Water management across space and time in India

This paper attempts to give a spatial and temporal overview of water management in India. It traces how people and the successive regimes made choices across space and time from a wide range of water control and distribution technologies. The paper divides the water management in India into four periods: (i) the traditional system of water management before colonial times; (ii) response from the colonial rulers to manage the complex socio-ecological system; (iii) large scale surface water development after independence; and (iv) finally, the small-scale community and market-led revolution. Hence an attempt has been made to describe the water management over the four periods, which has transformed the irrigation and water management scenario in India. Moreover the paper shows how development of water management and its practices are linked with the social, religious, economic development with the rise and fall of the ruling regime. While these different periods attempts to manage water in different ways, the paper reveals a gap in research towards understanding the ability of community to integrate by default these diverse technologies to achieve their social goal of survival

Socio-Cultural Implications of the Community-Based Water Management : A Case Study of Gujarat, India

Failure of the state-led development projects and the growing concerns for participation, in the 1980s and 1990s gave rise to community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). This in turn led to a paradigm shift in natural resource management from centralised state control towards CBNRM, in which the local communities now play actively and have direct control over resource use and management. These community-based approaches are a departure from the statecentered government polices of natural resource management. But the mixed successes and failures of these approaches have led to a question in the Indian development policy context, namely why CBNRM projects fail to achieve their expected level of results and equity. Academics and activists have criticised participatory interventions, for their inherent vulnerability due to power imbalances, which in turn affect various actors’ capacity to participate in a development project. Using the case study of the Mathnaa watershed development project in the Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, this study aims to understand how socio-cultural factors influence participatory institutions and community formation created in CBNRM interventions in rural communities. In addition, it examines how the formal participatory arena is able to give space to the vulnerable and less powerful groups in the village. Due to the widespread notion that CBNRM project would be successful and egalitarian in nature which would lead to a true representation and the participation of all sections of society, functioning on the principle of democracy and equity. This thesis takes up the analysis of socio-cultural aspects affecting actors’ participation and strategies in various water-related community groups in the formal and informal participatory arenas of managing water. Caste, class and gender dynamics are focused upon, and their influence on various water-related community group. In pursuit of these aspects, the thesis examines the role of power relations in the linkages between the formal and informal institutions operating in Mathnaa society, as well as shaping the participation of the key actors in the formal participatory arenas. The thesis demonstrates that the formal participatory arenas and institutions created by the process of decentralisation do provide the opportunities for marginalised community members to participate, although the power imbalances in a given community are less likely to guarantee ‘equitable participation’ as an intervention outcome. On the contrary, for actors participating in these formal invited arenas, such as a watershed committee or user group, their social life does not simply consist of formal relations, interactions and negotiations alone; hence, there is a need to understand what the ‘informal’ holds in the functioning of ‘formal participatory arenas’. Therefore, a need to acknowledge the central role played by any kind of community water-related intervention involves building on and feeding into existing social and power relations and any inequity in the benefits of the CBNRM project through formal participation.In den 1980ern und 1990er Jahren führten Naturschutz- und Konservierungkomponenten in Entwicklungsprojekten zum community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). Dies leitete einen Paradigmenwechsel im vom System zentralisierter staatlicher Kontrolle hin zu CBNRM ein, wobei lokale Gemeinschaften eine aktive Rolle spielen und direkte Kontrolle über die Resourcennutzung besitzen. Diese kommunal-basierten Ansätze bedeuten eine Abkehr von der zentralstaatlichen Politik des Mangements natürlicher Ressourcens. Da dies sowohl zu Erfolgen als auch zu Fehlschlägen führte, wurde in der indischen Entwicklungspolitik die Frage aufgeworfen, warum CBNRM-Projekte daran scheiterten die angestrebten Ziele zu erreichen. Akademiker und Aktivisten kritisierten die partizipatorischen Interventionen für ihre, durch ein fehlendes Machtgleichgewicht entstandene, inhärente Vulnerabilität, die die Fähigkeit verschiedener Akteure beeinflusst, an den Entwicklungsprojekten zu partizipieren. Das Ziel dieser Studie ist es, unter Verwendung einer Fallstudie im Mathnaa Watershed Development Project im Sabarkantha-Distrikt Gujarats in Indien, zu verstehen wie sozio-kulturelle Faktoren die partizipatorischen Institutionen und Gemeindebildungen beeinflussen, die durch CBNRM-Interventionen in ländlichen Gemeinden geschaffen wurden. Diese Dissertation versucht zu verstehen, ob die formale Arena der Partizipation, die geschaffen wurde, um die Teilhabe der Menschen zu fördern, in der Lage ist eine gerechte Teilhabe in den ländlichen Gemeinden zu ermöglichen. Die Doktorarbeit greift die die Analyse sozio-kultureller Aspekte auf, die die Teilhabe und Strategien der Akteure in verschiedenen Nutzergruppen und anderen Gruppen in formellen und informellen Arenen des Wassermanagements beeinflusst. Kaste, Klasse und Genderdynamiken sowie ihr Einfluss auf verschiedene Gruppen werden besonders betrachtet. In der Folge wird die Thematik der Rolle von Machtverhältnissen in der Verbindung von formellen und informellen Institutionen untersucht, die in Mathnaas agieren und die Teilhabe der Schlüsselakteure in den Arenen der formellen Teilhabe gestalten. Die Doktorarbeit zeigt auf, wie die Arenen der formellen Teilhabe und Institutionen, die durch die Prozesses der Dezentralisierung geschaffen wurden, den Mitgliedern marginalisierter Gemeinden die Möglichkeit bieten zu partizipieren. Die Machtungleichheiten in einer bestimmten Gemeinde garantieren jedoch mit geringerer Wahrscheinlichkeit ‚gerechte Teilhabe’ als Ergebnis einer Intervention. Andererseits partizipieren die Akteure an diesen formal geschaffenene Arenen wie dem watershed committee oder Nutzergruppen; ihr soziales Leben besteht nicht ausschließlich aus formelle Beziehungen, Interaktionen und Verhandlungen. Daher besteht die Notwendigkeit zu verstehen welche Rolle das ‚Informelle’ beim Funktionieren der ‚formellen Arenen der Teilhabe’ spielt. Diese Dissertation umfasst sieben Kapitel inklusive eine Schlußfolgerung . Im Folgenden findet sich die Zusammenfassung jeden Kapitels

Gender Egalitarian in Islam

Women’s position is determined mainly by social practices. Theologically, Islam tends to assert the equality of the male and female while social structures create a distinction. To understand this paradox is to understand the essence of the Islamic philosophy of gender, which constructs roles from below, not from above. Even though Muslim women directly experience the consequences of oppressive misreading of religious texts, few question their legitimacy and fewer still have explored the liberatory aspects of the Qur’anic teachings. The same holds true for South Asian and many eastern societies. In the context of Islamic society: a) This study analyzes the contradiction between public conceptions of the ideals prescribed in the Holy Scriptures as to its implications for gender equity and development of society. b) It would focus on ways to popularize progressive interpretation in order to improve Muslim women’s status. The study is based on three sources of Islam: Qur’an, hadith, and writings of modern Muslim thinkers. Findings prove that it is not the revealed Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah that need revision. What need to be re-examined are fallible human interpretations and practices and the system of socialization and internalization so that proper ways of inducting new concepts and practices concurrent to the Islamic spirit are devised

Molecular Epidemiology of Bovine Babesiosis in Punjab, Pakistan

Background: Babesiosis is endemic in Pakistan and is one of the most important bovine diseases that causes huge economic losses and high mortality in young animals. This disease is transmitted by a protozoan parasite babesia which belongs to genus Babesia (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). This disease is very much prevalent in summers followed by rainy season because humid environment is favorable for the growth of these parasites. An epidemiological and molecular study was conducted to unveil the prevalence and associated risk factors of Babesia bigemina (B. bigemina) and Babesia bovis (B. bovis) in selected districts i.e., Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang of Punjab, Pakistan.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 518 (Cattle = 360, Buffalo = 158) blood samples were collected. The samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR (n-PCR) targeting apocytochrome b-genes (CYTb). Chi-square test for univariate analysis was used to analyze the data. The overall prevalence in summer based upon microscopic analysis was 20.55% (37/180) and 13.92% (11/79) in cattle and buffaloes respectively and in winter was 8.80% (16/180), 5.06% (4/79)) in cattle and buffaloes respectively. The samples were further analyzed through conventional PCR (c-PCR) and nested PCR (nPCR). The overall results of conventional PCR in summer showed that 72 cows and buffaloes were infected with babesiosis. The conventional PCR based results of summer showed that prevalence of babesiosis was 29.44% (53/180) in cows and 24.05% (19/79) buffaloes. The results of cPCR during the winter season showed that 12.77% (23/180) and 13.92% (11/79) buffaloes were positive for babesiosis. The overall results of conventional PCR in winter showed that 34/259 cows and buffaloes were infected with babesiosis. On the other hand, the nested PCR results of summer season showed that the prevalence of babesiosis in cows was 32.22% (58/180) and 29.11% (23/79) in buffaloes. In total, 81 cows and buffaloes were infected with babesiosis during summer season. The nPCR results of winter showed that 15% (27/180) cows and 20.25% (16/79) buffaloes were infected with babesiosis. In total, 43 cows and buffaloes were infected with babesiosis. The results have shown that sensitivity of n-PCR is more as compared to conventional PCR. This study is the first molecular evidence of B. bigemina and B. bovis and its associated risk factors in Punjab province, Pakistan.Discussion: Dairy sector in Pakistan is one of the fastest growing sectors. Despite of remarkable growth, dairy industry is facing many problems one of them is tick borne diseases (TBDs). TBDs are more prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and leads to huge economic losses to dairy industry in terms of decreased milk, meat and wool production. Babesiosis is characterized by increased fever, decreased production, poor quality wool, anemia, hemoglobinuria, paleness of mucous membrane. The risk factors analysis of summer and winter data revealed that, adult animals were more prone to babesiosis (24.00%) [P = 0.032] and (8.50%) [P = 0.048]. In both seasons (summer and winter), females were more infected with babesiosis (20.19% and 8.17%) [P = 0.049 and P =0.021] as compared to males, high prevalence in females was might be due to that females were reared for longer period of time. Babesiosis was more occurred in non-cemented floor system (26.01% and 13.51%) [P = 0.028 and P = 0.044] in summer and winter, respectively. Disease was found more prevalent in closed housing system in summer and winter (27.27% and 10.93%) [P = 0.043 and P = 0.034] as compared to open housing. Weak animals were more infected with babesiosis (30.84%) [P = 0.045] and (12.80%) [P = 0.042] in summer and winter, as compared to healthy ones. The animals with high tick infestations were more suffered with babesia infection (25.49% and 13.34%) [P = 0.036 and P = 0.003] in both seasons as compared to less tick burden. Keywords: apocytochrome gene, babesiosis, bovine, nPCR, PCR, season

COMPARISON OF DOCUMENTED PATIENT CARE BEFORE AND AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF END OF LIFE CARE PATHWAY FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AT SHAUKAT KHANUM MEMORIAL CANCER HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE

Purpose: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Cancer primarily deals with cancer patients and has various departments which provide best-integrated lifesaving care. However, when patients who have been given all possible medical and oncological treatment still progress their disease, they are then referred for best supportive care to palliative care department. The aim of this paper was to audit documented care for palliative patients before and after implementation of end of life care (ELC) pathway.Materials and Methods: We used a retrospective method to audit 45 terminally ill patients over a period of 3 months. Then, a re-audit was done over a period of 3 months and data were collected for patients who were started on SKM-ELC pathway.Results: Results show that the implementation of ELC pathway, 67% of the patients were not prescribed PRN medications for symptom control, 20% of the patients were not reviewed for the need of assisted nutrition and for 20% of the patient’s primary team were not even notified that the patient is dying. After the ELC pathway implementation, it was found that 100% of patients were reviewed for PRN medications and assisted nutrition. Oncologists were timely notified that the patient is dying.Conclusion: In summary, we can say that implantation of ELC pathway has significantly improved documented patients care in all aspects.Key words: Cancer, care for dying, end of life care, goals of care pathwa

An Emergency Switch to Distance Learning in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from an Internationally Accredited Undergraduate Pharmacy Program at Qatar University

© 2020, The Author(s). The world is experiencing an unprecedented public health emergency owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. To control virus spread, many countries temporarily suspended classes. In this context, the availability of e-tools and distance learning platforms in higher education institutions has proven very useful to facilitate the emergency switch to distance learning to ensure continuity of the educational process. We discuss here the experience of the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University in responding to suspension of classes using available educational technologies. Furthermore, we provide some reflection points for optimal implementation of technology-enhanced learning into distance education for future academic years.Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library

Investigating the use of a lecture capture system within pharmacy education: Lessons from an undergraduate pharmacy program at Qatar University

© 2020, The Author(s). Video lecture capture is one of the most attractive e-tools that has been introduced to support students learning and assist with grasping difficult concepts. A variety of benefits is offered through this system introduced at our institution nearly a decade ago. We evaluated lecture capture viewings for professional undergraduate pharmacy courses in the Fall and Spring semesters over three academic years and analyzed data for one cohort of students. Each course within the pharmacy program was analyzed and viewing figures downloaded through the Echo360 management system. The average number of views per lecture, per semester was summarized. We observed that junior students viewed lecture capture most frequently with the number of views highest at the beginning of the academic year (Fall semester). Analysis of 18 courses which occurred 48 times over the three academic years studied, showed that 21 course occurrences had an average number of views per lecture equal to or higher than the number of students enrolled in the course, indicating that only 44% of courses had on average, at least, one student viewing each lecture recording. Of particular note, year 1 students had the highest percentage of courses viewed by a number equal to or higher than students enrolled (9 occurrences out of 16 or 56%), followed by year 2 students (9 occurrences out of 21 or 43%), and finally year 3 students (3 occurrences out of 11 or 27%). This pattern of lecture recording viewing was further underscored by longitudinally following-up the class of 2020 (24 students) over three academic years. To ensure optimal use of the system by both students and faculty for a multitude of learning and teaching styles and methods, we propose to implement professional development sessions for faculty to showcase the advantages of the lecture capture system and maximize the benefits from its availability. Further quantitative and qualitative studies are warranted to fully grasp the motivations for use, attitudes and perceptions towards the system

Dengue Fever: A General Perspective

Dengue Fever or commonly known as Dengue, a mosquito-borne arboviral infection has emerged as havoc around the globe. Annually, about 50 million infections are reported, resulting in 22,000 deaths and almost 2.5 billion people are reported living at risk. Dengue infection is caused by Dengue Virus (DENV), which is a member of genus Flavivirus and comprised of ten proteins; three proteins, capsid (C), membrane (M), and envelope (E), play structural role and seven are identified as non-structural that direct DENV replication. Four distinct serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4 are transmitted via Aedes mosquitoes. Clinically, Dengue patients can be categorized into three groups according to WHO 2009 revised classification. Typical symptoms of dengue include: extreme fatigue; sudden fever (from 3-7 days), headache, joint, muscle, and back pain; vomiting and diarrhea, appetite loss; skin rash along minor bleeding. Aedes aegypti is geographically distributed in tropical areas and breeds in artificially filled water containers i.e. drums, tyres, flower vases plastic food containers, tin cans, etc. Due to four viral serotypes and non-availability of the model animal for dengue, producing vaccines is a challenging task. Thus, Dengue can be managed using various vector control strategies through physical, chemical and biological means