis is caused by Fasciola species transmitted by freshwater Lymnaeidae snails and infecting herbivorous mammals and humans worldwide. In southern Asia, fascioliasis is a problem in livestock from the Near East to Bangladesh, where recent human infection reports are worrying. In this region, Fasciola gigantica is transmitted by species of the Radix auricularia superspecies group. In the densely populated northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, livestock appears infected throughout. The economic importance of buffaloes highlights the need to control their very high infection rates. In the Gorakhpur area, a molecular method based on the two specific primer sets of genomic DNA was applied to fasciolids from buffaloes slaughtered in local abattoirs and cercariae from R. acuminata snails from freshwater collections. PCR products and sequences demonstrated that the cercariae belonged to F. gigantica and that R. acuminata acts as vector for its transmission to buffaloes. The 72.0% rate found in one transmission focus appears to be the highest worldwide record of fasciolid infection in a lymnaeid population. Lymnaeid prevalences and burdens found close to human communities indicate a very high infection risk. This method is simple, fast and cheap because there is no need for sequencing, it differentiates between fasciolid species and between fasciolids and other trematodes infecting R. acuminata, facilitates epidemiological surveys, and is useful for surveillance to evaluate the efficiency of control measures. Within climate change predictions, future increases of rain events and floods suggest the need for control and surveillance efforts in this endemic area.

An evaluation of molecular characterization and population structure of Uttarakhand, India

The northern Indian state of Uttarakhand is a landmark of culture, traditional values and natural beauty. It is located on the western side of the Himalayas resulting in geographic semi-isolation, which draws attention to the genomic diversity of the population of Uttarakhand. To explore the genomic structure and forensic characterization, randomly 427 unrelated individuals from Uttarakhand were selected. A wide range of allele frequency (0.001 to 0.415) and observed heterozygosity (0.693 to 0.888) was observed, which points towards a high level of genetic mixing instead of population isolation. The allelic data of 15 autosomal STR markers were found to be under the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. The population of Uttarakhand showed genetic closeness with geographically close populations, i.e., the populations of Uttar Pradesh, central India and north-western India as compared to geographically distant populations of eastern and southern India, as well as western and eastern Asian populations. The locus D2S1338 (3p21.31) was found to be the most informative marker among all the studied loci with the highest discrimination power (PD = 0.971) and polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.864), while locus TPOX (2p25.3) was found to be the least informative with the lowest discrimination power (PD = 0.862) and polymorphism information content (PIC = 0.654). The combined value of discrimination power (CPD = 1), power of exclusion (CPE = 0.999999023), paternity index (CPI = 9.40 × 105) and matching probability (CPM = 2.10 × 10−18) showed that the tested loci are very useful for personal identification, paternity testing and disaster victim identification.

P0081 / #335: SERUM ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES AND PREDICTION OF OUTCOME IN CRITICALLY SICK CHILDREN

Aims & Objectives: To study the role of serum electrolyte abnormalities in predicting outcome in critically ill children. Methods: It was a prospective study comprising of critically ill children admitted in a PICU of a tertiary care hospital in the northern Indian state of Punjab. At the time of admission the patient’s clinical picture was recorded in prefixed proforma. Venous blood sampling was obtained from each patient enrolled in the study and sent for estimation of electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus,urea, creatinine, glucose levels Results: There were total 489 admissions to PICU during the study period of one year from 1 May 2015 to 30 April 2016.Out of these 237 cases met the inclusion criteria. Electrolyte abnormalities were observed in 48.5% of children.Male to female ratio was 2.4:1.Maximum patients (29.5%) were less than 1 years age. In our study majority of patients (75.9%) were discharged, with 12.6% discharged against medical advice and 11.4% died. In our study, most common electrolyte abnormality found was hypocalcemia (39.2%) followed by hypokalemia (38.4%) and hyponatremia (37.1%). Conclusions: The present study showed a high incidence of electrolyte abnormalities in acutely ill children admitted to PICU. Since the specific symptoms of electrolyte abnormality often merge with the underlying disease, they remain unrecognized and contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality besides the primary illness. Close monitoring and appropriate correction of electrolyte abnormalities will be useful in lowering mortality.

Current trend of colonic diverticulosis in patients undergoing colonoscopy in a tertiary care hospital in Northern India

Background: Diverticular disease of the colon has a wide geographic variation and is a very common cause of hospital visits and admissions in the west. Contrary to this there is scarce data on colonoscopic prevalence of diverticular disease from our country.
 Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of colonic diverticulosis and concomitant colonoscopic pathologies among patients undergoing colonoscopy in a tertiary care gastrointestinal endoscopy setting in Northern India.
 Materials and Methods: All adult patients who underwent colonoscopy for various indications and were diagnosed to have colonic diverticulosis from August 2016 to December 2019 in the Department of Gastroenterology, Shifa Medical centre, Srinagar, Kashmir, India were included in the study.
 Results: Out of a total of 4500 colonoscopic procedures, diverticulosis was seen in 190 cases with an overall prevalence of 4.2%. Fifty-six percent of these were males and 44% were females. In 77 (40.52%) patients diverticulosis was seen in left colon, in 72 (37.89 %) in right colon and in 41 (21.57 %) diverticulosis was noted in pancolonic distribution. Adenomatous polyps were seen in 27 % of the cases.
 Conclusion: Colonic diverticulosis has very low prevalence in this northern Indian state. Adenomatous polyps are commonly associated with this condition.

Status of knowledge regarding school health services among school teachers: a cross sectional study from a northern Indian state

Background: School-age children spend one-third of their time in schools. Teachers are key personnel to look after the health of school children. Teachers can provide health education to school children, assess the school environment for better health outcomes, provide health care services and help in the maintenance of school health records. Aim of the study was to assess the status of knowledge of school health services (SHS) among school teachers.Methods: Government and private schools in a Northern Indian state. A community-based cross-sectional study. It includes 50 randomly selected designated schoolteachers for SHS by the PPS methods from the schools which were functional since at least five years in the study area. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge regarding SHS. Percentage, proportion and χ2 test were used as statistical methods. The p-value 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: 38% participants were of 41-50 years of age group, 54% were females and 48% had an experience of ≤10 years. 22% participants had training regarding SHS. 40% participants had moderately adequate knowledge (p-value=0.04). It was observed to be more among participants of rural, government, age group of 31-40 years, with experience of 21-30years, female and among trained teachers for school health.Conclusions: School teachers were lacking in knowledge regarding environment and sanitation; communicable and non-communicable diseases; and health education for school children. We also observed that training regarding SHS was a majorly missing component which could be the reason behind poor level knowledge among schoolteachers.