An Empirical Investigation of Real Farm Incomes Across Indian States Between 1987-88 and 2011-12

Using unit-level data from various rounds of the Employment and Unemployment Survey of the National Sample Survey Organisation, we present the first consistent time series of average real farm income per cultivator for 18 major Indian states for 1987-88, 1993-94, 1999-00, 2004-05, 2007-08, 2009-10, and 2011-12. Using this data, we study two sets of issues. First, how did real farm income evolve across these 18 Indian states? Which states have high levels and growth rates of real farm incomes? Is there any evidence for convergence of real farm incomes across Indian states? We find evidence for unconditional convergence, which suggests that states with relatively lower farm incomes have, on average, grown at relatively faster rates. But the tendency towards convergence has not been strong enough to change relative rankings of states (by real farm income per cultivator) in any significant way. Second, did the market-oriented reforms of agricultural marketing systems increase real farm incomes? We find that market-oriented reforms did not increase real farm incomes

BJP’s Demographic Dividend in the 2014 General Elections: An Empirical Analysis

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the 2014 General Elections in India and emerged as a single party with absolute majority, a result not witnessed since 1984. Not only did it win a majority of seats, it also managed to increase its vote share in almost all states between 2009 and 2014. Using state-level data, we show that BJP’s extraordinary poll results relied crucially on attracting young, especially first time, electors

To Reform and to Procure: An Analysis of the Role of the State and the Market in Indian Agriculture

Since the early 2000s, many Indian states started reforming their agricultural marketing policies and allowed private traders to buy directly from farmers outside the state-regulated market system. The experience of these states during the period 2000 - 2012 can shed light on the impact of market-oriented reforms and the role of public procurement. Using individual-level National Sample Survey Data on agricultural wages and a new dataset on state-level average real farm income per cultivator for 18 major Indian states between 1987 – 2012, this paper shows, using both a difference-in-difference and a triple difference framework, that marketing reforms alone did not contribute to higher farm incomes and agricultural wages. However, when these reforms were coupled with public procurement at the minimum support price, farm incomes and agricultural wages significantly improved. The effects of public procurement were driven primarily by rice procurement. Our results suggest that market-reforms and public procurement at minimum support prices were complements which together contributed to raising rural incomes in states like Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh

Farmer Suicides in India: Levels and Trends across Major States, 1995-2011

In the paper, we use data on farmer suicides from the National Crime Records Bureau and population data from the Censuses of 1991, 2001 and 2011 to estimate the suicide mortality rate (SMR) of farmers and non-farmers for 19 major states of India and for the country as a whole. We use movements in the SMR ratio ratio of farmer SMR and non-farmer SMR) to understand the level and trend of the problem of farmer suicides across states and over time. For the country as a whole, and for many individual states, the SMR ratio has increased over time. This suggests that the problem of farmer suicides has become more severe across large swathes of the country, and calls for immediate and well planned policy interventions

Unveiling Biological and Therapeutic Properties of Calotropis Procera: A Promising Traditional Medicine

Since the dawn of civilization, people have utilized plants as a secure and efficient form of treatment for a variety of illnesses.  A number of traditional medicines are formed from certain plants with medicinal and therapeutic properties. It has long been known that Calotropis procera offers potential as a therapy for many different conditions. This xerophytic, erect shrub is native to the tropics of Asia and Africa, where it reaches a height of roughly 6 meters. Numerous illnesses, such as rheumatism, fever, diarrhea, diabetes, malaria, asthma, and many more, have been treated using its constituents. The latex has demonstrated strong benefits against inflammation, cancer, wound healing, hepatoprotection, inflammation prevention, nerve regeneration, antiulcer, insecticidal, and antimalarial bacteria. The study also discovered that consuming too much has detrimental impacts on health. The study found a wealth of documentation supporting the biological assessment of C. procera in both in vitro and in vivo animal models. However, human safety and efficacy remain to be fully investigated, and more carefully planned clinical trials are needed to validate preclinical results. Establishing a standard dose and ensuring its safety are crucial.  This review provides the biological information that is currently available about the potential therapeutic and biological uses of C. procera for the management of various illnesses with an insight on its potential applications in oral health and dentistry

Cheiloscopy and Rugoscopy: A Scientific Approach for Sex Determination.

Introduction: The major areas of forensic dentistry include determining a patient\u27s gender, age, race, and size as well as gathering dental evidence and reconstructing a patient\u27s face over skeletal remains. Lip prints are said to be unique to a person and similar to fingerprints. The palatal rugae pattern has been regarded as one of the pertinent indicators for human identification in the field of forensic medicine because of its stability and uniqueness.  Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of palatal rugae pattern and lip prints for gender distinction and human identification. The objectives of the study were to distinguish between male and female lip prints and palatal rugae based on gender. Methods: Subjects were randomly chosen from the OPD and an informed consent was obtained. Study was performed on 136 subjects equally divided into two groups according to gender. For rugoscopy all the dental casts were collected, duplicated and later analyzed.  The legal age of the subject was confirmed using the case history proforma of the patients submitted along with the casts. The relevant demographic data including name, age, sex, address as well as findings from clinical examination were recorded for each selected individual in a specially designed Proforma. Results: Considering both the  lips, type V pattern was most predominant pattern in males followed by type III while type I pattern was most predominant pattern in females followed by type I. Predominant shape of rugae in females is wavy followed by curved and straight and in males is curved followed by wavy, straight and unification. Conclusions: Both cheiloscopy and rugoscopy have the potential to identify an individual also lip prints are more reliable in identifying the sex of an individual as compared to palatal rugae patterns

Clinical outcomes in management of dislocation of carpometacarpal joints of hand: a rare orthopaedic presentation

Background: Dislocation of carpo-metacarpal (CMC) joints especially involving the 2nd and 3rd or paired dislocations, presents a rare pattern of orthopaedics hand injuries. They are associated with high energy trauma usually involving motorbike accidents. Severe soft tissue inflammation over the affected hand and associated injuries often makes detection of these fractures difficult. They require prompt management at presentation. Failure to be diagnosed and treated at early stage leads to joint stiffness, restrictions of wrist movement, deformity and sometimes ruptures of tendons crossing the wrist. Most of them require open reduction and internal fixation for stabilization. The objective of the study was to clinically evaluate outcomes in management of carpometacarpal joint dislocations.Methods: We prospectively studied 6 cases of CMC dislocation presenting at average of 1week from the original injury. All were clinically and radiologically evaluated. 3 cases were managed with open reduction and internal fixation with K wire and 1with closed manipulation and percutaneous k wire fixation and 1 case by arthrodesis of CMC joint. Functional assessment was done with Quick DASH score at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.Results: All the patients went on to have good functional recovery. The average quick DASH score showed improvement from 77.39 to 4.07 over 1 year follow-up. Conclusions: Careful and meticulous examinations of hands are necessary in high velocity trauma cases to avoid missing diagnosis of CMC dislocation. ORIF remains the gold standard treatment which can also be used for cases presenting late, followed by aggressive post-op physiotherapy can lead to excellent recovery of hand function

Ion-Lithium Collision Dynamics Studied with a Laser-Cooled In-Ring Target

We present a novel experimental tool allowing for kinematically complete studies of break-up processes of laser-cooled atoms. This apparatus, the \u27MOTReMi,\u27 is a combination of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and a reaction microscope (ReMi). Operated in an ion-storage ring, the new setup enables us to study the dynamics in swift ion-atom collisions on an unprecedented level of precision and detail. In the inaugural experiment on collisions with 1.5MeV/amu O8 +-Li the pure ionization of the valence electron as well as the ionization-excitation of the lithium target was investigated

To Reform and to Procure: An Analysis of the Role of the State and the Market in Indian Agriculture

Since the early 2000s, many Indian states started reforming their agricultural marketing policies and allowed private traders to buy directly from farmers outside the state-regulated market system. The experience of these states during the period 2000 - 2012 can shed light on the impact of market-oriented reforms and the role of public procurement. Using individual-level National Sample Survey Data on agricultural wages and a new dataset on state-level average real farm income per cultivator for 18 major Indian states between 1987 – 2012, this paper shows, using both a difference-in-difference and a triple difference framework, that marketing reforms alone did not contribute to higher farm incomes and agricultural wages. However, when these reforms were coupled with public procurement at the minimum support price, farm incomes and agricultural wages significantly improved. The effects of public procurement were driven primarily by rice procurement. Our results suggest that market-reforms and public procurement at minimum support prices were complements which together contributed to raising rural incomes in states like Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh