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ThesisItem Restricted Reference Evapotranspiration, Rainfall, Moisture index, Aridity index, Water availability(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Navroop Kaur; Harpinder KaurThe present study was conducted on “Ergonomic Assessment of Postural and Musculoskeletal Discomforts Experienced by Female Workers Engaged in Flower Cultivation”, with objectives; to study the work profile and working conditions of female workers engaged in flower cultivation; to assess the postural and musculoskeletal discomfort experienced by respondents during flower cultivation and to develop an ergonomic intervention for risk prone activities in flower cultivation to reduce postural and musculoskeletal discomforts. Field survey was conducted on female workers engaged in flower cultivation in marigold fields in Ludhiana district. A total number of 120 female workers were randomly selected as respondents from these marigold fields. A pre-structured interview schedule was used to identify various work related risk factors faced by respondents; work related drudgery scores, body disorders and hazards experienced by respondents and to ergonomically assess the postural and musculoskeletal discomforts experienced by respondents. The musculoskeletal problems of respondents were assessed by using subjective scales i.e. Postural Discomfort Scale (Corlett and Bishop 1976), Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (Kuorinka et al 1987) and Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (Varghese et al 1994). Objective techniques i.e. OWAS, RULA and REBA were used to assess the work related postural and musculoskeletal discomforts experienced by respondents. Results revealed that average age of respondents was 43 and half of the respondents had personal monthly income in the range of Rs. 8000-9000 / month. Respondents faced various work related risk factors like environmental, personal, psychological, sanitation, ergonomic, musculoskeletal, safety and gender biased while working at work place. Work related drudgery scores were calculated and harvesting activity was found to be the most drudgery prone activity. Whereas, „body ache‟ and „something stuck in eyes‟ were found to be the main work related body disorders and hazards experienced by respondents respectively. Regarding coping mechanisms adopted by respondents to treat their problems, it was found that large majority of respondents ignored the disorder. Respondents felt pain in lower back, neck, upper back and shoulders. OWAS (Ovako Work Assessment System), RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment System) and REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) showed that squatting with stretched arms, Squatting with side twist, Squatting and half forward bending with stretched arms were under under medium risk and corrective measures are recommended in the near future. Whereas, harvesting of flowers with full forward bending posture was under very high risk category where implementation of change was recommended immediately. Remedial measures in the form of booklet were suggested to reduce postural and musculoskeletal discomforts experienced by female workers engaged in flower cultivation.ThesisItem Open Access A study on adoption of green home norms in modern houses(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Harleen Kaur; Gill, Harsharan KaurAdoption of green home norms in modern houses was studied in three smart cities of Punjab viz Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar to find awareness level of respondents regarding environment and their concern for preserving it, adoption level of green home norms in modern houses and constraints in their adoption. Self-structured interview schedule was designed to conduct a survey. Fifty homes, constructed after 2015 were taken randomly from posh localities of each of these cities comprising a total sample of 150. Majority (86%) of respondents perceived that their housing and life style related practices did not contribute in environment degradation, rather 53 per cent blamed agricultural practices. Seventy per cent respondents did not have sufficient knowledge about environment conservation. Only 14 per cent respondents reported little to acute impact on psychological and physical health. Twenty eight per cent respondents made efforts to avoid use of harmful household chemicals. Norms related to proximity of home to civic amenities and conserving natural topography was partially/not adopted in case of 70.50 and 93.33 per cent respondents. All respondents did not adopt rain harvesting and efficient landscape design for enhancing water use efficiency. Eighty six per cent respondents did not adopt renewable energy systems. Ninety, 86.00 and 93.33 per cent respondents did not dispose off building material waste properly, used recycled material and had on-site waste treatment for organic waste respectively. All respondents had no provision of separate smoking area, carbon dioxide sensors and adequate operable window area. Lack of interest was major constraint for not adopting green home norms followed by lack of awareness and high cost.ThesisItem Open Access Role of farm women in value addition to farm produce(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Martolia, Divya; Narinderjit KaurThe study entitled “Role of farm women in value addition to farm produce” was undertaken to study the existing status of value addition to farm produce in selected households. The study was conducted to determine the role of farm women in value addition to farm produce and to identify the constraints faced by farm women. A self- structured interview schedule was designed to conduct a survey on farm women in rural area of Ludhiana district. For sample selection two blocks from Ludhiana district were randomly selected. Further from each selected block two villages were randomly selected, from each selected village 30 respondents were randomly selected thus making the sample size 120. Results of the study revealed that the existing status of value addition to various farm produce of farm families were reported low, only farm women who were part of women oriented SHG(self help group)were involved in value addition process to farm produce products such as flour, pickle, squash or juice making. Further no value addition in allied farm produce was found in dairy, poultry and bee-keeping as well at secondary and tertiary stage, whereas, few respondents were involved in value addition process in fruits, dairy and honey. The role of farm women in value addition categorized as independently, jointly with other members or no participation. Majority of the farm women were reported no participation at primary stage except in dairy and bee-keeping farm families who had dairy animals and bee boxes participated independently and jointly with other members, whereas, value addition at secondary and tertiary stage mostly performed by farm women who were member of SHG (self help group) only and no value addition was observed in allied farm produce at secondary and tertiary stage. The constraints faced by farm women in value addition to various farm produce was lack of time management due to women involvement in domestic chores, lack of self-confidence, lack of training assistance to farm women, unwillingness to practice value addition because of poor health issue and lack of high cost equipment.ThesisItem Restricted A study on goal setting pattern of farm families of different socio-cultural regions of Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Pavneet Kaur; Gill, Harsharan KaurABSTRACT The present study entitled “A study on goal setting pattern of farm families of different socio-cultural regions of Punjab” was undertaken to study the existing goal setting pattern, assess the effect of socio-personal factors of the homemakers on the goal setting pattern and explore the constraints in goal setting and attainment of farm families. The study was conducted on 150 respondents comprising 50 respondents from each cultural zones of Punjab i.e., Majha, Malwa and Doaba represented by Dist. Amritsar (village- Khankot), Shri Muktsar Sahib (village- Hari-Ke-Kalan) and Jalandhar (village-Jamsher Khera) respectively. The goal setting pattern was studied on the basis of a goal being SMART i.e. specific, measurable, agreeable, realistic and timely. Results revealed that overall goal setting pattern of farm families was quite erroneous (overall SMART per cent score of 16.83) with attitude goal setting per cent score of 5.86, leisure 9.45, health 11.55, financial 14.20, career 16.89, educational 17.61, spiritual 22.69 and family goal setting per cent score of 36.44. It was further revealed that long term goal setting pattern of farm families was comparatively better (28.96 per cent) than mid-term (12.62 per cent) and short term (8.93 per cent) goal setting pattern as respondents were found to be wishful in the guise of long term goals and quite poor in organising efforts in the form of mid and short term goals directed towards long term goals. A positive but non significant relationship between the age (0.07), education (0.06), family type (0.10), family size (0.05) and family income (0.07) of the respondents and their goal setting pattern was found. Major constraint faced by the respondents while setting the goals was lack of training to set goals (92.40 per cent) and while achieving the goals was frustration due to successive failure in goal achievement and hopelessness due to persistent struggle with uncertainties (86.41 per cent).ThesisItem Restricted Work related health problems among female desktop computer users(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Reema; Gupta, RituThe present study entitled “Work related health problems among female desktop computer users” was conducted with an aim to study the job profile and work station design of selected female office employees using desktop computer, to investigate the health problems associated with computer use in terms of biomechanical stresses and ocular discomfort and to design and evaluate on-the-job fitness programme as an intervention for prevention of health problems among users. The study was conducted in two phases field survey and field experiment. Field survey was conducted on 80 female office employees of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in the age group of 30-50 years who have been working on computer for 4-6 hours daily and at least for last three years. Results revealed that the workstation of the respondents was not properly designed. Modified computer workstation checklist enfolds that furniture was not found adjustable. Ergonomic Stress Index was used to recognize the common cause of discomfort and pain and result shows that problem of pain was more in head (mean score 2.75), low back (mean score 2.4) and neck (mean score 2.33). According to Cornell Body Discomfort Survey Worksheet it was again observed that problem was more in head (Discomfort Score 27.00%), eye (Discomfort Score 23.00%) and neck (Discomfort Score 13.00%). Female workers using desktop computers were facing problems like musculoskeletal discomfort and strain on eyes and leading to blurred vision. For field experiment, 20 female employees were selected with normal physiological parameters from the sample of field survey. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) tool was used to assess the postural discomfort which revealed further investigation and change may be needed in posture. Intervention programme in the form of on the job fitness exercises was implemented and results indicated that there is reduction in discomfort faced by respondents after performing exercises and stretches.ThesisItem Restricted Occupational stress and its management among young working women from nuclear families of Ludhiana city(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Ch. Olivia Devi; Bal, Sharanbir KaurOccupational stress is stress related to one’s job. It often stems from unexpected responsibilities and pressures that do not align with a person’s knowledge, skills, or expectations, inhibiting one’s ability to cope. Women are especially likely to experience these sources of stress, since they still carry more of the burden of childcare and domestic responsibilities than men. The double pressure of work is having an impact on the growing creed of working women while the number of nuclear families is accentuating the problem due to withdrawal of the support system. Looking at the rising number of working women and increasing amount of stress and its impact on home environment, the present study entitled “ Occupational stress and its management among young working women from nuclear families of Ludhiana city” was undertaken to assess occupational stress and contributing factors in selected categories of young working women, to study the impact of occupational stress on working women and family environment and to identify the coping styles adopted for managing the occupational stress. The study was conducted with a sample of total 150 respondents, 50 each from different professional group namely, private school teachers, nurses from private hospitals and private bank employees were selected from the age group of 25-40 years of age. Results showed that almost all of the respondents were found to be having medium level of stress. It can be further seen that half of the respondents fall in the age group of 31-35 years, were having income of Rs. 20001to 40000per month, working for 8 to 9 hours per day and average distance from work place to home was between 1 to 5 km for 69.33% respondents. Among the factors contributing to stress, time pressure gave more stress followed by related to work factors.The impacts of stress on the respondents show that impact on physiological health is the most as compared to others followed by impact on maintaining the house. As for coping styles it can be seen that the respondents only sometimes takes care of their personal needs but always try to have good relationship with their family members.ThesisItem Restricted Assessment of managerial competence of farm families for managing selected family resources(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Arora, Ria; Gill, Harsharan KaurThe study entitled “Assessment of managerial competence of farm families for managing selected family resources” was conducted in district Ludhiana. The specific objectives were to assess the managerial competence for managing financial resource and abilities of the family members for achieving their family goals and to see effect of various socio-economic factors of homemakers on their managerial competence. A sample of 120 respondents was selected randomly from five different villages of five different blocks. Data were collected through interview schedule. Managerial competence was studied on basis of ability to undertake management process. The findings of the study revealed that overall managerial competence of farm families for managing their financial (1.37) and human resource (1.27) was poor .They were found good to manage generation of real income for their families through rearing dairy animals (2.21) and kitchen gardening (2.09). The farm families were found to be average in planning (1.56) and organizing (1.41) but poor in controlling (1.23) and evaluating (1.09) the use of their financial and human resources for attaining their family goals. Age, education and family type of respondents did not effect their managerial competence however their annual income and land holding had a positive but non-significant relationship with their managerial competence. Outcome of study suggests a dire need to teach the farm families about importance of home management and ways to exercise it to improve their current plight.ThesisItem Restricted Adherence to Residential Building Bye-laws in Ludhiana City(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Batra, Sakshi; Gill, Jatinderjit KaurThe present study entitled “Adherence to Residential Building Bye-laws in Ludhiana City” was undertaken to check the knowledge of heads of family regarding existing residential building bye-laws, their adherence to residential building bye-laws and reason for their non-adherence to existing residential building bye-laws in Ludhiana city. A sample of 120 respondents was selected randomly from areas under Improvement Trust Ludhiana and Municipal Corporation Ludhiana. An interview schedule was prepared to collect data from the respondents. The list of existing residential building bye-laws was obtained from Improvement Trust Ludhiana and Municipal Corporation Ludhiana. The findings of the study revealed that there was positive correlation of education of head of the family and year of construction of house with the adherence to residential building bye-laws in sample-I i.e. localities under Improvement Trust Ludhiana. Whereas, in sample-II i.e. localities under Municipal Corporation Ludhiana the education of head family, family income and year of construction was positively correlated with the adherence to residential building bye-laws. The level of adherence to residential building bye-laws was high in sample-I because majority (90.00%) houses were planned by architect and in sample-II the level of adherence was upto medium level because around half (48.33%) of the houses were constructed before purchase.ThesisItem Open Access Online shopping trend among women of Ludhiana city(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Sharma, Diksha; Surinderjit KaurThe present study was undertaken with the objectives to assess the online shopping behaviour of selected respondents and to gain insight into the factors contributing to online shopping preferred products for online purchase and to study the problems related with online shopping. The study was conducted in Ludhiana city of Punjab. Five localities viz; Punjab Agricultural University Campus, Sarabha Nagar, Kitchlu Nagar, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar and Model town were selected purposively. From each of the selected locality, 35 households having internet connection and experience of online shopping were selected through snow ball sampling technique. Thus 175 women constituted the sample for the study. The findings of the study revealed that around 90.00 per cent of the respondents used internet daily for communication/chatting and for online shopping as per their requirement. Majority of the respondents i.e 60.00 per cent did online shopping for self and 81.71 per cent respondents made payments for online shopping through cash on delivery mode. The findings further revealed that the most influencing factor for online shopping was convenience, followed by discount/offers, wider choice, easy delivery of products and easy return policy. The respondents mainly purchased small items of their personal use but they were still hesitant to shop online for major household items. The results regarding problems of online shoppers revealed that out of 175 respondents 50 respondents faced problem while online shopping. their main problems was difficulty in inspecting the quality of products. But still they were satisfied with online shopping experience and showed their willingness to shop online in future.