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Based upon research in the state of Bihar, India, this article argues that informal access to medicines in Northern India is a core element of the government of healthcare. Informal providers such as unlicensed village doctors and unlicensed drug sellers play a major role in access to medicines in Bihar, in the particular context of the dismantling of public procurement services. Building on recent works in the socio-anthropology of pharmaceuticals, the article shows the importance of taking into account the political economy of drugs in India, in order to understand local problems of access more fully. If informal providers occupy such an important position in the government of healthcare in India, this is partly due to the shaping of healthcare as access to drugs on health markets. Elaborating the argument from interviews with health professionals and patients, the article first shows the situation of public healthcare and public procurement in Bihar; then it presents the role of informal medicine providers; lastly, it shows how patients deal with the fact that they live in a ‘pharmaceutical world’ where access to health equates with access to medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bihar, situated in the eastern part of India, possesses a repository of 21,998 wetlands, covering an extensive area of 403,209 hectares. These wetlands, known for their ecological richness, have a crucial role in offering a wide range of ecological services. Their diverse functions, which include hydrological processes like recharging and discharging groundwater, controlling floods, and regulating water flow, highlight their importance. However, there has been a lack of comprehensive research on wetlands of Bihar, State. This paper provides a thorough analysis of Bihar's wetlands. It also explores the social and environmental benefits that they provide, highlighting their pivotal role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium and local economies of the region. Furthermore, this paper dissects the various threats faced by these wetlands, stemming from human activities and environmental changes. In addition to the ecological perspective, this study investigates the socioeconomic conditions of communities living near these invaluable wetlands. It critically assesses their reliance on wetland resources and the consequences of wetland degradation on their well-being. This research also offers policy recommendations to promote the sustainability of wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Depression is a prevalent and debilitating mental illness affecting young women worldwide. This study aimed to identify psychosocial determinants of major depressive disorder (MDD) among young women in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods: Data from "Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults" (UDAYA) study (2018-19) for young women aged 12-23 years, both married and unmarried was used for this paper. MDD was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9 with a cut-off score of ≤10. The determinants of MDD were identified through multilevel binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of MDD was 13.6% (95% CL 12.2-15.2) and 5.1% (95% CL 4.2-6.1) for young married women and unmarried girls, respectively. Among the young married women, community-level variables like dowry-related humiliation (1.74, 95% CI 1.15-2.64), and sexual assaults (2.15, 95% CI 1.24-3.73) were significantly associated with MDD. For unmarried girls, reporting of family violence <10% of participants (0.45, 95% CI 0.24-0.85), family violence (≥10% of participants) % (0.35 95% CI 0.19-0.68) and interpartner violence (>25% of participants) (0.42; 95% CI 0.23-0.74) remain significant predictors of MDD. At individual level, for both the groups, age, participation in decision making (on education), social capital (currently attending school/educational course and number of friends), self-efficacy, telephonic harassment, and physical activity were associated with MDD. Wealth index, job seeking, participation in decision making (on health-seeking), parental interactions and physical abuse (for unmarried girls only) and education, reported last sexual intercourse, pressure from the in-laws' to conceive (for young married women only) were associated with MDD. Conclusions: For young married women, community level targeted interventions should focus on the social ecology to foster a sense of safe community environment. For unmarried girls, additionally, interventions should aim to optimize their family environment for effective mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health is an inseparable part of life and central to all life supporting systems. The reproductive and child health shares a major portion of public health cases that is crucial for socio-economic development. Studies on reproductive and child health have traditionally been focused on demographic aspects using socio-economic parameters. Given the emphasis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-3 on health and well-being, it is imperative to understand the geo-spatial dimension with the visible transition of key health indicators of fertility, maternal and infant/child health in the high burdened districts within these high focus Empowered Action Group (EAG) states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that make up nearly 40% of India's population with relatively laggard health status. Methodology: This paper aims to understand the status and trend of key reproductive and child health indicators and vital statistics based on the recent representative demographic surveys. We intend to undertake a district level spatio-temporal analysis by developing District Composite Health Profile (DCHP) using Composite Index Method on selected 13 equally weighted key reproductive and child health indicators. The study has been carried out using data from National Family Health Survey-4 (2015–16) and National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) survey rounds. We employed geo-spatial techniques i.e. Moran's–I, and univariate LISA to comprehend the geographical clustering of high and low health burden districts and their heterogeneities at the district level. Results/Conclusions: The study highlights emerging inter-districts, and inter-state disparities over survey periods. With consistent improvement in the selected EAG states over time, the overall reproductive and child health status through DCHP along with each indicator was relatively better in the states of Rajasthan and worse in Bihar. Districts along the Terai belt in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar consistently performed sluggish during survey rounds. The geo-spatial clustering follows the political boundary of states, albeit with intra-state variations. Monitoring of key health indicators using composite index method provides a useful leverage for identifying priority districts/regions for universal health access that should also consider geographical space as an important policy dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asian labour migration to the GCC States is a debt-financed migration in which labour diasporas mobilise resources from a variety of sources, often at exorbitant interest rates, to cover migration costs. In the event of the COVID pandemic, job losses and involuntary returns compound the problem of debt-financed migration, affecting the transnational livelihood of migrant families. This paper explores how the debt-financed migration shapes the transnational livelihood of Gulf labour diasporas amid the pandemic. Empirically, this paper draws on the experiences of 60 Gulf migrants from the Indian state of Bihar. This study reports that the families diversify their labour resources by joining Gulf labour market and migration generates remittances that provide improved livelihood for their families. Although unforeseen events such as the pandemic may delay migration episodes and thus mount the debt burden on migrants, migrants nevertheless find ways to join the Gulf labour market and erk out a trananational livelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histologically cirrhosis is characterised by vascularised fibrosis septa that link portal tract with each other and with central veins leading to hepatocyte islands that are surrounded by fibrotic septa which are devoid of a central vein. The major clinical manifestations of cirrhosis are impaired hepatocyte function and increased intrahepatic resistance and development of portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver has multiple functions including key role in metabolism, control of infection, elimination of toxins and byproducts of metabolism. This was a prospective study from 1st January 2023-31st December 2023 with a total of 100 deaths with presence of cirrhosis of liver detected during autopsy conducted in mortuary, Department of FMT, PMCH was analysed. Complete demographic, clinical details were obtained from accompanying relatives of the diseased, information sourced from police IO, inquest paper and medical records of the treatment furnished at the time of autopsy. Higher incidence of liver cirrhosis was found in age group 31-50 years, 74 percent of them were males, 30 percent were diabetic, alcohol was the etiological factor in 65 percent cases, NASH was etiological factor in 19%, hepatitis B and C was etiological factor in 12 % of the cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the report of four taxa of Oedogonium, I(Chlorophyceae: tChlorophyta) ocollected from different aquatic habitats of northern Bihar during Jan. 2021-Feb. 2022. Of these, one formasO. cyathigeru m f. ornat um dHirn t1900aa nd the species O. mir andrium Skuja 1927eare recorded for, the first time from India. Besides, hO. ta PeinosP orum f. f owl ingenses C.-C.Jao 1937 iso the first record c from Bihar ewhereas O. i ncras satum Hallas ex Andersen 1945 constitutes the second record from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the social and spatial implications of drinking water infrastructures in rural southern Bihar. Hardiya, a multi-caste and multi-religion village, has a complex social arrangement. This village consists of original households, households resettled due to dam construction, and households resettled due to excessive fluoride contamination in groundwater. Excessive fluoride produces incidences of fluorosis among households, and historically, households have low access to clean drinking water. In response to the drinking water and public health crisis, multiple state, non-state, and transnational institutions intervened in Hardiya to provide safe technologies and infrastructures for clean drinking water. These twenty years of interventions have brought different technologies, institutions, and actors together to supply drinking water. However, these schemes are functioning inadequately on the ground, and access to clean water remains a big question amidst the development of drinking water infrastructures in Hardiya. This paper explores the dialectical relationship between drinking water infrastructures and social spaces, how both shape each other, through which assemblages, and what it renders. It explores the uneven outcomes of this technological intervention across different socio-spatial groups in Hardiya. Firstly, it examines how drinking water infrastructures arrange social spaces at the village, settlement, cluster, and household level. It further examines the changing nature of drinking water services and infrastructures in Hardiya and how various drinking water programmes incorporating multiple institutions, organizations, actors, and social groups arrange and settlement patterns in the village. Moreover, it examines how different social groups, with variable access to power, access water for their daily needs in the face of diversity in technologies, infrastructures, and responsiveness of local state actors. Using Political Ecology and Critical Geography frameworks, this paper argues that drinking water infrastructures and services, mediated by institutional and social actors, produce uneven access, power arrangements, and socio-technological relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change leads to the extreme occurrence of events, water-related disasters, and pressure on existing water resources. The water resource is important for the ecosystem to create resilient and sustainable settlements. The imbalance between evaporation and precipitation creates either shortage or excess of water in the ecosystem. The shortage leads to water stress whereas excess causes flooding. Out of 28 states in India, Bihar is the most vulnerable state with 16.5 percent of the entire flood-prone area and 22 percent of the total flood-affected population of the country. The paper examines water stress and its relationship with flood damage in north Bihar. The paper's novelty is to identify critical districts facing water stress, flood damage and formulate intervention strategies to create a water-secure region. Using Water Poverty Index (WPI), water stress is estimated for five key components i.e. resource, access, use, capacity, and environment. WPI score is less than 0.35 in 14 districts depicting severe water stress conditions. Flood Damage Index (FDI) estimates the severity of the flood and it's impact considering three parameters i.e. population affected, area affected, and economic loss due to crop damage. Darbhanga district has a maximum FDI score of 0.84 and the least WPI score of 0.22, making it the most critical district. The analysis of WPI and FDI shall be used to devise water and disaster-related policies to alleviate water stress and promote flood-resilient development in flood-affected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a fast-paced world like ours, which is already battling a pandemic, Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) is the need of the hour. The Grievance Redressal Mechanism is an essential apparatus in any government or organizations' toolkit to facilitate smooth functioning. From receiving complaints through a designated channel to redressal in an effective way, Grievance Redressal Mechanisms are inevitable in a world of rising technologies and reach henceforth. Grievance Redressal Mechanisms are dominating a major chunk of workflow not only nationally but internationally too. With the growing technologies and increasing digital literacy among the population, such mechanisms have improved with time, making it more accessible, user-friendly, and contactless. This paper aims to review the existing literature on the issue and look for recent on-field examples wherein states like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar have performed exceptionally in e-governance innovations during the pandemic. Alongside some remarkable achievements, there have been some crucial challenges too. These include the ability of such mechanisms among general public and bridging the digital divide in our country. This paper also aims to find solutions to these problems to progress towards a better future for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mumbai is the heartland for migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar because the city provides them livelihood. The present paper explores the living and working conditions of semi-skilled and unskilled migrant labourers. The methodology of the paper consists of collection of primary data using a mixed method approach in the form of a field visit to Mumbai in February 2019. Qualitative data in the form of narratives, case studies and descriptions was analysed, while quantitative data was analysed using simple statistics and ANOVA. The findings from the study show that these migrant labourers face challenges of socio-economic and political identity in Mumbai but have developed their own cultural landscape to adjust to life in Mumbai. The quantitative findings show that there are variations in the patterns of income, remittances and expenditure of migrant labourers according to their occupation in Mumbai. Therefore, the findings of the study provide a better understanding of the living and working conditions of migrant labourers as well as encourage academicians, policymakers, and researchers for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research paper develops its theme with a special focus on Bihar State Assembly elections analysis. It concentrates on the social groups' electoral pattern and voting behavior in the Bihar election. It tried to formulate the specific voting design based on empirical electoral data favoring various political parties contesting the election. The issues entailed in the mobilization of the voters of Bihar has been critically examined through historical and social perspective. For this objective, the paper analyses the historical, cultural, religious, social, and other determinants that show the voting behavior of socially stratified voters of the Bihar state of India. Generally, the paper compares the electoral results, controlling factors, and social implications of Bihar's three consecutive assembly elections: 2010, 2015, and 2020 elections. This research paper is theoretical and utilizes the secondary electoral data derived from the Election Commission of India. The archival sources are other means that helped form arguments and articulation related to the electoral campaign and mass mobilization. The quantitative data are further represented through a visual diagram and a GIS-based electoral map. Interestingly, Bihar produces a specific political atmosphere where the quality of place assigns its unique identities. In the geo-cultural setting of Bihar, Caste plays a pivotal role in controlling electoral behavior. Though, Bihar's recent election of 2020 shows the re-emerging social issues like "class," sometimes" religion," and "Populism "in changing social dynamics, which occupy the central space overshadowing the identity of caste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupation is the gainful economic activity that defines the level of development of the people. The population involved in different occupations forms the occupational structure of any area. The change or shift in occupations of population has been understood as occupational change. Begusarai is situated in the central Bihar region. It has 18 blocks that have been taken as a study unit. This paper aims to identify the spatial distribution of the working population and non-working population in the Begusarai district and further attempts to understand the causative phenomenon behind it. These variations are studied under the four categories i.e., Cultivators, Agricultural labourers, Household industry workers (HIW), and other workers as per the standard classifications by the Census of India based on economic activity. The paper also discusses the decadal change (2001-2011) observed in the occupational structure of the district. The study is based on secondary data and relies on the District Census Handbook of Begusarai of 2001 and 2011. Different statistical techniques have been used for calculating the occupational structure with the help of MS Excel software. The cartographic representation of decadal changes has been shown with the help of choropleth maps, drawn using ArcGIS software. The study shows that the proportion of cultivators, agricultural labourers, and HIW has decreased from 19.1% to 15.57%, 47.9% to 45.93%, and slightly from 6.9% to 6.20% respectively while other worker's percentage has increased from 26.2% to 32.31% during the decade 2001 - 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence phase has high intrinsic and instrumental relevance. The Transformative Action for Rural Adolescents intervention delivered PACE++ curriculum with innovations to introduce a) health and nutrition sessions and b) delivery of the content in community settings of rural Bihar. This paper examines impact of the intervention showcasing establishment of intergenerational community connect for empowering and invigorating adolescent girls on gender attitude, empowerment and adolescent health and nutrition. The impact evaluation is based on a two-arm (intervention and comparison groups) cluster randomized controlled design with two rounds of representative cross-sectional surveys. The baseline and endline sample comprised of 2327 and 2033 adolescent girls (15–19 years), respectively. Descriptive statistical, difference-in-differences and propensity score matching methods are used to confirm the program impact. The DID and PSM analyses confirm high significance of impact on gender equity norms, diets and nutritional knowledge and understanding of employee related rights and responsibilities. School-going adolescent girls performed better than those who have discontinued formal education. The intervention showcases the importance of delivering the modified PACE curriculum in rural settings through leveraging community platforms. The findings call for greater policy attention on scaling up of similar initiatives for empowerment and social capital development of adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Gangetic plains are considered to be the most fertile land area within India. It contains alluvium type of soil which is rich in nutrients and have high water retention capacity. According to many agricultural think tanks, including Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the northern belt of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) and Bihar are the only states having naturally sustainable soil conditions for the cultivation of water-intensive rice crops in India and are also among very few regions of Asia. This paper will be an attempt to propose an integrated system where Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets like poverty, well-being, economic growth, innovation and infrastructure, and sustainable communities will be addressed. With the optimum production of rice in the region and with the support of government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampda Yojana scheme for overall growth and development of food processing units, food processing industries can be established in selected pockets of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The food processing industries based on rice processing will produce varied local sweets such as Anarsa, Lakhtho, Thekua, etc., and food products that can get a vital push from the government's One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. With the help of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the products can be promoted for international exports as well. Also, it will address the much-known menace of outmigration (4-5 million of workforce per annum) from states and will provide local human capital with income growth and identity. A whole integrated system can be built where linkages from farm to market can be created which will reap farmers: good prices and regular procurement, food industries: good promotion of products plus profits, and local people: economic and social protection. Therefore, by using locally climate suited crop and government supported food parks or industrial system, the holistic aim of 3P's -- people, planet, and profit, will be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: This paper aimed to explore various factors associated with the use of sanitary napkins among adolescent girls in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Methods: The study uses information from the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) project survey conducted in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in 2016. The study sample consisted of 14,625 adolescent girls aged 10–19 years. The study sample was selected using a multi-stage systematic sampling design. Multilevel logistic regression (MLR) was used to identify the individual and community level factors associated with the use of sanitary napkins. Results: The results revealed a wide variation in sanitary napkins' use across the socio-economic and demographic factors. The use of sanitary napkins was significantly higher among girls with 8–9 (53.2%) and 10 and more (75.4%) years of schooling compared to those who had no formal education (26.4%). The use of sanitary napkins was higher among adolescent girls who were not engaged in paid work (54.7%) than those who did any paid job (40.8%). Adolescent girls reporting frequent exposure to mass media (OR = 2.10), belonging to the richest wealth quintile (OR = 3.76), and whose mothers had 10 or more years of education (OR = 2.29) had a higher propensity to use sanitary napkins than their counterparts. We did not find a significant role of community-level education of mothers on the menstrual hygiene practices of adolescents. Conclusion: Ensuring that adolescent girls have access to hygienic means to manage their menses is critical from a public health perspective and in enabling them to realize their full potential. Programs to enhance menstrual hygiene are warranted. These programs should involve mothers, who are an important source of knowledge about menstrual hygiene. Facilitating girls' access to education may also produce tangible menstrual hygiene benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive and sexual health of women are sensitive areas of enquiry characterized by strong cultural oppression of women. Body mapping, an arts-based participatory research method, has proven useful in research with such sensitive topics. In this paper, I describe my experience of researching women's experience of childbirth through birth maps, an adaptation of body mapping. Live size maps were co-created along with birthing story and body key with women in Bihar, India. Body mapping is a very cost-effective method that ensures better recall, richer narratives, reduced power-based inequalities that enables to explore reproductive, maternal & sexual health topics respectfully. The birth map and birthing story can generate awareness about how women give birth, as an attempt to improve the quality and respectfulness in care provision during labour and childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the perception of the LPG dealers and households towards Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the current study was carried out in the Samastipur district of Bihar in 2022. A total of 110 respondents i.e., 100 women households and 10 LPG dealers were taken for the study from 4 villages of 2 blocks under Samastipur district. 21 specific constraints perceived by households and 18 specific constraints perceived by dealers were categorized into 4 broad constraints, viz., social, cultural, economic, and physical constraints. Analysis was performed by using Garrett's ranking method, and specific constraints were ranked accordingly. Garrett's mean scores of specific constraints ranged 29.38 to 73.41 for social constraints, 30.15 to 69.03 for cultural constraints, 27.73 to 71.77 for economic constraints, and 29.50 to 70.60 for physical constraints as perceived by households. The mean score of constraints perceived by dealers were 30.4 to 71.3 for social constraints, 31.5 to 73.5 for cultural constraints, 26.5 to 70.5 for economic constraints, and 34.5 to 66.7 for physical constraints. The paper may provides a better insight into the grassroots level constraints for implementation and acceptance of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in rural villages of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines state-level trends in Bihar for determining patterns in farm diversification for the period 1990-91 to 2018-19, using the Simpson Index of Diversification (SID) and ordinal linear regression analysis to analyse the determinants. The study, conducted in the year 2022, reported that the cropping system at the state level is transforming from food grains to different high-value crops and allied farming sectors. The transformation was not uniform across the regions. The SID values have demonstrated how the agricultural economy has been more diverse over time, with some variations in the production of food and non-food crops. The result of multiple regressions has revealed earning members, social work participation, and government donations to be the major determinants of farm diversification, and various constraints were identified using the Garrett ranking method. Hence, the study suggests that policy support for the development of dairy farmers should be more focused on increased cropping intensity, insurance protection, investments in agricultural research and education, and technology development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the food security implications of the out-migration of men for rural households headed by women. Recent transformations in the socio-economic landscape of the Global South involve an increasing number of rural households shifting towards urban-nonfarm, migration-based livelihoods. In many rural societies, social and cultural norms restricting women's mobility means migration is usually undertaken by men, leading to a phenomenon of left-behind women. The absence of men requires women to assume the role of household heads. This often triggers fundamental changes in intrahousehold gender power relations. However, little is known about the effects of these changes on household food security outcomes. Drawing on primary field research in western Bihar in India, this article attempts to highlight interconnections between migration, women left behind and household food security and, in doing so, makes two key contributions. First, with a focus on gender social roles, the paper shows that the two oft-cited impacts of migration of men—'improved autonomy' and 'increased responsibility' for left-behind women—provide conceptual pathways to understand migration-gender-food security linkages. Second, it provides evidence on how changes in women's roles under conditions of such migration intersect with household food security. The findings indicate a gender-based disadvantage in food security outcomes faced by household headed by women, offsetting even the potentially positive influence of improved female autonomy. The paper argues for the need to address socio-economic mechanisms underpinning gender-based vulnerabilities to food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tigers have seen significant population losses due to the degradation and fragmentation of their habitat ranges worldwide. Thus, habitat suitability assessment of such predators is essential for restoring their numbers and devising strategies for their protection. This paper aims to assess the habitat suitability and potential corridors for Bengal tiger species (Panthera tigris tigris) in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) located in the West Champaran district of Bihar, India. Nine suitability conditioning factors (tree cover, prey richness, drainage density, vegetation types, elevation, slope, aspect, temperature, and rainfall) and seven threatening factors (forest fragmentation, land use land cover, distance from roads, railway tracks, settlement, range offices, and forest fire points) were selected for emphasizing species-environment association in VTR. The spatial layers of all the factors and presence location data of tigers were integrated into the MaxEnt model to prepare a habitat suitability map. The model was validated utilizing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.822), which was found in good agreement. The least-cost corridor modeling based on surface resistance was utilized to identify the cost-effective pathways and prioritize dispersal routes and potential corridors for this species. The findings revealed that the largest area of the Reserve was found to be moderately suitable (41.92%), followed by low suitable (22.98%), highly suitable (19.34%), and unsuitable areas (15.76%). The potential causes for low suitability and unsuitable habitats included human-induced disturbances, especially in the buffer zone of VTR. The core habitats and their connectivity, particularly in the eastern and central parts of the Reserve, facilitated the dispersal of the Bengal tiger population. This study offers significant insights for identifying crucial habitats and establishing corridors between them. The study calls for suitable measures for restricting human encroachment and increasing predator movements from the adjacent corridors of the protected reserves of Nepal and Uttar Pradesh. The findings may help forest managers and stakeholders for suggesting suitable conservation and restoration practices as well as regulating strategies for the self-sustenance of reintroduced tigers in the Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dates from recently excavated Gangetic site of Sakas in Bihar, India, place it at ca.1800–1100 BC. The ceramic and lithic chronologies have been interpreted as Early Farming, Transitional and Chalcolithic/Developed Farming in date. However, depending on where in the Ganges Plains is studied, the time frame of Early, Developed and Advanced Farming periods varies widely, from 7th millennium to 2nd millennium BC and beyond, making the chronological framing of absolute dates within a regional scheme highly complex. In this paper we report the new radiocarbon results from Sakas and note how while these are critical for cementing the absolute dating of the site, until such time as a more stable periodization linked not only to relative and absolute dates but also human lifeways within the different zones of the Ganges plains is created, there remains difficulties in understanding how Sakas and other sites of similar date fit into the changing social, cultural and economic systems in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demographic outbursts and increased food demands invoke excessive use of pesticides in the agricultural field for increasing productivity which leads to the relentless decline of riverine health and its tributaries. These tributaries are connected to a plethora of point and non-point sources that transport pollutants including pesticides into the Ganga river's mainstream. Simultaneous climate change and lack of rainfall significantly increase pesticide concentration in the soil and water matrix of the river basin. This paper is intended to review the paradigm shift of pesticide pollution in the last few decades in the river Ganga and its tributaries. Along with this, a comprehensive review suggests the ecological risk assessment method which facilitates policy development, sustainable riverine ecosystem management, and decision-making. Before 2011, the total mixture of Hexachlorocyclohexane was found at 0.004–0.026 ng/mL in Hooghly, but now, the concentration has increased up to 0.465–4.132 ng/mL. Aftermath of critical review, we observed maximum residual commodities and pesticide contamination reported in Uttar Pradesh > West Bengal > Bihar > Uttara Khand possibly because of agricultural load, increasing settlement, and incompetency of sewage treatment plant in the reclamation of pesticide contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hierarchical Bayes predictor of small area proportions (HBP) under an area level version of generalized linear mixed model with logit link function is widely used in small area estimation for binary variable. However, this predictor does not account for the presence of spatial nonstationarity in the data, i.e., where the parameters associated with the model covariates vary spatially. This paper develops a spatially nonstationary extension to the hierarchical Bayes predictor of small area proportions that accounts for the presence of spatial nonstationarity in the data. The proposed predictor is referred as the spatial nonstationary hierarchical Bayes predictor (HBNSP). The impact of survey design information is also explored in the proposed predictor. The empirical results from simulation studies using spatially nonstationary data indicate that the HBNSP method performs better, in terms of relative bias and relative mean squared error, than the alternative HBP method that ignore this spatial nonstationarity. The results further show that use of survey-weight to incorporate the sampling design appears to be imperative when sample data is informative. The HBNSP approach is illustrated by applying it to estimation of incidence of indebtedness in farm households across the districts in the state of Bihar in India using debt investment survey data. A map depicting the spatial distribution of incidence of indebtedness in Bihar has also been produced which provides a useful information for the government departments and ministries involved in farm credit distribution related policy planning and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Anemia remains a leading contributor to years lived with disability (YLDs), being responsible for 50.3 million (5.82%) YLDs worldwide and 19.3 million (12.03%) YLDs in India, respectively. Results of the National Family Health Survey 2019-2021 (NFHS-5) suggest a high burden of anemia in India among women of reproductive age and children aged 6-59 months at the national level (57%, 67.1%), and in the state of Bihar, India (63.5%, 69.4%). Iron deficiency is the leading cause, accounting for more than half the cases. Anemia bodes harmful implications for both the mother and child, with long-lasting consequences for the latter. Anemia control programs have yielded little benefit despite efforts stretching over five decades. This narrative review aims to highlight the burden of anemia and the probable factors behind it among under-5 children and women of reproductive age in the Indian state of Bihar. Material and methods. The paper is a narrative review. The following databases were used to search and select literature: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. In addition, the websites of relevant government departments and national health programs were searched for pertinent material. Analysis of the literature. A multitude of reasons seem to be behind the unabated high prevalence in Bihar: low socioeconomic status, gender disparities, traditional customs and practices, food insecurity, lack of diverse diets, poor consumption, and no adherence to iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements, groundwater contamination with arsenic and fluoride, and supply chain mismanagement, all playing roles of varying degree. Conclusion. An all-encompassing approach and not merely the provision of IFA supplements are necessary to unravel the intricate web of factors that lead to anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work engages with a comparative study of the Oraon Folklore and their Rock Art for assessing how both these genres seemingly record the geo-cultural history of Oraon origin, their forced migrations and their current state of habitations in another Indian state Jharkhand. It attempts to establish a relation between archaeological data available in the form of rock art supplemented by written accounts and local traditions wherever possible. Based on field works, personal interactions with local inhabitants, especially on important events like, marriage, festivals, rituals etc., and archeological scrutiny of rock art available in the Oraons' previous habitation, i.e., the Kaimur Region in current Indian state of Bihar, the paper attempts to expose the historical value and cultural parallelism of Oraons' folk narratives and rock art. The paper strongly believes that both these genres conspicuously display the cultural history of a marginalized tribe that has undergone several historical and cultural ordeals. Besides this, the paper also offers, for the first time, an English translation of Oraons' oral folklore, adhering to the interdisciplinary approach of this paper. However, most significantly, the paper in its attempt to trace the continuity of rock art in this Kaimur Region also becomes an addition to the domain of ethno-rock art studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy during adolescence is a major risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Further, Motherhood during the adolescent period is identified as a major global health burden. Considering the widely known importance of the negative impact of adolescent pregnancy, motherhood at an early age, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, this paper aims to provide insight into correlates of teen pregnancy, adolescent motherhood and adverse pregnancy outcome. This study utilizes the data from UDAYA survey conducted in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The eligible sample size for the study was 4897 married adolescent girls between the ages of 15 and 19 years. Bivariate analysis with a chi-square test of association and Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to fulfill the aim of the study. Our study shows that a major proportion of married adolescents (61%) got pregnant before the age of 20 years and around 42% of all adolescent married women gave birth to a child before reaching the age of 20 years. Adolescents who married before the age of 18 years were 1.79 times more likely to experience pregnancy (OR: 1.79; CI: 1.39–2.30) and 3.21 times more likely to experience motherhood (OR: 3.21; CI: 2.33–4.43). In the present study, women who experienced physical violence were at higher risk for having an adverse pregnancy outcome (OR: 1.41; CI: 1.08–1.84) than those who did not experience physical violence. To conclude, regional and national level efforts focused on improving early marriage, education and empowering women and girls can be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extreme natural event can destroy or change the nature of livelihood of any region. In most part of the world, flood has been proved to be a major threat. Flood has destroyed millions of lives. The impact of flood is relatively higher in the states of Assam and Bihar, which face floods every year (Sinha, 2008; Mishra, 2007). Significant losses of life and property are witnessed. The devastation snatches away various livelihood capitals in these areas. Diara regions are found between river embankments (Hill, 1987; Kumari et al., 2018; Wadhnani and Singh, 2008) in the states of Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, etc. which face such vagaries of flood. All the perennial rivers flowing in the plain region have a land feature called Diara, known by different names locally. The term of 'Diara' can be used for that part of the riverbed, which is inundated during floods and remains dried during the post flood period. Villages located in the Diara region face the impacts of floods and drought every year. These are the most inaccessible and excluded villages of the plain region. This paper attempts to assess livelihood vulnerability in the Diara region of West Champaran district of Bihar. The study has used the data collected through conducting a primary household survey using a structured schedule, field observation, interviews and group discussions. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index was constructed using three sub-indexes of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Out of the total sample households surveyed, 12.17 percent households had very high livelihood vulnerability, 35 percent households had high levels of livelihood vulnerability adding to a total of 47 percent households, which were in bad condition (very high + high) in terms of livelihood vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquefaction potential analysis for the liquefiable as well as non-liquefiable soils of Bihar state has been performed in this paper based on the actual field data from three seismic zones, i.e. zone III, zone IV, and zone V. The analysis has been performed following the simplified procedure given in [1] and later modified in [2]. The results show that districts under seismic zone III are comparatively more resistant to liquefaction in most cases, districts of zone IV are relatively more prone to liquefaction up to a few depths, and districts of zone V are most liquefiable. Liquefaction resistance is primarily depending upon the fine content of soil and SPT N-values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I make a case for appreciating the 'agonistics of democracy' by reflecting on political changes in the state of Bihar in eastern India since 1990. These changes compel us to appreciate the substantive deepening of democracy in Bihar despite the absence of values commonly associated with liberalism. I first highlight the emergence of 'Backward Caste' assertion in the state, which sought to construct the broadest possible alliance against the so-called 'Forward Castes' and culminated in the ascendancy of the Janata Dal government of Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1990. I next point to the inchoate antagonism harboured by poor people against the privileged who seek to assert their caste supremacy. Describing the vocabularies of dignity in which such supremacy is contested, I demonstrate that conflict is entwined with co-operation in poor people's quotidian engagements with the privileged classes. In conclusion, I argue that an 'agonistics of democracy' allows us to step beyond the limitations of existing approaches to theorising democracy. I focus in particular on two such approaches: the liberalism-inspired approach dominant in many contemporary readings of democracy in India, and the critical alternatives offered by the political society-centred approach. The agonistic approach to democracy proposed in this paper enables scholars to leverage the strengths of both these approaches while avoiding their pitfalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The role of gender norms in shaping education and work opportunities, distribution of power and resources, and health and wellbeing is well recognised. However, rigorous studies in low- and middle-income countries on when and how norms change over time and what factors shape adolescents' and young adult's gender attitudes are limited. This paper explores the factors that determine adolescents' gender attitudes, as well as patterns in gender attitude shifts over time among younger and older adolescent boys and girls in India. Data and methods: Data presented in this paper were drawn from a unique longitudinal study of adolescents aged 10–19 (Understanding the lives of adolescent and young adults–UDAYA study) in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, conducted during 2015–2016 (wave 1) and 2018–2019 (wave 2). The analysis presented in this paper drew on data from 4,428 boys and 7,607 girls who were aged 10–19 and unmarried at wave 1 and interviewed at both rounds of the survey. We used univariate and bivariate analyses to examine changes in adolescents' gender role attitudes over time and the association between explanatory variables and gender role attitudes. We also used linear fixed effects regression models to identify factors that shape adolescents' gender role attitudes. Results: Gender role attitudes became more egalitarian over time among boys and girls, except among the older cohort of boys in our study. Among both younger and older cohorts, girls/young women held more egalitarian views than boys/young men and this pattern held over time for both cohorts. Factors that influenced gender role attitudes differed for younger and older adolescents, particularly among boys. While some predictors differed for boys and girls, there were substantial similarities as well. Gender attitudes were affected by factors at the individual, family, peer, and societal levels, as well as by community engagement. Conclusions: Our findings show that it is possible to shift gender attitudes toward greater equity and, in so doing, contribute to improved health and rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women in South Asia often return to their natal home during pregnancy, for childbirth, and stay through the postpartum period—potentially impacting access to health care and health outcomes in this important period. However, this phenomenon is understudied (and not even named) in the demographic or health literature, nor do we know how it impacts health. Objective: The aim of this study is to measure the magnitude, timing, duration, risk factors and impact on care of this phenomenon, which we name Temporary Childbirth Migration. Methods: Using data from 9,033 pregnant and postpartum women collected in 2019 in two large states of India (Madhya Pradesh and Bihar) we achieve these aims using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models, combined with qualitative data from community health workers about this practice. Results: We find that about one third of women return to their natal home at some point in pregnancy or postpartum, mostly clustered close to the time of delivery. Younger, primiparous, and non-Hindu women were more likely to return to their natal home. Women reported that they went to their natal home because they believed that they would receive better care; this was born out by our analysis in Bihar, but not Madhya Pradesh, for prenatal care. Conclusions: Temporary childbirth migration is common, and, contrary to expectations, did not lead to disruptions in care, but rather led to more access to care. Contribution: We describe a hitherto un-named, underexplored yet common phenomenon that has implications for health care use and potentially health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This ethnographical paper re-explores the ancient remains of Sultanganj, Bihar, reports new findings of interest to archaeologists and art historians of eastern India and attempts to explain the historical context for the emergence of the site. Intervowen are prevailing popular conceptions of recovered old images and their place in the living traditions of a complex socio-religious pilgrimage town. It explores the local community's response to a recent threat to this cultural heritage and demonstrates how popular conceptions of the life and location of ancient images offer a complementary model for the protection and preservation of ancient heritage in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will discuss the construction of the ashraf identity through the representation of servants by a nineteenth-century Urdu poet of Bihar, Shad Azimabadi (1846–1927). Shad considered exclusivity of language and the distinctiveness of the master–servant relationship as a part of the adab culture (code of conduct) and the exclusivity of the ashraf. This exclusivity, however, underwent significant change amidst the economic decline that set in motion in the late nineteenth century within ashraf families. One of the significant changes was the redefinition of the master–servant relationship along the lines of caste. The transition from adab to caste will be traced through the memoir of Shad written by his grandson, Naqi Ahmad Irshad, and texts published in an Urdu newspaper, Al Punch, that contested the very claim of exclusivity of the ashraf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the geochemical characteristics, petrogenetic processes and source characteristics of Rare Earth Elements (REE) bearing migmatitic gneiss and granitoids near Tangeshwar village, Banka district, Bihar, in order to demarcate the potential zone of REE mineralization. These migmatitic gneiss and granitoids belongs to the Chhotanagpur granite gneissic complex (CGGC). The study of migmatitic gneiss and granitoids of CGGC suggest that they have high content of SiO2, low contents of Fe2O3 and MgO and SiO2 vs. Na2O and K2O shows positive correlation which suggest, they are dominated by sodic and alkali rich minerals and were derived from a felsic (granitic) source. Also LREE-LILE enrichment, HFSE depletion and calc-alkaline nature indicates that the magmatism is related to the subduction zone. Petrographic and EPMA studies of these migmatitic gneiss and granitoids confirms the presence of REE bearing mineral phases such as allanite, xenotime, monazite, and basnasite. They are generally present at the rim of biotite, as an inclusion in biotite and also along the grain boundaries and within the cracks of major silicate minerals. This suggest that the REE formation takes place at the deuteric stage of magma crystallisation followed by the formation of granite. Chemical analysis of bed rock samples for rare earth elements using ICPMS shows that the highest concentration is in migmatitic gneiss and granitoids, which varies from 47.85–925.67 ppm and 47.85–626.48 ppm respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the historical development, growth, and contemporary articulations of the Bhumihar caste associations in Bihar by focusing on their relationship with land, political economy, and ideological orientations. As a landowning upper caste, the Bhumihars negotiated with a host of structural as well socio‐political transformations in the state primarily by constructing the self‐image of a warrior caste holding a Brahmin status. The paper in particular examines the impact of land reforms, violence unleashed by the Bhumihar caste militia during the agrarian unrest and the rise of Backward Caste mobilisation followed by the Hindutva mobilisation on the changing articulation of the Bhumihar caste associations. The paper also focuses on the emergence of the Bhumihar middle class and points out that through a visible process of culturalisation, the Bhumihars are able to maintain their exclusivity and purported superiority in the contemporary Bihar society even while upholding the mantle of Hindutva unity along with other lower castes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the rural buyer represents a separate and distinct category. Distinct because of his specific needs, habits, literacy level, which in most respect are different from those of urban consumers. The rural market calls for extra efforts to ensure timely supplies, user training and the entire gamut of pre-sale services. The mobile phone, Computer and Television market has witnessed a tremendous growth with the presence of all major cellular and Electronics companies providing its services in rural Bihar there has been an exponential increase in the mobile phone, Computer and Television subscriber base. Rural consumers are basically different from their urban counterparts. Poor literacy levels and limited exposure to product and services account for differences in buying behavior affecting the dynamics of rural consumer behavior. Rural marketing is an essential and dominant part of Indian marketing system. As a result of increase in urbanization, the rural population declined from 72.18% in 2001 to 68.84% in 2011. Still rural market offers potential opportunities to marketers because substantial portion of population live in rural areas. market in the rural areas in order to tap this vast potential rural market, companies need to develop, inter alia, effective marketing communication strategies taking all the challenges into account. Rural marketing in its broader sense includes the creation, pricing and distribution of products and services as well as communications. This paper attempts to draw attention towards different buying behavior of urban and rural market in Bihar and examines the preferences of rural and urban consumers towards the mobile phone, Computer and Television. It also tries to understand the factors which influence the consumers for making the purchase decision and compares the buying behavior of urban and rural consumers in Bihar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there are several studies documenting the impact of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) – the largest preschool intervention – in India, few have documented to what extent it improves the quantity and quality of food consumed by young children. This paper attempts to provide causal estimates of the impact of the ICDS on calories, protein, iron, and Vitamin A intakes of children. Using matching techniques to define an appropriate counterfactual, and a primary survey in four villages in rural Bihar, our results suggest that: (a) for older children three to six years who benefit from cooked meals, the ICDS did result in higher intakes of calories, protein, and iron, and no substantive evidence that as a consequence there was substitution away from food at home. However, there was no impact on vitamin A intake; (b) for younger children whose mothers are given take-home rations, there is no evidence the ICDS improved intakes of calories or any other nutrients. Thus, even though the monetary value of the transfer was the same across both age groups, there is evidence to suggest the mode of transfer does seem to matter to ICDS effectiveness, consistent with other literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes an effort to quantify and compare various dimensions of disability in India and Bihar using Census data. The findings of the paper suggest that there is socio-economic and regional divide in the prevalence of disability. The decadal growth and incidence of disability are higher among the vulnerable sections of the society. The outcomes of the linear regression model suggest that prevalence of disability is affected by a number of socio-economic and demographic factors. Further, the paper highlights that the proportion of employment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Bihar is more than that of India and of general employment in Bihar. However, there is much lower work participation rate among the disabled women in Bihar. There is evidence of increasing informalisation in the disability sector as well. The paper recommends that providing access to basic capabilities to persons with disabilities may be strategically important for reducing the challenges for the disabled communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the coverage and effect of cash transfers and food subsidies in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a primary survey of rural women in the state of Bihar – an underdeveloped state with poor public delivery systems – undertaken in January–March and September–November 2020. Although the coverage of cash transfers was wider than that of food subsidies, respondents receiving cereals and pulses under the Public Distribution System reported a lower probability of suffering from food insecurity vis-à-vis cash subsidies. The study suggests that food subsidies may be more effective when supply chains break down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the impact of the flooding of the Kosi river on the timing of marriage in the Indian state of Bihar, one of the world's poorest regions. Using a difference-in-differences design, we show that the Kosi floods reduced men's age at marriage by almost a year and women's age at marriage by over 4 months. The Kosi floods also decreased the secondary school completion rates of married men and women and married women's command over economic resources. We interpret these results within a framework of marriage markets, where in the absence of complete credit markets, marriage market payments (dowry) help smooth consumption in response to adverse income shocks. In support of this framework, we find that the impact of the Kosi floods is more pronounced among Hindus (for whom dowry is the traditional marriage payment norm) and among the landless (who are more credit-constrained). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines various features of energy and groundwater irrigation nexus in a highly irrigated ecosystem of north western India. The study is based both on primary and secondary sources of data. Electric tube-wells account for about 72 percent of the total tube-wells population and consume about 40 percent of the total electricity consumption. Power subsidies account approximately 46 percent of the total subsidies disbursed which stimulate the groundwater development. The area irrigated by means of tube-wells has enlarged from 22 to 58 percent. Rice and sugarcane crops are the key consumers of energy both in terms of average energy consumption as well as per hectare of cultivated land. The average use factor of tube-wells is about 7.5 times high during kharif than in rabi season. Farmers have yielded high economic productivity under all crops with the exception of rice than other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]