Purulia District Research Articles

School dropout susceptibility mapping with fuzzy logic – a study in the District of Purulia, India

School dropout susceptibility mapping with fuzzy logic – a study in the District of Purulia, India

<b>Butterfly fauna of Baghmundi, Purulia, West Bengal, India: a preliminary checklist</b>

The butterfly diversity of Baghmundi, Purulia District (22.600–23.500N & 85.750–86.650E), West Bengal, India was studied from January 2014 to December 2015 with photographic documentation. A total of 54 butterfly species were recorded representing 39 genera in six families. Nymphalidae was the most dominant family with 46.3% of the total species. As this is the first report of butterfly diversity from this region, the present study may help in planning conservation strategies and generate awareness among the local people and government authorities to save wildlife and their habitats.

Studies on Prospect of Ground Water Using Rs and Gis Techniques in Ramchandrapur of Santuri Block, Purulia District, West Bengal

Groundwater is an important element of global hydrologic cycle. It is vital for fulfillment of the basic human needs as drinking water and using in other purposes. In the present work, the main goal is to prepare the groundwater prospect map of the study area, using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic information System (GIS) techniques. A small area around Ramchandrapur in Purulia District, West Bengal is chosen for this work. This area is mainly the eastern most extension of the chotanagpur plateau and a transitional area between the plateau in the west and the alluvial plains of Bankura region in the east. The lithology of this area is mainly metamorphosed igneous rocks, except in the northern part where Gondwana sediments are exposed. Major rock groups present in this area are granite gneiss, khondalite, nephelinesyenite, sandstone and shale. Topography is undulating and some places nearly flat with some scattered hillocks which are mainly denudational in origin. History of prolonged weathering and erosion are clearly present in the geomorphological units. Mainly loose sandy residual soil is present in most of the places. Unconsolidated sediments are present in valley fills along drainage systems. Well-connected drainage pattern (dendritic) is present here. In this study, satellite image is used. From this image and also with the help of SOI toposheet different thematic layers are created viz. base map, geomorphology, lithology, drainage and land use in ArcGIS 9.3 software. For the preparation of groundwater prospect map lithgeom layer is created by integrating lithology and geomorphology layer in ArcGIS 9.3. Well yield data helps to construct this layer. Five types of potentialzones are found from the prospect map these are good, moderate good, moderate, poor, very poor.

An effort of mapping the income inequality in the district of Purulia, West Bengal, India

The incidence of income inequality belongs to the core of poverty, food insecurity, malnutrition, starvation and a few hundreds of other socioeconomic problems or may be said the socioeconomic hazards. Present-day researches within the domain of socioeconomic sciences are focused to develop the ‘tools and techniques’ of demarcating the areas having a degree of vulnerability to a particular socioeconomic hazard and to examine the internal functions of the interactive variables associated with the process. The distribution of income inequality, spatially or temporally, can be expressed not by the per-capita income only but through combining the distribution of workforce, accompanied with the assorted income level within the working population; and, based on this algorithm, the present paper proposes an indicator of income inequality. The response of the indicator is validated by analyzing its synchronization with the renowned Kuznets inequality distribution model. Then, the mapping of income inequality is done for the district of Purulia, utilizing the validated indicator on GIS platform.

Lithostratigraphic contact – a significant site for hydrogeological investigation in crystalline fractured-rock terrains

Estimating the hydrogeologic control of fractured aquifers in hard crystalline and metamorphosed rocks is challenging due to complexity in the development of secondary porosity. The present study in the Precambrian metamorphic terrain in and around the Balarampur of Purulia district, West Bengal, India, aims to estimate the hydrogeologic significance of lithostratigraphic contacts using fracture characteristics obtained from surface bedrock exposures supported by hydrological data from the existing dugwells. This study involves the domain-wise analysis of the frequencies of fractures that control the fracture-porosity. The domain-wise study reveals higher fracture-frequencies adjacent to the lithostratigraphic contacts. The concurrence of lithostratigraphic contacts with the occurrences of high-discharging wells and also with the deep weathered zone in low-lying areas is clearly established, thus assigning the lithostratigraphic contact as hydrogeologically significant. An increase in frequencies of the fractures within the ‘influence zone’ of the lithocontact, is clearly visible. Among those fractures, particularly, which make the angle greater than the ‘limiting angle’ with the lithocontact are characterised by increased frequencies. However, brittle rocks like quartz biotite granite gneisses, phyllite and epidiorite show high porosity of fracture, within the ‘influence zone’ of the lithostratigraphic contact. Enhanced deepening of the weathered-zone at lower topographic region may perhaps be a plausible explanation for this increased fracture-porosity at lithocontact to assign it as a hydrogeologically significant transmissive zone within fractured rocks.

An Assessment of Economic Inequality in the District of Purulia, West Bengal, India

Unequal access to resources, employment and income along with its trend of steady magnification results into multiple social and economic depreciations. The issue of income inequality at macro level, i.e. national and state level has been well focused whereas analysis of micro-level disparities in this aspect has yet to be explored significantly. The development plans, at presents, rely on decentralized planning processes where the micro level sectoral and spatial variation of income should be given importance. Purulia district is one of the most backward districts in West Bengal in perspective of all the dimensions of human development accompanied with the income inequality at a considerable magnitude. The present study attempts to assess the intra-district income inequalities between different social, ethnic and religious classes. The study analyses the profiles of income distributions of different competitive classes carefully. It also plotted the relative deprivation curve. The result of the analyses has been critically discussed for an amicable conclusion.

Changing Lives of Birhors in Purulia: A Socio-economic Observation in Twenty-first Century

Purulia is a habitat of various tribal communities of West Bengal as well as the vast tribal families of Indian sub-continent. The tribes are normally portrayed as discrete categories, having little linkages with the happenings of the mainstream civilization. Having very little population in West Bengal, the Birhors mainly reside in the area under Baghmundi, Jhaldah and Balarampur police stations of Purulia district which forms an extension of Hazaribagh plateau. One of the earliest nomadic tribes of our country, the Birhors settled down, giving up their wanderer characteristic feature, over time. This article highlights their past as well as quite colourful present to show the difference made by government initiatives under tribal development programmes. The article also depicts the socio-economic, educational and cultural condition of the Birhors in the fast-moving world of twenty-first century.

Association Between Body Mass Index and Motor Competence in Santal Children of Purulia District, India

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index and motor competence in Santal children 5–12 years old. A total of 816 Santal children were studied. Children's adiposity status was assessed by body mass index (BMI) for age z-score based on World Health Organization reference data. Motor competence was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Competence (BOT-2). There was no significant difference in mean BMI z-score between Santal boys (0.13 ± 0.07) and girls (−0.14 ± 0.07). Healthy weight (HW) children scored higher (p < .05) in some individual motor subtests (bilateral competence, balance, running speed and agility, upper limb competence, and strength) and in total BOT-2 score (p < .05) compared with scores for underweight (UW) and overweight (OW) children. Nonlinear regression analysis showed that BMI is a significant independent predictor of motor competence (p < .01). Motor competence showed a curvilinear relationship with BMI-z-score, with the lowest point motor scores in strength and upper limb competence (p < .05) for both UW and OW children compared to HW children who scored highest. The results also indicated that gross motor skills, but not fine motor skills, were poorer among children who were UW or OW compared with HW children.

Socio-demographic Correlates of Rhinosporidiosis: A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study in Purulia, India.

The present paper attempts toexplore the socio-demographic profile of patients with rhinosporidiosis in an endemic area. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary-care hospital in Purulia district, India, including consecutive patients with histologically-proved rhinosporidiosis. Their socio-demographic profiles were obtained through a pre-designed proforma with given epidemiologic parameters. Data was statistically analyzed with inputs from literature review. Of the 39 patients included, 87% were fresh/new cases. The age-group of 10-20years was mostly involved, with multiple peaks around 50. About 82% were from rural background, commonly involved in cattle farming and agriculture, with a universal habit of pond-bathing. There was a male preponderance; however women were being increasingly affected. Nasal cavity was the predominant site involved; nasal obstruction and epistaxis were the primary complaints. About 13% had recurrent lesions that were statistically related to higher age-group (≥15years) and occupation (agriculture, labor). Rhinosporidiosis is predominantly the disease of young rural adults engaged in field activities and habituated to pond-bathing. A bimodal age distribution was noticed. The present article provides an update on the socio-demographic perspectives of rhinosporidiosis in an endemic zone. It also summarizes the factors that would identify the vulnerable population and help formulate preventive measures.

Geophysical and geochemical alteration of rocks in granitic profiles during intense weathering in southern Purulia district, West Bengal, India

Purulia district of West Bengal is geologically dominated mostly by Proterozic hard granite gneiss rocks including soft phyllite and mica schist of Singhbhum group as part of Chotanagpur plateau. Present study aims to understand the nature of geophysical and geochemical weathering processes for characterization of granitic crust as well as the geochemical ways of this alteration. During the field study 14 rocks and soils samples were collected from three sections of each weathering profile in three different blocks namely, Manbazar-I, Manbazar-II and Banduan. The samples were collected along the roads cuts, natural and other man-made exposures and restricted mostly within the exposed layers of the respective profiles. The samples were analyses in sieve for particle size distribution and in X-ray diffraction for mineralogical alteration. The thin section of selected samples were analysed under polarized optical microscope for understanding the nature of physical and chemical changes in parent rocks. From sieve analysis, the cumulative particle size distribution show that the size of weathered materials gradually reduces from saprolite to overlying soils in every profile. Mineralogical analysis by XRD shows that feldspar, muscovite, quartz and biotite are the primary minerals which are intensely weathered and have undergone some geochemical processes except quartz, to form some secondary clay minerals like montmorillonite, kaolinite and illite in the overlying soil. Optical microscopic analysis reveals that transformation of primary minerals to secondary clay minerals significantly reduced the rocks strength which leads the rocks disintegrate into smaller particles. Finally, the results show that there is an abundance of montmorillonite and altered primary minerals with gravel materials in the profiles are liable for further weathering to develop a mature soil.

INFLUENCE OF LOCALITY ON STUDENTS’ STUDY ORIENTATION AT SECONDARY LEVEL

The aim of this study is to find out the influence of locality on study orientation of secondary school students. A modified Study Orientation Scale (SOS) was used on the sample of 360 students those were studying in class X in different schools of Purulia district for obtaining the study orientation scores. Similarly, academic achievement was measured through marks obtained by the students in the school level examination of class IX. From the analysis of data, the results showed that the urban and rural students have average level study orientation. The study orientation of rural students is slightly better than urban students. The study also revealed that locality has no significant influence on students’ study orientation in secondary school. Article visualizations:

Toward a New Frame for Regional Films: Manbhum Videos and the Other Side of (Indian) Cinema

This article focuses on the production and mass circulation of locally produced videos in and across socially marginalized areas of Bengal. It emerges from the research conducted on the video industry located in Purulia District, West Bengal. These videos, known as “ Manbhum videos,” signifying both place and idiom, are connected to video cultures proliferating across the Global South since the last decade. While new media cultures have become a crucial part of contemporary cinema studies, production of Manbhum videos (and videos produced in other local languages) point toward a new understanding of both cinema in India and categories like regional films. It raises questions regarding the ways in which “regional cinema” has been described so far, and the manner in which it may be redefined in the new media context. Such small-scale and localized video production in West Bengal and its circulation across disparate districts of India and Bangladesh, inform us that frameworks like “Bengali cinema” are deeply fragmented. Therefore, by studying the videos and its growth, this article shows in what way alternative settings and landscapes, narratives tropes, styles of performance and speech become pertinent in these videos, which effectively address a longer history of marginalization and political tussle.

Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones in Hard Rock Terrain in Kashipur Block, Purulia District, West Bengal, using Geospatial Techniques

The rapidly increasing need for water has put tremendous pressure on groundwater resources in areas where it is the prime source of water. The objective of this study is to delineate groundwater potential zone in Kashipur Block, Purulia district, West Bengal with dry climate and hard rock terrain. In the present study, groundwater potential zones for the assessment of groundwater availability in Kashipur Block of Purilia District, West Bengal, has been delineated using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Survey of India toposheets and IRS-1C—LISS III satellite imagery. They are used to prepare various thematic layers, e.g., hydrogeomorphology, slope and lineament density. The maps were then transformed to raster data using feature to raster converter tool of software like MicroImages TNT mips pro 2012. The raster maps of these factors are allocated to a fixed score and weight computed from multiinfluencing factor technique. Each weighted layer is statistically computed to get the groundwater potential zones. Weighted Index Overlay modeling technique was used to develop a groundwater potential zone map with three weighted and scored parameters. Although the area is characterized by hard rock, it has groundwater prospective zones due to fracturing, weathering and the presence of valley fills overlying a planation surface. The area has been categorized into four distinct zones- excellent, good, moderate and poor. Excellent groundwater potential zones constitute 1.5% of the total block area, good groundwater potential zones occupy majority of the block, covering approximately 53%, and the moderate potential zones occupy about 45% of the total block, poor potential zones occupy very small portion 0.5%. The results reveal that the modelling assessment method proposed in this study is an effective tool for deciphering groundwater potential zones for proper planning and management of groundwater resources in diverse hydrogeological terrains

Rural Livelihood Diversification in West Bengal: Nature and Extent

The study, conducted in the state of West Bengal, has examined the nature, extent and causes of livelihood diversification among different livelihood groups. It has found that the level of livelihood diversification highly varies across regions and also across different livelihood groups. The importance of agriculture as a source of livelihood is decreasing and that of the non-farm sector is increasing in West Bengal. For the resource-poor households, livelihood diversification is a survival strategy to cope up with the adverse livelihood shocks and to manage the risky environments. On the other hand, for resource-rich households, livelihood diversification is an attempt to reap the benefits of development. In backward regions like Purulia district, not only the average household income or numbers of income sources are limited but their level of diversification is also quite low. The government needs to develop appropriate strategies, especially for the resource-poor rural households, to facilitate successful livelihood diversification. A comprehensive development plan, including increasing the scope for non-farm activities, is urgently needed for the backward regions in the state.

Nutritional Evaluation of Tree Leaves of Ayodhya Hills of Purulia District, West Bengal

Nutritional Evaluation of Tree Leaves of Ayodhya Hills of Purulia District, West Bengal

Mapping of groundwater potential zones in hard rock terrain using geoinformatics: a case of Kumari watershed in western part of West Bengal

Groundwater is one of the world’s most precious natural resources. But still now this valuable resource is largely unexploited for agricultural development in drought prone western region of West Bengal. In drought prone areas micro-watershed based development strategy may be considered as the best practice for integrated development. Keeping in view the above perspective, we select Kumari watershed of Purulia district, the westernmost and semi-arid district of West Bengal for better water resource management. Geologically the area consists of Chotanagpur granite gneiss complex while physiographically it is highly dissected pedimental landscape with lateritic upland and skeletal soil. As a result, cultivation of this area is predominantly mono-cropped and thus per hectare production is also low as compared to other regions of West Bengal. Supply of sufficient water resource in this region may offer more food security alternative to rain-fed subsistence farming. That’s why the present study has been carried out to evaluate the potential zones for groundwater targeting in Kumari watershed of Purulia district using an integrated remote sensing data, Survey of India topographical sheets and field verification. Hydro-geological features (geomorphological and geological units, slope, drainage density, lineaments density etc.) that influence groundwater occurrence were extracted and integrated to evaluate the hydro-geomorphological characteristics of the study area. Thematic maps of the extracted features were prepared with the help of ERDAS Imagine 9.0 and Arc-GIS 9.3 software. Weightage values were assigned to the different parameters according to their relative importance to groundwater potentiality and integrated through Geographic Information System environment. Finally on the basis of grid-wise theme weight and class weights the groundwater potential map was prepared by overlay the thematic layers.

Study of fractures in Precambrian crystalline rocks using field technique in and around Balarampur, Purulia district, West Bengal, India

Location of recharge zone in Precambrian crystalline rock is still unclear. The present study attempts to perform a detailed analysis of the joints/fractures developed in a Precambrian metamorphic terrain in and around Balarampur in Purulia district of West Bengal, India using bedrock data. The analysis shows that the orientations of major fracture trends are variable along with varying lithological units and structural affinities. The application of lithology-based analysis technique identifies highly predominant fracture frequency and fracture aperture in mica schist and phyllite in the area. This property is not evident in the granite gneiss and epidiorite. The moderate to high fracture permeability value is also associated with the fractures occurring in the shear zone. Mica schist and phyllite associated with the shear zone may represent a permeable recharge zone in the region.

Influence of Sex on Students’ Study Orientation at Secondary Level

The influence of sex on students’ study orientation at secondary level was compared and measured through a modified Study Orientation Scale (SOS), which consists 52 items on different aspects of study habit. The study was conducted in the year 2014 for obtaining data of students’ study orientation. The scale was administered on the sample of 360 students those were studying in class X in different schools of Purulia district. Similarly, academic achievement was measured through marks obtained by the students in the school level examination of class IX. The analysis of data revealed that the boys and girls have average level study orientation. The girls are slightly better than the boys in respect of their study orientation. The study also revealed that sex doesn’t show any significant influence on students’ study orientation in secondary schools.

Influence of Seasonal Variation in the General Composition of Black Bengal Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) Milk

Milk is one of the oldest foods known to human civilization. India has a good number of Black Bengal goat populations, which has an important role in the lives of local goat rearers. The goal of the present study is to determine the general composition of Black Bengal goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) milk and to find out the effect of seasonal variation on its constituents in the Purulia district of West Bengal. The highest mean value of temperature (42.6±1.5oC) has been reported during the month of April and May in the season of pre-monsoon. However, the lowest value of temperature (8.6±0.9 o C) has been reported during the month of January in the season of post-monsoon. The parameter studied here are amount of fat, non fat solids, total solids, protein, minerals, pH and specific gravity of the Black Bengal goat milk in two different seasons. Data has analyzed for the effect of seasonal variation and the current findings implies that seasonal variation plays the major role to influence the milk constituents of Black Bengal goats.

Tradition in treating taboo: Folkloric medicinal wisdom of the aboriginals of Purulia district, West Bengal, India against sexual, gynaecological and related disorders

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn order to explore the traditional medicine practised by the ethnic communities residing in the topographically and climatically challenged Purulia, an underprivileged district of West Bengal, India, a quantitative ethnobiological approach was adopted to document the folkloric use of ethnomedicinals against different sexual, gynaecological and related ailments. Materials and methodsEthnobiological surveys were conducted during 2012–2015 by interviewing 82 informants or traditional healers with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The survey included questions on botanical and non-botanical ingredients and additives mixed with monoherbal and polyherbal formulations, vernacular names of the plants and animals, methods of preparation and administration and restrictions during medications. Additional quantitative indices such as use value, informant׳s consensus factor and fidelity level were used for data analysis. ResultsTwenty eight sexual and gynaecological disorders were found to be treated with 18 monoherbal and 31 polyherbal formulations consisting of a total number of 96 plant species from 86 genera and 47 families and four animal species. A variety of additives, either botanicals or non-botanicals were used with the formulations for higher efficacy and taste enhancement. Fabaceae (16 species) was found to be the most common family of medicinal plants whereas herbs (42.7%) and roots (32%) were the most common habit type and plant part used respectively. Use value, informant׳s consensus factor and fidelity level indicate frequency and coherence of citations. ConclusionAge old belief on traditional medicine prevails in the studied area due to its efficacy, inexpensive price and the remoteness of tribal villages from conventional medical centres. Traditional healers had detailed knowledge of preparations, doses, methods of administration, restrictions during medications, safety and efficacy of using folkloric therapeutics against sexual and gynaecological disorders. Possible synergistic interactions among phytochemicals and additives were indicated to explain enhanced therapeutic efficacy of mixed herbal formulations.