Impacts Of Urbanization On Environment

Urbanization refers to general increase in population and the amount of industrialization of a settlement. It includes increase in the number and extent of cities. It symbolizes the movement of people from rural to urban areas. Urbanization happens because of the increase in the extent and density of urban areas. Due to uncontrolled urbanization in India, environmental degradation has been occurring very rapidly and causing many problems like land insecurity, worsening water quality, excessive air pollution, noise and the problems of waste disposal. This paper emphasizes on the effect of urbanization on environmental components mainly climate, biosphere, land and water resources. A case study of urbanization in India and metropolitan cities have been carried out leading to conclude on the existing causes of damage to the environment due to urbanization and preventive measures to keep a check on them. Although it is impossible to restrict urbanization it has to be ensured that urbanization proceeds in the right path causing minimum impact on environment

Measurement of Dust Optical Properties in Coalsack

We have used FUSE and Voyager observations of dust scattered starlight in the neighborhood of the Coalsack Nebula to derive the optical constants of the dust grains. The albedo is consistent with a value of $0.28 \pm 0.04$ and the phase function asymmetry factor with a value of $0.61 \pm 0.07$ throughout the spectral range from 900 -- 1200 \AA, in agreement with previous determinations as well as theoretical predictions. We have now observed two regions (Ophiuchus and Coalsack) with intense diffuse background radiation and in both cases have found that the emission is due to light from nearby hot stars scattered by a relatively thin foreground cloud, with negligible contribution from the background molecular cloud.Comment: Total 19 pages, Figures 9, Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa

Marriage Migration and Labour Market in Bangalore Slums: Scope of Social Work Intervention

Marriage related migration is a crucial factor affecting mobility. It is interesting to note that a large number of poor women enter labour markets in urban centre at the place of destination through marriage. However, existing circumstances of the labour market in urban canters are uncongenial, unpardonable with long hours of work, low wages, and absence of job security etc. It is vital to study the existing situation of female migrants to put in place policies to improve their living and working environment. Thousands of  women and girls migrate from their hinterlands in this present contest marriage migration happen usually from rural to urban city centres mainly in search of employment. They are new to the city life style and environment and find it difficult to make alteration with the changed situation and atmosphere. They have to face a number of problems in the cities they get migrated. Moreover, they are exploited both financially and sexually in the cities above all there is a need to identify means and ways to empower these women in the slum areas. At the national level, the Tenth plan suggests a sector specific three-fold strategy for empowering all women through Social empowerment. But today in India the problems are wide and psychological by nature. In the past two decades, there has been growing recognition of the prevalence of problem, in that migration is affecting young population much in our society. Moreover, it has become apparent that some individuals (Young)   are at greater risk. Social workers are in a unique position to work on the issue of migration, marriage and labour market because of the diversity of practice settings and expertise in clinical practice, group work, policy development and analysis, and community organizing. The profession’s commitment to social change calls on the social work profession to take a leadership role in addressing all public problems. Keywords: Marriage, Migration, Labour Market and Social Work Intervention

Strengthening Livelihood of Rural Farmer Populations through Improved Grasslands

This paper reviews the current background of the grassland resource with a purpose of livestock perspective to improve the livelihood of rural farmers. The use of grasslands for livestock rearing by rural farmers has been a long tradition. In climate and vegetation contrast, these grasslands are much more diverse. They are likely to play an economical role in increasing the milk production in many Asian countries. With an increase of human population, the traditional feeding, breeding and surviving habitats for livestock have been acutely restricted in many countries. Therefore, a continued effort is needed to maintain production for sustainable management of grassland resource for rural farmers. Pastoralism in wildlife protected area must be gradually proscribed and encouraged to form community grasslands. In addition, issues such as development of water resources, extension and education must be considered as higher attentions than basic grassland principles

Forage Composition and Quality of Tankbed Grassland Ecosystems in Sri Lanka; A Preliminary Study of “Tabbowa” Tank

Although, Sri Lanka does not have large natural lakes, the early settlers devoted their energy to build water bodies (tanks or reservoirs) in association with forest catchments to provide water for irrigation. The tank bed is a grassland area of the tank, which lies between the catchment forest and the present water level. In general, the tankbed has three major zones - lower, middle and upper - and in some seasons the middle and upper parts may be underwater. This tankbed area is dominated by grassland vegetation and is a valuable feeding ground for free-grazing livestock. The main objective of this study was to identify the common forage species and to investigate the nutrient composition of species most relevant to ruminant livestock in one of the larger tankbed grasslands in the country

Dry Matter Production and Nutritive Quality of Wild Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum) Grown Along Roadsides in Sri Lanka

Wild Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 1820s for forage purposes and has now naturalised in most ecological zones, ecosystems and habitats including roadsides with the exception of hilly and semi-arid parts of the country. The enormous distribution of the grass throughout the country has contributed much to supplying livestock feeds, soil erosion control, and improvement of soil fertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth, dry matter (DM) production and nutritive quality of wild Guinea grass along roadsides in different ecological zones

Effect of Different Additives on Fermentation Characteristics of Fodder Sorghum [\u3cem\u3eSorghum bicolor \u3c/em\u3e(L) Moench] Compared to CO-3 (\u3cem\u3ePennisetum perpureum \u3c/em\u3e x \u3cem\u3e Pennisetum americarnum\u3c/em\u3e)

Milk production plays a vital role to overcome the nutritional poverty in all aged groups of people. But there are many kinds of constraints to sustainable milk production in Sri Lanka. The biggest problem is high cost of feeding of dairy animals due to high price of compounded feeds, lack of knowledge on methods of low-cost feed supplementation and seasonal fluctuations in ruminant feed resources. Less availability of good quality green forages has led to low productivity from national dairy herd of Sri Lanka during the dry season (Premaratne and Premalal, 2006). Silage production is one of the most popular as well as cheap and effective method of forage conservation to increase the feed availability for dairy cattle during the dry season. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) and CO-3 (Pennisetum perpureum x Pennisetum americarnum) are some of the crop varieties which can be effectively used for silage making. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to find out the effect of different additives on fermentation characteristics of fodder sorghum and CO-3