Bio-Cultural Diversity Emerging Issues, Challenges and Prospects

<div><!--block-->“<em>The very reason our planet can be said to be “alive” at all is because there exists here (and here alone, so far as we know) a profuse variety: of organisms, of divergent streams of human thought and behavior, and of geophysical features that provide a congenial setting for the workings of nature and culture. All three realms of difference have evolved so that they interact with and influence one another. Earth's interwoven variety what we call biocultural diversity - is nothing less than the pre-eminent fact of existence</em>” quoted by David Harmon, Executive Director, The George Wright Society; Co-founder, Terralingua. It is therefore, more important to recognize that Bio-cultural approach is one which views humans as biological, social and cultural beings in relation to the environment and it views human biological variability as a function of responsiveness and adaptation to the environment with a special focus on the role of socio-cultural environments. Its significance consists in conceptual framework and models for understanding the dynamic interactions among human biological/phenotypic, psychological and socio-cultural traits in response to the environment. In this context this edited book speaks about the various issues related to bio-cultural diversity focusing on environment and climatic change, biological anthropology including impact of ageing, health care under diverted ecological settings, ethnic ecology and social policy. Most of the papers are drawn from rich data sources and the literature presented here contributes to the literature on bio-cultural diversity, emerging issues, challenges and opportunities.<br><strong>Contents:1. </strong>Text as Culture and Culture as Text: An Antrhopological Analysis of Dalit’s Narratives in the Context of Village Ritual<strong> 2. </strong>Deforestation, Climate Change and Adverse Effects on Tribal Life: A Bio-Cultural Study in Visakha Agency of Andhra Pradesh <strong>3. </strong>Health, Indigenous People and Traditional Knowledge: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of Contemporary World <strong>4. </strong>Ethnic Diversity and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Kalenahalli Village in Mysoru Seeme in Karnataka <strong>5. </strong>Ethno-Ecology and Traditional Health Care Practices of the Karbis’ in Karbi Anglong, Assam <strong>6. </strong>Applications of Anthropology: An Indian Scenario <strong>7. </strong>Delivering Environmental Justice: Perspective, Mitigations and New Challenges in India <strong>8. </strong>Causes of Rural Household Indebtedness – is Financial Inclusion the Need of the Hour? <strong>9. </strong>Problems of Food and Nutrition in India - A Solution through the National Food Security Act, 2013 <strong>10. </strong>Health Care System in Andhra Pradesh <strong>11. </strong>Estimation of Stature from Various Circumferences of the Body among Brahmin and Yadava Community of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh <strong>12.</strong> Food Fortification is An Emerging Technology to Achieve Food and Nutrition Security <strong>13. </strong>Climate Change its Impact on Environmental Health for Sustainable Development in India <strong>14. </strong>Dietary Behaviour and Obesity among Children <strong>15. </strong>A Study on Health Care Services for Children and Women <strong>16. </strong>Age at Menarche and Menopause among Bidi Workers Women of Sagar District of Central India <strong>17. </strong>Challenges of Cross-Cultural Diversity in Indian Companies <strong>18. </strong>A Study on Health Status of Elderly in Rural Areas Need for Social Work Intervention <strong>19. </strong>Effect of Alcoholism on Blood Pressure and Body Composition in an Adult Population <strong>20. </strong>Development of Tribal Community: Role of Education <strong>21. </strong>Policies and Programmes for Tribal Development in Andhra Pradesh <strong>22.</strong> Role of Ngo/Public Cooperation for the Development of Weaker Sections of the Indian Society <strong>23. </strong>Health & Nutritional Strategy: A study in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh <strong>24. </strong>Diet and Nutrition Prevention of Chronic Diseases <strong>25. </strong>Health problems of the elderly - a Study <strong>26. </strong>Legal Protection to the Elderly Persons- Indian Context <strong>27.</strong> Tribal Colossal Displacement and Compensation Scenario: A Case Study of Andhra Pradesh <strong>28. </strong>Growth of Self Help Group Movement and Women’s Participation in Andhra Pradesh <strong>29. </strong>Group Dynamics and Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women <strong>30. </strong>Red Sanders in Rayalaseema Region of Andhra Pradesh: Importance to Commercial & Medicinal Value <strong>31. </strong>Status of Rural Health in India <strong>32. </strong>Traditional Changing of Yanadis in Nellore and Chittoor Districts of Andhra Pradesh <strong>33. </strong>For a Whiff of Fresh Air: Attempts to Mitigate Air Pollution in Hyderabad <strong>34. </strong>Welfarism and Tribal Youth Development- A Case Study of Sugali Tribe in Ananthapur District <strong>35. </strong>Corporate Increasingly Join Hands With Non-Governmental Organizations (Ngos) A Case Study Of Tata Groups In India <strong>36. </strong>Relationship between Education Levels and Hypertension with Body Mass Index in an Adult Population <strong>37. </strong>Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development A Case Study Of Reliance Groups <strong>38. </strong>Susceptibility of Women to Elder Abuse: Strategies for their Wellbeing <strong>39. </strong>Problems and values of Old Age in Post Modern Era <strong>40. </strong>Village Adoption Scheme and Development: Andhra Pradesh Smart Village Concept <strong>41. </strong>Natural Resource Management and Bio-diversity Conservation in India<br><strong>About the Editor:Prof. Vembuluru Narayana Reddy</strong>, an admired academician, an ardent researcher, and a gifted administrator, is the Founder Registrar, Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, during 2008 - 2012. His efforts are tall and remarkable as he nurtured the Maiden University with a surging academic lead for its steady growth. As a Professor, Department of Anthropology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, A.P., since 1992, Prof. Reddy has contributed to both academic and administration unremittingly. He served as Dean, Resource Mobilization, and channelized sizeable funds for Research and Development of the University. He has been drafted with academic planning and administrative assignments by the National and State Higher Education Policy-Making institutes like the UGC, APSCHE, UPSC, and MHRD. He has produced half-a-dozen Ph.Ds and M.Phils in dynamic and diversified fields of Anthropology. His areas of interest include Tribal development, Poverty Mapping, Gerontology, Displacement and Resettlements, Disaster Management, and Micro Level Planning. He has published widely in these fields with an incisive inter-disciplinary approach with an insightful approach of a social scientist. He visited the USA and UK for academic and research purposes. Currently Prof. Reddy is a Chief Editor of Indian Journal of Millennium Development Studies, New Delhi.</div>