This paper examines the vulnerability context of migrant workers in the informal sector in three Indian cities (Kochi, Surat and Mumbai), specifically in terms of how their livelihoods interface with climate variability, related hazard events and social inequities. It examines the progression of population vulnerability from a political economy perspective. The underlying assumption is that migrant workers' vulnerability to climate variability in cities is closely embedded within the wider political economy of their day-today livelihood struggles. A mixed methodology design was adopted to carry out the study. Data from 50 migrants in each of the three cities were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule. The research demonstrates that urban vulnerability is a condition that shapes and reshapes itself continuously and fiercely, accompanied
Background:Palliative care has become an emerging need of the day as the existing health-care facilities play only a limited role in the care of the chronically ill in the society. Patients with terminal illness in most cases spend their lives in the community among their family and neighbors, so there is the need for a multi disciplinary team for their constant care. Volunteers are primary care givers who originate normally from the same locality with local knowledge and good public contact through which they can make significant contributions in a team work by bridging the gap between the patient community and outside world.Aim:The present study has been undertaken to analyze the impact of palliative care services on patients by considering 51 variables.Materials and Methods:The respondents of the study include 50 pain and palliative care patients selected at random from 15 palliative care units functioning in Ernakulam district. The analysis was made by using statistical techniques viz. weighted average method, Chi-square test, Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance on ranks and percentages.Results:The study revealed that the major benefit of palliative care to the patients is the reduction of pain to a considerable extent, which was unbearable for them earlier. Second, the hope of patients could be maintained or strengthened through palliative care treatment.Conclusion:It is understood that the services of the doctors and nurses are to be improved further by making available their services to all the palliative care patients in a uniform manner.
This paper demonstrates that local knowledge systems are inherent elements of people's capacity to forecast natural hazards and thereby reduce disaster risk. It describes the local knowledge systems prevalent among traditional fishworkers in Kerala to predict and forecast coastal hazards. Apart from diverse techniques of participatory inquiry, in-depth interviews were carried out with 400 fishing households across 20 marine fishing villages of the state. The socially constructed nature of coastal hazards is demonstrated as a holistic phenomenon namely kolu. The empirical knowledge related to forecasting and prediction of kolu is thus explained in terms of biotic, oceanic, atmospheric and celestial spheres. This paper asserts the need for effective community-based early warning systems that are deeply embedded in the livelihood struggles and lifeworld of marginalised resource-dependent communities.
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