Loading...
![Thumbnail Image](assets/images/Collection.png)
Thesis
Browse
17 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Restricted Analytical comparison between commercial and laboratory prepared cleansers for utensils and floors(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Dubey, Ragini; Surjinderjit KaurThe present study was undertaken to evaluate the commonly used commercial utensils and floor cleansers, to prepare utensil and floor cleansers in a laboratory using mainly home available ingredients, to compare the commercial and laboratory prepared cleansers in terms of their cleaning efficiency, cost-effectiveness and selected physio-chemical parameters and to frame recommendations on the basis of findings of the study. The resreach was conducted in two phases i.e household survey and laboratory experiments. In the first phase, a sample of 120 respondents from two colleges of Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, viz college of community science and Basic science and Humanities were selected by using simple random sampling technique. The data were collected personally with the help of an interview schedule. The findings of the study revealed that 51.67 percent of the respondents preferred vim liquid, followed by vim bar (34.33%) for cleaning of utensils. The third and fourth preferred utensils cleansers were pril (15%) and super dish wash gel (11.64%). In case of floor cleansers majority of the respondents (82.50%) preferred Harpic followed by Lizol (33.33%) and domex (28.33%) respectively. While using commercial utensils cleansers most of the respondents (32.50%) reported the problems of redness and roughness of skin. In case of floor cleansers 25.00 percent respondents reported the problems of skin itching followed by 20.80 percent of respondents who reported breathing problem using commercial floor cleansers. So, four types of cleansers i.e. 2 for utensils cleaning and 2 for floor cleaning were prepared in the laboratory. The laboratory prepared cleansers were better than selected commercial cleanser in terms of selected quality parameter viz. pH range, surface tension, foam stability, BOD, emulsion stability and hard water test. The laboratory prepared cleansers were found to be more efficient in removing stains from utensils and floor as compared to selected commercial cleansers. The result of microbial examination of washed plates, cups, pressure cooker, saucepan and floor tiles revealed that laboratory prepared cleansers were powerful disinfectant also. The result of field trials indicated high level of satisfaction among respondents regarding the performance of laboratory prepared acidic utensils cleanser and in case of floor cleansers laboratory prepared basic cleanser was considered most efficient by majority of respondents (90%). Therefore these cleanser need to be prepared and promoted for wide spread use.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 Restricted An analytical study of residential solar photovoltaic system in Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Manpreet Kaur; Gill, Jatinderjit KaurThe present study entitled ‘An analytical study of residential solar photovoltaic system in Punjab’ was undertaken with the objectives: to study the socio-economic profile of the users of photovoltaic system for domestic purpose; to study the awareness, factors and the problems associated with use of solar photovoltaic system; to examine the economic viability of the photovoltaic system for domestic purpose. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 300 families from five major cities of Punjab (27 families from Jalandhar, 47 families from Patiala, 13 families from Mohali, 200 families from Ludhiana and 13 families from Amritsar) who were using photovoltaic systems at their residence at least from last one year. The data pertaining to awareness, factors, problems and the economic viability of the photovoltaic system used for domestic purpose was collected with the help of specially structured interview schedule. The Socioeconomic status scale developed by Meenakshi (2010) was used to study socio-economic profile of respondents. The results revealed that the users of domestic solar photovoltaic system in Punjab were of above average to high socio-economic status in terms of their family education, income, occupation, property, wealth and social status. They were aware of life span, cost, capacity, area required, working principle, net metering etc. of solar photovoltaic system. The use of photovoltaic system at domestic level was found to be increasing steadily over the period. A very high majority (91.00 %) of users preferred ongrid as compared to off-grid (9.00%). Respondents were satisfied with the amount of electricity produced and considered it as money saver, eco friendly, safe to use, require no technical knowledge, healthy and reduce power consumption. It was found to conserve energy, pollution free, safe and convenient to use, needed no protection from water and had low maintenance cost. The respondents differed significantly in their opinion on major constraints of solar photovoltaic system related to availability, economic, construction, technical and operational problems. They found economic problems such as the system being expensive coupled with lack of appropriate incentives leading to the problem of lack of capital to meet the high initial cost and construction problems like lack of technical knowledge, high cost of construction and need of space and surface area were major constrains to purchase solar photovoltaic system. Majority of the respondents were highly satisfied with the working, maintenance, installation and type of material of solar photovoltaic system. The cost also didn’t matter for most of the respondents in the view of the end benefits. The socio-economic status of respondents was found to be positively and significantly correlated with their overall awareness of solar photovoltaic system. The per kilowatt cost of solar photovoltaic system reduce with the increase in the total capacity of the system. The cost of solar photovoltaic system also reduced over the period and still reducing. The initial rate of return and payback period of solar photovoltaic system varied from 16% to 20% and between 5-8 years which indicated that the users of domestic solar photovoltaic system recovered their initial investment within the time period of five to eight years of its installation in terms of its saving on electricity bill and after that the saving on electricity bill till twenty five years of its life, contributed as saving. The benefit cost ratio of solar photovoltaic system greater than one indicated the usefulness of the investment on domestic solar photovoltaic system. The study proved the installation of solar photovoltaic system as economically viable and profitable in spite of its high initial cost.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 Open Access Socio-Economic Implications of Migration from Bihar(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Sinha, Kumari Amrita; Gill, Jatinderjit KaurThe present study was conducted on “Socio-Economic Implications of Migration from Bihar”, with the objectives; to examine the socio-economic status of selected migrants from Bihar residing in Ludhiana; to study the pattern of remittances sent back home by migrants, its usage and socio-economic implications; to study the problems faced by sender, and receiver, of remittances. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 120 migrants from Bihar, who migrated to Punjab prior to 2011. The household belonging to the selected migrants in only three districts of Bihar state namely Nalanda, Samastipur and Muzaffarpur, 40 from each district were selected. Thus making the total sample of 240 (120 migrants from Ludhiana city and their corresponding 120 households in Bihar where they were sending the remittances). The data collection was done with the help of specially structured interview schedules; one for migrants in Ludhiana and another for their households back in Bihar. Gururaj et al (2015) modified Kuppuswamy as well as Pareek and Trivedi scales which were used to study the socio-economic status of respondents in Punjab and Bihar respectively. Results reveal that the major push factor of migration was poor industrial growth in Bihar and major pull factor was continuous employment or gets employment easily whenever required in Punjab. The socio-economic status of migrant’s family in Bihar was better than the migrants in Ludhiana. Migrants used to sent materials as well as money in the form of remittances. On an average, respondents were sending `6891.66 per month to their families. The main use of remittances was in saving for future (100.00%) followed by children’s education (75.83%) and purchase of land (63.33%). The highest socio-economic implication was seen on the increase in family income followed by clothing, relationship with relatives/neighbours, food quality, communication, social participation, health status, mode of transportation, housing, children’s education, leisure and knowledge/skills. Correlation among remittances sent and income of migrants as well as total family income showed that positive and highly significant correlation was observed of money and utility items with income of migrants and total family income. Migrants faced language problem due to which they were unable to mix with the local people. During sending of remittances migrants faced several problems among which high transportation cost, high postal charges of sending utility materials and lack of time during banking hours were the issues faced by all of the respondents. Migrants’ family in Punjab faced several problems related to social acceptance. Children and women of migrant’s family felt socially discriminated and exploited in school and neighbourhood respectively. In receiving of remittances maximum number of respondents did not had knowledge regarding use of ATM. Other financial issues were insufficient money, untimely wage and lack of banking knowledge.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 Open Access Occupational Risk Factors of Workers Engaged in Food Processing Enterprises of Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Aprajita Kumari; Harpinder KaurThe present study was conducted on “Occupational Risk Factors of Workers Engaged in Food Processing Enterprises of Punjab”, with the objectives; to ergonomically assess the workplace of workers engaged in selected micro, small and medium scale food processing enterprises of Punjab; to study occupational risk factors faced by the workers engaged in selected micro, small and medium scale food processing enterprises of Punjab; to analyse the postural and musculoskeletal problems of the workers and to suggest measures for reducing occupational risk factors of the workers engaged in food processing enterprises. Study was conducted in two parts i.e. field survey and field experiment. For conducting the field survey, six micro, three small and two medium scale enterprises were selected. From all the three type of enterprises, 50 respondents were selected making a total of 150 respondents. A well structured interview schedule was used to ergonomically assess the workplace and to study the occupational risk factors faced by workers engaged in the enterprises. Subjective ergonomic scales like Postural Discomfort Scale, Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and rating of perceived exertion were used to assess the discomfort level of respondents at workplace. A total sample of 15 subjects from the sample of field survey having the permissible limit of physiological parameters and who were actively involved in the activity were selected for field experiment to analyse postural and musculoskeletal problems faced by respondents. Objective assessment scales like Rapid Entire Body Assessment, Quick Exposure Checklist, Ovako Working posture Analysis System, and angle of deviation were used to analyse the postures adopted during food processing activities. Results revealed that the workstation dimensions of food processing enterprises were not in accordance with the recommendations. The respondents working in food processing enterprises rated that highest musculoskeletal discomfort was felt at wrists and its Mean Score (MS) was 2.84, followed by neck (MS=2.79), and lower back (MS=2.58) regions. In micro scale enterprises, peeling, cutting and pulp extraction (MS=3.62); in small scale, storage of finished products (MS=3.55) and in medium scale, unloading (MS=3.14) and packing (MS=3.10) were the highest exertion prone activities. Postures like forward bending and twisting of spine as well as flexion and consecutive extension of spine were the most risky postures adopted by respondents during processing of food. Certain measures were suggested to reduce the occupational risk factors of the respondents. Four tools were developed and tested on the basis of feasibility scores to know their acceptability.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.