Amrita Bajaj, Iman Banerjee: Predicting Urban Growth of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Planning Area, West Bengal, India
Geo-spatial modelling has emerged as an important tool to measure urban growth at local, regional and national levels. The present study is primarily focussed on the analysis of urban growth and their future prediction concerning three neighbouring municipal areas of Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Maynaguri in the state of West Bengal. These municipal areas are the parts of a planning region of the state, known as Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Planning Area (SJPA). The study is based on Cellular Automata (CA) and Markov Chain, popularly known as CA_Markov to simulate and predict urban growth in the study area. Simulated results show that Siliguri is going to experience a built-up growth from 32.70 km² in 2001 to an approximately 148.60 km² in 2041. In Jalpaiguri the amount of built-up land is expected to increase from 2.30 km² in 2001 to 18.30 km² in 2041. While, in Maynaguri built-up area is expected to increase from 2.20 km² to 19.60 km² during the same time period. The study has also found that such an expansion in urban built-up area is taking place, principally at the expense of land under agricultural use and forested categories. The study reveals that in Siliguri urban area, agricultural land is predicted to decline from 328.60 km² to 214.90 km² between 2001 and 2041. Whereas, during the same span of time a declination in agricultural land from 35.50 km² to 26.60 km² in Jalpaiguri urban area and 55.60 km² to 46.90 km² in Maynaguri urban area, has been predicted. Therefore, this study highlights the need for a balanced regional planning intervention that may address the problems of unplanned built-up expansion and associated haphazard land conversions.
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Satish Kumar, M. S. Jaglan: Agricultural Productivity in Haryana: A Comparative Study of Organic and Inorganic Farming
The present study compares the yield of crops and productivity of organic and inorganic farming across agro-ecological regions of Haryana. It also attempts to understand the factors influencing the productivity of organic farmers. The study is based on primary data collected from 234 farmers (117 each from organic and inorganic farming) with the help of a structured questionnaire. The study brings out that the physical yield of almost all the crops cultivated under organic farming is less than that of inorganic farming. However, the monetary yield of almost all the organic crops is higher than that of inorganic farming in all the agro-ecological regions of the state. The benefit-cost analysis reveals that five organic crops rice, bajra, jowar, wheat, and sugarcane have been more profitable than their production under inorganic farming However, there is not a significant difference in this regard in cultivation of cotton, mustard and pulses.
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Nishu, Rajeshwari: Availability and Accessibility of Public Health Care Facilities in Delhi: A Geospatial Analysis
The availability and accessibility of health care facilities play an important role in the development of human resource. In the absence of health care facilities even a minor illness may result into an epidemic like situation. Studies have shown that availability and accessibility of health care facilities positively affect health outcome indicators. In this context, the present study attempts to study the availability and accessibility of public health care facilities in Delhi. The study is based on the secondary sources of data obtained from the District Census Handbook of Delhi, 2011 and Annual Health Report of Delhi 2021-22. The spatial pattern in availability and accessibility of health care facilities has been studied at different levels vis-à-vis the norms of their provision. The study also reflects upon the vulnerable and best served areas of Delhi in availability and accessibility of health care facilities. The results of the study reveal that the districts of Shahdara, Central and New Delhi are better served, while the South West, South East and North West districts are poorly served. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the disparities and improve the overall well-being of the population in the study area.
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Fatima Riaz, Sarfaraz Alam, Satya Prakash, Dhritismita Goswami, Suvra Maji, Amrata Panwar: Social Morphology of Orange Valley Tea Garden, District, Darjeeling, West Bengal
Caste-based segregation of houses is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the spatial organisation of Indian villages. Indian society is hierarchically organised along caste lines; however, the actual arrangements in the social hierarchy vary significantly across regions. The existing caste-based hierarchical arrangements of society in Indian villages are often reproduced as spatial patterns of the houses there. However, regional culture space relations, and biophysical factors are also vital in shaping the social morphology of villages. As a result, there are regional variations in the social morphology of Indian villages. Against this backdrop, this paper analyses the spatial organisation of houses by caste and religion in a small mountainous settlement, the Orange Valley Tea Garden, located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The study is based on primary data collected through a pre-designed interview schedule. The study shows that, unlike many other regions of India, caste is not the only basis of the spatial organisation of houses in the village under study.
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Ganga Ram, D.D. Sharma: Spatio-temporal Analysis of Gender Disparity in Literacy over Sub-tehsil Ani, District Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
Literacy, being one of the most important demographic elements, is a crucial indicator to measure human progress towards development. Literacy significantly impacts human capital, employment and social equality. Both genders contribute to development, yet benefits are not equitably shared. There is a slow rate of growth in female literacy as compared to male literacy. The existence of gender disparity in literacy brings sluggish and lop-sided development of the country. Despite the number of efforts made at national and international levels, there exist a significant number of illiterate women in the society, which is a disturbing factor for all development efforts. The present study attempts to identify the spatio-temporal pattern of literacy rate and variation in gender disparity in literacy in the study area from 1991 to 2011. For this purpose, a simple percentage method for literacy rate and the modified disparity index as put forward by David Sopher, 1980 for gender disparity in literacy has been used. The analysis reveals that Gender Disparity Index (GDI) in literacy has declined from 0.41 in 1991 to 0.16 in 2011. This shows that there still exists a disparity which needs to be reduced.
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Geeta Devi, Seema Tiwari: Impact of Landholding Size on Living Conditions of Farmers in Bareilly District, Uttar Pradesh
This study investigates the impact of landholding size on the living conditions of farmers in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. The study also examines the block-wise status of the living conditions of farmers. Bareilly district has a significant portion (59.3 per cent) of its population engaged in farming activities. However, despite the importance of agriculture, the living conditions of farmers remain a critical concern, associated with various socio-economic factors influencing their well-being. To reveal this fact, eight indicators related to the living conditions of farmers have been taken for quantitative analysis. The study depicts widespread disparity in the levels of living conditions of farmers on account of composite score of 0.91 recorded by Bithrichainpur block to 0.08 witnessed by Faridpur block. The study further reveals that the living conditions of the farmers are proportionally associated with the size of landholdings. The insights gained from this study can be used for policy and decision-making to drive positive change in the rural farming communities of Bareilly district.
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Map Series-XVII: M. S. Jaglan, Narender Kumar: Punjab-Haryana Region: Level of Irrigation Development, 2021-22
Punjab-Haryana region has been the part of undivided Punjab of pre-independence British era. The undivided Punjab has a long modern history of irrigation development. This region has been the part of the state of Punjab of colonial India where many canal constructions and renovations have been carried out by the British government and canal colonies were established between 1880s and 1920s. However, during partition of the country the canal colonies and most of canal irrigated area went to Pakistan. The Construction of Bhakra dam and network of canals during post-independence period opened up the prospects of agricultural development in Punjab-Haryana region. It was the irrigated area of this region where Green Revolution started in mid-1960s. However, the expansion of canal irrigation almost came to a halt in 1980s as the available surface water resources have not been enough to sustain the Green Revolution induced growth of agricultural production. Thereafter, started the expansion of tubewell irrigation in 1980s and presently it is the main source of irrigation in the region.
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Doctoral Abstract: Himanshi: Women Employment in Organized and Unorganized Sectors in Haryana: A Socio-spatial Analysis
The labour force participation rate (LFPR) of women in 2018 at world level has been 48.50 per cent. While, the LFPR for women in India is only 20.70 per cent and it has declined in the recent years. The declining trend in women’s work participation is largely attributed to the interplay of factors such as increasing levels of women’s education, changes in the occupational structure with a withdrawal from agricultural activities, limited opportunities in other occupations, and measurement errors in work participation data. The division of labour in India is highly gendered where women are largely involved in unpaid domestic work and care giving services, making them invisible workers. Even when they are visible in labour market, majority of them are in unorganized sector i.e. working either in agriculture (own account worker) or informal sector activities. Women face discrimination in the Indian labour market, specifically in terms of employment status and wages. Their entry into the workforce is often considered secondary to male workers and their contribution is seen as supplemental or marginal.
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In Memoriam: Dr. Gopla Krishan
Dr. Gopal Krishan, Professor Emeritus, popularly known as G.K. Sir among his students was born on July 05, 1940 in Village Bhalowal of Jhelum district in the Punjab Province of undivided India. After partition, the family settled down at Shimla. Discipline, duty and devotion of the family moulded the childhood of G.K. Sir. As a teenager, Dr. Gopal Krishan got school education in Shimla. At the very young age when he was in school, he received first prize from Mrs. Vijay Laxmi Pandit in a declamation contest on the topic “The Glory That is India’’. He passed his matriculation examination in 1956 and topped in the then erstwhile State of Punjab. He did his graduation (with Hons.) from D.A.V. College, Jalandhar. He obtained his Masters’ Degree in Geography in 1962 from the Department of Geography, Panjab University Chandigarh and he was the Gold Medallist. He joined the Department of Geography as a teacher in 1962, the year he had completed his Master’s course. Dr. Gopal Krishan wanted to pursue his carrier in Indian Administrative Services. But destiny had assigned a nobler role for him, as a teacher, academician and a researcher of par excellence, being an analytical visionary.
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In Memoriam: Dr. Baleshwar Thakur
Reflecting on the charisma, effortless lifestyle, and exceptional work of my late supervisor, Professor Baleshwar Thakur, fills me with both admiration and sorrow. He was not only an eminent geographer of contemporary India but also a guiding star whose legacy will illuminate the field for generations. Over his remarkable 46-years of academic career, he distinguished himself as a teacher, scholar, and administrator.
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In Memoriam: Dr. G. B. Singh
A well-known academician and agricultural geographer, Dr. G. B. Singh was born on August 2, 1936, in a farmer’s family in the Ganaur village of Gujranwala district of Punjab in erstwhile India. After partition, his family settled down at village Manawan near Zira in Ferozepur district. He did his matriculation from J.M.B.D. High School, Zira in 1954, whereupon he did his bachelors and masters in Geography from S. D. Government College, Ludhiana.
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In Memoriam: Dr. J. P. Singh
It is very difficult to write 'In Memoriam' of a person who was very respect able, dear, and helping hand in my life like Prof. Jai Parkash Singh, who was also known for his excellence in teaching and research. He was commonly known as Dr. J.P. Singh among his students and Colleagues. I came in contact with him in 1982 when I got transferred from Govt. College Malerkotla to Govt. College for Boys, Ludhiana and shortly our acquaintance changed into deep friendship. It is due to his encouragement that I joined Department of Geography at Punjabi University, Patiala in 1988. Although I shifted my residence from Ludhiana to Patiala, yet our relations, and affection for each other did not fade. My last visit to him was on April 5, 2024 when I and Dr. Lakhvir Singh Gill visited him after participating in a Quiz Contest at Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana. He was quite hale and hearty at that time. Although he had some problem in hearing, yet he had full strength in voice and command on language. His sudden demise on September 6, 2024 was shocking for the family and all those who have been associated with him as students, colleagues or otherwise.
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