Upasana Singh

A Study to derive distribution of carotid intima media thickness and to determine its COrrelation with cardiovascular Risk factors in asymptomatic nationwidE Indian population (SCORE-India)

Background There is presently no data to describe normal distribution of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), an established measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, in Indian subjects. Methods In this multi-centric study, 1229 subjects with age ≥30 years and no previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) underwent CVD risk factor assessment and CIMT measurement. Mean far wall common carotid artery IMT was measured on both sides and averaged. Results Mean age of the subjects was 48.0 ± 12.0 years and 54.2% were men. CIMT measurement was feasible in 1157 subjects. Mean, median and 75th percentile values of CIMT for different age-groups were derived for men and women separately. There was a progressive increase in CIMT with increasing age (P < 0.001) and men had higher CIMT values than women (0.608 ± 0.12 mm vs. 0.579 ± 0.11 mm, P < 0.001). The CIMT values were also higher in diabetics (0.635 ± 0.10 mm) and hypertensives (0.624 ± 0.10 mm) as compared to non-diabetics (0.589 ± 0.12 mm, P < 0.001) and non-hypertensives (0.592 ± 0.12, P 0.02) respectively. Among continuous variables, age, systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose had strong to modest correlation with CIMT (Pearsons r 0.524, 0.282 and 0.192 respectively, all P values <0.001), whereas body mass index, diastolic blood pressure and serum triglycerides exhibited weak but still statistically significant relationship (Pearsons r 0.069, P 0.019; Pearsons r 0.065, P 0.026; and Pearsons r 0.094, P 0.001, respectively). Conclusions This is the first study to provide age- and gender-specific distribution of CIMT in Indian subjects free from CVD. This information should help facilitate further research and clinical work involving CIMT in India.

Comparative Study on Productivity and Profitability of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Under Different Crop Establishment Methods in Amabala, Haryana

Rice-wheat cropping system is the pre-dominant cropping system in Haryana (India). The continued adoption of exhaustive puddled transplanted rice method has resulted in declined factor productivity. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is a promising resource conservation technology in rice-wheat cropping system. Several on-farm and on-station field experiments were conducted during the year 2014 and 2015 to evaluate direct seeded rice options as compared to transplanted rice with an objective to improve farm productivity, efficiency and economics. Labour and cost saving of 97% and 81% were observed in direct seeded rice (DSR) as compared to manual puddled transplanted rice in sowing/transplanting. Manual puddle transplanted (CT-PTR) was found non-significant effect on rice yields compared to Direct seeded rice (DSRv) in vatter during both the years. DSRv and DSRz consumed 18–26% less water as compared to puddled transplanted rice during both years. When compared to manual puddled transplanted rice, a labour saving of 9–13 percent (overall) was observed in both DSR during both the years. The B: C ratio was highest in DSR in zero till condition (4.0) as compared to CT-PTR (3.5), whereas, energy productivity obtained significantly highest in DSR both conditions than CT-PTR during the both years.

Innovative Approach for Technology Dissemination among Rural Community - by KVK, Ambala

Farm women of rural areas generally face lots of problems during their day-to-day life. These problems can be as drudgery burden; high cost; time; energy; fuel consuming and above to all, the problem of health and hygiene. To mitigate these problems to some extent, all, KVK Ambala innovated some technologies such as janta water filter, Iceless refrigerator, bhusse ka dibba and Hand cloth washing device. These innovations work on different principles. For example, janta water filter was a single candle which filters water instantly. This filter can be used to remove suspended particles and harmful bacteria from polluted water. Ice-less refrigerator works without electricity and on the principle that evaporation causes cooling effect. Bhusse ka Dibba works on the principle that chaff of crops are bad conductor of heat. Hand cloth washing device is based on the principle of centrifugal force. Various trainings were organized for Aanganwadies workers, Schools children and Farm women. Their innovations were tested in schools, aanganwadies, purposively selected villages of all 6 blocks of Ambala district of Haryana. Under these technologies, (30) Schools, (120) Aangawadi Kendras and 850 farm women covered. After testing these innovations, feed-back were collected from different sources (i.e. schools, Aangawadi Kendra and Farm Women) and overall impression was that these innovations are user friendly, sustainable, ecologically viable, drudgery reducing, low costing, time, energy and fuel saving. There is need to promote these technologies on a larger scale specially in rural areas of other states.

Effectiveness of modules in socio-economic upliftment of low income group rural families

In rural areas, low productivity of human labor, low output efficiency is a direct result of technological deprivation and lack of awareness regarding various skill based and economically viable small enterprises especially in low income group families. In India it is the prime focus point for the central government to launch various schemes in coming years for the people having low income so that India can achieve its Vision 2020 in time. Efforts are being made to develop various modules for use, which require large-scale popularization to reach the rural families for raising their income. An attempt has been made by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tepla, Ambala to develop suitable module and to provide entrepreneurial skills to the rural families through module who, in turn, could use this knowledge to earn their livelihood and improve the socio-economic status of a family. The present paper attempts to study the effectiveness of modules on socio-economic upliftment of low income group rural families. Trials were conducted on a sample size of 20 LIG rural families (10 in each Module). Module-I consisted of enterprises like: Back-yard Poultry, Goatary, Kitchen Gardening with Vermi-compost and Milch animals (Buffaloes). Module-II included Back-yard Poultry, Milch animals (Buffaloes) and Stitching, Embroidery with Craft work. Small economical package was provided to selected families. Technologies selected for assessment and refinement were skill oriented trainings on Stitching and Embroidery, Kitchen Gardening, Feed for Milch Animals and Back-yard Poultry birds, Low-cost Khudda (Poultry House) and distribution of birds etc. Results revealed an active participation of farm women in the above trainings. Income generation from different enterprises was assessed as; Stitching and Embroidery (Rs. 600/-p.m.), BYP (Rs. 60-70 p.m.), Kitchen Gardens and Vermi-compost (Rs. 40/p.m.). Conclusively, Module–II was found to be better with performance indicator for income generation of Rs. 1344/p.m. from BYP, dairy and stitching, embroidery along with craft work and improved the socio-economic status of LIG families. Hence, there is a greater need to popularize modules and impart necessary skills so that technology adoption is favored at large-scale for uplifting the socio-economic status of low income group rural families.

Impact of front line demonstrations ofRabi onion in Ambala district of Haryana

among the farmers. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ambala (Haryana) conducted 25 demonstrations especially on plant protections measures adopted in Rabi onion against the purple blotch and thrips attack in onion. The critical inputs were identified from the recommended package of practices of Punjab and their usages were discussed in practising farmer’s trainings at the farmer’s field and KVK campus. The constraints in the production of onion crop were identified and their remedies at farming situation were studied along with the participation of farmers with more emphasizes to increase the productivity of onion per unit area and also get the feedback from farmers on the performance demonstrated plot of onion during the period of study of four years (2009-2010 to 2012-2013) . The average four years data revealed that an average yield of demonstrated plot was obtained 190 q/ha and local check (171.50 q/ha) and the average percentage increase in yield over local check was 12.50 per cent. The average extension gap were found to be 18.40 q/ha. From the study, it revealed that over the year’s local selection (Kali Patti Pyaz) performed better at demonstrated plot in comparison to local check. Benefit: cost ratio was recorded to be higher under demonstrated plot against check during the part of the study.