Varanasi City Research Articles

Flood Risk and Impact Analysis of Varanasi City Region, India

Flood Risk and Impact Analysis of Varanasi City Region, India

Extent, spectrum, and predictors of cognitive impairment in urban geriatric population in a district of North India.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is no longer considered a normal and inevitable change of aging. This study was carried out to assess extent, spectrum, and predictors of cognitive impairment in the participants. A community-based cross-sectional study was done on 616 urban geriatric participants of Varanasi city selected by multistage sampling procedure. The participants were interviewed about their sociodemographic profile using a predesigned and pretested pro forma, and their cognition was assessed through Mini-Mental State Examination tool. Logistic regression analysis was applied for an inferential purpose. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence interval were computed. Extent of cognitive impairment in geriatric participants was 22.4%. AORs were maximum in ≥80 years (21.23; 95% Confidence Interval: 7.05-63.94), in illiterate and just literate participants (13.71; 95% Confidence Interval: 6.49-28.98) and in homemakers (17.0; 95% Confidence Interval: 4.28-67.49). Nine out of 40 urban geriatric participants had cognitive impairment. Adversities of cognitive impairment were more with advancing age, nonengagement in gainful employment, and low literacy levels.

Original

Transit-oriented development has emerged as an admired concept among spatial policymakers and regional planners, as it can contribute to a more feasible transportation system along with sustainable urban development practices. However, successful implementation of transit-oriented development is associated with a host of issues that are both social and economic in nature. This paper aims to throw light on the notion of rail-based transit-oriented development with a specic focus on the prospect of Varanasi city and its recently redeveloped Banaras railway station. This research is grounded on the existing literature and the information available in the public domain. The study refers to some international examples to show the implications of transit-oriented development initiatives on the fabrication of a more liveable and sustainable type of cityscape. Additionally, it takes insights from contemporary Indian initiatives that depict a well-realisation of the potential of railway stations as transit-oriented development sites, which ultimately aims to achieve the broader goal of sustainable urban and transport development throughout the entire length and width of the country.

Reuse-focused selection of appropriate technologies for municipal wastewater treatment: a multi-criteria approach.

Wastewater treatment technologies (WWTTs) are employed across the world, and the selection is mainly based on ‘past experiences’ aimed at ‘pollution prevention’ in the receiving water bodies. This paper aims to develop a methodology for the selection of an appropriate wastewater treatment chain that produces effluent suitable for the defined reuse. Adopting the least weighted cost approach, four decision criteria: Capital cost, Operation and Maintenance cost, Land requirement, and Energy requirement, have been used and the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) has been employed for obtaining weights. Quality expectations for 14 reuses have been enlisted, and 25 WWTTs have been evaluated in a total of 360 combinations. In Kanpur city, for water reuse in industrial cooling under restricted land and challenging influent quality conditions, a combination of Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) with Wuhrmann process (WP) is obtained as the most preferred suggestion. For non-potable domestic reuse, Anaerobic Anoxic Oxic (A2O) with Ultrafiltration (UF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the most preferred combination. In Varanasi city, for vehicular washing operations and for flow augmentation (inland surface water), under energy-constraint scenario, high-rate activated sludge-based biological filtration and oxygenated reactor (BIOFOR-F) is suggested. For technology supplementation to existing ASP-based STPs in the city to obtain effluent for inland surface water augmentation, WP in combination with microfiltration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) is suggested. Thus, the developed model may be used as a decision-making tool for planning a reuse-focused water reclamation program or for upgradation of existing STPs as per resource availability and target reuse objectives.

A Study of The Relationship Between Physical Bullying Behaviour and Socio Economic Status of Secondary School Students

The present study aimed to find out the relationship of Physical Bullying Behaviour(PBB) with SES (age, family type and family income) among Government–aided and Private Secondary School Students(GASSS and PSSS) belonging to Varanasi city. 400 samples (200 GASSS and 200 PSSS) were selected randomly studying in class 9th to 12th of Secondary Schools of Varanasi city. Self-made tool named Bullying Behaviour Assessment Questionnaire (BBAQ) was used for data collection. Karl Pearson correlation coefficient value was used for the analysis of the data. The major findings were as among GASSS PBB was found to be negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with family type and family income. Among PSSS PBB was found to be negatively correlated with the family type and positively correlated with age and family income. For Secondary school students (SSS) PBB was found to be negatively correlated with age and family type whereas positively correlated with the family income.

Socio-Economic Status of Slum Dwellers: A Cross-Sectional Study of five slums in Varanasi City

The study focuses on the socio-economic status (SES) of slum dwellers in Varanasi city. From the five wards of Varanasi slums, 200 households were interviewed with a predesigned questionnaire. To show the status of the families in the slum, we used Kuppuswamy's socio-economic class. The average score of Kuppuswamy'ssocio-economic status of slum dwellers is 7.7. In Varanasi city, based on the Kuppuswamy SES score, families belong to Upper-lower SES, and their average SES is seven. The states should focus on poverty, unemployment, income, and essential services in city areas. The present study suggests improving the socio-economic condition, which led to improved social, educational, and income status in slums.

Assessment of Awareness Regarding Health Hazards of Plastic Chemicals and their Warning Label among a Sample Population of Varanasi City: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background:Plastic containers are widely used to store and serve edibles. In the production of some types of plastic, chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) are used. These chemicals leach from the plastic containers into the edibles, get access into the biological systems, and cause a toxic impact on health.Aim:This cross-sectional survey was planned to assess the usage of food contact plastic and awareness regarding the health hazards of plastic chemicals and warning labels on plastic items among a sample population of Varanasi city.Materials and Methods:Data were collected by interviewing the 556 adult participants, using a prevalidated structured questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to test the association and P < 0.05 was considered as significant.Results:Most of the participants were found to be following routine practices during cooking and storage of edibles which may expose them to BPA and BPS through the gut. Although many participants were aware that plastic may contain some type of chemicals which may enter the human body and harm human health in some way, they lacked precise knowledge regarding warning label like “BPA free plastic” “plastic containing BPA” and “food grade plastic.” Furthermore, none of the participants could recognize the “resin identification codes” correctly.Conclusion:Most of the participants had only elementary awareness of health risk of plastic usage. A significant number of participants lacked crucial information that can help them to make healthy choices as a consumer and use safe alternatives of plastic.

Family Planning: Popular Methods and Their Effects

The number of children directly affects the health and nutritional status of mother. For a healthy child, the mother should be healthy and this could be possible with planned pregnancies or avoiding unwanted pregnancies by use of family planning methods. The present study was undertaken to investigate the methods of family planning used and their effect on the health of a woman. The study was carried out in the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. The study was cross-sectional and comprised of 220 married women aged 25-40 years, who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The respondents were randomly selected, with the exclusion criteria for unmarried, widow, divorcee women, or those who were not living with their husbands. The results showed that the respondents were aware of the family planning concept. The best source of information regarding family planning was media (36.36%); and the maximum of them preferred the permanent method (40.45%) as the method of contraception. Only a few of them (38.64%) were aware of government policies and plans related to family planning. 26.37% of respondents felt that they were having health problems by using contraceptive methods. The health problems were observed among the respondents using Intra-Uterine Devices (58.49%) and oral contraceptive pills (41.51%). Age and nutritional status of the mother during conception both contribute to the health and nutritional status of the child. Government should establish policies related to exposure of married couples towards family planning methods along with easy access to family planning methods especially for the lower class people. Also, more in-depth study of the use and awareness of family planning methods should be done as it is essential for the well-being of the mother, child, and family and even society as a whole. Keywords: Family planning; Family planning methods; Contraception; Intra-uterine devices; Contraceptive Pills

The impact of climate on infectious diseases in under-sixteen children in Varanasi City, India: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The effects of climate on infectious diseases associated with children may increase their vulnerability under climate change scenario, the effect will be much apparent in an unfair socioeconomic condition like India. Thus the study aims in analyzing the association of climate with infectious diseases in children under 16 years of age in Varanasi city, India. METHODS: In a community based cohort of 457 children under 16years of age followed for three years from January 2017 to Jan 2020, a binomial regression was used to examine the association of maximum temperature; Tmax, relative; RH and absolute humidity; AH, rainfall; RF, solar radiation; SLR, and wind speed; WS with group of infectious diseases (gastrointestinal tract infection; GIT, upper; URTI and lower respiratory tract infection; LRTI, skin disease and vector-borne disease; VBD), adjusting for potential confounders and effect modifiers (socioeconomic status; SES and child anthropometry). RESULTS:The result shows with each unit (1°C) increase in Tmax GIT and VBD increased by 4.18% and 6.09% respectively, and each unit (1°C) decline in Tmax increased URTI and Skin diseases by 3.35% and 3.6% respectively. RH (2.73%) and SLR (9.93%) shows association (positive) only with URTI. Increase in VBD (6.09%) and Skin disease (10.13%) was observed with each unit (1kg/m3) increase in AH and increase in LRTI (3.02%) with each unit decrease. WS shows association with most of the disease categories and RF showing little effect but significant. SES and anthropometric parameters shows to modify the association between climate and diseases as good proportion of children fell in stunting, wasting, and underweight categories. CONCLUSIONS:Study findings advocate prioritization of effective measures by government and policymakers to curb child morbidity burden as the effect of climate could be more devastating under climate change scenarios in proportion of children that are already malnourished. KEYWORDS: Infectious diseases,Climate,Environmental epidemiology,Socio-economic factors,Children's environmental health

Effect of Land Surface Temperature on Urban Heat Island in Varanasi City, India

Crucial changes in urban climate can be witnessed due to rapid urbanisation of cities across the world. It is important to find a balance between urban expansion and thermal environment quality to guarantee sustainable urban development. Thus, it is a major research priority to study the urban heat island (UHI) in various fields, i.e., climate change urban ecology, urban climatology, urban planning, mitigation and management, urban geography, etc. The present study highlighted the interrelationship between land surface temperature (LST) and the abundance of impervious cover and green cover in the Varanasi city of Uttar Pradesh, India. For this purpose, we used various GIS and remote-sensing techniques. Landsat 8 images, land-use–land-cover pattern including urban/rural gradients, and grid- and metric-based multi-resolution techniques were used for the analysis. From the study, it was noticed that LST, density of impervious cover, and density of green cover were correlated significantly, and an urban gradient existed over the entire city, depicting a typical UHI profile. It was also concluded that the orientation, randomness, and aggregation of impervious cover and green cover have a strong correlation with LST. From this study, it is recommended that, when planning urban extension, spatial variation of impervious cover and green cover are designed properly to ensure the comfort of all living beings as per the ecological point of view.

Impact of antecedents of online learning on learner’s satisfaction in higher education: An empirical investigation on Commerce and Management students in the COVID era.

The essence of digitization is rooted in almost all the field in daily routine of every individual, thoroughly. Digital inclusions in education have not been very focused in the past in developing countries like India. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even schools at primary level education also started using digital platforms for transmitting knowledge. It is due to the advancement in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ITC) that exchange of knowledge between teachers and students never stopped. In this study, the researcher has focused on evaluating the perception of students towards online learning and analyzing the impact of it on their perceived satisfaction from such electronic plinth. A model was developed taking perceived satisfaction as dependent variable while technology, instructor’ role, student’s role, interaction and class management as independent variable. A total of 233 valid responses were collected from graduate and post graduate students of commerce and management from Varanasi city using 5-point Likert scale standard questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis revealed that instructor’s role and student’s role were found significant affecting perceived satisfaction. The study suggested that rather than getting distracted due to unfriendly disturbances in the teaching environment, instructor should focus on attitude development, timeliness and quick response, solving queries and providing feedback to students. Students should give more stress on attitude development and self-motivation. The study will be a great help to the institutions in strengthening their learning environment and further improve learner satisfaction.

Association between climate and infectious diseases among children in Varanasi city, India: A prospective cohort study

The effects of climate on infectious diseases could influence the health impacts, particularly in children in countries with the unfair socioeconomic conditions. In a prospective cohort of 461 children under 16-years-of-age in Varanasi city, India, the association of maximum-temperature (Tmax), relative humidity (RH), absolute humidity (AH), rainfall (RF), wind-speed (WS), and solar radiation (SLR) with prevalent infectious diseases (Diarrhea, Common cold and flu, Pneumonia, Skin-disease and Malaria, and Dengue) was examined using binomial-regression, adjusting for confounders and effect modifiers (socioeconomic-status; SES and child anthropometry), from January 2017 to January 2020. Attributable-fraction (AFx) was calculated due to each climate variable for each infectious disease. The result showed that each unit (1 °C) rise in Tmax was associated with an increase in diarrhea and skin-disease cases by 3.97% (95% CI: 2.92, 5.02) and 3.94% (95% CI: 1.67, 6.22), respectively, whereas, a unit decline in Tmax was associated with an increase in cold and flu cases by 3.87% (95% CI: 2.97, 4.76). Rise in humidity (RH) was associated with increase in cases of cold and flu by 0.73% (95% CI: 0.38, 1.08) and malaria (AH) by 7.19% (95% CI: 1.51, 12.87) while each unit (1 g/m3) decrease in humidity (AH) observed increase in pneumonia cases by 3.02% (95% CI: 0.75, 5.3). WS was positively associated with diarrhea (14.16%; 95% CI: 6.52, 21.80) and negatively with dengue (17.40%; 12.32, 22.48) cases for each unit change (kmph). RF showed marginal association while SLR showed no association at all. The combined AFx due to climatic factors ranged from 9 to 18%. SES and anthropometric parameters modified the climate-morbidity association in children with a high proportion of children found suffering from stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions. Findings from this study draw the attention of government and policymakers to prioritize effective measures for child health as the present association may increase disease burden in the future under climate-change scenarios in already malnourished paediatric population through multiple pathways.

A Tale of Two Maps: A Study of Western Cartographic Practices and Indigenous Pictorial Representation of Varanasi

This paper argues that western cartography notions and practices have rejected mainly the Indian way of understanding the space and its distinct representational approaches. The map-making tradition in India visualises space as organic, complex and connected arrangements, exercises for mapping Varanasi city carried out by the British scholar James Prinsep in 1822, in contrast, relied on mathematical abstraction and land centric ideologies. The consequences of such contrasting styles and methodologies for visualising space, I argue, was made most acutely perceptible in the manner in which the river Gaṅgā was understood and positioned within the respective frameworks. While in western cartographic reckoning Varanasi was considered to be a dry space that was abutting the flowing Ganga river, in the indigenous representational formats the very same space was characterised as being a region where land and water met and interwove a continuum between the fluvial and the terrestrial.

Quantification of urban heat intensity with land use/land cover changes using Landsat satellite data over urban landscapes

Urban heat island (UHI) is a phenomenon which may have adverse effects on our environment and is stimulated as a result of urbanization or land cover changes. Thermal remote sensing has been found beneficial to study the effect of urbanization on UHI intensity. This paper analyses the variation in land surface temperature (LST) with land cover changes in Varanasi city of India from 1989 to 2018 using Landsat satellite images. A new index named Urban Heat Intensity Ratio Index (UHIRI) was proposed to quantify the urban heat intensity from 1989 to 2018 which was found to increase from 0.36 in year 1989 to 0.87 in year 2018. Further, contribution of each land cover towards UHI was determined using land cover contribution index (LCCI). The negative value of LCCI for water and vegetation indicates its negative contribution towards UHI, whereas positive value of LCCI for bare soil and built-ups depicted its positive contribution towards UHI. The LCCI value for urban land cover shows significant increase in 29 years, i.e. 0.49, 1.43, 3.40 and 4.37 for years 1989, 1997, 2008 and 2018, respectively. The changes in normalized LST from years 1989 to 2018 for the conversion of bare land to built-ups and vegetation to built-ups were found to be as −0.11 and 0.42, respectively. This led to conclusion that the replacement of vegetation with urban land cover has severe impact on increasing UHI intensity.

Are the Residents of Varanasi City Practicing Enough to Manage their Kitchen Waste?

Are the Residents of Varanasi City Practicing Enough to Manage their Kitchen Waste?

Impact of Print Media on Student’s Academic Performance of Varanasi City, India

Today, in this modern and technological world, the role of mass media or particularly of print media has been expanding day by day...

Microtremor measurements in the India's holy city, Varanasi for assessment of site characteristics

Microtremor measurements are used for preliminary site effect of the Quaternary sediments of Varanasi in Indo-Gangatic plain, which is being planned as a Smart City of India. We evaluated site effects using single and arrays Microtremor measurements at various sites in the Varanasi City, Uttar Pradesh, India. At City, H/V spectral ratios using microtremor measurements indicate fundamental frequency range 0.37–0.63 Hz, corresponds amplification 5 to 14 times. This indicates that the deep thickness of the upper soft soil at about several hundreds of meters. Such huge amount of sediments deposition sources could be associated with fluvial rivers system in the area and sediment drain from Himalaya. The average peak frequency (~0.5) may reflect the Quaternary-Tertiary boundary. Microtremor array measurements at two sites were taken using circular arrays (30 and 60 m) which consists of three recording stations on the circumference of circle and one in the centre of circle. The Phase velocity dispersion of Rayleigh wave is calculated from array using SPAC method, and a 1-D shear wave velocity structure is determined by means of inversion processes. The top layers up to 50 m show shear velocities between 280 and 320 m/s and the velocities of underneath layer vary between 1500 and 1600 m/s till 100 m of depth. These results from the present study would be useful for future planning purposes as well as risk management and to reduce severity of earthquake effects in the study area.

Detection of Coliform, faecal Coliform And Total Bacterial Count From Drinking Water Of Varanasi (U.P.) India

In India source of drinking water at Varanasi city for common people are tap water, well, hand pump, Ganga river and stored tank water collected from bore well. All water samples were studied to assess their bacteriological characteristics and suitability for potable purposes. A cross-sectional epidemiological method was adopted to investigate the drinking water of six different sites of Varanasi city. The bacteriological examination of water samples included the most probable number of presumptive coliforms, faecal coliforms, and total bacterial count. The results showed that the total coliform count was detected in all the site. In all the methods coliforms presence was indicated. Maximum number of coliform observed in all the seasons, were from river and well water followed by hand pump, tap water and stored tank. The most common group of indicator organisms used in water quality monitoring are coliforms. These organisms are representative of bacteria normally present in the intestinal tract of mammals including human. Contamination of water may occur through different way like sewage disposal in the river, seepage of bathing near sites, fecal excreta of human, bird and other animals. Improving and expanding the existing water treatment and sanitation systems are more likely to provide good, safe and sustainable sources of water in the long term.

A comparative evaluation of Election succeeding tactics in Vikram Chandra’s Sacred Games and Chetan Bhagat’s Revolution 2020

The present research paper focuses on election succeeding tactics in Vikram Chandra's Sacred Games and Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020. A comparative study of both the writers has been made to reveal the tactics used to win elections in the modern age. Both writers represent the Indian contemporary world through their writings. Chandra has represented through Sacred Games the corrupt and criminal metropolitan city Mumbai. On the other hand, Bhagat gives an overview of Varanasi city through his Revolution 2020. Chandra and Bhagat have represented social evils prevailing in society through their fictional world. In their novels, both authors point out all those despicable issues which make modern contemporary society contemptible. Corruption has been prevailing in every field since immemorial times. The reality of the contemporary corrupt world has been disposed of threadbare through these novels. Political leaders and higher dignities are opportunistic use unethical means to fulfil their ambitions. Sacred Games is the collection of different interconnected stories which make us aware of every aspect of the contemporary world. Various examples have been presented in this novel, which is responsible for changes in society and manners. In Revolution 2020, Bhagat says increasing corruption in society is the outcome of malpractice, crime, political bankruptcy, and sins in the community. Chandra and Bhagat both have revealed the corruption pervaded political departments. These political leaders follow evil ways to come into power. Even they can go to any extent to fuel their ambitions. In these author's opinion, politics is only for criminals only to get success in winning the election. Thus, we see these both authors have given a realistic view of election in their novels.

Impact of Print Media on Student’s Academic Performance of Varanasi City, India

The print media have assumed an essential role in our students’ daily lives. Print media has demonstrated an intense effect on students/school-going children. Print media is not necessary to have negative impact to children but also has a positive value to them. This study investigates that print media helpful in the academic performance of students selected from two different (one public and one private) schools of Varanasi city using a self-structured questionnaire as a tool for obtaining data while frequencies distribution and percentages of data were conducted to know comprehensively about data. It targeted 120 students between 11 to 19 years age group and find out that the print media helpful for their academic performance and the study also recorded the student’s subject stream, access print media sources, helpful in their academic achievements, encourage students to do something new, innovative, creative and different with their academic projects and assignments and got help from the print media sources. The result of the study revealed that cent percent of the selected students’ for the study were accessed print media sources by both public and private schools students. The majority of the students from both schools were encouraged by print media to do new and innovative things with their academic projects and assignments and also the majority of the student stated that print media sources were helpful in their academic performance in most of the cases. So, it was concluded from this study that printed sources are still prefered first in compare comparison to electronic mediums. Print media sources are useful in their academics because it covers so many educational and informative issues.