GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT: DIMENSIONS AND STRATEGIES – INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Achieving Gender parity has become a great concern for the world today. It is considered as a part of development strategy in many countries. When all people- both men and women have equal access to services and resources, enjoy equal rights, and get equal opportunity to develop capabilities without any bias or preferences , then the development of the country would be faster. It strengthens countries' abilities to grow, to reduce poverty, and to govern effectively. Despite considerable efforts in advocacy, creation of awareness, different strategies and programmes, Gender discrimination remains pervasive in many dimensions of life-worldwide. Though the nature and magnitude of the discrimination vary from country to country, in no part of the world gender parity is completely achieved in legal, social and economic fronts. Gender gaps are widespread in access to and control of resources, in economic opportunities, in power, and political voice. Women are still exploited, discriminated, and subject to harassment and violence. Again in the current years the focus has been changed from women empowerment to gender development. The former is a mean but not all for gender parity. In this perspective an edited volume covering the various dimensions and strategies of gender development is highly imperative. Rural women are mainly employed in agriculture-its allied activities and agro-based enterprises. There exists a glaring gender bias in terms of ownership , nature of works assigned, wages payment ,freedom in choice of work. Though the women contribute a significant proportion of agricultural production, they are discriminated, ill-paid and their role is largely neglected. There is a need for an appropriate legal-institutional frame work, change of societal attitude, and supported mechanization of agriculture on the need of lessening drudgery activities and work-stress for women, in reducing gender disparity in agriculture sector and sustainable development. Similarly the women, nearly half of the total population, are lagging behind in access to the existing health care and educational opportunities in the country. A proper level of awareness and conducive environment need to be developed for this. Promotion of health, education and an appropriate level of awareness will largely contribute to women development and facilitate them to enjoy their right. More over provision of employment and economic empowerment of women can be considered as one of the important dimensions of gender development. Formation of Self Help Group among poor women those are unable to access market individually, on their own capacity and provision of micro credit financing to them are great support and help them to start income generating micro enterprises and get rid of poverty. This not only helps to empower women but also provides them economic and social justice. This is an initiative to address these issues and draw the attention of the policy makers and planners.Women in Development, Gender and Development

Biochemical evaluation of dent corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes cultivated under rainfed conditions in the hills of north western Indian Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir

The aim of present study was to investigate protein, oil and fatty acid composition in 11 maize (Zea mays) genotypes collected from diverse locations in the hills of north western Indian Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir in order to get an idea about the extent of variability in these biochemical traits in the local germplasm. The study revealed significant variation in these quality traits. The protein content among the genotypes ranged from 10.7% to 18.7% while oil content varied between 2.26% and 4.80%. Higher protein content in some of the genotypes especially IC-0617877 (18.7%) and IC-0617880 (17.6%) is noteworthy. The saturated fatty acids of palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), arachidic (C20:0) and unsaturated fatty acids of oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:1) and elaidic (C18:1) were detected and quantified in these genotypes. Considerable variation has been recorded in fatty acid composition; 13.8-33.4% for palmitic acid, 21.5-48.1% for linoleic acid, 19.2-39% for oleic acid, 0.2-2.4% for elaidic acid, 2.5- 8.5% for stearic acid and 0.1-6.6% for arachidic acid. Higher oleic acid content recorded in all the genotypes excepting IC-0617881 is a useful trait. Strikingly, highest oil (4.80%), palmitic acid (33.4%), stearic acid (8.5%) and arachidic acid (6.6%) contents have been recorded in this remarkably cold tolerant genotype with reddish yellow seeds containing moderate protein content of 13.8 %. The appreciable variation in these quality traits could be exploited in breeding programmes for improvement of this crop and opening up new opportunities for its food and industrial end uses

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT: DIMENSIONS AND STRATEGIES – INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Achieving Gender parity has become a great concern for the world today. It is considered as a part of development strategy in many countries. When all people- both men and women have equal access to services and resources, enjoy equal rights, and get equal opportunity to develop capabilities without any bias or preferences , then the development of the country would be faster. It strengthens countries' abilities to grow, to reduce poverty, and to govern effectively. Despite considerable efforts in advocacy, creation of awareness, different strategies and programmes, Gender discrimination remains pervasive in many dimensions of life-worldwide. Though the nature and magnitude of the discrimination vary from country to country, in no part of the world gender parity is completely achieved in legal, social and economic fronts. Gender gaps are widespread in access to and control of resources, in economic opportunities, in power, and political voice. Women are still exploited, discriminated, and subject to harassment and violence. Again in the current years the focus has been changed from women empowerment to gender development. The former is a mean but not all for gender parity. In this perspective an edited volume covering the various dimensions and strategies of gender development is highly imperative. Rural women are mainly employed in agriculture-its allied activities and agro-based enterprises. There exists a glaring gender bias in terms of ownership , nature of works assigned, wages payment ,freedom in choice of work. Though the women contribute a significant proportion of agricultural production, they are discriminated, ill-paid and their role is largely neglected. There is a need for an appropriate legal-institutional frame work, change of societal attitude, and supported mechanization of agriculture on the need of lessening drudgery activities and work-stress for women, in reducing gender disparity in agriculture sector and sustainable development. Similarly the women, nearly half of the total population, are lagging behind in access to the existing health care and educational opportunities in the country. A proper level of awareness and conducive environment need to be developed for this. Promotion of health, education and an appropriate level of awareness will largely contribute to women development and facilitate them to enjoy their right. More over provision of employment and economic empowerment of women can be considered as one of the important dimensions of gender development. Formation of Self Help Group among poor women those are unable to access market individually, on their own capacity and provision of micro credit financing to them are great support and help them to start income generating micro enterprises and get rid of poverty. This not only helps to empower women but also provides them economic and social justice. This is an initiative to address these issues and draw the attention of the policy makers and planners

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT: DIMENSIONS AND STRATEGIES – INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Achieving Gender parity has become a great concern for the world today. It is considered as a part of development strategy in many countries. When all people- both men and women have equal access to services and resources, enjoy equal rights, and get equal opportunity to develop capabilities without any bias or preferences , then the development of the country would be faster. It strengthens countries' abilities to grow, to reduce poverty, and to govern effectively. Despite considerable efforts in advocacy, creation of awareness, different strategies and programmes, Gender discrimination remains pervasive in many dimensions of life-worldwide. Though the nature and magnitude of the discrimination vary from country to country, in no part of the world gender parity is completely achieved in legal, social and economic fronts. Gender gaps are widespread in access to and control of resources, in economic opportunities, in power, and political voice. Women are still exploited, discriminated, and subject to harassment and violence. Again in the current years the focus has been changed from women empowerment to gender development. The former is a mean but not all for gender parity. In this perspective an edited volume covering the various dimensions and strategies of gender development is highly imperative. Rural women are mainly employed in agriculture-its allied activities and agro-based enterprises. There exists a glaring gender bias in terms of ownership , nature of works assigned, wages payment ,freedom in choice of work. Though the women contribute a significant proportion of agricultural production, they are discriminated, ill-paid and their role is largely neglected. There is a need for an appropriate legal-institutional frame work, change of societal attitude, and supported mechanization of agriculture on the need of lessening drudgery activities and work-stress for women, in reducing gender disparity in agriculture sector and sustainable development. Similarly the women, nearly half of the total population, are lagging behind in access to the existing health care and educational opportunities in the country. A proper level of awareness and conducive environment need to be developed for this. Promotion of health, education and an appropriate level of awareness will largely contribute to women development and facilitate them to enjoy their right. More over provision of employment and economic empowerment of women can be considered as one of the important dimensions of gender development. Formation of Self Help Group among poor women those are unable to access market individually, on their own capacity and provision of micro credit financing to them are great support and help them to start income generating micro enterprises and get rid of poverty. This not only helps to empower women but also provides them economic and social justice. This is an initiative to address these issues and draw the attention of the policy makers and planners

An Innovative Approach for the Detection of High Boiler Adulterants in Sandalwood and Cedarwood Essential Oils

866-874Owing to the important uses of essential oils, its adulteration is a serious issue of concern. Among the adulterants, the high volatiles can be detected through GC and GC/MS. However, the detection of subtle high boiler adulterants is extremely difficult, and requires development of novel techniques to overcome the challenges faced by the essential oil industry. In current study, the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was validated as an innovative approach for quantitative estimation of adulteration in essential oils taking sandalwood and cedarwood oils as case study. The low−cost vegetable oils like castor oil, coconut oil, and synthetic polymer like polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400) were used as high boiler adulterants. The physical parameters like specific gravity and refractive index of pure and adulterated oil samples were analyzed followed by their TGA analysis. The physical parameters of adulterated samples did not show significant variation from that of pure essential oils, thus need alternate analytical techniques to overcome this issue. The TGA of pure essential oil was volatized in single−stage around 200–260℃, whereas the high boiler adulterants such as vegetable oils and synthetic PEG-400 majorly volatized in the range 300–500℃ and 260–400℃, respectively. The adulterated samples exhibited mostly two-stage weight loss pattern, which was quantitatively estimated with high accuracy by this technique. Therefore, the TGA analysis can be used as a novel technique for rapid and precise detection of high boiler adulterants in essential oils like sandalwood and cedarwood due to difference in their volatile behaviour

An Innovative Approach for the Detection of High Boiler Adulterants in Sandalwood and Cedarwood Essential Oils

Owing to the important uses of essential oils, its adulteration is a serious issue of concern. Among the adulterants, the high volatiles can be detected through GC and GC/MS. However, the detection of subtle high boiler adulterants is extremely difficult, and requires development of novel techniques to overcome the challenges faced by the essential oil industry. In current study, the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was validated as an innovative approach for quantitative estimation of adulteration in essential oils taking sandalwood and cedarwood oils as case study. The low−cost vegetable oils like castor oil, coconut oil, and synthetic polymer like polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400) were used as high boiler adulterants. The physical parameters like specific gravity and refractive index of pure and adulterated oil samples were analyzed followed by their TGA analysis. The physical parameters of adulterated samples did not show significant variation from that of pure essential oils, thus need alternate analytical techniques to overcome this issue. The TGA of pure essential oil was volatized in single−stage around 200–260℃, whereas the high boiler adulterants such as vegetable oils and synthetic PEG-400 majorly volatized in the range 300–500℃ and 260–400℃, respectively. The adulterated samples exhibited mostly two-stage weight loss pattern, which was quantitatively estimated with high accuracy by this technique. Therefore, the TGA analysis can be used as a novel technique for rapid and precise detection of high boiler adulterants in essential oils like sandalwood and cedarwood due to difference in their volatile behaviour

Study of space charge phenomena in GEM-based detectors

Space charge accumulation within GEM holes is one of the vital phenomena which affects many of the key working parameters of the detector. This accumulation is found to be significantly affected by the initial primary charge configurations and applied GEM voltages since they determine charge sharing and the subsequent evolution of detector response. In this work, we have studied the effects of space charge phenomena on different parameters for single GEM detectors using a hybrid numerical model

Experimental and numerical simulation of a TPC like set up for the measurement of ion backflow

Ion backflow is one of the effects limiting the operation of a gaseous detector at high flux, by giving rise to space charge which perturbs the electric field. The natural ability of bulk Micromegas to suppress ion feedback is very effective and can help the TPC drift volume to remain relatively free of space charge build-up. An efficient and precise measurement of the backflow fraction is necessary to cope up with the track distortion due to the space charge effect. In a subtle but significant modification of the usual approach, we have made use of two drift meshes in order to measure the ion backflow fraction for bulk Micromegas detector. This helps to truly represent the backflow fraction for a TPC. Moreover, attempt is taken to optimize the field configuration between the drift meshes. In conjunction with the experimental measurement, Garfield simulation framework has been used to simulate the related physics processes numerically