Asian Journal of Home Science

Sharanbir Kaur Bal ¹, Shivani Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Family Resource Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, IN

Abstract

Cotton is one of the most important fibres as it plays a key role in the economic and social affairs of the world. Despite huge production of cotton in India, cotton picking is still practiced manually in India and is a tedious and highly laborious work. Cotton picking is one of the major labour intensive operations in cotton cultivation involving major share of expenditure. Since the varieties used in our country require picking at several stages feasibility of using mechanical cotton picker is remote, hence, the only option left is selective picking method. An adult person can pick about 25-30 kg seed cotton per day. Punjab state, being third in its contribution of cotton crop to the national pool indicates intensive involvement of rural women in this activity. They work intensively during a particular season (Oct.- Nov.) which ranges from 50-60 days and spend approximately, 8-9 hours per day in cotton picking activity and constitute majority of labour. Further, they perform this activity with drudgery prone methods thus, putting large demands on their time and energy. Therefore, All India Coordinated Research Project on Home Science, FRM Component of PAU, Ludhiana have done the ergonomic assessment of existing cotton picking practices being performed by women workers. The parameters for ergonomic assessment were working heart rate, energy expenditure and drudgery scores on five point scale. The results revealed that as no improved technology and methods were used/available for cotton picking ,this activity was considered as drudgery prone activity by the women workers.

Keywords

Ergonomic Evaluation, Physiological Cost of Work, Energy Expenditure, Drudgery Scores

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J. K. Gill ¹, Shivani Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, IS
2 Department of Family Resource Management, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, IN

Abstract

In the present study it was that majority of the elderly women and men were living in double storied own houses and only 14 per cent were living in single storied houses, considered as safe for elderly. Majority of women (62%) and men (50%) faced 4-6 health related problems. For maximum number of women as well as men accidents took place in the bathroom due toe slipping. Second most accident prone area for women was kitchen and wet floor was the main reason for occurrence of accidents. Primary consequences of the accidents varied form simple pain and sprain to fractures and dislocation of joints. The study also found the relationship between age and feeling of safety at home i.e. as the age increases the feeling of safety decreases in the elderly.

Keywords

Occurrence of Accidents, Residential Hazards, Elderly Person

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Sharanbir Kaur ¹, Shivani Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Family Resource Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, IN

Abstract

Women are the most neglected part of our society especially those who are residing in the rural areas. They have very passive role in the family decisions due to their low educational level. They work for 14-16 hours a day and have to perform all types of household, farm and allied activities. Their economic status is low because of unemployment in economic sector. Keeping in view the above facts, All India Coordinated Research Project on Home Science, FRM component under the objective "Empowerment of women through capacity building" was conducted intensive training programmes in three adopted villages of Ludhiana district to improve the knowledge of women for better living and to empower them for undertaking income generating projects so that they can contribute towards family income and improve the financial status of their families. Different training programmes were conducted to impart knowledge to total 105 participants (35 from each village). Further, impact analysis of the training programmes was done and the results showed that almost all the respondents gained full knowledge of all the aspects of training programmes. But most of them used the knowledge gained through different trainings for making articles to fulfill their household needs or to give these items to their friends and relatives. There were only few respondents who used the knowledge of candle making for earning money for their families.

Keywords

Capacity Building, Knowledge, Empowerment, Impact

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Rakesh Kumar ¹, Shivani Sharma ¹, A. P. S. Brar ¹

Affiliations
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Faridkot (Punjab), IN

Abstract

In the present era of life, most of the peoples are busy in jobs and have very little time for preparation food for their family and hence, dependent upon the processed food products i.e. ready to serve meal. In such type of food products, the natural ingredients undergo processing which impact upon the appearance of the food. Moreover, the consumer goes for shopping on less frequent basis therefore the shelf-life of food products becomes a key consideration. To restore the originality of the food products, the manufacturers are using food colours. These colours can be artificial or natural. Many types of natural and artificial colours are being used by the manufactures to maintain the particular shade of a product for the duration of shelf-life. Despite, widespread use of colourants (synthetic) in food products, repots of allergic reaction, indigestion have been reported from additives. Very few report for turmeric, carmine, annatto and saffron were reported, though nobody gave conformity. Thus, it may be concluded that natural colours are safe and could be used into processed foods in place of synthetic ones to enhance the appeal of the processed food.

Keywords

Food Colour, Synthetic Colour, Natural Colour.

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