Human wetland dependency and socio-economic evaluation of wetland functions through participatory approach in rural India

Wetlands are an important source of natural resources upon which rural economies depend. They have increasingly been valuable for their goods and services, and the intrinsic ecological value they provide to local populations, as well as people living outside the periphery of the wetlands. Stakeholders＇ participation is essential to the protection and preservation of wetlands because it plays a very important role economically as well as ecologically in the wetland system. The objective of this study was to determine whether gender, educational status, mouzas （which are constituents of a block according to the land reform of the West Bengal Government in India）, and wetland functions have any influence on the annual income of the local community. Considering a floodplain wetland in rural India, the focus was extended to recognize the pattern of wetland functions according to the nature of people＇s involvement through cluster analysis of the male and female populations. Using the statistical software R-2.8.1, an ANOVA （analysis of variance） table was constructed. Since the p value （significance level） was lower than 0.05 for each case, it can be concluded that gender, educational status, mouzas, and wetland functions have a significant influence on annual income. However, S-PLUS-2000 was applied to obtain a complete scenario of the pattern of wetland functions, in terms of involvement of males and females, through cluster analysis. The main conclusion is that gender, educational status, mouzas, and wetland functions have significant impacts on annual income, while the pattern of occupation of the local community based on wetland functions is completely different for the male and female populations.

Mental health services in rural India: challenges and prospects

Mental health services in India are neglected area which needs immediate attention from the government, policymakers, and civil society organizations. Despite, National Mental Health Programme since 1982 and National Rural Health Mission, there has been a very little effort so far to provide mental health services in rural areas. With increase in population, changing life-style, unemployment, lack of social support and increasing insecurity, it is predicted that there would be a substantial increase in the number of people suffering from mental illness in rural areas. Considering the mental health needs of the rural community and the treatment gap, the paper is an attempt to remind and advocate for rural mental health services and suggest a model to reduce the treatment gap.

FOOD CONSUMPTION AND NUTRITION IN RURAL AREAS OF MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SAGAR DIVISION)

In the present study an attempt has been made to present a systematic and interpretative analyses of per capita foodstuffs consumption and nutritional level in the rural areas of Sagar division (M. P.). The Central thrust of this study has a bearing on the important aspect partaning to the vital relationship between food intake and health, following Gopalan et. al. (1993), per day per capita foodstuffs consumption is converted into their respective nutritive values. Our survey has revealed that the existing food habits in the villages under study lead to an imbalance of food intake, both quantity-wise and quality-wise, resulting to the nutritional deficiency is closely associated with the food production, diet habits and purchasing power of the individuals.

Characteristics of Child Labour and Their Health Problems: Findings from Rural Community of India

Background: Child labour is a big problem. Studies have indicated several problems of child labour. However, few studies have indicated the characteristics of child labour rural India. Objectives: This study has explored characteristics of child labour and their families in the rural community of eastern India and also identified their health problems. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to explore their characteristics in purposively selected areas in rural Howrah, India. Frequency table and bar-diagrams were used. Results: The study identified 72% boys and 28% girls as child labour. Majority of the children (67.9%) were labour because they wanted to help their parents. In 8.9% cases, they were forced to work by their parents. In 5.4% cases, they were orphans. Majority of the children were not satisfied (78.6%) with their job place and job status. Conclusions: Child labourers are not satisfied with their job. Their money is used in family. Parents are illiterate. Lack of effective education system and availability of functional schools are both causes and consequences of child labour. Due to illiteracy, working conditions for these children get worse as they are not even aware of the occupational benefits.

Continuing Professional Development: Needs, Facilitators and Barriers of Registered Nurses in India in Rural and Remote Settings: Findings from a Cross Sectional Survey

Background: Nurses constitute a major portion of the health care workforce in India. A priority to develop pre and post registration nurse education in India has increasingly been highlighted in nursing and health policy imperatives in recent years. Nurses are often the only health care professionals in primary and secondary care within rural and remote healthcare settings in India. They are confronted with the dual challenge of resource constraints and rapidly changing disease profile with little or no access to continuing professional development. Objectives: 1) To identify key continuing professional development priorities of registered nurses working in remote and rural health care settings in India. 2) To identify barriers and facilitators to continuing professional development as perceived by registered nurses working in these settings. 3) To identify preferred modes of continuing professional development by registered nurses working in remote and rural health care settings in India. Design: Quantitative Design. Setting: Two large health care facilities in remote and rural parts of India. Participants: Registered Nurses working in two large not for profit health care organisations participated in the study. Nursing assistants and student nurses were excluded from the study. 368 participants consented to participate in the survey and 271 (73.6%) participants completed the survey. Methods: A questionnaire based cross sectional survey was undertaken as part of the Continuing Professional Development needs assessment among registered nurses working in rural and remote settings. Results: Continuing Professional Development priorities included training on clinical competencies focussed on managing emergency situations related to non-communicable diseases [50%], managerial competencies related to ethical dilemmas [60%] such as support for families with financial difficulties accessing health care [17.8%], women undergoing abortions [14.6%], or those with HIV infection [12.9%]. Preferred modes for Continuing Professional Development included conference attendance [54%], skills training [48%] and in-house training [32%]. Key facilitators for Continuing Professional Development included, professional development [77%], personal interest [42%], opportunities for professional engagement with colleagues [39%], the need to reduce knowledge and skill gap [36%] and career progression [28%]. Geographic distance [59%], low staffing levels [51%], cost [43%], domestic responsibilities [40%], and work commitments [39%] were reported as key barriers to Continuing Professional Development. Conclusions: The findings from this survey, the first of its kind in India, provides evidence on priorities, barriers and facilitators for continuing professional development of registered nurses working in rural and remote settings in India.

Achieving Consensus on Continuing Professional Development Priorities for Registered Nurses in Rural and Remote India through Nominal Group Technique

Background: Nurses can often be key frontline healthcare professionals working in remote and rural settings due to resource constraints including an acute shortage of medical practitioners. The provision of regular and appropriate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to support nurses to be able to provide effective health care therefore becomes even more significant in these settings. Engagement and “buy in” from relevant stakeholders at an organisational level is a critical step to ensure CPD provision for nurses. Objectives: The overall aim was to achieve consensus on CPD for registered nurses working in remote and rural settings among key stakeholders using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT). The objectives were to identify stakeholders’ perspectives on the priorities for CPD training for registered nurses;the preferred modes of delivery for CPD and perceived barriers and facilitators for CPD access. Methods: NGT was used as a qualitative method with key organisational stakeholders in several iterative stages in the form of a workshop. Results: 22 senior healthcare professionals involved in medical and nursing education representing north, northeast, central India and the state of Karnataka in South India participated in the workshop. Three key findings emerged from this study: priorities of CPD;preferred modes of CPD delivery;barriers and facilitators to CPD access. Conclusion: Engagement with key stakeholders to identify CPD priorities can help facilitate strategic planning and provision of relevant and accessible CPD programmes for nurses working within remote and rural health care contexts in India.

Prevalence of hypertension in India:A meta-analysis

AIM: To determine the prevalence of hypertension in the urban and rural population of India.METHODS: Relevant studies were identified through computer based and manual searches using MEDLINE/ Pub Med, Google scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and reference lists of prevalence studies from January 2000 to June 2012. A total of 12 studies were included in the meta-analysis of hypertension in urban India and 10 studies in the analysis of hypertension in rural India after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Estimates of prevalence were calculated using the random effect model for meta-analysis.RESULTS: The electronic search using appropriate keywords identified 177 titles for prevalence of hypertension in urban India, of which 165 were excluded, and 133 titles for prevalence in rural India, of which123 were excluded after applying the inclusion criteria. Twelve studies including 125333 subjects were analyzed to assess the prevalence of hypertension in the urban Indian population, whereas ten studies including 24800 subjects were analyzed to determine the prevalence of hypertension in the rural Indian population. The prevalence of hypertension in the urban population was estimated to be 40.8%(95%CI: 40.5%-41.0%) and that of hypertension in the rural population was 17.9%(95%CI: 17.5%-18.3%). It is evident that the prevalence of hypertension is significantly higher in the urban population of India compared to the rural. CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests that policies and interventions should be prioritized for reduction of hypertension in the adult Indian population, especially the urban population.

印度农村基础教育述评

印度农村基础教育一直以来发展缓慢,近些年来文盲率不断上升。文章主要从国家政策、家长态度和儿童劳动力这三方面分析了印度农村基础教育可以得到进一步发展的潜在可能,并从基础教育的费用、学校基础设施、师资和教育质量这四方面来概述了阻碍印度农村基础教育发展的诸多原因。

印度农村初等教育教师：短缺现状、补充策略及启示

由于教学工作压力大、工作环境艰苦、激励措施不足以及培训缺乏适切性等原因,印度农村初等教育教师发展面临数量不足、结构失调、专业水平不高、队伍不稳定等困境。为此,印度政府采取了多样化的教师补充策略,主要包括合理配置师资、改善工作环境、加强在职培训以及拓宽与稳定师资来源。分析印度农村初等教育教师短缺现状、基本成因及补充策略,有益于我国农村师资补充政策的改革与完善。

印度农村初等教育教师问题研究

在印度农村初等教育普及过程中,农村初等教育教师队伍建设是一个值得关注的问题。非正式教师问题、教师缺乏问题、教师性别结构问题、教师专业发展机会问题、教师缺勤问题困扰着印度农村初等教育师资建设。这些问题的存在有着多层面的原因,但农村经济基础薄弱是最根本的原因,国家整体教育水平落后和处于初等教育普及阶段教育对象数量扩张则是直接原因。面对挑战,印度政府采取了增加教师编制、增加女教师、提升待遇、促进教师专业发展等政策。分析印度农村初等教育教师方面面临的挑战,探索这些问题背后的深层原因,研究其解决对策,对我国农村教师政策的制订具有重要启示。

印度农村信息化模式及启示

作为亚洲发展中的大国,印度与中国在农业发展上有许多共同点,利用ICT技术缩小城乡数字鸿沟是两国共同面临的重大课题。本文基于中印农村信息化发展条件的对比,对印度农村信息化的发展模式及特色进行研究,为我国农村电子商务发展提供借鉴和参考。

印度农村初等教育教师在职培训机会差异研究

随着义务教育的普及,印度农村师资的需求不断扩大,因此通过各种渠道招募了不同素质水平的教师。为了提高教育教学质量,印度政府从中央到地方采取不同措施开展教师在职培训。在农村初等教育教师在职培训中存在诸如机会的区域差异、学段差异、办学主体差异、性别差异等问题。印度政府解决农村教师培训机会问题的对策对于思考我国基础教育中农村教师的培训问题有着一定的启示。

印度农村医疗保障体系发展现状及其对我国的启示

印度同我国一样是一个农业人口众多的发展中国家,在特定的发展阶段内,印度农村医疗保障制度的建设有供我国借鉴之处。本文描述了印度农村医疗保障体系的构成及发展状况,并分析和总结了该体系的特点。在此基础上,对我国农村医疗保障体系提出了4点启示:政府主导建立农村医疗保障制度;加强农村基础医疗设施建设,培养高素质全科医学人才;鼓励我国私立医院的发展;因地制宜,注重多种保险计划的发展与合作。

印度与巴西的乡村建设管理法规及启示

首先介绍了印度和巴西这两个发展中国家的乡村建设情况,总结其乡村建设管理法规体系的特点和发展历程。在此基础上,结合我国当前乡村地区规划建设的实际情况,从法规体系构建、制度环境等方面提出相关建议,认为完善乡村法规体系是我国乡村健康发展的必然和当务之急。

使每一个孩子就近入学——印度独立后农村地区义务教育学校布局的政策、实施与效果

文章通过考察印度独立后农村地区义务教育学校布局政策及其效果,表明这项政策带来了确保每一个适龄儿童就近入学的巨大成就。虽然同时引发了一些值得注意并急需解决的问题,但不能简单否定这项政策。

发展与性别平等:一个中印比较的视角

从十九世纪末二十世纪初以降,在印度和中国"女性问题"就和民族主义、现代性诉求相纠缠。和印度认为女性的传统角色代表印度本质不同,中国民族主义者视传统为现代化的障碍,由此奠定两国相似又不同的"女性问题"方案。1940年代建国后,两国面临着类似处境但有不同的社会制度,农村性别平等议题延续了之前的格局。基于对华中莲荷县和印度南部岗德社区的跨时段追踪调查和比较研究,本文意在从社会性别的视角去理解和反思两个农村社区的发展历程和性别平等进程。本文比较了两地在经济参与、男孩偏好和出生性别比、教育性别平等、婚姻和儿女在父母养老中的角色等方面,并分析其背后的机制。文章发现两地女性地位都有提升,但女孩自身的福祉仍不是关注的重点。对传统的持守以及更多割裂社会的制度如种姓、宗教和地区差异,使得印度抑制社会性别平等的障碍更多。莲荷县女性在"个体化"路上走得更远,但社区需要回头去关照那些随传统一起被丢在后面的群体。

日本、印度金融支持农村基础设施建设的经验及启示

日本、印度两国在农村基础设施建设过程中,有多种金融机构提供多样化的金融服务,如日本的农协、农林渔业金融公库,印度的国家农业和农村开发银行等,为农村基础设施建设提供了贷款、担保等服务,确保了农村基础设施建设的金融需求。日本、印度的金融支持农村基础设施建设的实践给我国提供了有益的启示。

中印医疗保障制度的比较与思考

印度与中国有许多相似的地方,如人口众多,经济水平不高,同属于发展中国家等,虽然近几年印度的经济发展不如中国快,但他们在医疗保障方面却做的比较好,有许多可以比较和值得借鉴的地方,尤其是重视农村和弱势群体的卫生保健,值得我们学习。

印度农村远程教育技术推进路径及对我国的启示

在介绍印度利用信息技术手段推进农村成人教育所取得的成绩及存在问题的基础上,分析了我国农村远程教育所面临的问题及可获得的借鉴作用。

基于农村反贫困的印度农业保险政策

印度是一个自然灾害频发的国家,也是农业人口众多、总体经济水平发展不高的国家,农村贫困人口约占农村人口总数的70%以上。独立以来,印度政府一直都在为农村反贫困进行不懈的努力,实行了各种政策、措施来缓解农村的贫困压力,而农业保险则是其中的一项重要政策。印度农业保险经历了调研、发展、成熟这样三个时期。农业保险成为印度经济稳定发展、农民脱贫致富的重要保障。