A Journey of Empowering a Community for Self Reliance: Endogenous Tourism Project in Sualkuchi, Assam, India

The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) is partnering the Union Ministry of Tourism (MoT), India, and UNDP India in implementing an endogenous tourism project (ETP) at Sualkuchi. Situated in Assam province, Sualkuchi is the largest village in the Brahmaputra basin and is famous for silk weaving. The project experimented with tourism as an engine of rural development under Indian conditions. Tourist sites entirely managed by local communities were used for the first time under the ETP. Project activities involved rural infrastructure development and capacity enhancement of local communities through institution building, exposure, training and networking for rural tourism management. The project at Sualkuchi faced initial obstacles as the concept was new in this part of the globe. Initially a cross section of the community was reluctant because of their unawareness, lack of skill, poor infrastructure, conservative social system and lack of faith in the socio-political system. Vested interest groups, including local influential persons and decision makers, were opposed to the idea of handing over the project management to the inexperienced community committee. The project, apart from developing tourism, also tried to make it a learning experience for sustainable development. Empowerment of women, promotion of self help groups (SHGs), health camps, sanitation drives, and vocational trainings were the peripheral activities of the project. Out of the total of thirty six ETP sites, fifteen sites are now open for visitors, and approximately 14,000 individuals are involved in these sites. The total income of these sites in 2008 was slightly over INR 48.7 million. In the Sualkuchi site, the income level of at least 80 families has increased by 40%. Today, the local cultural groups are performing at national platforms, the cuisine of Sualkuchi is recognized as one of the best among all the ETP sites in the country, and the villagers are now confident enough to receive tourists from all over the globe.En partenariat avec le ministère du Tourisme de l’Union indienne et le PNUD Inde, le Centre for Environment Education (CEE) a mis en œuvre un projet de tourisme endogène à Sualkuchi. Situé dans la province d’Assam, Sualkuchi est le plus grand village du bassin du Brahmapoutre. Il est renommé pour le tissage de la soie. Ce projet a expérimenté le tourisme comme moteur du développement rural dans des conditions indiennes. Dans le cadre de ce projet, des sites touristiques ont été pour la première fois entièrement gérés par des communautés locales. Les activités du projet comprenaient le développement d’infrastructures rurales et l’amélioration des capacités des communautés locales par la création d’institutions, et par la diffusion, la formation et la mise en réseau pour la gestion du tourisme rural. Au départ, le projet s’est heurté à plusieurs obstacles car le concept, dans cette partie du globe, était nouveau. Une partie de la population s’est montrée réticente du fait de sa méconnaissance, de son manque de compétences et d’infrastructures, d’un système social conventionnel et d’un manque de confiance dans le système sociopolitique. En outre, des groupes d’intérêt comprenant des personnalités locales influentes et des décisionnaires se sont opposés à l’idée de confier la gestion du projet à un comité local inexpérimenté. Outre le fait de développer le tourisme, le projet visait également à créer une expérience de développement durable enrichissante. L’autonomisation des femmes, la promotion des groupes d’entraide, des camps de santé, des mesures d’assainissement et de la formation professionnelle figuraient parmi les activités périphériques du projet. Sur trente-six sites de projets de tourisme endogène, quinze sites sont à présent ouverts aux visiteurs, et environ 14 000 personnes sont impliquées dans ces sites. En 2008, le revenu total de ces sites s’élevait à un peu plus de 48,7 millions de roupies indiennes. Sur le site de Sualkuchi, le niveau de revenu d’au moins 80 familles a augmenté de 40 %. Aujourd’hui, des groupes culturels locaux se produisent dans tout le pays, la cuisine de Sualkuchi est reconnue comme l’une des meilleures parmi tous les sites de projets de tourisme endogène du pays et les villageois sont à présent suffisamment confiants pour recevoir des touristes du monde entier.El Centro para la Educación Ambiental (CEA) está colaborando con el Ministerio de Turismo (MT) de la India, y el PDNU para la India para poner en marcha un proyecto de turismo endógeno (PTE) en Sualkuchi. Situada en la provincia de Assam, Sualkuchi es la aldea más grande de la cuenca de Brahmaputra y es famosa por sus tejidos de seda. El proyecto experimentó con el turismo como motor del desarrollo rural bajo condiciones propias de la India. Por primera vez, bajo el PTE, se utilizaron centros de turismo gestionados únicamente por comunidades locales. Las actividades del proyecto implicaron el desarrollo de infraestructuras rurales y la ampliación de la capacidad de las comunidades locales mediante la formación, exposición, fortalecimiento institucional y el establecimiento de redes de contactos para la gestión del turismo rural. El proyecto en Sualkuchi se enfrentó a obstáculos iniciales ya que el concepto era nuevo en esta parte del globo. Inicialmente, parte de la comunidad fue reacia debido a su desconocimiento, falta de capacidad, malas infraestructuras, sistema social conservador y falta de confianza en el sistema sociopolítico. Los grupos con intereses creados, incluyendo a personas influyentes locales y responsables de la toma de decisiones, se opusieron a la idea de transferir la gestión del proyecto al comité de la comunidad sin experiencia. El proyecto, además de desarrollar el turismo, también trató de convertirlo en una experiencia de aprendizaje para el desarrollo sostenible. La participación de la mujer en la sociedad, la promoción de grupos de autoayuda (GAA), campamentos de salud, campañas de salubridad, y formaciones vocacionales fueron las actividades periféricas del proyecto. Del total de treinta seis centros del PTE, ahora hay abiertos quince para visitantes, y aproximadamente 14.000 personas participan en estos centros. Los ingresos totales de estos centros en 2008 estuvieron ligeramente por encima de los 48,7 millones de rupias indias. En el centro de Sualkuchi, el nivel de ingresos de por lo menos 80 familias ha aumentado en un 40%. Hoy, los grupos culturales locales están trabajando en plataformas nacionales, la cocina de Sualkuchi es reconocida como una de las mejores de los centros del PTE del país, y los aldeanos están ahora lo suficientemente seguros de sí mismos para recibir a turistas de todas partes del mundo

The epidemiological and neurological risk factors of Japanese encephalitis virus in the population of Assam, Northeast India

Japanese encephalitis is one of the world's most common public health issues, particularly it is prevalent in the north-eastern Indian states of Assam. This study aimed to find out the risk factors linked to clinical and epidemiological characteristics. A total of 245 cases were found as PCR-positive in Assam. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (87%), seizure (65%), altered sensorium (60%), cold with shivering (74%), vomiting (68%), throat irritation (31%), cough (67%), chest pain (10%), joint pain (18%), mouth ulcer (18%), diarrhea (29%), pain in the abdomen (42.9%), runny nose (64%), redness in eyes (78%), jaundice (25%), and blood in the sputum (25%).   Further, the neurological symptoms included vision problems (66.5%), hearing difficulties (55 %), neck stiffness (62%), limb numbness (65%), dizziness (77%), headaches (75.5%), speaking difficulties (63%), hydrophobia (47%), and abnormal behavior (66%). The epidemiological risk factors included contact with pigs (57%), bats (21%), cattle (32%), and rates (66%). In addition, 24.5% of patients observed the death of animals/birds. The protection measure included window screening, sleeping under a mosquito net, and use of insect repellent while sleeping in open compounds (29%) and floods (63%) are considered important risk factors. JE-positive cases include daily habits like working in agriculture fields (28%), in standing water (16%), swimming in nearby lakes (24%), traveling outside their village (40%), and wearing shirts while working in the field (20%), storing water in open containers in or outside the house (62%). These were the epidemiological factors that affected the abundance of the potential mosquito vectors of the JE infection

A Journey of Empowering a Community for Self Reliance: Endogenous Tourism Project in Sualkuchi, Assam, India

The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) is partnering the Union Ministry of Tourism (MoT), India, and UNDP India in implementing an endogenous tourism project (ETP) at Sualkuchi. Situated in Assam province, Sualkuchi is the largest village in the Brahmaputra basin and is famous for silk weaving. The project experimented with tourism as an engine of rural development under Indian conditions. Tourist sites entirely managed by local communities were used for the first time under the ETP. Project activities involved rural infrastructure development and capacity enhancement of local communities through institution building, exposure, training and networking for rural tourism management. The project at Sualkuchi faced initial obstacles as the concept was new in this part of the globe. Initially a cross section of the community was reluctant because of their unawareness, lack of skill, poor infrastructure, conservative social system and lack of faith in the socio-political system. Vested interest groups, including local influential persons and decision makers, were opposed to the idea of handing over the project management to the inexperienced community committee. The project, apart from developing tourism, also tried to make it a learning experience for sustainable development. Empowerment of women, promotion of self help groups (SHGs), health camps, sanitation drives, and vocational trainings were the peripheral activities of the project. Out of the total of thirty six ETP sites, fifteen sites are now open for visitors, and approximately 14,000 individuals are involved in these sites. The total income of these sites in 2008 was slightly over INR 48.7 million. In the Sualkuchi site, the income level of at least 80 families has increased by 40%. Today, the local cultural groups are performing at national platforms, the cuisine of Sualkuchi is recognized as one of the best among all the ETP sites in the country, and the villagers are now confident enough to receive tourists from all over the globe

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Not AvailableRapeseed (Brassica campestris L.) is one of the important oil seed crop cultivated in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. The production and productivity of rapeseed in the district is low and constant attempts are being made to improve the production and productivity, area increase, adopting high yielding varieties and improved cultivation practices. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tirap conducted Cluster Front Line Demonstration (CFLD) at the farmers’ field in 24 villages of the district during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. The critical inputs and constraints in existing production technology were identified. Lack of high yielding variety, inadequate input availability, pest and disease incidence and lack of technical knowhow were the predominant identified causes of low productivity of rapeseed in Tirap district. The results of three years demonstrations of variety TS-46 revealed yield increased by 30.97 per cent (2017-18), 28.61 per cent (2018-19) and 26.78 per cent (2019-20) respectively. The additional return in demonstrated plots under TS-46 ranged between Rs. 5732 to Rs. 7285 per hectare during different years. The technology index ranging from 3.6 to 12.9 per cent was found between CFLD demonstration plots and farmers’ practices during the different time line. It can be concluded that rapeseed production can be enhanced by encouraging farmers through adoption of high yielding variety TS-46, improved technologies and ensuring need based inputs in due time.Not Availabl

Renal Cell Carcinoma Grossly Presenting as Cystic Lesions: A Series of Four Cases

Kidney cancer currently ranks as the seventh most common cancer in men and the tenth most common in women. Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (CCRCC) represents the most common malignancy of the kidney, accounting for 80% of renal carcinomas. Most CCRCC develops in patients aged over 60 years, and the incidence is slightly higher in men than in women. Partial or total nephrectomy cures the majority of patients with CCRCC. In the present discussion, the authors present cases of 4 males with RCC radiographically identified as Space Occupying Lesions (SOL) to warn clinicians that these seemingly solid lesions have a cystic component as well and may harbour underlying malignancy. Grossly, upon cutting the kidney, all four cases showed solid and cystic components, two of which were multiloculated. Histopathological Examination (HPE) revealed three cases of CCRCC and one case of cystic CCRCC. It is difficult to determine preoperatively whether a cyst is malignant based solely on imaging examinations. Regarding disease prognosis, RCC with predominantly cystic components is considered less aggressive than solid RCC. Cystic RCC (CRCC) carries an excellent prognosis following surgical treatment. Partial nephrectomy should be regarded as the preferred surgical technique in the management of CRCC. In conclusion, authors would like to highlight the fact that histopathologists need to be familiar with the different types of RCC presenting with a cystic component, as these have prognostic significance. Clinicians also need to be aware that there are certain caveats in the radiological diagnosis of cystic renal neoplasms, and histopathology may often present a different picture from the radiological diagnosis