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The most developed, progressive, and economically stable countries in the world are those that are technologically advanced. Technological change and the building of human capabilities are interrelated: each requires the development of the other for success and the "rethinking [of] educational systems to meet the new challenges of technology." Using e-learning is one way in which to increase access to technology education, subsequently introducing new technologies and improving technological literacy. However, most e-learning courses are designed in Western cultures, whereas the largest and fastest-growing consumer groups live in Eastern cultures, challenging educators to provide e-learning that results in equitable learning outcomes for targeted learners in different cultures. Findings in the exploratory study, "The cross-cultural dimensions of globalized e-learning" indicated that Level 1 e-learning, in which simple "translation" of content is deemed adequate as a cultural adaptation technique, can be used to accomplish those goals. Thus, while educators in the United States regularly encourage a transition to facilitative teaching and training, for the purpose of exporting existing e-learning courses or adapting appropriate technical courses for other cultures, courses with didactic foundations seem best suited to repurposing. In this article, the author briefly reports study results but focuses on how Level 1 e-learning courses can be used to advance international development goals. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

Defines telematics and argues that India should exploit telematics resources for training. Describes training through telematics and virtual means, as well as a redefinition of the notion of training. Discusses the cost factor and its influence on policy at different levels. (AEF)

India will surpass China as the most populated country in the world, with an estimated nearly 1.67 billion people by 2050 (World Population Data Sheet, October 2019). In order to feed this population, the country has to adopt a policy of vertical growth in productivity as the opportunities of further horizontal expansion of cultivated area are almost exhausted. Continuous cropping depletes the soil nutrient reserves and hence, the soils are to be replenished with the essential major and minor plant nutrients. In this context, Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) given by Subhash Palekar is not appropriate technology to adopt the farmers because in this technique, cannot provide adequate quantity of nutrients required for higher crop productivity as soil has a limited nutrient supplying capacity. In addition, ZBNF recommends use of traditional varieties of crops having almost half the yield potential of modern high yielding varieties. Thus, farmers will not earn enough to double their income with low crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open burning of agricultural residue adversely impacts climate change, air quality, and public health. Considering this, the current study examines the public and farmer's perceptions about crop residue burning (CRB), including the obstacles to sustainable crop residue management practices and health implications in Haryana, India. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 418 study participants, having 56.1% of respondents as male and 43.4% as female. Results indicate a statistically significant association between CRB, socio-demographic factors, and respiratory issues. The study found that respiratory problems caused by CRB were more severe in the 60 + age group (93.3%) and the < 18 age group (70%). There is a mixed response from males (64%) and females (67.6%) regarding the impact of CRB on respiratory health. The study cites a variety of reasons for not adopting alternative technologies for crop residue management which include high cost (48%), followed by the unavailability of alternative technology (22%) and the belief that alternative technologies are not beneficial for timely clearing crop residues (13%). The minimum compensation required by farmers to avoid CRB varies significantly among respondents, with 45% citing INR 10,000 ($120) per acre as the minimum amount. The study also appraises behavioral and societal aspects of adopting new technologies. It was reported that government schemes have implementation challenges, but recycling crop residues for commercial use has a considerable scope. Considering this, the study also discusses the way ahead in light of the various initiatives the government has taken up for sustainable crop residue management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The misconceptions about the dental treatment prevailing among the population was considered as one of the important barriers for non- utilization of oral health services. The purpose of the present study was to find out the prevalence of common myths related to oral health and in the treatment aspects among the rural population of Tamilnadu, India. Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among the outpatients attending a dental college in Tamilnadu. The questionnaire included demographic details and 18 questions related to the traditional beliefs. Result: Out of 371 patients, 70 (18.9%) thought that the extraction of upper teeth will affect their eyesight. 49.1% felt that extraction during rainy season will cause infection. Around 38% believe scaling leads to weakening of the teeth. Chi-square test showed no statistically significant difference exists among the gender and as well as education. Conclusion: The myths related to dentistry still exist which requires further studies based on using appropriate technology to eliminate myths among the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector in India is still the largest contributor to the Indian economy, providing direct and indirect jobs to the majority of Indians. Despite accounting for 18.8 percent of the country’s gross value added, this sector has not made much of a difference in terms of India’s agricultural exports. The current research paper attempts to provide an insight into the competitiveness of Indian agricultural exports over the past twenty-one years and found that under the Harmonized System of Agricultural Commodities classification, the export competitiveness of India has either stagnated or deteriorated, leading to an ominous sign for the Indian agriculture sector. Had there been an appropriate policy to boost Indian agricultural exports, this sector could bring income to farmers and open new avenues abroad? Outcome of the results desperately call for a paradigm policy shift in Indian agriculture as far as export competitiveness is concerned. Refined marketing policy in the light of global needs is the need of the hour. India needs to enhance the “skill before sale” capabilities of the farmers to make them aware of global needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although rural markets are different from urban markets in India in terms of demographics, psychographics, behavioral patterns, consumer purchase habits, and the amenities present therein, they have been evolving steadily and rapidly over the last few decades. According to a recent survey conducted by Kantar and cited by Tandon (2021), the rate of growth of rural markets has surpassed that of urban markets. In terms of value, rural markets grew by 11.6% against a growth rate of 10.2% in the urban markets. At the same time, the rate of volume growth witnessed by rural markets was 4.4% against 3.3% in urban markets. Those very rural markets which were considered insignificant till a few decades ago have now become the hotbed of competition, strategic innovation, product innovation, and process innovation. For certain sectors and industries like the FMCG sector, the two-wheeler industry, the cycle manufacturers, etc., rural markets have emerged to be more important than urban markets. A major portion of the sales in these industries comes from rural markets today. The tremendous potential that lies hidden in the Indian rural markets can be unleashed using the right blend of strategies and tactics, appropriate technologies, and suitable innovations in products, processes, and delivery. The paper dwells upon the imperatives of innovation required to penetrate, thrive and grow in rural markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore the enablers for the implementation of electronic traceability in agri-food supply chain in India. In several agri-food supply chains, the lack of any form of traceability or the presence of paper-based traceability impacts the trade of the concerned food product. Electronic traceability (e-traceability) will assist agri-food firms in improving their performance, minimize food fraud activities, ensure efficient recall of the products and contribute in overall agri-food supply chain management. With the help of literature review and expert opinions, enablers of e-traceability are modelled and analyzed using Fuzzy ISM and FUZZY MICMAC. The combination of both these techniques helps in identifying the essential drivers in the implementation of e-traceability in agri-food supply chains. The proposed approach found that that electronic form of traceability is better than paper-based traceability in agri-food supply chains. The significant drivers in e-traceability implementation, particularly in agri-food supply chain are appropriate technology for e-traceability, competitive advantage, coordination and transparency and management support. The identified enablers would guide the managers or decision-makers in the adoption of e-traceability in their existing supply chains in the agri-food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capitalist progress implies the destruction of the old and uncompetitive sectors and the creation of new ones in their wake. However, in the Global South the loss of jobs in the older sectors is not necessarily offset by the new forms of employment. The objective of this paper is to critically examine how the vast employment in the Indian handloom sector could be sustained, given the competitive pressures from alternative technologies and products. Rather than allow the sector to be a victim of capitalist progress, this paper on moral economy grounds offers an alternative approach, which is to boost the demand for handloom products through commercial branding but one that is rooted in cultural valorization of artisanal craft. This strategy, complementary to state provisioning of subsidized inputs, comes at the expense of authenticity but is expected to enhance consumption and sustain livelihoods in the handloom sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploding population, industrialization, and an increase in water pollution has led to acute shrinkage in freshwater availability. Numerous countries have started exploring municipal wastewater as a new potential source of water to bring a paradigm shift from linearity to obtaining circularity in human water cycle management. This study aims to develop a decision support system for integrated water and wastewater management (DSS&#95;IWWM), targeted towards reuse-focused selection of appropriate wastewater treatment technology, and localized planning around STPs in terms of reclaimed water demand identification, estimation, allocation, and sustainable pricing. The developed DSS&#95;IWWM comprises of a repository of fourteen reuse purposes, reuse quality criteria, and 25 wastewater treatment technologies (WWTTs) in 360 combinations. It is sensitive to local resource scenarios and applies a socioeconomic and technology-focused methodology for addressing the interests of the community and investing agencies and viably. To validate the application of the DSS&#95;IWWM, it is first tested with data from three cities in the state of Uttar Pradesh (India)-Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Agra-and then extended to nine more Indian cities with varying influent quality characteristics, resource inputs, existing STP technologies, and same target quality and decision criteria prioritization, to present a comparison of appropriate WWTTs and associated average prices obtained in different scenarios. It is concluded that influent quality, existing technology, and target quality criteria play significant role in selection of appropriate WWTTs. The traditional technologies such as UASB and ASP are required to be augmented and supplemented with high-performing WWTTs, such as BIOFOR-F with (C + F + RSF) and SBT + WP to obtain desired effluent quality. High-performing advanced oxidation process (AOP)-based systems such as A2O, SBR, and BIOFOR-F require WWTTs with relatively lower average costs (such as SBT and OP). The developed DSS&#95;IWWM may prove to be very useful and beneficial for policymakers, government officials, engineers, and scientific community as it will facilitate rational decision-making for efficient investment planning in reuse focused wastewater treatment towards achieving circular economy in sustainable water resource management., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Soil degradation is a pervasive, systemic phenomenon and an urgent priority in order to ensure human wellbeing, protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. Agriculture sector is frequently affected by soil loss resulting into unproductive soil and lowered crop yields. This article focuses on critical sustainable challenges of Indian agriculture, soil degradation status and mitigation strategies as well as policies and management response options in respect of development of degraded lands. It also provides policymakers with the necessary information to develop appropriate mitigation technologies at the local, regional and national scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the use of thematic collages as a methodological innovation to participatory photography as a research framework. Participatory photography was used to understand the subjective "off-script" motivations behind the full or partial adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) by members of women's self-help groups in Andhra Pradesh, India. The addition of thematic collages to existing participatory photography methods was developed as a mechanism to better support the dialogic generation of new Freirean "generative themes" for investigation by a group. Further, the use of thematic collages invites the integration of "renegade" or non-thematic images into participant group analysis. ZBNF is an agricultural practice that has become an extension priority in Andhra Pradesh. It emphasizes the use of defined chemical-free inputs and regenerative farming techniques as a holistic approach toward socio-ecological resilience. As part of an interdisciplinary research project, this participatory photography design was piloted parallel to a soil science experiment in three geographically distinct agroecological zones in Andhra Pradesh. We show how participatory photography, with the novel addition of thematic collages, can be integrated into interdisciplinary research as a method to discover the underlying motivations to adopt agricultural practices and participate in agricultural movements like Zero Budget Natural Farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a case study of farmers in India we examine the relationship between drip irrigation subsidy policies, farmer adoption and technological choice. We examine changes in the subsidy design and the implications that these have for farmers. We show how the negotiation of multiple interests influences the kind of technology promoted and the design of the subsidy programme. This creates barriers to adoption, particularly for relatively resource-poor farmers. For these famers, the relative advantages of low-cost alternative technologies appear to be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-centrifugal sugar (NCS) industry is one of the oldest small-scale cottage industry in India, whose technological features are not changed for several decades due to which the production and consumption of NCS has reduced significantly. One way to attend this problem is to select the best and sustainable methods among the existing technologies at various stages in the production process. In the production of NCS, juice extraction is the primary and essential process. The present work gives an insight to a logical procedure for selecting a suitable and sustainable juice extraction method for improving the NCS production using multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) technique. The selection process is based on 11 evaluation criteria covering various sustainable factors viz. technological, economic and environmental factors. Fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (FAHP) integrated with elimination et choix traduisant la realité method is the MCE technique considered for selecting the most appropriate crushing method among five alternatives. The results indicated that the power-operated single horizontal crusher is the most suitable and sustainable crushing method for improving the production rate of NCS. The same technique can be used for the other process unit of the NCS production to improve the productivity and sustainability of NCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐centrifugal sugar (NCS) industry is one of the oldest small‐scale cottage industries in India, with crude and inferior production techniques. Toward transforming these inferior techniques for the sustenance of NCS industry, it is necessary to select sustainable methods among the existing technologies at various stages in the production process. In the production of NCS, juice extraction is the primary and essential process. The present article gives an insight in selecting a sustainable juice extraction technology using various decision approaches. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) integrated multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) is the decision approaches used for selecting the appropriate juice extraction technique among 6 alternatives based on 11 criteria covering various sustainable factors. Through this MCDM approach, it was obtained that crusher with single horizontal roller that uses electrical motor without any usage of hot water is the most sustainable juice extraction method for NCS production in plant mode with 1.38 group priority weight. On the other hand, crusher with single vertical roller that runs on electrical energy without usage of hot water and crusher with single horizontal roller that runs on diesel engines without the usage of hot water is a comparatively least preferred alternative for NCS production with 3.33 and 3.39 group priority weight, respectively. Practical Applications: This article narrates the novel work undertaken to identify a sustainable crushing technology for extracting sugarcane juice to produce non‐centrifugal sugar.The analysis is carried out to select the most appropriate technology among 6 crushing technologies based on 11 evaluation criteria spreading across various aspects of sustainability.The analysis used three multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) methods namely TOPSIS, PROMETHEE, and VIKOR.Based on this analysis it is found that single horizontal crusher that run on electricity without the use of hot water (SHEN) is the best juice extraction technology.Hence, this technology could be used by the non‐centrifugal sugar (NCS) industry to produce NCS in a sustainable way.Further, the methodology presented in this article, demonstrates the use of such methods to identify the better processes/subprocesses to produce NCS in a sustainable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, livestock plays important role for the nutritional security particularly for the small and marginal farmers. Though, India represents as the highest livestock population and milk producing country, but only 5% of cropped land area is utilized for cultivating fodder and facing a deficit of 35.6% green fodder, 26% of dry fodder and 41% of concentrate feed ingredients. Rapid urbanization, climate change, water scarcity etc. are the momentum to search alternate system for green fodder production. Hydroponic is the best alternative which involves production of fodder without soil in a confined environment (hi-tech or low-cost device) and harvested at 7-8days period of time. It is gaining importance as it is used to guarantee a constant production of high quantity of green forage round the year for livestock. Seed for hydroponic cultivation is the major input and shares 90% of the total cost of production as compared to conventional system. Since the hydroponics fodder is more palatable, digestible and nutritious, it improves immune status of the animals and augments productive and reproductive performance of the livestock. Supplementation of 5-10kg hydroponic fodders per cow per day increases milk production by 8-13%; and meat quality based on the digestibility of the nutrients. Farmers can adopt small- or large-scale hydroponic production following low cost devices and sustain green fodder supplements round the year for profitable livestock production. Livestock farmers are to be educated and aware through capacity building programme for their keen interest towards importance of the hydroponic and green fodders for sustainable livestock production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global integration of markets, rapid changes in technology and reduced lifecycles for product and technology have made the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to focus on considering innovation as an essential aspect to attain benefit in sustainable competition. Thus, the present study contributes to the empirical literature by identifying and consolidating the determinants that strengthen the integration of sustainability with innovation for Indian manufacturing MSMEs as these organisations consist of a significant portion of the output of the economy from the manufacturing sector. To this end, a systematic review of the literature and the opinion of the experts were taken to extract the data. The questionnaire approach was carried out to validate the data statistically. The outcome of the present study, after analyzing the data by factor analysis and refining of the data, is a set of definite, accurate and one dimensional determinants that can be consequently applied in other circumstances or can be used to examine different theoretical models, driving in the direction of building of theory in Sustainable Oriented Innovation for Indian manufacturing MSMEs. • Determinants of Sustainable Oriented Innovation are presented. • The focus is on manufacturing MSMEs of Delhi NCR region, India. • Reliability, validity and unidimensionality are checked using EFA and CFA. • Results can improve the theory building in sustainable oriented innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Integrated assessment models are extensively used in the analysis of climate change mitigation and are informing national decision makers as well as contribute to international scientific assessments. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of techno-economic assumptions in the electricity sector among fifteen different global and national integrated assessment models. Particular focus is given to six major economies in the world: Brazil, China, the EU, India, Japan and the US. The comparison reveals that techno-economic characteristics are quite different across integrated assessment models, both for the base year and future years. It is, however, important to recognize that techno-economic assessments from the literature exhibit an equally large range of parameters as the integrated assessment models reviewed. Beyond numerical differences, the representation of technologies also differs among models, which needs to be taken into account when comparing numerical parameters. While desirable, it seems difficult to fully harmonize techno-economic parameters across a broader range of models due to structural differences in the representation of technology. Therefore, making techno-economic parameters available in the future, together with of the technology representation as well as the exact definitions of the parameters should become the standard approach as it allows an open discussion of appropriate assumptions. Highlights • Comparison of technology representation and techno-economic parameters of 15 IAMs. • Structural differences in representing technology in IAMs are identified. • Methods of projecting techno-economic parameters differ across IAMs. • Strict harmonization of techno-economic parameters across models is difficult. • Recommendation to publish techno-economic parameters and technology representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernacular architecture is a response to the facts of local geography and climate. The house form, materials and techniques of construction used in vernacular architecture are an effective response through appropriate or sustainable technology. Fascination with Western modernity has excluded this reality from architecture and planning in India. Laurie Baker’s faithful continuation of his responsibility to build for India according to Gandhi’s advice needs to be understood as a practical and economic solution to India’s housing problem. This paper looks at the contribution of Laurie Baker to the continuation of vernacular architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: A framework for technology assessment for wastewater treatment is proposed in this work. A case study of technology selection for high rise buildings in urban centres of India is used for evaluation and to test this framework. The multiple-attribute decision-making technique is used for ranking the alternatives. The three most commonly used wastewater treatment technologies viz., activated sludge process (ASP), sequencing batch reactors (SBR) and membrane bio-reactor (MBR) are evaluated. Seven criteria having indicators derived from life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and criteria accounting for resource constraints, robustness of the system and sustainability are used for the evaluations. The technology assessment framework used in this work will help identify appropriate wastewater treatment technologies for various decision-making situations encountered while managing wastewaters. Importantly, this study validates the theory that it is the decision situation which decides the appropriateness of the technology and not the technology itself. Hence, the definition of appropriate technology given by Murphy et al. [4] is more convincing for water and sanitation technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The appropriate technology (AT) movement places appropriateness as a key issue and acknowledges the role of AT in the context of India's development. The present article addresses the conceptual framework of AT and discusses the debate on AT from view points of both developing and developed countries. It also contextualizes the inception and growth of the Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA), a research centre at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India for the study of its role in the context of the AT movement in India. The paper is based on the use of both primary and secondary data collected from ASTRA. The primary data were collected through the depth interviews of the researchers working at the centre of ASTRA, whereas the secondary data were gathered from the annual reports of the centre and some other materials published in national and international journals from the centre. The paper analyzes the technology development activities of the centre and attempted to bring out the socio- economic and policy related problems encountered in the dissemination of its technologies. The paper concludes the changing perception and subsequent shift of thrust of the AT movement in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological intensification (EI) describes farming practices that aim to use ecological processes for producing agricultural yields. While evidence for the ecological benefits of EI is plentiful, the question of how it can be more widely adopted by farmers, and why it has not been so far, remains pertinent, since only approximately 9% of the globally farmed land is currently managed with EI practices. We suggest that considering farmers as central while attending to farm and system level factors can help to identify barriers and facilitators to EI adoption. To do this, we look to diverse, overlapping bodies of literature encompassing EI practice details, systems thinking, and farmer adoption. Innovation characteristics is one framework that has been used to study farmer adoption of new farm management tools and practices. Our objective is to use innovation characteristics for identifying farmer, farm, and system level barriers and potential solutions to EI adoption. We then aim to synthesize broader lessons for a sustainability transition in agriculture. We treat EI as a suite of innovations, including practices, technologies, and knowledge. We explore how the innovation characteristics of EI - i.e. their relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability – manifest at each of three levels: farmer, farm, and system. We apply our approach to three case studies of EI adoption from different world regions: 1) managing landscape complexity in Germany, 2) installation of riparian buffers in the USA and 3) organic farming in India. An analysis of our case studies using innovation characteristics helped identify barriers to EI adoption and at what level these barriers should be addressed. Barriers included: uncoupled financial and farm-level ecological relative advantages of EI (system level), framing that is not in line with farm values and needs (farmer level), insufficient training for managing complex systems (farmer level), and time constraints for experimentation with and observation of EI effects (farm level). System level solutions could support training and experimentation with EI, empowering farmers by providing them with autonomy to adapt and apply EI as they see fitting. Using innovation characteristics and diverse bodies of knowledge allowed us to identify barriers, but also opportunities at farmer, farm, and system level. Abundant work focuses on convincing farmers of what science says is right, so showing farmers that barriers are not explicit to them is a helpful step forward in the transition towards sustainability. [Display omitted] • We study ecological intensification (EI) practice adoption in case studies from Germany, India and the USA. • We identify barriers and options at farmer, farm or system levels for EI practice adoption with innovation characteristics. • All 5 innovation characteristics were helpful in identifying context-specific and broader lessons on EI adoption. • Relative advantage and compatibility are both improved by a focus on farmers' needs and values. • Systems-focused training, knowledge exchange and adaptability can improve trialability, complexity and observability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 induced pandemic situations have put the bio-medical waste (BMW) management system, of the world, to test. Sudden influx, of COVID-infected patients, in health-care facilities, has increased the generation of yellow category BMW (Y-BMW) and put substantial burden on the BMW-incineration units of India. This study presents the compromising situation of the BMW-incineration units of India, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, from 21st March 2020 to 31st August 2020. This analysis revealed that on an average each COVID-infected patient in India generates approximately 3.41 kg/d of BMW and average proportion of Y-BMW in it is 50.44%. Further, it was observed that on 13th July 2020, the total Y-BMW, generated by both the normal and COVID-infected patients, fully utilized the BMW-incineration capacity of India. Also, it was made evident that, during the study period, BMW-incineration emitted several pollutants and their concentration was in the order: NO x > CO > SO x > PM > HCl > Cd > Pb > Hg > PCBs > Ni > Cr > Be > As. Subsequently, life time cancer risk assessment depicted that with hazard quotient >10−6, Cd may induce carcinogenic health impacts on both the adults and children of India. Therefore, to mitigate the environmental-health impacts associated with the incineration of BMW, evaluation of various options, viz., alternative technologies, substitution of raw materials and separate treatment of specific wastes, was also done. It is expected that the findings of this study may encourage the global auditory comprising scientific community and authorities to adopt alternate BMW-management strategies during the pandemic. [Display omitted] • COVID-induced BMW generation in India is 3.41 kg/d/patient. • India's incineration capacity was compromised by 13th July 2020 during the pandemic. • Incineration of COVID-BMW emitted metals in the order: Cd > Pb > Hg > Ni > Cr > Be > As. • Life time cancer risk associated with Cd-emissions was observed to be > 10−6 • Alternate technologies and waste-specific treatment can reduce emissions. Generation of yellow-BMW in India, during pandemic, was estimated to assess the compromising capacity of its incineration units and associated environmental-human health impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the fact that technologies displaying preferences of energy saving, machine building, available sources of energy and technology based on rational sustained use are termed as alternative technologies or inequality reduction technologies. The use of latter term not only emphasizes unambiguously the key objective of these technologies, an objective which has not been and cannot be furthered by Western technologies. The crucial question is whether any proposed technology is oriented towards villages or cities, whether it will reduce or increase inequalities. It is clear that the term appropriate technology is ambiguous as to which segment of the dual society the technology is appropriate, and intermediate technology can serve the interest of the rich even though it is intermediate in scale and capital-per-workplace. In the case of each decision involving a choice of technology, economics of the various options must be analyzed. Approaches at both macro and micro levels can be made to the development of alternative technology.

• Community-led solar energy projects in India are analyzed using the grassroots innovation literature. • The status of community energy projects in the US, Europe and India and presented. • Three case studies, namely DURGA, Barefoot College and Rampura solar project, are reviewed. • Case studies are consistent with social justice concerns, such as participation, equitable distribution of benefits and recognition of marginal communities. Sustainable technologies for social mobilization and community empowerment are contemporary phenomena of grassroots innovation movements. The origins of the grassroots innovations appear in the appropriate technology movement of the 1970s, the People's Science Movement of the 1980s, and more recently, the Social Movement Organization as seen in the cases of the Honey Bee Network in India and the Social Technology Network in Brazil. This paper articulates the community energy movement in India in the framework of 'grassroots innovations for sustainability'. The paper presents three fine case studies of off-grid community energy initiatives namely, the Dungarpur Renewable Energy Technologies Private Limited, (DURGA), the Barefoot College and the Rampura Community Solar Power Plant (CSPP). The case studies represent three different kind of business models of community energy projects – a private limited company, a market-based model and a village energy committee (VEC) model. Therefore, they are representative of different grassroots innovations in off-grid energy projects. The case studies exemplify how off-grid community energy projects may manifest an embedded character of the grassroots innovations and address energy poverty and social justice concerns, such as community participation, equitable distribution of benefits, representation of marginalized communities. The case studies also demonstrate that the grassroots innovations in off-grid energy projects may enhance social mobilization, community empowerment and sustainability. To conclude, the findings of this research show that grassroots innovations in technology and sustainable development are consistent with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Indian medical device sector as a case study, this research examines the evolution of regulatory frameworks by analysing the conditions and processes through which regulatory environments for a technology-based industry come about. It also attempts to unpack the complex relationships between industrial capabilities in healthcare technology and human health, and the role of regulation in facilitating more inclusive healthcare and development in emerging countries. In doing so, the paper explains the ways in which an absence of collective action can severely inhibit the development of appropriate technological regulation and industry growth, particularly in the context of developing countries. It shows that contestation, conflict and coalitions as a key mechanism through which different stakeholders influence, enable and/or disable institutional change. These findings have significant implications for other developing countries which are struggling with the development of healthcare technology regulatory policy that is appropriate to local societal context and needs. • Investigates a neglected but highly relevant issue in the healthcare policy: Evolution of Medical device regulations in developing countries. • Shows the role and significance of collective action in shaping regulatory policies in developing countries. • Reveals contestation and conflict act as key mechanisms through which different stakeholders influence, enable and/or disable institutional change. • Argues developing countries should create regulations that will ensure safety, efficacy and quality parameters suitable to the local context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition is a major public health problem in India, especially among urban poor children. The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate nutrition educational intervention that can be delivered through health services and digitized child undernutrition tracking module for health workers to improve complementary feeding of infants of age six months to 12 months in Chandigarh, North India, to prevent malnutrition in infants., Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a non-randomized intervention (Burail) and control area (Maloya) among a vulnerable population in Chandigarh, North India. The mother-infant dyads (MIDs) in the intervention group(n = 202) received culturally appropriate nutrition educational intervention, were supported individually by trained health workers in infant feeding and followed up for six months. Health workers were monitored through a digitized tracking module. The MIDs in the control group (n = 202) received routine care under the national health program. The mean (±S.D.) age of infants in the intervention and control group was 5.4 (±0.8) months and 5.5 (±0.7) months, respectively. The data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire and anthropometry of infants at baseline and end line. The primary outcome was a mean change in weight. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured by conducting the difference in difference (DID) analysis in mean change in weight between intervention and control group., Result: At baseline, the mean (±S.D.) weight of infants was 6.6(±0.64) kg and 6.6 (±0.52) kg in the intervention and control group. The mean (±S.D.) length of infants was 64.3 (±2.0) cm in the intervention group and 65.1 (±1.7) cm in the control group. Out of 404, 190 and 191 MIDs in the intervention and control group completed the study, respectively. A significantly higher number of infants in the intervention group were started on complementary feeding at six months of age (72.6% versus45.5%, p<0.01) and received foods having thick consistency (82.1% versus 41.9%, p<-0.01). There was significant weight gain in intervention group infants (DID means = 0.27 kg, p<0.01) and length gain (DID means = 0.9 cm, p<0.01) from the baseline. Also, there was significant decline in the proportion of undernourished (10% versus18.8%, OR = 0.47, p = 0.01) and wasted infants (7.3% versus15.7%, OR = 0.42, p = 0.01) in the intervention group., Conclusion: Community-based nutrition educational intervention delivered through the routine health services and digitized tracking of malnourished children can effectively improve the complementary feeding and growth of children six months to one year among vulnerable populations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.