Feature Article

India Meteorological Department has implemented district level medium range rainfall forecast system applying multimodel ensemble technique, making use of model outputs of state-of-the-art global models from the five leading global NWP centres.

Time series analysis of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) derived from NOAA-AVHRR data during the period 1996–1999 and the MODIS data during 2000–2009 over the Arabian Sea revealed a systematic biennial variability in the high AOD during summer months. The variability is more prominent over the northern and central parts of the Arabian Sea and became less significant towards southern latitudes. The possible mechanisms for these are examined by estimating the source strength over coastal Arabia and AOD flow rate through the western boundary of the Arabian Sea.

India’s food and nutrition problems continue to be formidable and malnutrition is still one of the crucial problems in the process of development. The magnitude of malnutrition and the ignorance about the relationship between food and health among a majority of the population at all levels necessitates the need for nutrition education. This approach in the long term may promote self-reliance and self-support in the communities.

The present investigation entitled ‘Chemical contamination of water due to household laundry detergents was conducted to study the chemical contribution of laundry detergents to waste water. Six most commonly used laundry detergents, 4 powder and 2 liquid detergents were selected to study the chemical input of each to waste water stream from home laundry. Chemical analysis of wash water and detergent solution was done to analyse pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, sulphate, carbonate and bicarbonate alkalinity.

Prosperity of nation depends on status of its women, as they not only constitute nearly half of its population, but also positively influence growth of remaining half of population. Hence, a study was conducted to study personal profile of women farmers, per formance of women in tea cu ltivation, potato cultivation and livestock activities. Physiological assessment was done in terms of RPE and REBA. By simple random sampling, 30 women were selected in Nilgiri district. Seventy percent were 30 years of age and educated up to high school.

Analysis of poverty and its dimensions are various as the ways in which poverty affects the daily sustenance of the poor. Poverty, many a times is simply viewed as an issue of income. What poverty means for the poor is a wide range of dynamic aspects. This paper presents results of analysis that emanate from Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) which was conducted in Sohenkhera village, Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan. Using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods, entire households of the village were covered for the study.

Cultural diversity is closely linked to biodiversity. The study of these interrelationships need to be studied mainly for the simple reason that culture is not only the ethical imperative for development, it is also a condition of its sustainability; for there exists a symbiotic relationship between habitats and cultures, between ecosystems and cultural identity, and that this relationship constitutes a determining factor in ensuring sustainable human development.