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Research Papers by CoE ( S T M C ) UU

Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2023

Introduction: Social and economic position, environment, access to healthcare, ethos, and worldvi... more Introduction: Social and economic position, environment, access to healthcare, ethos, and worldview are all important determinants of people’s
health‑seeking behavior. Tribal communities in India oscillate between their emic rationale for the cause and treatment of health concerns on
the one hand and affordable modern methods on the other. The present article is based on a study conducted among the Junag tribe of Odisha
to understand their acceptance and preference for traditional or modern healthcare systems and the reasons for these choices. Material and
Methods: Purposive sampling, a pre‑structured schedule, an observation approach, case studies, and interviews with community members
have been used to gather the primary data used in the study. Result: The study identified a diverse pattern of health‑seeking behavior. From
the four villages, 70% of respondents combined into cluster‑1 preferred the traditional healthcare system, mostly for geographical and cultural
reasons, as opposed to 95% of respondents from the villages in cluster‑2, who preferred modern healthcare services because they were more
easily accessible and involved modern healthcare providers. Conclusion: In this research work, it has been found that the Juang tribe is in
a transitional phase and uses a hybrid approach to health seeking. Moreover, it has also been discovered that important variables including
cultural attitudes and the affordability of contemporary healthcare services have influenced people’s decisions toward healthcare systems.

The Researchers’, 2023

Traditional agriculture is an age-old practice that is associated with nature, culture, technolog... more Traditional agriculture is an age-old practice that is associated with nature, culture, technology and
food production through indigenous and scientific knowledge, rationality, etc. It is viewed as
sustainable practice, where agriculture production is based on available local resources and crop species, and traditional tools and techniques embodied with culture are best adapted to local environments (Altieri and Toledo 2005; Netting 1993; Sabar 2012; DeWalt 1994).
The Bonda is one of the most primitive people who are still today practicing their own traditional method of shifting cultivation known as Donger chas. The Bonda people mostly inhabit both hill
and plain areas of Khairput block of Malkangiri district, Odisha. The livelihood practices of the
Bonda people based on shifting cultivation with depending upon forest produces. The study based on
the objective to observing the changing pattern of agricultural practice among the Bonda community.
Among the Bonda, the indigenous knowledge about shifting agriculture, plain agriculture, simple
technology, skills and use of manure on their Donger land, preservation of seeds, conserving the
Donger, and protecting the forest animals are available on their peripheral forest region. The study
also focused on their preservation pattern of seeds, roots, leaves, and foods among them, and how it is
sustainable for the year together. The study discussed on their pattern of agriculture and that are
practiced among Bonda highlanders. The way of agriculture and livelihood practices of Bonda
highlanders are not profit oriented, it is sustainable better for their life and provide maximum
nutrition and protein from their staple food from finger millet. This paper tries to elaborately discuss
on the livelihood practices of the Bonda tribe and they are struggling for their survival.

Indian Journal of Anthropological Research, 2023

Education plays an important role for a family and helps in the development of a society as well ... more Education plays an important role for a family and helps in the development of a society as well as an individual's socioeconomic status. This assumes more significance in a tribal dominated state like Odisha, with as high as sixty-two (62) tribal communities, including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of Odisha stands at 95,90,756 persons as per 2011 census. This accounts for 22.85 % of the total population of the state and 9.17 % of the total tribal population of India. Of all the states of India, Odisha has the highest number of Scheduled Tribe communities and PVTGs in the country. Odisha's tribes are at varied degrees of socioeconomic development. At one end of the spectrum are communities that live in a somewhat isolated and archaic manner while retaining their basic culture, while at the other end are villages that are indistinguishable from typical farming communities (Ota et al. 2018).

Antrocom Journal of Anthropology, 2022

Objective: India population faces the burden of undernutrition and non-communicable diseases, and... more Objective: India population faces the burden of undernutrition and non-communicable
diseases, and the prevalence of the burden of undernutrition and obesity is gradually increasing.
The discourse regarding the dual burden of undernutrition and central obesity has not yet been
extensively explored in both sexes at a community level as well as in individuals. The present
study assessed the frequency of both mal-formation based on mid-upper arm circumference
(MUAC) as well as the waist-hip ratio (WHR) among adult Juang males and females of
Keonjhar district in Odisha, India. Conclusion:The results of the present study indicated that
the prevalence of undernutrition among adult Juangs is very high and simultaneously central
obesitywas observed of increasing. The ongoing nutritional programs need to be evaluated and
supported by appropriate intervention Most importantly, immediate nutritional intervention
programs are needed for implementation among this ethnic group.

The Oriental Anthropologist, 2022

Assessment of the nutritional status is a major public health concern in India. Thinness (low BMI... more Assessment of the nutritional status is a major public health concern in India. Thinness (low BMI-forage) is an important anthropometric measure of undernutrition. In the present scenario, tribal children were facing undernutrition due to lack of income, inadequate food intake, and suffering with various diseases. The objectives of the present study were to determine age groups and sex specific prevalence of thinness among children and adolescents of the Juang tribe of Keonjhar district in Odisha, India. The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 237 (106 male and 131 female) Juang children and adolescents aged 1-17 years. The prevalence of thinness was assessed by using proposed age-sex specific international reference. We used standard statistical technique for comparing the BMI-forage z-score (BMIZ) means across the educational categories. The overall prevalence among the studied children was 15.61% and educational category wise prevalence of thinness among preschool, school going children, and adolescents were 11.94%, 19.05% and 15.12% respectively. Present scenarios of nutritional health status among Juang children and adolescents have

MAN, ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY, 2022

Background: Assessment of the overall nutritional status among children by CIAF is an important t... more Background: Assessment of the overall nutritional status among children by CIAF is an important technique. For achieving the goal of sustainable development, CIAF stands concrete evidence of the real picture of undernutrition. Objectives: The objective of the present study is to determine the total anthropometric failure among Juang children and adolescents. Material and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 237 (106 male and 131 female) Juang children and adolescents aged 1 to 17 years. Results: The prevalence of Underweight, Stunting and Underweight children are 5.91%, 6.33% and 4.22% respectively; and other combined anthropometric failures of Stunting and Underweight; Wasting and Underweight; and Underweight, Stunting and Wasting are 2.95%, 16.46% and 16.03% respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, the overall anthropometric failure is a very serious condition. Immediate intervention programmes based on food, and correct health awareness among parents may help to achieve the SDG goals for zero hunger.

Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 2022

This study assesses the role of mining companies in providing social security benefits to mining ... more This study assesses the role of mining companies in providing social security benefits to mining workers and the local community. It has used primary data collected from adult mining workers in 257 households working in public and private sector mines. The result finds inadequate social security benefits are delivered to mining workers and the local people. The profit-making behavior of mining companies, casual job contracts of workers, and poor monitoring and implementation of the mining laws are primarily responsible for workers' deprivation from such fundamental rights. However, we observed that publicly managed mines are relatively better than privately managed mines in providing social security to the workers and area. In this context, recommendations of the study include strict implementation of mine laws, permanent job contract to workers, provision of employment for women both in open-cast and underground mines with proper social protection and security, necessary infrastructural development in the locality, and involvement of professional social workers to fight against the violation of human rights in the mining periphery.

International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research, 2022

The contributions of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) programme t... more The contributions of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) programme towards livelihood security and creation of durable assets have been well recognized over time. While the contribution of the scheme towards poverty reduction and job creation is well authenticated, studies that have attempted to systematically examine the impact of natural resource management (NRM) assets created under MGNREGA in the context of climate vulnerable regions are either scanty or lack a comprehensive evaluation framework. The present study aims to fill in this gap by documenting the overall performance of MGNREGA programme at macro level and demonstrates how NRM works can make rural households resilient towards climate shocks through the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA). It is found that the combined share of socially marginalized communities – schedule caste (SC) and schedule tribe (ST) – have declined between the periods 2014-16 and 2017-19. While women participation share at the national level has generally been high in MGNREGA ever since its inception, it has slightly declined over the period under study. Further, the average increase in the MGNREGA wage rates across the country for the financial year 2022-23 is a merely 4.25%. The study delineates a holistic, asset-based Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) framework for understanding poverty and the means to reduce it five types of assets/capitals. Later, the paper provides a set of suggested measures. In order to build adaptive capacities at the micro level, essential community centric planning and more independent studies and surveys are required that can quantify the scheme’s adaptation to climate risks while creating NRM assets. Frequent conduction of training and awareness programmes on gender equality and women’s rights in MGNREGA is imperative to fetch positive gender outcomes at the micro level. A substantial increase in the MGNREGA wage is essential to boost rural expenditure and aggregate demand in the economy. In order to deliver lasting development outcomes, policymakers must integrate MGNREGA with disaster management plans in order to address the multifaceted risks posed by escalating climate change risks.

SKYLINES OF ANTHROPOLOGY, 2022

Depression is a mental disorder which affects the behavioural, somatic and emotional components i... more Depression is a mental disorder which affects the behavioural, somatic and emotional components in an individual. Earlier prevalence of depression was restricted to urban dwellers but now it is prevalent also among the vulnerable tribal communities. By applying the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) on 125 adults from the Juang community, a PVTG in Odisha, the severity of depression was measured. Moderate depression was more prevalent among females and elderly population. Seven components of BDI-II had greater impact on the intensity of depression among the Juang participants. They are: self-criticalness, guilty feelings, crying, loss of pleasure, irritability, past failures and loss of energy. The poor socioeconomic conditions, cultural changes, alcohol addiction, domestic violence and abuse, moderate physical labour and inadequate food intake in form of protein and fat are the reasons for the prevalence of depression among the Juang. The identification of depression among the Juang indicates the immediate need for incorporation of the mental health care in the primary health care services. This would help in early identification and diagnosis, counselling and care of the depressed person in the Juang community in particular and tribal societies in general.

ADIVASI, 2021

Depression as a form of mental illness has become a major health issue in the global, national an... more Depression as a form of mental illness has become a major health issue in the global, national and local context. The present study aims to discuss the prevalence rate of depression among the adults in Juang community, a PVTG in Keonjhar, Odisha using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) as a tool. The primary data was collected through field study from 82 respondents through structured interview schedule. The findings of the study reveal that 36.6% of the participants suffered from moderate depression, 28.0% from minimal depression, 24.4% suffered from mild depression and 11% from severe depression. Moderate depression among Juang was higher in the older age group of females, especially those living in a joint family and are illiterate. However, the depression prevalence was lower among the higher income group and those living in pucca houses.

International Journal of Botany Studies , 2021

The tribal individuals and ethnic races throughout the world have their own customs, tradi... more The tribal individuals and ethnic races throughout the world have their own customs, traditions, religions, devout ceremonies,
taboos, legends, witchcrafts, nourishments and frameworks of restorative practices. They know the utilization of wild plants
for their basic needs including food, shelter, and medicine and have created a one of kind understanding of forest assets. The
information of the tribal related with the conventional healing practices utilizing wild plants is quickly vanishing due to
advanced healthcare system. An ethnobotanical survey in Gonasika hill range and its adjoining areas of Keonjhar district
(Odisha) have revealed a wealth of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants and their uses amongst the local Juang healers.
The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected
through semi-structured questionnaire and personal interviews during the course of investigation. The investigation revealed
that, the traditional healers and the inhabitants of the area use 77 species of plants distributed in 67 genera belonging to 43
families to treat various diseases. The study also revealed that fresh plant materials were invariably preferred for the disease
management. Several promising medicinal plant species were found growing in their natural habitat while others are
domesticated. The forest tenants as a rule collect these uncommon plants from the adjacent forest regions which are readily
available and medications are arranged under the supervision of local medicine men. The present paper dealt with the
ethnobotanical exploration, identification and documentation of potential medicinal plants used by the Juang tribe in Keonjhar
district of Odisha. The findings of the present study will be of immense help to Pharmaceutical industries to isolate bioactive
compounds and development of new drug.

Man in Society, 2019

In this review article an attempt is made to provide a brief account of research works carried ou... more In this review article an attempt is made to provide a brief account of research works carried out on the Juangas of Odisha. It has covered important works made on various themes including on family,
kinship, marriage, livelihood and economy, education, political organization, religion and rituals, food habits, sports and recreation etc. This article cannot claim to be a representative review of all
the important pieces of academic writings on Juangas in the last six decades or so. However, it has made a humble attempt to provide the reader with a broad overview of works during this period on
numerous issues based on reports, books and other research documents produced by authors, organizations etc, and one of the major sources being unpublished research studies of the postgraduate and M. Phil. students of the Department of Anthropology, Utkal University, Odisha