Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

S. K. Chattopadhyay ¹, K. Sarkar ¹, R. Chattopadhyay ¹, G. Baur ¹, S. Trivedi ¹, S. Roy ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Sericulture, Krishnath College, Berhampore, Murshidabad-742101, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Sericulture has been fully recognized as an important rural as well as household industry in India. It is a labour intensive, export oriented cottage industry, generating high employment and income per unit area of land. One hectare of mulberry land can generate employment to at least 13 persons per year. Women have played a significant role in this industry. Nearly 60% work of this industry is done by women only. In West Bengal, Malda is the biggest traditional district of sericulture. The present study was undertaken at Sujapur of Malda District as Sujapur is one of the main areas of Malda where sericulture is practiced in large scale. The main objective of the study was to examine status of women engaged in sericultural industry in terms of their educational level, income, nutrition, health and hygiene as nutrition and health are directly correlated with socio-economic status of a person and also affect the production of a farm. The present investigation indicates that 88% of women belonging to small farmers are illiterate. Even 8% of women belonging to big farmers are having education up to primary level. Maximum women of small farmers are found to come from the family income group of rupees 1501-3000 per month, while women belonging to big farmers are from the family income group of rupees 3001- 4500 per month. 72% of women belonging to small farmers and even 60% of women from big farmers are having body weight below normal. These findings are similar in case of blood pressure also. This study is a clear indication of alarming situation of sericultural women in major sericultural belt in West Bengal.

Keywords

Sericulture, Women, Income, Education, Health.

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K. Samanta ¹, S. Trivedi ¹, R. Ganguly ¹, S. Ghoshal ², T. Dutta ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Physiology, Krishnath College, Berhampore-742101, IN
2 Department of Zoology, Krishnath College, Berhampore, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The reproductive toxicity of fluoride was studied in male rats. Male rats were exposed to sodium fluoride at a dose 2 mg NaF/100 g body weight per day for 30 days. A significant decrease in body weight and testicular weight was observed. There were 16.6% reduction in metaphase index, significant decrease in DNA content and reduction in diameter of seminiferous tubules of the testis. Zinc and copper content of testis remains unaltered in treated group compared to control group. Histological studies show fewer luminal spermatozoa in the testicular section of treated group.

Keywords

Reproductive Toxicity, Metaphase Index, Fluoride Toxicity, Zinc.

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