Indian Journal of Research in Anthropology

  Arunachal Pradesh, like other states of India is experiencing numerous development challenges. The development challenges are mainly concentrated in the rural areas of the state. The focal objective of this study is to examine the challenges of rural development in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh. A total of 150 questionnaires were administered to collect data from the residents of the district. Interviews were also conducted with office staff in order to supplement the data from the questionnaire responses. It emerged from the study that development challenges in Kurung Kumey district are multi-layered. These challenges range from poor transport services, poor health facilities, poor educational facilities, limited electricity access, and shortage of markets for rural commodities. Based on the findings, a number of recommendations were suggested to lessen the impact of the challenges. 

  Estimation of stature is one of the most important aspects in forensic investigation for personal identification.  The objective of the present study was to derive regression equations to estimate stature from different cephalofacial measurements in adult Nepali females. The sample for the study constituted one hundred and eight adult females from Kurseong of Darjeeling district, India. The age range of the participants was between 18 to 46 years. Anthropometric measurements include stature (ST) and five cephalo-facial measurements namely head length (HL), head breadth (HB), head circumference (HC), morphological facial height (MFH) and bizygomatic breadth (BB). The mean age of the studied population was 35.36 (SD, 8.57) years. Results of the Pearson’s correlation coefficient of stature with different cephalo-facial measurements revealed that all cephalo-facial measurements were positively correlated with stature. Results of the linear regression analysis revealed that BBgives the most accurate estimation of stature by linear regression analysis. 

  Indigenous Knowledge base tree crop farming system is prevalent from time immemorial to Khasi community in Bangladesh. This is their main subsistence and earning economy. However, environmental degradation with global warming and the shortage of natural resources has threatened the overall cultivation system. The topsoil of landscape with water bodies and ground water are not adequate for watering in the field. Therefore, it is burning question how Khasi mange and organize tree-crop farming in the field and what types of initiates are taken by them to grow tree crops. To explore these issues a qualitative approach and participant observation method with in-depth interviewing techniques, group discussion and key informant methods were employed to elicit data from the field. The collected data have been analyzed in inductive approach and categorized it from various chunks of information as objectives. The findings showed that traditional knowledge as local knowledge of the Khasi has been modified to the context different topographical structure and texture of soil with hill surrounding natural
setting considering the local ecology, environment and biodiversities. The obtained findings uphold some empirical issues of indigenous practices with scientific practice of tree crop cultivation for getting soil moisture, fluid and water, which derives from rotted tree-twigs. While organic wastes and the foliage are not adequate, they use harvested rainwater, shallow-well water and ground water by using diverse ways and techniques. The watering and irrigation practice in the tree-fields are administered by the influence of modern irrigation inputs, including traditional Knowledge.