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Effects of paper mill wastes on the status of soil copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in and around 16 sites near a paper mill in Assam, North East India (26°07.485′ to 26°07.915′ N latitude and 92°12.706′ to 92°15.065′ E longitude), have been investigated in the present study. The six-step sequential extraction techniques revealed that the water-soluble fraction had the least contribution (below detectable limit to 3.24 mg kg of Cu, 13.87 mg kg of Mn and 1.25 mg kg of Zn) towards soil contamination, irrespective of the metals evaluated. Chemical fractionation of Cu, Mn and Zn in majority of the sampling locations showed non-homogenous orders of contamination. Comparison of the magnitude of local and individual heavy metal contamination factors against global values showed that the places near the paper mill waste disposal site displayed higher potential risk from metal contamination. Furthermore, the mobility factor related to ecotoxicity of soil environment was found to be metal specific and depended not only on total metal concentration but also on the nature of metal in the order Mn > Cu > Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nagaon Pulp and Paper Mill (Assam, India) produces 100,000 tonnes of paper annually from bamboo. The mill is surrounded by a vast spread of agricultural land on all sides excepting the southern side, which is covered with hills and deep forests. The present study was undertaken with a view to assess the impact of the paper mill operations on the quality of the surrounding soil. Surface soil samples (0–15 cm depth) were collected in both dry and wet seasons over a four-year period from 19 points at different distances from the mill. The soil quality was determined with respect to a large number of representative physico-chemical properties. Estimation of the major oxides, e.g., SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, and TiO2 showed a preferential accumulation of Al2O3, Fe2O3, and MnO in soil near the mill due to the dumping of fly ash and other solid wastes in the surrounding low lying land. Definite directional trends were observed not only with respect to these oxides, but also with the metals Ca, Mg, Na, and Pb, which decreased away from the mill. The soil pH had a tendency to turn alkaline near the mill owing to the discharge of highly alkaline effluent by the mill. The physical characteristics of the soil, viz., water holding capacity and bulk density increased with distance from the mill while the hydraulic conductivity had an opposite trend. N, P, K, B, Cl-, and organic C contents of the soil had shown a rapid decreasing trend away from the mill indicating that the dumping of solid waste and discharge of nutrient-rich treated effluent had contributed to raised levels of these constituents near the mill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of river water quality is one of the most important aspects of water resource assessment. River Umtrew (Digaru), which originated in Meghalaya and runs down to Assam plains before merging with the mighty Brahmaputra, is one of the main drainage systems of this region. Using some physical, chemical and biological indicators of river water, the current study attempted to assesses its environmental integrity. The current study provides a clear image of the health of the river, as well as differences in the river's pollution levels at various locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of 15 heavy metal resistant bacteria were isolated from Barak River contaminated with paper and pulp effluents. These isolates displayed different degrees of chromium tolerance. Four isolates showed 34 %-49 % of growth at a concentration of 4.0 mM of Cr and subjected to chromium reduction assay under aerobic condition. The isolate E (4) showed highest reduction (34.38 %) followed by E (3) and K(6)PA6, both showed 28.75 % reduction and then D (2) (27.5 %) after 72 h of incubation. These 4 isolates also showed different degrees of resistance to other heavy metals like Ni, Cu, Co and Cd. Antibiotic sensitivity profile of these selected bacterial strains was determined against 10 different antibiotics. Isolate E (4) appeared to be most susceptible being inhibited by eight antibiotics and resistant to penicillin G and ampicillin. The isolate E (3) was resistant to as many as five antibiotics and showed susceptible responses to the rest of the antibiotics. Both the isolates K(6)PA6 and D (2) were resistant to four antibiotics and showed intermediate to susceptible responses to the rest of the antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the use of lime sludge waste from the paper industry. It adopts the situation at the Nagaon Paper Mill, a public sector pulp and paper mill which is a unit of the Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd. in Assam, India wherein it generates 448 tonnes of lime sludge per day as solid waste. It notes that Assam's agricultural soil is acidic and that liming is important to maintain the potential hydrogen of the soil through lime sludge waste instead of marketed lime.

The article reports that researchers from the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) at Jorhat in Assam, India have discovered a new use of banana in making greaseproof paper. It discusses the study which depicts that banana offers an alternative resource to the fibre industry. The study further revealed that banana pulp obtained from its pseudostem shows greaseproof properties. It notes that M. paradisica L. was selected among banana species due to its chemical composition.

The reluctance shown by Assamese speakers towards their mother tongue in the present context in the future are honestly pushing the language to the brink of death. Today we live in a society where there is no lacking of parents who are proud to say that their children do not know how to speak their mother tongue. However, there is no shortage of students in the same society who have a keen interest in understanding their mother tongue well. As a result of such mentality, a large number of students have chosen the Assamese subject as their Major paper. This paper attempts on discussing how the presentcurriculum has helped students pursuing Assamese as a Major subject and what additions to the present curriculum would prove to be beneficial. This paper would be carried forward in analytical method and in doing so, the Assamese Language and Literature curriculum of some colleges and universities in Assam has been used in the preparation of the dissertation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the pressing issue of suicide among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in India, which encompass key forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Assam Rifles and National Security Guard (NSG). Together, these forces are integral to India's internal security, border protection and emergency response capabilities, employing approximately nine lakh personnel. Despite their crucial role, CAPF personnel face intense occupational stress, long deployments and high-risk duties, leading to severe mental health challenges. Recent data presented by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to the Lok Sabha highlights an unsettling trend: in 2022, 136 personnel died by suicide, following 157 in 2021 and 143 in 2020. As of mid-2023, 71 suicides have already been reported. Historical data further illustrate the persistence of this issue, with suicide cases fluctuating, but generally increasing over the past decade. This paper aims to comprehensively analyze these suicide trends among CAPF personnel, examining the year-wise data from 2011 to 2023 to identify patterns and potential causes. Key contributing factors such as occupational stress, lack of adequate mental health support, and socio-economic pressures are explored in depth. The research also investigates the impact of policy changes and mental health initiatives within the CAPF framework. Concluding with actionable recommendations, the paper advocates for enhanced mental health services, regular counseling, stress management programs, and a supportive environment that encourages seeking help. These measures are crucial for addressing the mental health crisis within the CAPF and improving the overall well-being and operational efficiency of these essential forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North East Region of India, comprising Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram, is characterized by a distinctive blend of ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity. Connected to the rest of the country via the Siliguri Corridor, also known as Chicken’s Neck, this paper delves into the historical context of conflicts in the region. It assesses various contributing factors such as ethnic diversity, migration patterns, resource allocation, and political interests. Given China's proximity through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to the Siliguri Corridor, India's attention to this area becomes crucial. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the socio-economic impact of these conflicts and proposes potential strategies for conflict resolution and peace-building efforts. Specifically, it focuses on analyzing border disputes between Assam and neighboring Northeastern states, identifies primary causes of conflict, and offers actionable recommendations for resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting of load is essential for operating power systems. India recently witnessed one of the worst power crisis with the highest ever power demand of 207 GW on April 29, 2022. The demand in the month of May and June 2022 was estimated to reach 215 GW. The peak demand this year 2023, according to the electricity ministry, is predicted to be around 230 GW from April to June. The inability to meet certain fundamental issues as power can take a toll on any country's economy. Proper prediction helps in proper decision making and planning. The main objective of this paper is to predict day ahead electrical load demand for Assam. Statistical and Machine Learning Algorithms has been studied. The study has been carried out using real-time data for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the different hyper parameters of the deep learning models and their effect is seen on the learning efficiency. A novel stacked forecasting model is proposed using neural networks as base learners and CatBoost as the meta-learner. The performance of the proposed model has been evaluated and compared with individual models in terms of training time and accuracy using different error metrics namely MAE, MSE, RMSE, MAPE and R2 score. A comparison of the proposed prediction model with the prediction models available in literature has been presented. The conclusion states that both the statistical and machine learning algorithms used in this study act as useful tools for daily load forecasting with considerable accuracy; yet machine learning algorithm outperforms the statistical methods. The entire work has been done in Google Colaboratory using Python as the programming language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study which describes the areas of bank erosion that causes heavy loss of land by Brahmaputra river at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam,India. It uses geographic informations systems (GIS to analyze sequential changes in banklines of the river and geomorphology to characterize the irver, while changes in time over spaces are measured using Sol topographic maps. It shows that the main cause of erosion at the river is the loose non-cohesive sediments of the bank.

In the present century the most needed quality that every society should have is the "Health Literacy". In this century where we are facing pandemics, where people are witnessing or to be specific suffering from various savage troubles people are really required to be conscious about their health. We have chosen to study this problem more importantly from the perspective of adolescent girls as adolescence is the most critical age of development full of multifaceted problems and challenges. They not only experience rapid developmental changes but also face various psycho-social trauma and anxiety. We have chosen Darrang district as our subject area to study. We have sufficiently made investigation on the issue to grasp the real scenario. This paper will surely throw light on the rate of health consciousness or literacy among the adolescent girls of this specific area. If there is any inefficiency then through this paper, we will make effort to provide probable solution to it. We have properly studied the adolescent girls between the age of 12 to 18 through primary and secondary sources. We have used survey as well as personal interview among the subject to find out the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is an activity which includes travelling and staying in places that are outside of their location for business, vacation and other purposes. The present paper gives an account of a tourism in regard to eco tourism and religious tourism. The prime objective is to bring out the tourism possibilities and challenges of tourism in the state of Asaam. The paper is based on both primary and secondary data. Efforts are being made to take the benefits and different aspects of tourism problems and protentiatials of Eco- Tourism and Religious Tourism in Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper explores the adverse impact of socio-political turmoil that has long been in existence in Assam society on the psyche of children with reference to Aruni Kashyap's The House with a Thousand Stories. The ethnic conflicts between the natives and the immigrants from other parts of India have caused several problems: loss of life and property, extra-judicial killings, and their resultant adverse impact on the socio-economic, cultural, and psychological spheres of the social lives of weaker sections in Assam. This research aims to identify and understand the various psychological issues that children are subject to in a society when it is afflicted with socio-political turmoil and its consequent violence unleashed on people due to the armed struggle of the ULFA and the repressive administration of the state. The objectives of this research are (i) to study the characterization of Mamoni and Mridul, (ii) to understand and analyse the impact of socio-political turmoil on the psyche of children with reference to the above-chosen characters, (iii) to explore the connectivity between the narrative and the author's political inclination in the novel, and (iv) to understand how objectively the historical incidents were reflected in the novel. The research is carried out by studying the chosen primary source against the pragmatic concepts of psychologists, journalists, social activists, and significant historical facts that appeared in reliable data sources such as journals, web studies, newspapers, and other publications. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the profound psychological repercussions experienced by children in Assam society amidst socio-political turmoil, as exemplified in Aruni Kashyap's "The House with a Thousand Stories." By delving into the characters of Mamoni and Mridul, analyzing the intricate interplay between narrative and political inclinations, and objectively examining historical incidents reflected in the novel, this study not only enhances our comprehension of the multifaceted impact on the psyche of children but also contributes valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and communities striving to address and mitigate the enduring consequences of such tumultuous environments on the younger generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musical Instruments are the most essential elements of music. Different scholars and musicians have offered different views on the classification of instruments. Bharat Muni divides the musical instruments into four categories in the Natyashastra. Tata Vadya, Avanadha Vadya, Sushira Vadya and Ghana Vadya. String instruments play a vital role in the folk music of Assam. Folk string instruments of Assam such as Tokari, Dotara, Bin, Ektara, Anandalahari, Sarinda etc. These folk string instruments maintained the melody of the various folk songs of Assam, like Tokarti geet, Dehbisar Geet, Goalporiya loko geet, Kamrupiya lokogeet, Bihu Naam etc. This research paper discusses the Folk music and musical instruments of Assam, the Importance of Folk string instruments in Assamese folk songs, etc. The main objective of this research is to study the importance and necessity of string instruments in the folk songs of Assam. This research paper has been completed through descriptive and analytical methods with the help of primary and secondary scores and followed by APA referencing style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the historical antecedents, character and implications of Assam’s National Register of Citizens as a socio-legal instrument. It seeks to understand how dominant nationalisms and the state produce volatile paper citizenship regimes, and use law – as a reified transcendental performance of social will – to construct the ‘minority citizen’ through categories of ‘belonging’ and ‘citizenship’. The paper does this by analysing three typologies of the law-society interaction. First, it examines what/who is a citizen from within law. Second, it critiques the mythology of law by giving an account of belonging and suffering of minority citizens without law. Third, it foregrounds peripheral subjectivities by offering an account of minority citizenship beyond law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic conflicts have proved to be inherently dangerous and repressive across the globe. While this signification cannot be negated, a deeper articulation of liminal existences in the conflict‐prone areas requires more attention. Using case studies with a qualitative research design, the paper emphasizes on conflict as a social force, facilitating the (re)structuration of communities entangled within it. The paper explores the mundane lived experiences of the Adivasis and the Bodos, two of the ethnic communities living in Assam, a Northeastern state of India, by making a few claims. First, ethnic conflicts reorient social relations, intercommunity interactions and economic exchanges between the Adivasis and Bodos. Second, ethnic conflicts recourse varied negotiations and emotions in their being(ness), aspirational values, and embodied meanings in mundane life‐processes. The complex realization of identities for the Adivasis and the Bodos is fostered by the exposure of fear, past loss of life, and the varied interactions between victims and perpetrators in everyday social life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence have been at the center of writings on identity politics among ethnic groups in India's Northeast. Yet, the existing literature on these aspects in India, especially in the Northeast region, has missed out on a very significant dimension. Very few studies have focused on the use of oral narratives and folklores as important methods that contribute to identity politics and conflict transformation among ethnic groups. Preliminary research suggests that ethnic violence in Northeast India exhibits variations in terms of the patterns of violence and state responses that shape the outcome of the conflicts. Oral narratives are the repositories of cultural reproduction of marginalized communities and serve as important tools that enable these communities to reclaim their identity, social justice and shape their agency. The aim of the paper is, therefore, to examine how and to what extent oral traditions and narratives in the form of folklore help mobilize marginalized ethnic groups in conflict zones in India's Northeast. The paper uses the case study of the historically marginalized Bodo ethnic group to examine the linkages between folklore, identity construction, mobilization and peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most of the Indian low-resourced government primary schools, it is observed that a single teacher teaches across classes and subjects. Such multi-grade and multi-subject teaching are generally considered as one of the major challenges in primary education. However, it is believed that through translanguaging pedagogy these challenges can be converted to an advantage. In this context, this paper reports a study aimed to develop the 'knowledge-base' of government primary school teachers in Assam, one of the North-Eastern states in India. Multi-grade and multi-subject teaching sessions were observed to understand the current status of teaching reading and the potential of translanguaging pedagogy in reading instructions. Informal discussions were also used to get a richer picture of the reading and the possibility of translanguaging. Then, attempts were made to demonstrate how to infuse translanguaging into the structured reading lessons by using students' first language to create a translanguaging space in low-resourced classrooms, using bilingual texts, promoting flexible language use, and providing concurrent instructions in students' first language (Assamese in this context) and English. Postdemonstration informal discussions with the teachers revealed that these sessions helped in developing the teachers' knowledge-base. It is recommended that translanguaging can be included in teacher education programmes for primary school teachers working in multi-grade/subject contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper makes a case-study analysis of the annually flooded Dibrugarh town of the Brahmaputra valley of India’s northeast, and looks at floods as disasters in the context of how women negotiate, adapt and survive an annual phenomenon of flood. The paper has tried to interweave multiple narratives arising from differentiated gendered roles played by women in the pre-flood, during floods as well as in the post-flood periods, as collected through interviews and discussions to showcase how women use their agency to make place within as well as outside the community through dialogues, shared experiences and inter-community social capital. It discusses gendering space through the changing lived spaces of a household in the flooded and non-flooded period for four different communities united by flood. The first section of the paper looks at the City as a site for recurring disaster. The second section discuss agency of women as an emanating tool to face, adapt and survive disaster, expanding beyond herself to family and community. The third section presents the spatialities of adaptation manifested through built-form, arising as an outcome of gendered vulnerability and adaptation practices, as translated onto the spaces they inhabit, throughout the flood-cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to understand the socio-political dimension of the political changes in Assam vis-a-vis "regionalism" and its contestations. The Changing contours of regionalism in Assam reflect its distinct character marked by the simultaneous articulation of regional, sub-regional and national identity in a complex socio-ethnic and historical context. The recent political trajectory of Assam bears testimony to the dual challenges facing the forces of regionalism; the presence of sub-regional ethnic identity articulation and the appropriation of regional space and issues by the national parties. Further, the shifting allegiance of ethnic identity-based parties to the national parties is critical to understand the dynamics of regionalism in Assam. Socio-political developments subsequent to the rise of BJP post-2014 provide an interesting landscape to comprehend the complexities inherent in understanding regionalism in contemporary Assam. On a contextual note, the paper also locates the question of regionalism in the ongoing debates of NRC and CAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture sector, which continues to be pivotal to sustainable growth and development, has been recently mobilising farmers into member-owned producer organisations, or Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to enhance production, productivity and profitability of agriculturists, especially the small and marginal farmers in the country. The FPCs, which have been brought in for improved transparency and access to the input and output market with higher negotiating powers leading to sustainability of the small and marginal farmers, are said to provide higher legitimacy and credibility in the immediate business environment. Though Assam too is not behind in forming FPCs, challenges and issues abound. Majority of these FPCs are in the nascent stage of their operations with shareholder membership ranging from more than 500 farmers to over 1500 farmers. It is also seen that from capacity building to taking up business operations, many issues need to be addressed in these FPCs. These FPCs are in need of support in technical handholding and provision of adequate capital and infrastructure facilities including market linkages for sustaining their business operations. The present paper tries exploring and understanding the ecosystem of the FPCs in Assam, which are focussing on small and marginal farmers, and delving into the issues and challenges faced by the FPCs in the state and the possible ways out. JEL Classification: Q13 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There appears to be a globally unifying discourse that suggests Muslim communities are not supportive of girls' education12. This paper aims to destabilize such a discourse by inserting the narratives of Muslim parents pursuing girls' education in Assam's Nagaon district. By paying attention to the concepts of bhal suwali (good girlhood) and bhal ghor (good family) articulated by parents in my study, this paper connects the performances of certain types of gender practices with the pursuit of class aspirations. It shows that good girlhood works as symbolic capital that helps Muslim parents to culturally authorize their daughters as legitimate actors in the field of education, while legitimizing themselves as good family. This paper draws attention to three practices of respectable femininity through which good girlhoods are enacted in the field of education, namely: negotiating poverty respectably, prioritizing gendered discipline, and merging career aspirations with marital prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examined the role of social network among the migrant street vendors in Guwahati city of Assam in generating employment, determining work process and providing hospitality at a new working place. The paper also highlights the reasons and patterns of migration of street vendors into Guwahati, the premier city of Assam. It reveals that lack of sufficient agricultural production and various unfavourable situations at home compel people to migrate to different cities. Migrant workers from different places of origin, both from within and outside the state of Assam, come to the capital city Guwahati with the hope of getting better working condition and livelihood opportunities. The study finds that there is a well-functioning social network among the migrants which helps the newcomers in getting jobs as well as adapting and sustaining themselves in the big urban market. Additionally, the research tries to address how with the starting of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) processing in Assam many people including the migrant street vendors in Guwahati had to face the brunt of getting notified as D-voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to estimate the technical efficiency (TE) and its determinants in the handloom micro-enterprises of Assam (India) using the double-bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a random sample of 340 handloom micro-entrepreneurs from the three districts of Assam in India. The double-bootstrap DEA was used to calculate the TE and its determinants. Findings: The findings reveal that handloom enterprises are only 60% technically efficient, suggesting room for improvement. The bootstrap truncated regression results demonstrate that the handloom firms' TE is influenced by both entrepreneur-specific and firm-specific factors. Practical implications: The implication lies in the fact that the management of a firm may figure out how much it can reduce its input utilization to produce the existing amount of output so that it can move along the TE ladder. Moreover, it can crosscheck the factors to weed out inefficiency. Originality/value: This paper has made two significant contributions to the extant literature. Firstly, it fills the gap by way of accounting the TE of handloom micro-enterprises, which has so far been neglected. Secondly, it used the bootstrap approach, which otherwise is very rare in the discourse on the Indian manufacturing industry, let alone in the micro, small and medium scale enterprises sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political ecology as a framework for studying nature-society relations has come a long way since the 1980s, both in terms of its thematic canvas as well as theoretical robustness. Research in political ecology on hazards on the other hand has not grown as impressively, even though humanity is witnessing increased risks and disasters in the Anthropocene. Indeed, disasters are no longer "extreme events" and have come to be regarded as normal occurrences. This paper delves deeper into the question of the political ecology of hazards and vulnerability by focusing on a case study from Majuli river island in India's northeast. It critically investigates the twin disasters of flooding and riverbank erosion in Majuli by paying attention to the role of the biophysical features of the Brahmaputra river system as well as the political economic forces at play, with a special focus on the role of the state. The paper draws on fieldwork conducted in Majuli over several years. It foregrounds the role of the state in the reproduction of the Majuli hazardscape and calls for a nuanced, disaggregated analysis of the postcolonial disastrous state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moran is a very important community along with many other communities living in Assam since the ancient time. The evidence of Moran people can be traced back to the time when Ahom came to Assam. Moran society which is endowed with rich culture is seen preserving their culture through numerous traditional beliefs and are very conscious of preserving it. They are trying to protect it by preserving it as it is. But with the rapid change of time flexibility can be witness in the safeguard of their tradition. Through this research paper the traditional belief of the Moran tribe will be discussed. This research paper Traditional Belief of Moran Tribe has been prepared with a hope that it will add a new dimension in the field of research about the great Moran tribe and for this purpose descriptive method has been adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to assess and evaluate the condition of existing bridges adequately and accurately is a critical aspect of bridge maintenance and management, which involves condition assessments. Multiple hazards can affect existing bridges, making them vulnerable or risky, and any decision support concerning their management requires special attention. A rational and systematic framework for making practical decisions about the hazards present in a region and the appropriate level of risk is presented in this paper. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) framework is proposed to rank hazards in hierarchical order based on a region's characteristics and a suitable analysis range, which provides the degree of risk that could jeopardise bridges. The proposed method can assist decision makers in selecting appropriate strategies for improving existing bridges. As a result, bridge inspection costs can be significantly reduced, maintenance and repair funds can be more effectively allocated and the safety, mobility, longevity and reliability of highway transportation assets can be improved. The approach was used in a case study of existing reinforced concrete (RC) bridges in the Barak Valley region in Assam, India. Such an approach is novel to the Indian subcontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What drives insurgent groups to negotiation? The paper examines the conditions that facilitate insurgents to negotiate with governments. It examines the case of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), in Assam, India's northeast. Factors that may have contributed to the process of negotiation were change in relative costs and capabilities of insurgents. The paper argues that state's unwillingness to concede to the insurgent demands of territorial separation affect the outcomes of insurgencies that further contribute to the fragile peace process. Drawing on qualitative interviews of former insurgents, civil society organizations and government officials, this article contributes to studies on peace negotiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay is based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out among the Dimasas (of Assam and Nagaland) in Northeastern India. This Indigenous group has a system of double descent which places them separately from the other ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent. In double descent, lineages are drawn through both the paternal and maternal lines of descent. The existing literature suggests that studies on double descent have mostly focused on ethnic groups in Africa, while not much research has been done on Dimasas or other Indigenous groups with double descent in the region. The paper attempts to fill the gap in South Asian anthropological literature on kinship discourses by focusing on the Dimasas of Northeast India. Further, by taking gender as an analytical tool, the paper attempts to explore the complex cultural contours of the double descent system, which intricately gets subsumed within the patriarchal setup in Dimasa society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River bank-erosion, deposition and channel-shifting are considered most dynamic and significant geomorphological processes formed by complex geological, hydrological, and anthropogenic factors. In the present study, river Jiadhal is one of the main sub-tributary of the River Brahmaputra in the Dhemaji district of Assam that changes its channel course frequently due to bank-erosion and sediment- deposition in the intermediate part and lower course of the channel. A study on the changing course of the river Jiadhal was carried out using satellite imageries for the years 1987, 1997, 2007 and 2017. The study found that the changes in the river vary from time to time and the bank-erosion and sediment- deposition fluctuate from place to place. The total area of bank-erosion is 13.34 km2 from 1987 to 2017 and the total area of sediment-deposition is 14.59 km2 from 1987 to 2017. This paper evaluates how the shape, size and position of the Jiadhal River have changed from the years 1987 to 2017 using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The study is also necessary for effective management along the side of the river Jiadhal to control bank erosion and to mitigate the adverse impact of erosion and channel-shifting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pandemic like the COVID-19 has caught everyone off-guard. The economy is in tatters, and the loopholes in the system are getting exposed. The education sector is no exception, especially in a developing country like India. With millions of students in India, the lockdown will have many unforeseen impacts. Moreover, the parents would be reluctant to send their wards to study even after the pandemic, and the actual effect of a lag in learning would be visible only in the long run. The necessity of e-learning in academia was felt only when the pandemic hit. The lack of ICT infrastructure and the absence of tech-savvy teachers have made studies an absolute roller-coaster ride for students. Apart from this, the already existing disparity between students from different economic strata would very likely broaden. Homebound is another factor affecting the students' psychology towards study. This paper ventures into the problems faced by the students, especially from economic, infrastructural and psychological factors, ranging from primary to University level. It also attempts to segregate the students based on location and financial condition and understand the specific hindrances they face. Case studies from various locations of Assam provide a cluster of stories that would act as an index in developing the system when time is 'conducive'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sattriya dance of Assam was created by the medieval Vaishnavite religious preacher Sri Manta Sankardeva and his disciple Sri Sri Madhava Deva within the fold of ankiya naat. He organized a show of his first drama 'Cihna-Yatra' in his birthday place Bardowa. However, in the present sattriya dance tradition, due to many reasons, the dances of the Kamalabari sattra circle have become very popular while the dances of the Bardowa sattra circle have become obsolete. This paper attempts to analyze the sutradhari nac of the Bardowa sattra circle. It is also tried to scientifically render notations of the rhythms of this dance number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the ritualization of menstrual blood within the Indic religious traditions, focusing particularly on the Tantric practices. It further investigates the depiction of Kamakhya, the esteemed Tantric site in Assam, India. The annual menstruation festival at Kamakhya, known as Ambuachi Mela, takes place in June. The "Happy to Bleed" campaign aptly encapsulates the annual menstruation event at Kamakhya, presenting a paradoxical view when compared to the veneration of Lord Ayyappan's shrine in Kerala. This perspective is intertwined with themes of sexual desire and patriarchal views, which manifest to different extents in both contexts. While the patriarchal aspect in Lord Ayyappan's case is evident, in Kamakhya's case, it is perceived as a notion that associates menstrual blood with sacred spaces, supposedly diminishing their sanctity. Such beliefs are labeled as hot, dangerous, and impure. This interpretation of the menstruation paradigm is narrow and flawed, necessitating broader research and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the cultural importance of Jhumur songs within the colonial tea plantation societies of Assam. Originating from the Sadani language, Jhumur is a key narrative instrument reflecting the life and challenges of the tea garden laborers, particularly women. The study analyzes Jhumur songs and historical documents to expose the deceptive recruitment and exploitation tactics employed by the British rulers and tea estate owners. It delves into specific Jhumur songs to depict themes of migration, exploitation, and cultural defiance. The research introduces two theoretical models--the "migration-exploitation strategies nexus" and the "model of colonial hegemony and cultural resistance"--to examine the social and cultural interplay. In conclusion, the paper underscores the persistent resilience and cultural identity of the tea garden communities in colonial Assam, as conveyed through the emotive stories in Jhumur lyrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the case of hijras of Assam who are undocumented in the National Register of Citizens because of their fractured identity and adopted gender and face the risk of being declared illegal immigrants despite being citizens. The paper focuses on how transgender individuals are excluded from different aspects of citizenship as a consequence of document-focused procedures created and enforced by the state. The primary argument is that document-focused procedures of the modern state, rooted in heteronormative underpinnings, are exclusionary for transgender individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribal societies have been by and large characterized as egalitarian societies, especially about the hierarchical character of caste society. Like other societies in India, tribal societies of Assam are quite peculiar from the position of women in terms of religion and social status and this paper mainly deals with the position of women in the tribal societies of Assam from a religious point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper intends to comprehend the pattern of usage of FinTech services among bank customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper also examines the factors influencing the adoption of FinTech services by using the constructs from the technology acceptance model (TAM) together with highlighting the issues faced in using FinTech services in Assam. Design/methodology/approach: The research is empirical in nature. Data have been collected from 1,066 prime earners of the households having a bank account. Findings: There has been an upsurge in the use of FinTech services in the area of study. Apart from government and private service employees, businessmen, self-employed professionals, many daily-wage earners and agriculturists have also experienced an increase in their frequency of usage of FinTech services thereby making technology-based financial services an indispensable tool in enhancing access, improving inclusivity in the times of crisis and aftermath. Government support, trust, perceived usefulness (PU), attitude and social influence have a positive influence on FinTech adoption; however, perceived risks impact respondents' trust towards FinTech services thereby requiring necessary measures to evaluate organizations' preparedness to deal with cyber threats. Originality/value: The paper provides insight into the factors impacting the adoption of FinTech services to stimulate superior connectivity infrastructure, robust security measures and maintaining financial stability with adequate supervisory and monitoring regulations to enhance trust towards FinTech services during the crisis and aftermath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public markets have had a socio-cultural significance in addition to serving the day-to-day shopping needs of the urban population. Most often their number and expanse increase whenever cities expand in terms of population or territory, but their growth rarely follows an organized pattern. This results in a lack of appropriate linkages between different public markets and erodes spatial qualities. The unplanned market expansion also leads to inadequate infrastructure and dents the image of the city. An appropriate public market hierarchy that responds to contextual needs and offers adequate infrastructure and amenities is necessary for every city's sustenance. This paper discusses various aspects of urban public markets. Next, it suggests interventions for establishing an efficient linkage between major public markets located in Silchar, a town in the state of Assam in the Eastern part of India followed by a proposal for the redevelopment of the existing market area of Fatak Bazaar, Silchar. This paper uses both primary and secondary data for achieving the outlined aim and adopts a mixed methodology of data analysis. The design proposals recommended here will find wide-scale applicability in the case of towns with similar contextual realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gender & Development is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Documenta Praehistorica is the property of Documenta Praehistorica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper brings light to the existing practice of cataloging in the college libraries of Assam in terms of utilizing the MARC 21 standard and its structure, i.e., the tags, subfield codes, and indicators. Catalog records from six college libraries are collected and a survey is conducted to understand the local users' information requirements for the catalog. Places, where libraries have scope to improve and which divisions of tags could be more helpful for them in information retrieval, are identified and suggested. This study fulfilled the need for local-level assessment of the catalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of the present paper is to measure the level of customers' perception of accountability of healthcare diagnostic service providers and to identify the factors that influence the perception of accountability of healthcare diagnostic service customers.Methods: A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 393 customers of various diagnostic centers in the city of Guwahati from the state of Assam in India. The reliability of the data was tested using Cronbach's Alpha. Statistical tests were used for the mean, percentage, standard deviation, etc. Factor analysis was performed to find out the factors affecting customers' perception of accountability.Results: It was found that the overall level of perception of the customers with respect to the accountability of diagnostic centers in Guwahati is of high level. The study reveals four variables that affect how customers perceive the accountability of diagnostic service providers. These are Competency, Responsiveness, Compliance with protocol, and Problem-solving approach.Discussion: Significant contributions have been made by the present study in terms of the development of a scale to measure customers' perception of accountability of diagnostic centre, and the development of a theoretical model to explain this accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on Anandaram Dhekial Phukan's Contribution towards Assamese Language. For him the vernacular medium is the necessary needs of students in the primary level. Without getting basic knowledge in one's own language, he can't raise himself depending on foreign language only. By foreign language here, Bengali is depicted by him. The paper further includes within its province, his fight for the restoration of Assamese Language both in court as well as in education system. By mentioning various points towards the richness of Assamese Language he tries to give intrinsic value to it. Further, in discussion of all these, the distinctiveness of Assamese and Bengali languages are also come within its purview. In the concluding remarks, a query raised, i.e. by seeing Phukan's contribution towards the restoration of Assamese Language can he be termed as a philosopher? With certain positive comments the paper comes to a conclusion. However, the restoration of Assamese Language is the main trust area of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper seeks to locate the violence perpetrated on the bodies of the coolies in colonial Assam. The paper observes that the existing historiography on tea plantations in colonial Assam restricts corporeal violence on the coolies within the boundaries of the plantation estates and does not talk about the permeation of such violence to spaces and coolies totally outside of the plantation production process. This paper, with the evidence from a case from nineteenth-century Assam, extends the limits of corporeal violence on the coolies beyond the physical setup of the plantations. The paper proposes that histories of corporeal violence on labour in the colonial era need to look beyond the peripheries of the plantations and towards the social regimes of power under colonialism. The paper demonstrates the complicit character of the state and newly landed and moneyed native classes in the colony, which aggravated the magnitudes of violence on labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After independence, government of India has provided statehood and sixth schedule provisions to hill tribes of northeast India. Therefore, plains tribes of Assam felt deprived and negligence from governing body due to not getting any autonomy provision within India. So, they stated autonomy movement and, Bodo the largest Plains tribe of Assam got sixth schedule provision and other tribes are so small and residing in various parts of Assam, therefore non-territorial autonomy is granted to them, and they has formed statutory autonomous councils to administer their affairs. This paper will mainly discuss what non-territorial autonomy provision is and how statutory councils are suffering due to this provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the socioeconomic impact of riverbank erosion and measures the incidence and severity of poverty among the riverbank inhabitants of Assam, India. Primary data from two erosion effected districts of Assam have been collected using multistage random sampling technique. To measure the incidence of Poverty among the riverbank inhabitants, Head Count Ratio (HCR) method has been used. Severity of poverty is measured using Poverty Gap Index (PGI). The results reveal that the level of poverty and the severity of poverty are related with the degree of erosion. Similarly, the migration (both short-term and long-term) also related with the degree of erosion. It has also found that various types of socioeconomic issues arise due to riverbank erosion, such as loss of cropland and livestock, education and transportation problem, social displacement, etc. An important fact observed is that the problem of migration and poverty also exist in the non-eroded villages. For which, it cannot be say that migration issue arise only because of riverbank erosion. But, riverbank erosion pushes the other problems to more vulnerable situation which compels the affected people to take their decision. Therefore, riverbank erosion may be considered as a cause of migration and poverty in the study areas. In this context, the paper recommends that with the erosion control measures, the policies such as resettlement, financial support and social safety nets should be implemented in the erosion affected areas to reduce poverty as well as to reduce outmigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terms m-banking, m-payments, m-transfers, and m-finance refer collectively to a set of applications that enable people to use their mobile telephones to manipulate their bank accounts, store value in an account linked to their handsets, transfer funds, m-banking or even access credit or insurance products. This paper uses the compound term m-banking/m-payments systems to refer to the most common features. The era of mobile banking in India began several years back when the RBI mandated alerts to customers through SMS for their physical banking activities. As per date available on October-2022, in India 701 banks have been approved for offering mobile banking services. As per recent data, 8 in 10 bank account holders in India's metro now use mobile banking. Over 80% of the people of India have bank accounts now. It is evident that mobile phones have reached more households than basic banking services. Being the fastest growing mobile subscriber market India has a huge potential for M-Banking. In this paper an attempt is made to find out the adaptation of m-banking in Silchar - Assam (India). For carrying out the study responses were collected through a structured questionnaire. The sample method is convenience sampling & to analyze the data we have used statistical tools. Total 100 responses were collected. The main objective of the research is to find out the adaptation of mobile banking in Silchar - Assam, knowledge of M-banking, which services of mobile banking they use, their view about the fee of M-banking charged by banks & their overall satisfaction through M-banking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]