99 research outputs found
Evaluation and analysis of impact of subsidies on small scale renewable energy technologies dissemination: a case study of Nepal
No full textThe report has analysed the status of rural electrification using renewable energy technologies (RETs) and the current subsidy delivery modality of RETs in Nepal. As the Government of Nepal is subsidizing small scale renewable energy projects, it is important to evaluate and analyse the programme to make sure that a programme is running in an effective and efficient way while reaching the target group.
During the course of the research, primary information collected from the field has been compiled using appropriate tools/software (such as MS Office) and analyzed. Different sets of questionnaires were prepared, targeting different personnel ranging from the users’ level to the government policy level. The field survey methods include field observations of RETs installations and operations along with interviews with selected users on a random sampling basis to identify barriers to subsidy delivery and possible measures to overcome these barriers; to determine user satisfaction level and time period for subsidy delivery mechanisms.
The report started with the country background information and the rationale behind the study. This is followed by the literature review and information on the current status of small scale RETs in the country. Next it deals with the organizational structure and current subsidy delivery modality of RETs in the country. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the subsidy with the current subsidy delivery modality has been analyzed based on six parameters; Targets and Achievements, Impact of RETs, Subsidy Delivery System Efficiency, Transparency, Sustainability and Effectiveness.
The research shows that the subsidized government program has been successful in achieving its goal to provide basic energy services in rural areas through RETs in terms of its quantitative target. Although the subsidized program is successful in electrifying the rural communities via RETs, the poorest of the poor families are still excluded from the subsidy. The program seems to benefit more the rich and upper middle class families rather than the poor families for which the subsidy was intended. The high capital cost and long subsidy delivery process are the main important reasons for this failure. The author has proposed a new modality which might overcome the time barriers and bureaucratic process in the subsidy delivery mechanism and will decrease the lead time. This will in turn help to reduce the operational cost of the private companies and will encourage more players to enter the market, increase competition and result in lower system costs.
After identifying gaps in the current subsidy delivery modality, the project report ends with the recommendation of a new modality improving the current modality and filling the gaps identified. As this study has some limitations, as described in chapter one, the scope of further works has been listed at the end
Does a single specialty intensive care unit make better business sense than a multi-specialty intensive care unit? A costing study in a trauma center in India
No full textContext: Though intensive care units (ICUs) only account for 10% of hospital beds, they consume nearly 22% of hospital resources. Few definitive costing studies have been conducted in Indian settings that would help determine appropriate resource allocation. Aim: To evaluate and compare the cost of intensive care delivery between multi-specialty and neurosurgery ICU in an apex trauma care facility in India. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a polytrauma and neurosurgery ICU at a 203 bedded level IV trauma care facility in New Delhi, India from May, 2012 to June 2012. The study was cross-sectional, retrospective, and record-based. Traditional costing was used to arrive at the cost for both direct and indirect cost estimates. The cost centers included in study were building cost, equipment cost, human resources, materials and supplies, clinical and nonclinical support services, engineering maintenance cost, and biomedical waste management. Statistical Analysis: Fisher′s two-tailed t-test. Results: Total cost/bed/day for the multi-specialty ICU was Rs. 14,976.9/- and for the neurosurgery ICU was Rs. 14,306.7/-, manpower constituting nearly half of the expenditure in both ICUs. The cost center wise and overall difference in the cost among the ICUs were statistically significant. Conclusions: Quantification of expenditure in running an ICU in a trauma center would assist healthcare decision makers in better allocation of resources. Although multi-specialty ICUs are more expensive, other factors will also play a role in defining the kind of ICU that need to be designed
Female headship, poverty and child welfare: A study of rural orissa, India
No full textFirst, on the basis of primary data collected in a rural setting in the State of Orissa, an attempt has been made in this paper to compare the socioeconomic status of male- and female- headed households. Subsequently the differences in the use of resources (time and money) between male-headed and female-headed households have been analysed. Finally, the paper explores the relative well-being of the children between the two groups, i.e., to what extent female headship influences children's access to social services, and children's actual welfare outcomes, measured in terms of health and education indicators. The results suggest that poverty and female headship are strongly linked in rural Orissa, India. For eample, if we draw a poverty line that corresponds to 15 per cent of the population who are poor, 12 per cent of people living in male-headed househols are poor as compared with 33 per cent of people living in female-headed households. This result is based on per capita consumption as the welfare indicator. When 40 per cent poverty line is used, the differences are still large in economic terms and are statistically significant. Moreover, when we use adjusted consumption as the welfare indicator, the comparisons show a much higher incidence of poverty among female-headed households. This is true for both masures of poverty line, i.e., 15 per cent and 40 per cent. Thus, we conclude that female headship can be a better targetting indicator for poverty alleviation in rural Orissa. The results further suggest that the use of resources are significantly different between the two types of households. Labour force participation data indicate that female heads are more likely to work in the market place than women who are spouses of male heads of household. The differences are large: on average 74 per cent verus 54 per cent. The comparison of household expenditures indicates that, female-headed households spend relatively less on higher quality food items such as meat, vegetables, milk and other dairy products. However, there is some evidence that they spend less on personal consumption such as alcoholic beverages. Overall, the differences are pronounced between these households. Finally, the findings show that children in female-headed households are disadvantaged both in terms of access to social services and actual welfare outcomes.female headship, poverty, child welfare, gender,differential resource use, social services, household
Assessment of the intensive phase 'Shakti Divas' initiative to combatting anemia in Rajasthan, India.
No full textIntroductionAnemia is a global health concern, affecting over 2 billion people worldwide. Rajasthan state of India launched an intensive phase initiative to combat anemia comprehensively.ObjectivesTo assess the intensive phase anemia control "Shakti Divas" initiative of Rajasthan government through process and outcome valuation, while understanding the challenges and barriers in the implementation.MethodsA state-wide mixed methods cross-sectional survey was conducted. Process evaluation was done through data collection in seven identified districts of Rajasthan. This included surveys in Anganwadi centers and government schools, and home visits for out-of-school children, pregnant and lactating women not coming to Anganwadi centres. For outcome evaluation, IFA coverage data was obtained from government web portals one-month before and six-months after the launch of initiative. 38 in-depth interviews were conducted to assess the challenges and barriers.ResultsProcess evaluation - cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1100 Anganwadi centers serving 68,651 beneficiaries, and 1240 government schools serving 1,30,114 students, and home visits to survey 29,960 children and 18,632 pregnant women. 843 Anganwadi centers (76.6%), benefitting 68,651 people and 916 schools (73.8%) with 97,247 beneficiaries, were actively engaged in the initiative. Outcome evaluation - an overall increase in IFA coverage amongst beneficiary groups as well individual districts seen, with maximum increase amongst adolescent girls category (68.6%). Challenges were enlisted as knowledge, budgetary, supply, reporting, compliance, resource, coverage and monitoring constrains.ConclusionThe paper discussed the reach and challenges of an intensified initiative to combat anemia. Similar intensified and targeted strategies may serve as the key to achieve the goal of anemia reduction thus creating a healthier future for population with similar socio-demographics in LMICs
Response of a Stretched String Subjected to a Moving Mass
No full textIn this paper, the dynamics of a taut horizontal string with a constant velocity moving mass including its rotary inertia, is modelled. The equation of motion is solved using Galerkin’s approach, employing appropriate comparison functions. A discontinuity or jump in the trajectory of the mass has been established when the mass is about to leave the string. The consideration of rotary inertia in the model is found to affect the spatial location of the jump in the trajectory of the moving mass
Post-harvest Storage Losses Study in Onion Genotypes
No full textThe study was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur during Rabi season 2021-22 with the objective to study the storage losses in various varieties of onion and identify those varieties with a good storage life. The experimental material consisted of 15 onion genotypes from different locations in India. Observations on physiological loss in weight, rotting and sprouting percentage were recorded at fortnight level upto 90 days. Variety and storage time had significant effect on weight loss, sprouting and rotting. Overall, during the three months of storage period, minimum physiological loss in weight was observed in LC-1 (5.80%) which was statistically at par with LC-2 (6.05%), Patna Red (6.20%), Bhima Shakti (6.21%), Agrifound Light Red (6.54%) and NHRDF local (6.83%). The minimum rotting was observed in LC-1 (13.32%) which was statistically at par with LC-2 (14.73%). Sprouting was not observed throughout the storage period in any of the genotypes. LC-1, LC-2, Patna Red and Bhima Shakti had good storage as compared to other genotypes. These genotypes can be explored in the breeding programmes for production of high yielding varieties with good storage potential
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