India : Environmental, Political and Social Issues

This book first highlights the environmental conditions of Uttarakhand such as relief, structure, drainage, climatic conditions and forest types, as well as the influence of these aspects on aspects of demographic structure such as population distribution, growth, sex ratio and literacy. The authors go to present findings indicate that the Tropical Lowland Rain Forests in Sri Lanka are capable of recovery, in terms of biodiversity and stature, if sufficient recess is provided following land use practices such as selective logging and chena cultivation in spatial and temporal contexts. As a desert state, the climate of Rajasthan is uniquely characterized by low rainfall, dryness and extreme temperature. Fauna of this region are specifically adapted to this hostile environment. In this compilation, threats to fauna of Rajasthan are assessed. Later, after presenting a short introduction to the historical and cultural background, the authors narrate Karunanidhi''s most decisive film, Parasakthi (Supreme Power, 1952). It challenges certain cultural stereotypes such as the sexual exploitation of women, social discrimination, corruption, religious superstition and so on. The closing study examines the effects of socio-economic determinants on child malnutrition in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous and malnourished state of India. Using data from NFHS-4, this study highlights district-wide variations in the nutritional status of children less than five years old in the state.