Reinventing global studies through transformative scholarship : a critical proposition

the chapter presents an argument for a new transformative approach in global studies, to respond to present global crisesPeer reviewe

Covid pandemic implications on the Indian marine fisheries sector: A stakeholder analysis

COVID-19 outbreak has been deemed a global health emergency and has unraveled extreme shock for the Indian economy. The pandemic has severely disrupted the demand and supply chain of the Indian marine fisheries sector. The short, medium and long-term effects of the pandemic on the marine fisheries sector in India are not very well documented. Given the resource constraints and challenges faced by the sector, it is pertinent to devise feasible strategies to overcome the adverse effects of the pandemic. In this backdrop, the present study examines the socio-economic implications of the Covid-19 pandemic across the marine fisheries value chain constituents including fish landings, effort, employment, and export. Moreover, the study also examines the effect of the pandemic resulted fishing holidays on the marine fisheries resource distribution and landings. The study covered the coastal states of the country and employed relevant estimation techniques. A general impact of the pandemic was assessed employing the word cloud technique by scrutinizing the media reports and articles for the period March 2020 to March 2021. The study relied on marine fisheries landings data for the period 2015 to 2021 (Source: Fisheries Resource Assessment Division) and the socioeconomic data including the prices realised across species and different points of sales (Source: Socio-Economic Evaluation and Technology Transfer Division) of ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The word cloud analysis indicated the areas within the marine fisheries sector which are mostly affected. The results indicated a significant reduction in the volume of landings, effort and fisher labour days. However, the export revenue realisation remained unabated. The study also realised some positive externalities such as resource replenishment and increased species diversity. The study has significant policy implications as it provides insights toward developing adaptation/mitigation plans for coping up with the impacts of the pandemic and identifying appropriate guidelines to meaningfully engage the stakeholders

Restricted feedback control of one-dimensional maps

Dynamical control of biological systems is often restricted by the practical constraint of unidirectional parameter perturbations. We show that such a restriction introduces surprising complexity to the stability of one-dimensional map systems and can actually improve controllability. We present experimental cardiac control results that support these analyses. Finally, we develop new control algorithms that exploit the structure of the restricted-control stability zones to automatically adapt the control feedback parameter and thereby achieve improved robustness to noise and drifting system parameters.Comment: 29 pages, 9 embedded figure

From Extractivism to Global Extractivism : The Evolution of an Organizing Concept

All the named authors were members of the Helsinki Research Working Group on Global Extractivisms and Alternatives, who jointly constructed this article. Equal authorship by all authors is recognised.Research on extractivism has rapidly proliferated, expanding into new empirical and conceptual spaces. We examine the origins, evolution, and conceptual expansion of the concept. Extractivism is useful to analyze resource extraction practices around the world. ‘Global Extractivism’ is a new conceptual tool for assessing global phenomena. We situate extractivism within an ensemble of concepts, and explore its relation to development, the state, and value. Extractivism as an organizing concept addresses many fields of research. Extractivism forms a complex of self-reinforcing practices, mentalities, and power differentials underwriting and rationalizing socio-ecologically destructive modes of organizing life-through subjugation, depletion, and non-reciprocity.Peer reviewe

Marine Ecosystem Challenges & Opportunities (MECOS 3)

The Marine Biological Association of India (MBAI), established in 1958, is proud to gear up for MECOS3, the third symposium on Marine Ecosystems- Challenges and Opportunities during 7-10 January, 2020. The MBAI besides organising MECOS1 (2009) and MECOS2 (2014) has inculcated active interest and participation among its members by handling several national and international symposia/seminars, since its formation. The MBAI has 794 life members and 20 institutional members. The mandate of the MBAI is promotion of scientific research in the field of marine biology and allied sciences

Mainstreaming Gender in the Context of Seaweed Farming SHGs in Ramanathapuram: A Pragmatic Evaluation

A pragmatic examination on the impact of women SHGs in gender mainstreaming was embarked on the 10 seaweed farming SHG units operating at Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu state. An explorative assessment on extent of empowerment, performance level, gender characteristics and economic feasibility analysis was carried out based on socio-economic surveys and personal interviews using pre-tested and structured data gathering protocols with standardized scales and indices. Empowerment Index was quantified based on 8 relevant dimensions constituting it. The male and female counterparts of the families were separately interviewed to evaluate the gender mainstreaming aspects in terms of equity and equality to access to resources, participation profile, decision making aspects, gender need analysis etc. Though majority of activities are male dominated, the female counterparts of the households also have committed role in site selection, seeding, drying, packing etc. The Scales of ‘Performance Assessment’ and ‘Empowerment Index’ developed for this study have upright prospective for future use in other key areas on a sustainable basis. Voids identified in Empowerment Index computation give adequate feedback to authorities to proceed in the accurate direction and to follow apposite changes in strategies of the microenterprise. The gender dimension analysis on mainstreaming aspect gives sensitization on crucial issues like women fisherfolk’s rights and marketing channels for policies and other interventions on gender. The identified interrelationships between the variables an act as catalytic points for group action and empowerment on a maintainable basis. The indicative economics worked out for the economic feasibility analysis of the SHGs advocates that, the unit takes just one year to break even which shows the cost-effectiveness of the seaweed farming enterprise

Gender Mainstreaming and Impact of SHGs: A Pragmatic Expedition from the Fish Value Addition Sector of Kerala

A rational assessment of the impact of women SHGs in gender mainstreaming was conducted among the fish value addition production units operating at Puthuvypu and Arakkunnam of Ernakulam district in Kerala. Based on socioeconomic surveys and in-person interviews, analysis of empowerment levels, performance levels, gender characteristics, and economic viability were done using standardised data collection techniques. Empowerment Index was calculated using data based on 8 pertinent dimensions. To evaluate the gender mainstreaming features in terms of equity and equality to access to resources, participation profile, decision-making, etc., the male and female counterparts of the households were individually interviewed. Male equivalents play a compelling role in decision-making, the gathering of raw resources, the conveyance of the finished product, etc. even though women dominate most tasks. Lacunae identified in Empowerment Index computation give feedback to proceed in the right direction and to follow appropriate changes in the manoeuvre of the microenterprise. The indicative economics of the enterprise’s payback period of less than a year serve as evidence of its cost-effectiveness

Gender Mainstreaming in Women SHGs through Seafood Kitchens in Kerala: An Appraisal

An appraisal on the impact of SHGs in gender mainstreaming was undertaken on the seafood kitchen units operating at Pooyya of Thrissur District and Pookode of Wayanadu District in Kerala. Performance assessment of the SHGs, gender analysis, empowerment analysis and economic feasibility analysis were carried out based on socio-economic surveys and personal interviews using pre-tested and structured data collecting protocols with standardized scales and indices involving the members of the SHGs. The quantification of empowerment Index was done based on 8 relevant dimensions constituting it. The male and female counterparts of the families were separately interviewed to assess the gender mainstreaming aspects in terms of equity and equality to resource access, participation profile, decision making aspects, gender need analysis etc. The scales standardized for Empowerment Index’ and ‘Performance Assessment’ for this study have ample potential for future use in other key areas on a sustainable basis. The lacunae identified in computation of Empowerment Index give distinct feedback to authorities to proceed in the right direction. The gender dimension analysis on mainstreaming aspect gives sensitization on crucial issues like women fisher folk’s rights and marketing channels for policies and other interventions on gender. Inter relationships between the variables measured in the study can act as catalytic points for group empowerment on a sustainable basis. The indicative economics worked out for the economic feasibility analysis of the SHGs suggests that, the unit takes three years to break even. A success story was elucidated and documented as a video documentary which can be used as a practical manual and case model for promoting group action for mobilizing SHGs on a sustainable basis

Gender mainstreaming and impact of women SHGs in fish fertilizer production: A pragmatic study in Kerala

A pragmatic assessment on the impact of women SHGs in gender mainstreaming was embarked on the fish fertilizer production units operating at Engandiyoor of Thrissur district and Munambam of Ernakulam district in Kerala. The extent of empowerment, performance level, gender characteristics and economic feasibility analysis were assessed out based on socio-economic surveys and personal interviews using structured data gathering protocols

The paradigm of gender mainstreaming and impact of SHGs in Indian fisheries sector: an ephemeral depiction

A study was made on the impact of 1000 selected ‘Self Help Groups’ (SHGs) in gender mainstreaming in marine fisheries sector. Their level of performance and extent of empowerment were assessed through appropriate indices of measurement based on data from SHGs of 30 different fishery based micro enterprises from 5 maritime states of India such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The gender analysis and economic feasibility analysis based on personal interview and focus group interaction meetings with members of SHGs were undertaken. The male and female counterparts of the families of respondents were separately interviewed to assess the gender mainstreaming impact in terms of equity and equality to access and control over the resources, participation profile, decision making, gender need analysis etc. Analysis of data was essentially done with descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, percentages, etc. As practical extension part, organized 250 fisherfolk interaction meetings and imparted 100 Entrepreneurial Capacity Building (ECB) Training programmes for the SHGs on the identified micro enterprises by HRD intervention programmes. The major micro enterprises of the SHGs studied were cage culture, bivalve farming, fish aggregating devices, Chinese dip net, clam processing, fish fertilizer, fish amino acid, fish drying, seaweed culture, aqua tourism, seafood kitchen, value addition, fish vending, fish marketing, ornamental fish, ready to eat and cook items, fish feed, aquaponics etc. Economic Feasibility analysis was done for the fishery based micro enterprises accomplished by SHGs and developed Business Plans of the microenterprises representing the indicative economics projecting the break even and payback period of micro-enterprises. Documented 100 success cases on ECB of SHGs with special reference to gender perspective. Brought out 25 video documentaries as Gender Mainstreaming series on Impact of SHGs in Marine Fisheries Sector as success case studies elucidated which can be used as case model for promoting group action and as a practical manual for mobilizing SHGs in any key areas on a sustainable basis