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Incidences of increasing adiposity and its resultant cardiovascular risks are on a rise in developing countries like India due to the rapid urbanization and modernization processes. As such, the occurrences of elevated adiposity and hypertension are inevitable even among the tribal populations of India. Our objective was to assess sex differences in different anthropo-physiological variables, with special emphasis on the association of adiposity indicators and selected bio-social factors with blood pressure. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the Mising tribe of Dhemaji district of Assam in north-east India. The total sample consists of 208 adults (101 males and 107 females) aged between 18 and 40 years. Mising males exhibited higher adiposity and blood pressure levels than the females. In adiposity indicators, sex differences were observed in waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-tohip ratio (WHR) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in males than in females. MMR analyses showed significant (p<0.001) association of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), alcohol consumption and level of education with blood pressure. Gender, BMI, and level of education were found to be the most important correlates of blood pressure in Missing adults.

KEYWORDS: Adiposity. Blood pressure. Bio-social factors. Mising tribe. Assam. North-east India.

Etiologically symmetric and asymmetric small for gestational age (SGA) infants are two distinct entities. Growth data on symmetric and asymmetric small for gestational age (SGA) infants is globally scarce, and altogether missing on full-term Indian infants. In view of absence of longitudinal information on growth pattern of Indian babies, we studied gestational age-wise auxological dynamics of symmetric and asymmetric SGA neonates. Body weight, length and head circumference were measured at birth amongst full-term (37-40 weeks) 100 symmetric (boys 50, girls 50), 100 asymmetric (boys 50, girls 50) SGA and 100 (boys 50, girls 50) AGA babies born to parents residing in North-western parts of India. The babies who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled from the labor room of PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. Ponderal Index (PI) was used to categorize SGA babies into symmetric SGA (PI>2.2g/cm3) and asymmetric SGA (PI<2.2 g/cm3). Of all the full-term (i.e. 37-40 weeks) SGA and AGA babies representing this study majority of babies were born at 38 weeks of gestation. Though being etiologically more affected, symmetric SGA babies weighed marginally heavier than their asymmetric counterparts at each full-term gestational age. While, asymmetric babies measured longer and possessed larger head circumference than symmetric SGA babies. Male symmetric SGA and AGA infants had greater mean weight, length and head circumference than females. Significantly lower growth attainments in SGA infants of two types as compared to AGA counterparts reveals that symmetric and asymmetric SGA infants demonstrate a compromised nutritional state, as they never came at par with their normal peers.

KEYWORDS: Symmetric SGA. Asymmetric SGA. AGA. Neonatal anthropometry. Gestational age. Ponderal index. North-western India. Chandigarh.

Indian village, tribe and caste, both live in close proximity of each other that often led to exchange of indigenous traits of each other. Many Indian anthropologists following Redfield’s concept of folk-urban continuum, started to study the relationship and exchange between tribe and caste societies of Indian villages and gave a new concept of tribe-caste continuum which states that when any tribe and caste communities live together, neither of them is true tribe, nor a true caste, there must be exchange of socio-cultural traits between them. A combination of anthropological and historical analysis is a necessity to uncover transition from tribe to caste. With fast growing industrialization and urbanization in village areas, this is high time to study Indian villages, in order to understand and investigate the individual traits of village communities, socio cultural changes or any transformation of tribe into a caste or vice versa. Present study made in Birkona village clearly depicts the changing social-cultural life of tribe and caste communities.

KEYWORDS: Tribe-caste continuum. Birkona village. Bilaspur. Indigenous traits. Intercultural communication. Socio-cultural change.

There is an increasing trend of vitamin D deficiency worldwide. In India, vitamin D deficiency is widespread and the frequency is found to be ranging from 34.5% to 99%. The present review aims to explore the various factors that affect vitamin D deficiency in the present scenario and provides an overview of the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. This paper reveals several factors like dietary patterns, cultural and social lifestyles, cooking practices, poverty, and lack of awareness are contributing to low vitamin D status. Several health complications such as rickets, cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, various cancers, malabsorption, and autoimmune disorders have been associated with vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, it's high time for action to address the burden of vitamin D deficiency.

KEYWORDS: Vitamin D. Factors affecting vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency status.India.

Prevalence of components of metabolic syndrome among elderly has increased which is associated with declined cognitive functions and other age associated challenges. Impaired cognition and reduced cognitive abilities can affect social, functional, and occupational activities. The aim and objective of the present study is to determine the association of both in community-dwelling people. A cross-sectional study was carried out on community dwelling individuals in Delhi. Data on socio-demographic, anthropometric, cardio-vascular, bio chemical and cognitive health status variables was collected in urban Delhi (North India). Cognitive decline was found to be more prevalent among females than males and it is correlated with socio-economic background. Only BMI as a marker of adiposity is associated with decline in cognitive functions in this study. However, risk of abdominal obesity, hypertension and high lipid profiles are high among elderly population with significant differences across gender. Present study showed no association of metabolic syndrome with cognitive functions. Individual component of metabolic syndrome including obesity, high adiposity, hypertension, poor lipid profile has been reported in the community dwelling elderly.

KEYWORDS: Metabolic syndrome. Cognitive decline. Community dwelling. Older adults. Delhi

A strict conscious and deliberate restriction when a person is consecrated can be called Genna. Genna is a manifold layer that act both as a prefix as well as a suffix to numerous events. Generally explained as a ‘curious and special form of taboo’ (as quarantine) and ‘as obligatory holiday’, they are general markers of traditional knowledge that requires a performer, the affected/follower and the curser/giver. This paper attempts to understand this meticulous and deliberated complex that purposes as something for ‘more than habit’. Despite the blurred distinction of the folk group associated, the motive and the severity of the belief system is observed to be remained intact. While, it is inadequate to enquire whether equating of the misfortunes is due to the inadequacy or improper following, the salient-covert role is still found to hold its function. The representation of correct performer, his lineage and the institution he belonged conceivably maintained the traditional values or the cultural values of the clan system. Genna, therefore, for this paper is understood as a system that forms the mould into which a new mind is cast as it grows up. Taking flight from this, the paper argues that it purposes as a ‘nervous exaltation’ where the interaction of the folk groups is freed and also restricted to achieve certain silent values.

KEYWORDS: Ao Nagas. North-East India. Traditional knowledge. Genna. Rituals. Ceremonies. Silent values

Mapping of any tribal population group or a particular tribal community, in terms of depicting their distribution, economic or socio-cultural aspects, etc always throws up a different set of challenges to the cartographers. This is primarily due to the unique characteristics of such population in contrast to the non-tribal or general populations. The tribal communities in India, most commonly has their own dialect, other than several socio-cultural traits including integrated social network over a traditional eco-cultural zone. The presented essay is intended to share the author’s experience of mapping the complex and intricate world of tribal communities of India with examples of evolution of tribal mapping. It is suggested that distributional maps of tribal communities using census data needs to be verified by certain ground realities and that quantitative thematic mapping of cultural dimensions of tribal population needs to be taken up seriously integrating field-based knowledge. Moreover, community participated GIS mapping has a wider applicability and acceptability for portraying the cognitive aspects of the people and thus to ease out various intercommunity contentions. Therefore, such maps expose the true inherent interrelation between tribe and their eco-cultural world which are of great importance for effective planning of tribal development with a pragmatic and people oriented approach.

KEYWORDS: Mapping Indian tribes. Participatory. GIS. Territoriality. Habitat. Cultural dimension

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a combination of physiological, clinical, metabolic and biochemical risk factors that involves central obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension. This syndrome is mainly responsible for 2.5 times increase in cardiovascular (CVD) death and 5 times more risk of raising diabetes. Cross-sectional research was done during the period 2019-2021 in the Kumaoni region of Uttarakhand. The list of all the areas was prepared and consequently four places were selected for data collection. A total of 500 subjects, who visited the clinic were considered in the study. The data were collected on blood pressure, anthropometry, lipid profile and blood glucose level from all the registered subjects. The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome was assessed using the standards given by International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The parameters taken into consideration are sex, age, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HDL, triglycerides, and BMI. Females were found to be more prone to metabolic syndrome as compared to males. The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome was found to be 27% in overall population. The low percentage of participants with controlled and normal factors recommends a requirement for awareness programs and lifestyle/health wellness programs for the control and prevention of Metabolic Syndrome.

KEYWORDS: Metabolic syndrome. Obesity. Diabetes mellitus. Glucose. Blood pressure. Body mass index. High altitude region. Uttarakhand. Kumaon

Women’s political participation helping in their empowerment is one of the central issues in the process of development of any country. Women’s political participation in India is related to socio-cultural and economic factors. The representation of women MPs in Lok Sabha is slowly improving from 5 percent in the 1stLok Sabha to 14 percent in the 17th Lok Sabha. The election in 2019 marked for the first time that female voter turnout almost equal to the male voter. Not only the largest number of female candidates contested for election, the number of women who actually won was also the highest ever. Many women MPs re-contested and won by large number of votes. However, the Ministry of 17th Lok Sabha consists of 58 Ministers of which only six are women. Out of 25 Cabinet Ministers only three are women. However, the present President of India, Madam Draupadi Murmu, a Santhal woman was also a two-time Member of Legislative Assembly from the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Women’s access to political power is increasing continuously and it should go parallel to their influence over and exercise of political authority.

KEYWORDS: Political participation. Political party. Election. Women candidate. Lok Sabha. State. India

The term ‘Occupational Health Risks’ refers to the risks which are inherent to the type of work people are engaged in, to earn their livelihoods. Unsafe work environment and exposure to risk factors are major causes for development of such occupational health hazards. Use of better ergonomics, safe work environment with aim of enhancing physical, mental and social support and well-being of workers are some of steps which can contribute towards attaining better occupational health of workers among others like maintaining of efficient work capacity, development of inter-personal skills.One such profession that affects the health of people engaged is Band. These people generally come from economically weaker sections of the society, and to earn their living and bring stability to their lives, they are obligated to do the jobs that might affect their health adversely. Presently two case studies were done on Bandwallahs aged 55 years and it was observed that prolonged exposure to playing brass instruments had adversely impacted the subjects. Cardio-respiratory measurements showed reduced lung functioning; one subject had also developed other health issues including oromandibular pain, pain in dental cavity and blurred vision. Another subject had developed lump on the lips along with swelling of lips.

KEYWORDS: Occupational health risks. Bandwallahs. Unorganized sector. Seasonal employment. Anthropometric and spirometric measurements

Professor Bhuban Mohan Das was a social scientist of deep veracity, who was innately both a great scientist and a teacher. Professor Das was not only one of the eminent anthropologists in India; he was a litterateur, music lover and passionate traveller. His critical perception and academic achievements won high esteem in India and abroad. It is without saying that Das was impeccable in time management. He was also very particular in methodological process of study of any discipline, which he used to say, everything was his father’s legacy

KEYWORDS: Assam. North-east India. Anthropological studies. Bhuban Mohan Das. Contributions