Research Outcome: Possible contributions to i) Discipline ii) Society iii) Policy planning I) The present research will help comprehend the dynamics of maternal glucose metabolism during the course of gestation and thereby accessing time-specific degree of glycemia associated with the adverse maternal and child outcomes. II) The adverse effects of in-utero exposure of fetus to pregnancy dysglycemia has been established as transgenerational. Also, maternal health may get compromised for longer term. With the increase in global burden of diabetes, there is an urgent need for a holistic understanding of pregnancy glyco-regulation to identify optimum time and degree of glycemia for effective intervention, hence maximizing clinical and cost effectiveness. III) Current evidence lacks sufficiency in terms of data on ethnicity, middle/ low income countries, exposure at all trimesters and normoglycemic pregnancy. It lacks homogeneity in terms of diagnostic criteria used for intervention and exposure time-points of diagnostic tests. Endorsement of diagnostic criteria lacks considerable global consensus and the criteria for threshold determination seems arbitrary. The present study will endeavour to fill such gaps or add to the available knowledge.
Research Outcome: Possible contributions to i) Discipline ii) Society iii) Policy planning i) Using population-based design this study will contribute to anthropology in understanding the genetics of levels of liver enzymes and their underlying risk related to liver diseases like alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver cirrhosis/cancer. ii) As the genetic susceptibility risk cannot be changed, it is important to identify the risk at an early age; in this study, the epidemiological risk profile of individuals with poor liver enzymes concerning fatty liver disease, validation of selected Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their biological role, and the role of Gene-Environment interactions of associated polymorphisms in influencing levels of liver enzymes will be studied among the rural population of India. iii) Genetic-based studies concerning liver-related disease are limited in Indian populations. This study will help fill the important research gap in the Indian population and will help understand underlying biological pathways (related to liver enzymes), that may act as potential drug targets for pharmaceutical research. The present study will be useful for early life prediction of liver disease and developing strategies for early life public health interventions.
Research Outcome: Possible contributions to i) Discipline ii) Society iii) Policy planning Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices vary by socio-cultural context, educational background and economic status, and there is wide variation in MHM practices. This study would help to understand the in-depth study of various practices and management among Muslim women of Delhi. Researching the menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health issues will help in understanding the adverse effect of not maintaining menstrual hygiene and have huge repercussions on health mainly in the form of pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and congenital infections.There is limited information available on menstruation hygiene and other reproductive health among Muslim women that’s why there it is necessary to collect information on reproductive health issues like various infections from Muslim women.
Research Outcome: Possible contributions to i) Discipline ii) Society iii) Policy planning Elderly population is likely to become the fastest growing age group in coming years according to government of India which leads to increased in number of people suffering from physiological and musculoskeletal disorder condition. This will further increased costs and burden to the resources of the country. The significance of the study lays in the fact that, finding the prevalence and factors that are contributing to obesity, hypertension and musculo- skeletal disorder in elderly population would help health planners to develop strategies in making preventive programs and policy for elderly population especially for those population in marginalized area where there is poor penetration of health service, and also the better understanding of musculoskeletal diseases can lead to implementation of effective preventive measures such as improvement in working condition and infrastructure, thus reducing public health expenditure in future, and improving the quality of life for elderly.
Historically, the discourses on Dalits continue to be a matter of serious concern in SocialSciences Research in India. They are still the the most deprived and unbeneficial group in Indian Society. The struggle and existence have always been a sign of identity in crisis with Dalits. Progressively, after independence, the changes have been seen after the positive discrimination policy implemented for them. It is the positive discrimination policy and awareness of education that gradually changed a few sub-castes within Dalit communities. Therefore, this study focused on Jatavs who is one of the categories under scheduled caste. The Jatav community is found in the northern part of India like Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan. They migrated to Delhi/NCR from these states. The reason for migration is for higher education and better occupation in contemporary city life. From the anthropological point of view, many studies have been done on Dalits but there is a lesser focus on a particular community. That is why single community have taken under consideration to analyse intergenerational changes, identity and representation, social network, reaching mechanism and performance. In fact, all parameters will be studied by comparing elder and younger elites (whether men and women) through ethnographic methods. The study is relevant for discipline because it is negotiating different methodological framework. Secondly, this kind of research is beneficial for the society in dealing with current issues based on other communities. Lastly, Policy planning has a major role in upholding the lower caste communities. It will help policymakers to relook the policies that had implemented for scheduled caste/Scheduled tribe over a period of time. It will help communities and their growth and development.
i) Discipline- This research work is the study of the cottage industry of Assam draws on the concepts of self sufficiency of craft and craftsmanship, occupational health and safety related issues as well as globalization or economic practices. The crafts sector has always led a mysterious life in social and cultural anthropology, considering its diversity and global significance. ii) Society- This The research work will help anthropology to bring out current conditions of the artisans who are the producers of the product with a light bearer of the cultural heritage through ages are not being given a well-off position to the economic chain of occurrences even working day and night to keep the pace of demand. iii) Policy planning- Through this research the minute gaping could be penetrated in various dimensions of cottage industries. This research could be lay out a blue print for the induction of tourism on cluster villages and generate funds for the state which could be beneficial to channelize health beneficial schemes for the artisans as with continuous rigorous work make the artisans affected by various occupational health problems. These funds could also used to make various government policies and planning to strengthen the artisan community through training skill which could encourage the community with more skill and knowledge as additive.
i) Discipline: It will help in understanding the different aspect and significant of dress as an assemblage of body supplements and body modifications. ii) Society: This study will look at the cultural and symbolic importance of dress according to the people under study. A meaning/meanings attached to dress varies according to individual and so does our perception of others’ dress. So, through this study I hope to convey a message to the society i.e. to see ‘Dress’ from emic perspectives rather than their own viewpoint. iii) Policy Planning: Preserving of cultural heritage or traditional practices in the form of digitized data can be of great benefit not only for the people under study but will also be of immense help for future scholars.
I) Discipline- It has been seen that international migration is more studied than internal migration because crossing an international border is a legal process involving proper documentation; whereas no such record is kept for internal migration. My work will add on to prevailing knowledge of migration and enhance understanding of the process of internal migration with respect to education and existing policies. ii) Society- Migration is occurring since time immemorial. This study will help the society to understand the various causes and consequences of migration in the present time. It attempts to identify the socio-cultural changes that have occurred due to migration like marriage, education, dress, occupation, etc. iii) Policy planning- A part of study specially focus on in depth study of policies to promote education among disadvantaged group. The work will prove important to bring policy makers’ attention towards loopholes in implementation of these policies and bring forward various problems faced by beneficiaries to avail to these policies. It also stresses upon the formulation of new policies especially for the education of children of migrants.
Poroscopy if used in identification work will certainly increase the number of convictions and will allow us to positively identify fingerprints which are otherwise considered unidentifiable.
i)In Anthropology many research has been done on topics such as sexual identity, transgender community, sexuality, sexuality and gender etc. This study will bring light to all the kinds of crimes against the LGBTI community in an urban social space of capital Delhi. ii) Society- This present study which will focus on the youth belongs to the LGBTI community. Despite decriminalizing section 377, many people still are not ready to accept this new change or unaware of the change. By this study people will hear about the difference in the terminologies, will get a chance to understand the narratives of youth who belongs to the LGBTI community, how they navigate various urban social space in Delhi, what kind of risk or fear they feel and safety measures they take to cope up with the crime against them etc. iii) Policy planning- This study will also be focusing on the existing policies and law in favor of the LGBTI community. The government has made many laws and policies in favor of the community but there is still requirement of many more policies for the safety and liberty of the community. So this study will bring light on various existing policies and changes required in existing policies.
Research Outcome: Possible contributions to i) Discipline ii) Society, iii) Policy Planning i) Personal violence has been explored within the discipline of anthropology using concepts from psychology and sociology. However, ethnographies on the social issue are scarce. For my study, I try to bring in an interdisciplinary perspective in the hope to provide an insight into the phenomenon. ii) The study deals with supposed survivors of domestic violence from a marginalised community who do not have easy access to the criminal justice system. Through this study, I try to bring out the nuances, as to why this is true and how they cope with it. iii) Domestic violence has been narrowed down to wife abuse currently, and is facing challenges in terms of the gendered nature of the law. There is a need to look into the consequences and how the policy-making process can be influenced.
Dance has been considered as a form of physical activity which has thought to improve one’s physical fitness as well as mental health. However, in the past few years, some research studies have showed that, dance as an occupation, can also have adverse impact on dancer’s overall health in terms of reduced fitness levels, increased psychological stress, anxiety, depression, musculoskeletal injuries, eating disorders and menstrual disorders. Specifically in Indian context, where there is a huge diversity in dance forms, dance specific studies especially among Indian classical dancers, associating physical fitness with mental well-being using a Kinanthropometric and Sport Psychology approach, will help in identifying both positive and negative consequences of dance on physical and mental health of dancers and it’s root causes. This study will also help in providing an anthropological insight on how dance can act as a therapy for certain stressors among affected individuals and will also open a platform for future researchers to carry out their research in this field. Till now due to paucity of data among dancers in India, there has been a lack in development of policies with respect to dance. The results of this study may help in developing policies related to the implementation of dance at grass root levels, developing it as a therapy, health intervention programs for stress management and injury prevention among dancers.
The study proposes to uncover the bio-social realm of the way donors and recipients in organ transplantation lead their lives before and after the transplant. The study will put forth the paradigms of immunology through the cultural lens and enable a deeper understanding into the quality of life of the patients who lead their lives in hope, amidst this end stage treatment. Discipline: Anthropology is a conjoint of the biological and social flavour and through this study this very virtue is held high, through a discourse emerging from patients who suffer from organ failure and how the 'others' in the form of recipient reflect altruism. Society: The scarcity of organs is a big issue in terms of both cadaveric and living donations. This study would render hope in enabling an understanding of the lives of these patients and struggles thereafter, opening new pathways for shedding light on organ donation as an important need of society. Policy Planning: It is crucial in terms of policy, as the research would bring to life the issues of inaccessibility, scarcity and expensive nature of treatment, that would surely lead to meeting goals of development of required transplant infrastructure and also lead to development of organ sources beyond donation to increase the number of organs available.
The present study will provide many useful information and awareness to the population studied which may further help in improving their health in future. Moreover, it is very essential to find out the root cause of the rapid increase of many health problems at the mass level by taking into account the biological factors as well as social factors. Hence, this study will not only benefit the scientific community or policy makers but also to common people as well.
i) Discipline- With more and more infertile couples using assisted reproductive technologies to have children, the existing ideas of family and kinship are evolving. The research will develop an insight into these changing realities and see how the new reproductive technologies have impacted the institutions of kinship and family. ii) Society- The research will address the social, ethical and legal considerations of ART use in India and how these technologies have impacted the lives of infertile couples in the Indian society. iii) Policy planning- - The lack of comprehensive laws on regulating infertility clinics and their practices has created a commercialized market in India with reproductive tourism on its peak. Findings from the study will help policy-makers to frame laws regarding regulated and ethical use of ART in the country.
i) Since the study of land has been the part of various disciplines but the discipline of anthropology has given an indigenous perception of territoriality and communal ownership. Hence land is seen as a cultural value with land ownership and land rights manifested in an emotional way associated with clan, kin and community. My study would understand how indigenous communities understand land based on the historicity and symbolic association and how it contributes to the sustenance of the identity of the natives. ii) Society- It is observed that the gender aspect is missing in Indian land laws and State tenurial laws which has subjugated the position of women in decision making in relation to the inheritance of land. The study strikes a balance understanding the interface between land and gender by incorporating the cases such as land allocation to women, the female-headed households and challenges faced by women in access to land. iii) Policy planning- - A part of the study focuses on land policies in India and Uttarakhand. It also covers the land governance in the tribal area and customary laws of the Tharu to understand the interface between land and gender. The study highlights the flaws in the documentation of land records, formal titles and the need for gender aspect to be incorporated while understanding the inheritance and land rights in the region.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder with many different faces, and it causes great emotional and physical distress to the millions of women worldwide, who are suffering from it. PCOS is characterized by a spectrum of symptoms. It is not only a disease needing medical treatment but is also a psycho-social problem for the affected women. PCOS leads to menstrual dysfunction, hirsutism, obesity, and infertility which are also major causative factors responsible for psycho-social stress. PCOS is a condition that is not recognized by the social radar and is beyond the clinical gaze. It is a condition little known about in most of the rural areas, as people have limited access to health services. I selected Himachal Pradesh (district Kangra), as the research universe was less reported in the existing literature, and due to less awareness in the population,
i) Discipline- it will help anthropology to bring out diversity of Homelessness from a multicultural and multidimensional perspective. ii) Society- the work will focus on their well being, so it will be important as it will be a projection from the state of poverty towards their well being localized through their flow of life. iii) Policy planning- Homeless are usually merged into a common category having housing issues leaving many other vicious circles within the life of individuals contributed by homelessness and leading to homelessness.
DISCIPLINE: The burden of mental disorders is increasing drastically in India. Unfortunately, India has become the world’s suicide capital. Recent National Mental Health Survey shows common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders are very high in the urban areas. In spite of this, mental health is one of the most neglected fields of healthcare in India. The myths and taboos attached to this area are still prevalent to this date. However, only very few anthropological studies have explored this research area. The present study aim to highlight the anthropological perspective of mental disorders. SOCIETY: Till today our understanding of mental health issues is very limited. Mental health is complex in nature; both biological and social factors contribute in its causation. Anthropology is blessed with the “bio-social approach” that can immensely contribute in understanding of the causal pathways of these disorders, which further will help in management and treatment of these common mental disorders. POLICY PLANNING: India had focused its attention mainly to communicable diseases. This leads to lack of political commitment to non-communicable diseases further aggravating the load of mental disorders. Furthermore, there are many lacunae in mental health policies of India. Also, there is dearth of studies at community level. There is a need to reorient our researches in such a way that true burden of mental disorders are estimated at community level. This would provide true situation of the mental health problem. Indeed, anthropologists’ reach is stronger in the population as compared to clinicians; this study will try to bridge knowledge gaps between mental health issues and policy implementations.
The proposed study aims to contribute toward the development of an in-depth understanding of association of different socioeconomic parameters with adverse pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriage, pre-term delivery, stillbirth, eclampsia and pre-eclampsia) and birth outcomes (such as stillbirth, pre-term birth, intrauterine death, small-for-gestational-age, low/high birth weight, etc.). Since there are only a few longitudinal studies conducted so far that have focused to answer the proposed research question, the findings of this study can provide strong impetus for the policymaker, practitioner and researcher. By studying the association of socioeconomic factors with pregnancy and birth outcomes, its impact on maternal and infant health can be narrowed down. Protecting mothers against the effects of socioeconomic adversity is absolutely essential as its effect is not only limited to the mother but it propagates to the next generation which leads to increase in burden of diseases experienced by children and adults. The outcomes of the present study will provide a way forward for the allocation of health-related resources and personnel to those socioeconomic groups, which deserve it most. The tailored-made public health intervention can be designed to address various issues of different socioeconomic strata for mitigation of risk stratification and health disparities. Therefore, substantial changes can be made in the health status of our society and of our country at large by making new evidence-based policies and censuring the insufficiency of previous policies.
I am doing my research amongst the Pahari Korwas, who are one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India. Through this study I am trying to describe such a tribe in an analytical frame of reference covering the last seven decades of India’s independence. This study has an added significance, especially when the Government of India is giving more and more attention to the development of the tribal population of the country. This Study can be used by our policy makers for the preparation of plans to ameliorate the condition of the weakest section of the Indian community as it will be a methodical analysis of not only the economic structure but also the social and ritual life of the Pahari Korwas. The present study attempts to show the Pahari Korwas’ economy as it stands today, and their continuous struggle for sustenance. Shifting cultivation or Beora is now almost a forgotten story. Due to abolition of beora, the Pahari Korwas were forced to enter into the stage of settled agriculture and other economic activities, and still struggling to adopt these changing economies. Moreover, the present study is ethnographic in nature and it will be helpful to fill an important gap in ethnographic literature.
This research will help in understanding the importance of the Epigenetic modification such as DNA methylation and its correlation with age estimation in forensic science. The specific nature of forensic samples that are found at the scene of the crime & the feasibility of DNA methylation detection in more forensic samples, such as bloodstain, tissue and degraded DNA as well as the application of this novel model in the forensic samples needs to be further evaluated. A number of studies have chosen DNA methylation as the marker in age prediction and demonstrated a reduced estimation error. Thus, DNA methylation becomes a convenient and more accurate marker for age prediction in Forensic science.
i) Discipline- Nutritional and health status is one of the important aspect of anthropology. Approximately 3,00,000 Tibetans are living in India as refugees. We need to know their nutritional status as they are small tightly enclosed group with limited access to basic amenities for living a healthy life. An insight on their health status will add more value to the credibility of the discipline. ii) Society- Tibetans took refuge in India in 1959 after the Government of China unilaterally declared Tibet as an integral part of China. We need to know their socio-economic and health status, what factors are responsible for it, and what measures can be taken to improve their present conditions especially in case of adolescent girls as they are the future bearers. This will provide important insights for the overall development of the society as they are now the integral part of Indian demography representing the diversity of India. iii) Policy planning- Several studies are done focusing on the socio-economic background of the Tibetan refugees in India but there is scanty information available on their nutritional status, especially among adolescent girls. Therefore, there is a need to develop sufficient data on their health status as this will enable government and non-governmental agencies to formulate policies and initiate strategies for the well-being of Tibetan adolescents girls
i) Discipline: This study contributes to the growing research on the domain of mental health and how it impacts mothers post pregnancy i.e. the maternal and child health and overall neonatal development. ii) Society: This study will help the society to have an understanding of the various psychosocial stresses that influence the mental health of recently delivered women thus helping us to focus on the preventive measures for elimination or reduction of those factors impacting mental health. The study will be inclusive of both the biological as well as cultural patterning of post-partum depression which will help the health professionals to effectively treat post-partum depression patients in a comprehensive manner. iii) Policy Planning: The understanding of the psychiatric comorbidity is important for the policy makers to come up with better policy implications for maternal and child health issues. These issues should be dealt with much care to enhance and improve the mental health condition of the mother and the neonates for a better future.
i) Discipline: This study will help understand the contemporary changes in traditional art forms introduced by dynamic transformation, from embodied knowledge to consumerism. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the role of anthropology in explaining multiculturalism beyond binary dichotomous perspective will be explored. ii) Society: The Saora wall paintings represent elegance, charm, aesthetics, and ritualistic association. These pictograms are their literature and philosophy. The current study aims at exploring the diverse notions of artistic conceptualisation and expression among the tribal community. It will also provide a pantopic view of cultural identity while adapting to the transitions concerning communal solidarity. iii) Policy Planning: The Lanjia Saoras belong to one of the seventy-five Particularly Vernacular Tribal Groups in India. This study will highlight the factors, which affects the outcome of feasible and working strategies of transformation. These focussed improvisations could be useful in strategical developmental implementation, for the revival of tribal art traditions, economic opportunities with indigenous skills, and global recognition of cultural heritage.
I) The present study will help to assess the role of maternal mental health on pregnancy and birth outcomes. This study will assess the risk factors associated with adverse gestational mental health and This study will try to evaluate the impact of the gestational mental health of mothers on pregnancy outcomes (i.e. Pre-eclampsia, Eclampsia, Gestational Diabetes, Hyperglycemia, etc.) and on adverse birth outcomes (i.e. Low birth weight, Pre-term birth, Stillbirth, Hypoglycemia, and Macrosomia, etc.). II) A person can recover from physiological stress but mental illness is mostly neglected even during getting proper health care facilities. It becomes more necessary to screen mental health status during the pregnancy period. Because it not only affects the mother but has strong consequences on child health as well. This study is significant in the manner that will reveal how poor mental health can impact a child’s health in different ways. III) Globally maternal mental health problems are considered a major public health challenge. There are several factors that are responsible for poor maternal mental health. Through, This study, the researcher will attempt to understand the social parameters which severely cause mental illness among pregnant women. Existing literature suggests that, lack of studies that have observed maternal mental health during pregnancy and how it impacting on the Child’s health. The present study will attempt to fill existing gaps and will contribute to future research.
India is experiencing a rapid increase in obesity-related non-communicable diseases including type-2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease, which have increased by 50% in urban cities. There are various factors that are associated with obesity consists of variables such as ethnicity, sex, different lifestyle choices, parental education and income, and genetics. Identifying these variables, keeping in mind various cultural values and beliefs related to a particular community will help to determine the improvements needed, in making health education programs to reduce the obesity rate. Moreover, smoking and diet rich in meats which are conventional risk factors for causing cardiovascular diseases are absent in Sikh population. However, there is still an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in Sikh population, despite the absence of these lifestyle-related risk factors. So, there is a need to understand the factors that are contributing to the rise of obesity and related health risks among this population. Such studies are limited in number in India, thus, this study will fill the important research gap..
Life style associated with modern urban life has produced epidemiological profiles in which metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension have rapidly come to the forefront. Growing prevalence of these non- communicable disease and their risk factors has become a global issue affecting both low and middle income countries. Onset of metabolic diseases is frequently triggered by behavioural and lifestyle factors. Several components of the metabolic syndrome have been associated with reduced Health Related Quality of Life. Health and education interventions to promote healthy behaviours and prevent harmful ones among adults are consequently critical in preventive programs for metabolic diseases.
Discipline: There are several factors that influence the behaviour of animalssuch as their surroundings and the dimensions of inter-species interactions. Through this study, we can analyse human-monkey interface and understand how different species adapt to changing environment through behavioural adjustments. Society:This investigation will reflect on the relationship that humans share with nature and wildlife in urban areas thereby highlighting the importance of conservation and management of such animals. This unique relationship between humans and urban animals has a great aesthetic value which can explored through this investigation. Policy Planning: Delhi has seen a drastic rise in macaque population. My aim will be to assess the damages, if there are any, as a result of the population growth and eventually aid in planning management of wildlife in urban locales.
The behaviors and lifestyles learned or adopted during adolescence will influence health both in the present and in the future. Investing in adolescent health and development will reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality in later life because healthy behaviors and practices adopted during adolescence tend to last a lifetime Promoting and safeguarding adolescent health should not only be regarded as an investment, but also as a basic human right to achieve the highest attainable level of health. In a way benefit from this towards society is provided by helping researchers to learn more about the proposed conditions, providing valuable information about the concerned group, understanding them efficiently and guiding them in the best possible way.
i) Discipline: (i)Discipline-This study will help in understanding the importance in maintaining the maternal and child health at introspective level. This enquiry of reproductive health will rise understanding the health dimension and vast data is available for the diverse population and result in advancement in field of demographic and reproductive health ii) Society: (ii)Society-The study will come up to be constructive for the development of society in terms of development of health sector. The study will aid in improving the health seeking behaviour among the locals, through rising of awareness and importance regarding improved health facilities. iii) Policy planning: Making-The study will produce the databank which will be helpful to clinician, NGOs, social worker and subsequent researchers in future. It will help in identifying areas that need policy and programmed interventions, setting near and far-term goals, and deciding priorities, besides understanding them in an integrated structure.
