Editorial

Abstract

It gives me immense pleasure to be able to bring out the Volume 7 (Annual) 2021, a Special Issue on Environment, Development and Our Future of the Journal of Development Practice - A Peer Reviewed International Journal of Experiences from the Field. The Volume has six papers as listed below -

The paper by Antara Hazarika on Human-elephant Conflicts and the Preservation of Elephant Corridors in Digboi Forest Division Area speaks about the problem of human-elephant conflict and attempts to evaluate the role played by the forest department in conservation and the concern of local people particularly those belonging to forest villages. The study recommends preservation and protection of environment and wildlife.

The second paper by Ratul Lahon and Amarjyoti Mahanta entitled Does Flood Affect the Intensity of Livelihood Diversification? - A Study in the Flood-Affected Areas of Assam, India aims at explaining the livelihood diversification between flood-free and flood-prone areas taking the case of rural areas of the Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of Assam, India. The study finds that there is moderate diversification in livelihood but towards the low end job and recommends action for creating more opportunities for further diversification of livelihood.

An article by Nurzamal Haque and Ratul Mahanta on Teacher Quality and Dropout Rates in Primary Education - the Case of Developing Countries attempts to address the drop out issue in primary education in developing countries. This study examines the role of the teacher in reducing dropouts in primary education. Controlling for the role of socio-economic and individual characteristics, this study finds that the reduction in class size through recruitment of an extra teacher is more effective in reducing dropouts in developing countries than the provision of organised training of teachers. The study also finds that increased income of the household reduces drop out.

The paper by Mofidul Hasan on Inequality Adjusted Per Capita Income of Indian States in 2004-05 and 2011-12 examines the issue of inequality. The paper calculates an inequality adjusted per capita income in India with an aim to see whether ranking of states change dramatically from their ranking by per capita income after the states are penalized because of inequality in their distributions of income. The study however does not generate any evidence in support the above argument. The study recommends that adoption of naturally distributing growth patterns may generate growth with reduced inequalities.

The paper by Bada Mawkhiew and Darisisha Thankhiew on Informality in Manufacturing Sector in India discusses the issue of informality in manufacturing sector in India. The study uses data from National Sample Survey and recommends that giving motivating incentives to informal units on registration and to formal units for setting up in rural areas may reduce the problem of informality in the manufacturing sector in India.

The paper by Polakshi Bhattacharyya and Barsha D. Arengh on Health Issues of Rat Hole Coal Mine Workers of Meghalaya: A Logit Regression Analysis discusses various health problems faced by rat home coal miners in the Garo hills of Meghalaya, India. The study recommends scientific mining techniques with proper living condition equipped with health care facility for the miners.  

Wishing you happy reading.

Guest Editor

Daisy Das MSc (Economics), PhD (IIT, Guwahati), Post-Doctoral (Sam Houston State University, Texas)

Associate Professor, Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam, India

Editor

Jacob Islary MSW, UGC-JRF, PhD

Social Work, ADBU, Assam, India