Volume 14 | Issue 2 |

 Abstract

Due to the open border system between India and Nepal, movement of citizens of both the countries is relatively easy, making labor-based migration a common and ongoing process. This migration is mainly motivated by the search for livelihood, better employment opportunities, family responsibilities and the desire to get rid of economic insecurity. Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, which is located near the international border of Nepal, has geographically become a favorable destination area for Nepali migrants. The continued demand for labor in agriculture, construction, small business and service sectors makes the region attractive to migrants. The main objective of the presented study is to comprehensively analyze the socio-economic condition of Nepali migrant families living in Siddharthnagar district. Under this, the migrants' means of livelihood, income stability, residential condition, access to health services, children's education, remittances sent to Nepal and the status of their social integration in the local society have been studied. This study is based on primary data collected from 100 Nepali migrant families, which were selected by Snowball Sampling method, as no official list of migrant families was available and they are scattered in different settlements. The study's findings show that most migrants are employed in the unorganized sector, where wages are low, employment is temporary and working conditions are unsafe. Due to instability in income the standard of living remains limited and housing facilities have also been found inadequate. Access to basic services such as health and education is limited and a large number of migrants are deprived of government welfare schemes, largely due to lack of documentation and information. Despite this, migrants are making significant contributions to the local labor market, agricultural production, construction and service sectors. Therefore, the findings from this study can prove to be extremely useful for policy making, district level planning and development of migrant-centric welfare programs in border areas.

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 Keywords

Nepali diaspora, socio-economic status, Siddharthnagar, livelihood, border area

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The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes holistic education through the integration of co-scholastic and skill-based learning within the school curriculum. The present study examines the level of teacher preparedness for implementing co-scholastic and skill education practices and explores the relationship between preparedness and actual classroom implementation. The study also investigates whether teacher preparedness varies based on type of school, board affiliation, and gender. A descriptive survey method was employed, and data were collected from school teachers using a structured questionnaire aligned with the objectives of NEP 2020. The sample included teachers from government and private schools affiliated with CBSE and State Boards. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential techniques, including independent samples t-tests, to test the stated hypotheses. The findings revealed no statistically significant differences in teacher preparedness based on type of school, board affiliation, or gender, indicating that preparedness-related challenges are systemic rather than institution-specific. However, the analysis highlighted a positive association between teacher preparedness and the effective implementation of co-scholastic and skill education practices. Factors such as training exposure, confidence in assessment methods, and institutional support emerged as critical enablers of implementation. The study concludes that while NEP 2020 provides a strong policy framework, its successful realization depends largely on sustained investment in teacher professional development and supportive school environments. Strengthening teacher preparedness is essential for translating the policy's holistic and skill-oriented vision into meaningful classroom practice.

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 Keywords

Co-Scholastic, Skill Education, NEP-2020, Preparedness, Training, Implementation gap, teacher preparedness

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Background: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is an advanced microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and a major cause of visual impairment. In Ayurveda, long-standing diabetic retinal pathology can be correlated with Madhumehajanya Timira, resulting from chronic Prameha associated with Agnimandya, Ama and Rakta-Meda Dushti affecting the Drishti Mandala. Conventional management primarily aims at preventing further progression, highlighting the need for supportive and holistic therapeutic approaches. Aim: To assess the role of Ayurveda in managing Madhumehajanya Timira corresponding to long-standing proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Materials and Methods: A patient diagnosed with long-standing proliferative diabetic retinopathy was treated using a comprehensive Ayurvedic regimen. Internal medications included Chitrakadi Vati, Nishamalaki Choorna, Brihat Vasakadi Kashaya and Triphala Choorna combined with Shuddha Shilajatu. External therapies (Kriyakalpa) such as Nasya with Anu Taila, Thalam with Amalaki kalka sadita Dadhi, Bidalaka using Mukkadi Choorna, Durva Swarasa and Vata Shringa, along with Takradhara were administered. Clinical assessment was based on subjective visual symptoms and fundoscopic and OCT findings. Results: The patient showed improvement in visual comfort with stabilization of vision and no further progression of neovascular changes during the treatment period. Systemic well-being and better glycemic stability were also observed. Conclusion: Ayurvedic management may help in stabilizing disease progression and improving ocular comfort in Madhumehajanya Timira corresponding to long-standing proliferative diabetic retinopathy. An integrative approach addressing systemic metabolic derangements along with ocular pathology can be beneficial as supportive care. Further studies are required to validate these observations.

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 Keywords

Madhumehajanya timira, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, Bidalaka, Thalam, Takradhara.

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Security decision-making in daily life is influenced not only by knowledge and situational factors but also by inherent cognitive biases. Women, especially in modern socio-economic contexts, face diverse security-related challenges in digital, financial, physical, and interpersonal domains, depending on whether they are employed or homemakers, face different environments that shape their risk perception and judgment. Cognitive biases shape security decision-making among working and non-working women, depending on their financial differences, risk perception levels, and behavioural patterns. This qualitative study explores how working and non-working women experience and interpret security threats through the lens of cognitive bias. Findings show differing patterns of familiarity bias, intuition-driven reasoning, digital overconfidence and under confidence, and media-driven availability heuristic. Implications highlight the need for tailored interventions.

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Cognitive bias, Security decision-making, Working, non-working women

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Land has historically constituted the foundation of social organisation, economic life, and political authority among the different communities in the world and Monpa of Arunachal Pradesh are no exception. Embedded within a complex system of customary law, Monpa land categories structured access to resources, defined social hierarchy, regulated inheritance, and mediated relations between households, monasteries, and governing institutions. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the Dakpa-Pangchen region of Tawang district, this paper documents and analyses indigenous land categories such as Mang Sa, Khral, Ma Khral, Zhurpa, Gan Sa, and Parmong. This study argues that these categories function not merely as economic units but as socio-political institutions that ensured social balance, ecological sustainability, and inter-generational continuity. In the contemporary context, however, these traditional systems are undergoing transformation due to state administration, market integration, and changing aspirations. This paper further examines how these traditional categories translate into economic outcomes in the present day, particularly in the context of government land acquisition, compensation distribution, and shifting livelihood patterns. By recording these practices at the village level, the paper contributes to the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems and provides an empirical basis for culturally sensitive land governance in the eastern Himalayas.

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 Keywords

Monpa, Monyul, Khral, Indigenous Land Systems, Dakpa-Pangchen, Customary Law, Social Stratification, Economic Transformation

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Queer Futurity, Heteronormativity, Concrete Utopia, LGBTQ

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Arunachal Pradesh formally known as NEFA is situated in North Eastern part of Indian territory.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

Nyishi, Nyibus, Rituals, Taboos,Wiyus

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Art and Science represent two foundational pillars of human understanding and experience. Each contributes our understanding of the world. While Science focuses on empirical facts and the knowledge of the physical world, Art facilitates the interpretation and emotional connection to that knowledge. In the context of Biology--a science often taught with strict adherence to its specialized content and boundaries--traditional teaching methods can inadvertently contribute to high-pressure academic environments. This pressure can hinder student engagement and comprehension, particularly in complex subjects such as Biomolecules. This mixed-method study employed a sequential explanatory design to examine the impact of Art Integrated Learning (AIL) on reducing academic stress while enhancing comprehension in Biology. Two groups of students were studied: an Art-Based Activity Group (ABAG) and a Non-Art-Based Activity Group (NABAG). Quantitative data were collected through pre-test and post-test assessments focused on three challenging topics in Biomolecules. The results revealed that the ABAG not only achieved significantly higher post-test scores but also reported lower levels of academic stress compared to the NABAG. Qualitative analysis of student-created artwork suggested that the integration of art into the learning process allowed students to engage with the material in a more relaxed and creative manner, thereby reducing the cognitive load and pressure often associated with mastering difficult biological concepts. The findings suggest that incorporating Art into the teaching of Biology not only improves academic performance but also contributes to a more supportive and less stressful learning environment. This approach represents a significant step toward creating a more holistic and enjoyable educational experience, where students can thrive both intellectually and emotionally.

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Art Integrated learning, Biology teaching, Reduce pressure, Academic Environment

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The paper will explore the concept of entrepreneurship education as one of the solutions to socio-economic empowerment of women in Arunachal Pradesh, which is a culturally diverse and geographically isolated area characterized by unique development challenges. The study is qualitative and exploratory and explores the role played by formal, non-formal, and informal entrepreneurial education in enhancing skills, confidence, generating income and social involvement amongst women. The results show that entrepreneurship education is effective in improving the economic capacity and contributing to social empowerment through increasing the power of decision making, mobility and social recognition among women. Nevertheless, empowerment results are different based on capabilities of having quality training, institutional support and enabling environments. Women-led enterprises are limited in terms of structural factors like limited finance, weak market connectivity, inadequate infrastructure and entrenched gender norms, which reduce the scalability and sustainability of these ventures. The paper notes that there is a necessity to have context-specific, gender-sensitive policies that combine entrepreneurship education with financial inclusion, market access, and institutional support. The paper adds to the conversation on regional and gender-related development through the foregrounding of education as the key facilitator of women empowerment in Arunachal Pradesh.

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 Keywords

entrepreneurship education, women's empowerment, socio-economic development, Arunachal Pradesh, skill development, gender inclusion, livelihoods

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Kamala Markandaya (1924-2004) stands as a major voice in Indian English fiction, known for her insightful portrayal of the clash between traditional Indian values and the unsettling rise of modern forces. Her novels, mostly situated in post-independence India, address issues such as industrial growth, Western influence, class disparity, and spiritual upheaval. This study examines how this tension unfolds in four of her significant works -- Nectar in a Sieve, Some Inner Fury, The Coffer Dams, and Possession. Through close attention to characterization, cultural environments, and narrative structure, the paper contends that Markandaya avoids simplistic binaries: she neither idealizes the past nor blindly endorses modernization. Instead, she envisions a human-centered mode of progress that must be anchored in cultural continuity. Her fiction highlights both the damaging consequences of development--displacement, exploitation, cultural loss--and the sustaining force of tradition--community, identity, and moral grounding. Ultimately, her novels advocate a thoughtful and compassionate negotiation between heritage and change, a perspective increasingly relevant in the contemporary global world.

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 Keywords

Tradition; Modernity; Industrialization; Postcolonialism; Cultural Encounter.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition