Lis Education in South India in the 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges

We are living in the Information age. Information is the basic requirement for every human activity and it is important as food, air and water. Information is itself has no value, but its value lies in its communication and use. Librarianship is a people profession; a librarian's job is to connect people with the information they are seeking, whatever format that may take. In the digital age, when information is increasingly becoming available online, there is a propensity to say that libraries and librarians are redundant. This is not the case. The article assesses the status of formal library and information science (LIS) education provided in South India to meet the demand for library services in 21st century. Taking an example of four top universities LIS programs in South India (University of Madras, University of Mysore, Kerala university and Andhra University), this article makes some practical suggestions for LIS instructors to promote changes in LIS syllabus and curriculum. It is obvious from the analysis that the curricula of Andhra university (M.L.I.Sc.) is outstanding with optimum balance on the new roles of LIS professional in the merging service-oriented and user centered library environment while compared with University of Madras. The article recommends to establish a national accreditation body for LIS education to monitor the quality and standard in LIS courses; to develop e-learning packages to facilitate self learning; to outsource the teaching faculties from IT and ICT industries; to include more of the technology oriented practical components as well as scope to develop soft skill and professional ethics in the syllabus; uniformity in LIS curriculum throughout the country.

Domestic Coercive Control and Common Mental Disorders Among Women in Informal Settlements in Mumbai, India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Coercive control behaviors central to the abuse of power appear more frequent than other types of domestic violence, but little is known about its frequency, features, and consequences for women in India. We aimed to examine the prevalence of domestic coercive control and its association with physical, sexual, and emotional domestic violence in the preceding year and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking. In a cross-sectional survey, we interviewed 4,906 ever-married women aged 18-49 years living in urban informal settlements in Mumbai, India. We developed a 24-item scale of coercive control, assessed physical, sexual, and emotional violence using existing questions, and screened for symptoms of depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9), anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD7) questionnaire, and suicidal thinking with questions developed by the World Health Organization. Estimates involved univariable and multivariable logistic regression models and the prediction of marginal effects. The prevalence of domestic coercive control was 71%. In total, 23% of women reported domestic violence in the past 12 months (emotional 19%, physical 13%, sexual 4%). Adjusted models suggested that women exposed to controlling behavior had greater odds of surviving emotional (aOR 2.1; 95% CI 1.7, 2.7), physical (1.4; 1.0, 1.9), and sexual (1.8; 1.1, 3.0) domestic violence in the past 12 months; and higher odds of a positive screen for moderate or severe depression (1.7; 1.3, 2.2), anxiety (2.1; 1.3, 3.1), and suicidal thinking (1.7; 1.2, 2.3), and increased with each additional indicator of coercive control behavior. When women reported 24 indicators of coercive control, the adjusted predicted proportion with moderate or severe depressive symptoms was 60%, anxiety 42%, and suicidal thinking 17%. Inclusion of coercive control in programs to support domestic violence, would broaden our understanding of domestic abuse to resemble most victims experience and improve interventions

Economic abuse and its associations with symptoms of common mental disorders among women in a cross-sectional survey in informal settlements in Mumbai, India

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence takes a range of interconnected forms, of which economic abuse is common, but less studied than others. We examine the prevalence of economic abuse, its determinants, and its association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. METHODS: Our cross-sectional survey in informal settlement areas in Mumbai, India, asked women aged 18-49 years 15 questions about acquisition, use, and maintenance of economic resources, demographic and socioeconomic factors, and physical, sexual, and emotional violence. We administered the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scales and asked about suicidal thinking. Determinants of economic abuse and its associations with positive screens for depression and anxiety were explored in univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of 4906 ever-married women respondents, 23% reported at least one form of economic abuse by either an intimate partner or another family member. The commonest were denial of property rights (10%), not being trusted with money (8%), and coercive appropriation of belongings (7%). Economic abuse was more commonly reported by widowed, separated, or divorced women than by married women (aOR 12.4; 95% CI 6.4, 24.1), and when their partners used alcohol or drugs (aOR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.7). Women had greater odds of reporting economic abuse if they had suffered emotional (aOR 6.3; 95% CI 5.0-7.9), physical (aOR 1.9; 95% CI 1.4-2.6), or sexual violence (aOR 5.4; 95% CI 3.6-8.1) in the preceding 12 months. Economic abuse was independently associated with positive screens for moderate-severe depression (aOR 2.6; 95% CI 2.0-3.4), anxiety (aOR 2.7; 95% CI 1.9-3.8), and suicidal ideation (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.5-3.1). The odds of anxiety and depression increased with each additional form of economic abuse. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first community-based study in India of the prevalence of economic abuse and its associations with symptoms of common mental disorders. It provides empirical support for the idea that economic abuse is at least as harmful to women's mental health as physical violence. Surveys should include questions on economic abuse and prevention and intervention strategies need to help survivors to understand its forms

Distribution and abundance of carangids along the EEZ India

Distribution and abundance of carangid groups of fish along the EEZ of India based on the data collected during 80 cruises undertaken by FORV Sagar Sampada is presented here. East coast of India showed maximum concentration of ctrangids with a catch rate of 64 kg/hr along the northeast coast. The least distribution was noticed along the northwest coast ( 5 kg/hr). Carangids formed up to a maximum of 19 % of the total bottom trawl catch along the northwest coast. With more than 20 species of carangids reported to be caught in various cruises, Decapterus spp formed the most dominant group, followed by species like Atule mate, Selar crumenophthalmus, Carangoides malabaricus etc. Depthwise distribution showed higher density in the 60-80 m range all along the coast excepting the Andaman-Nicobar archipelago. Areawise, higher densities of carangids were noticed at latitude-longitude 7°N - 77°E, 1TN - 75°E, 1TN - 79°E, 14°N - 80°E , 18°N - 72°E, 19°N -85°E and 19°N -86°E. Seasonally, carangids were represented in the catch more during the monsoon especially along the northeast and southwest coasts. Potential yield of carangids along the EEZ of India is estimated to be 94971 tonne

Distribution of finfish resources along southeast coast of India in relation to certain environmental parameters

This paper embodies the distribution pattern of major finfish resources along the southeast coast of India as observed during the cruises operated by FORV Sagar Sampada. A total of 16 cruises (1985-90) operated along latitude 7° 15'- 15°00' N and longitude 75°50'- 82°3r E hauled a total catch 37.5 tonnes with a catch rate of 537 kg/hr. The catch was constituted mainly by threadfin breams (43%), perches (14%), barracudas (9.72%), carangids (8.56%) and elasmobranchs (4.81%). Seasonally higher catch rates were obtained during July- September period. Depth range of 60 - 80 m had denser population of finfish resources. Water temperature and salinity appeared to influence the distribution of major finfishes more than dissolved oxygen. Groups such as threadfin breams were found preferring cooler waters of Wadge Bank area, while barracudas appear to occupy warmer waters of Gulf of Mannar

Marine Fish Calendar. 4 Cochin

The article provides details about the marine fish landing at Cochin fisheries harbour, Kerala during the period 1981-1985. It was found that the majority of the landing was contributed by purse seine followed by trawlers, drift gill nets, boat seines, hooks and lines etc

Lizardfish fishery of Kerala with some aspects of the stock characteristics of the greater lizardfish Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795)

The fishery of lizardfishes and population dynamics of the dominant species Saurida tumbil landed in Kerala by mechanised trawlers were studied for the period 2007-2011. Annual landings of lizardfishes in Kerala during the period ranged between 6,715 to 10,600 t with an average annual landing of 8,992 t, which formed 5.2% of the total landings of the state. The seasonal peak in catch was recorded during August – October. Three species contributed to the lizardfish fishery of Kerala, of which, S. tumbil formed 59%. The overall sex ratio of S. tumbil was 1:1.2 with mature females encountered in most months with a peak during September – November. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters (VBGF) estimated using ELEFAN were L∞ = 517.0 mm, K = 0.40 year-1 and t0 = -0.1879. The length attained at the end of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years were 195.5, 301.5, 372.6, 420.2 and 452.1 mm, respectively. Recruitment was round the year with peaks during May-June and October-November accounting for 55% of the total recruitment. The average instantaneous rate of total, natural and fishing mortalities were 1.34, 0.44 and 0.90 respectively. The length at first capture was 285 mm at which the age works out to be 1.6 years. The optimum length for exploitation (Lopt) was 378 mm at the age (topt) of 3.1 years. Mean size in the catch was lower than optimum size for exploitation; which necessitates caution to increase the minimum mesh size from the present level. The resource is being exploited at a level (E = 0.67) almost equal to the maximum exploitation (Emax = 0.69), indicating overexploitation of the resource. As the annual average yield is 33% higher than the MSY estimated, there is a need for reducing the fishing effort to sustain the fishery

How do Muslim service users, caregivers, and community members in Malappuram, Kerala, use their faith to address the challenges associated with mental ill health?

Our aim was to explore the role religion and spiritual beliefs play in dealing with the challenges associated with mental ill health among the Muslim community in Malappuram, Kerala. Twenty-four interviews were conducted with patients of Islamic faith diagnosed with a mental health condition (n = 10) in urban (Ponnani) and rural (Vailathur) area of Malappuram, a Muslim majority district in Kerala, their family carers (n = 8) and community members (n = 6). Four key themes were derived, namely (1) Attribution to supernatural factors, (2) Relying on “God’s will”, (3) Prayer, and (4) Traditional healing. Faith was seen to be a prerequisite for any treatment, including modern medicine, to work. Even within a single faith group there can be considerable variation in belief and practice, with more pious participants disapproving of the reliance on local traditional healers and belief systems, highlighting the value of paying attention to the detail of local beliefs and practices

Demersal finfish resources in certain areas of the EEZ of southwest and southeast coast of India

Bottom trawling data from the cruises of the FORV Sagar Sampada undertaken during 1989-91 in the middle and outer shelf waters of the southern EEZ, at 97 stations within a depth zone of 30 to 130 m, showed catch rates of 3 to 14000 kg/hr. The highest rate of 14 t/hr was recorded at lat. 1 l°N/75° 23.4' E, followed by 5.5t/hr at 8°54'N N/76° 19.6' E off the southwest coast, whereas the abundance was comparatively less off the southeast coast. The average catch rate per hour off the southwest was 724 kg and off the southeast it was 405 kg. The important demersal finfishes available were: threadfin breams (72%), major perches (5%), rays, carangids and goatfish (4% each) off the southwest; and carangids (29%), major perches (23%), rays (19%), threadfin breams (10%) and goatfish (5%) off the southeast. The depth belt of 41-80 m off both the coasts was found to be more productive than deeper regions. The results indicate that the potential yield from the depth zone of 50-100 m off the southwest coast is 2.6 x 10 tonne, which is much higher than the previous estimates of up to 1.5 x 10 tonne. The single largest group (80%) in this zone is threadfin breams, followed by bull's eye, lizard fishes and flatheads