Volume 13 | Issue 7 |

 Abstract

This study investigates the transformative impact of the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) on women in rural Tripura, focusing on their roles in cultural preservation, economic development, and community leadership. Tripura, a culturally diverse state in Northeast India, has seen significant social and economic progress through community-based initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and gender inequality. The research highlights how TRLM, by empowering women through SHGs, has created platforms for financial independence, skill development, and cultural innovation. Case studies of five women artisans--specializing in weaving, bamboo craft, and culinary entrepreneurship--demonstrate how traditional practices can be revitalized using eco-friendly techniques and modern technologies. These women have not only achieved personal success but have also become community change-makers by generating employment, leading cooperatives, organizing training workshops, and mentoring others. Their ventures blend indigenous knowledge with digital marketing and sustainable practices, enhancing the visibility and viability of Tripura's cultural industries. The study uses a qualitative methodology, drawing on personal narratives and comparative analyses of women's lives before and after TRLM involvement. It finds significant gains in income, leadership roles, and decision-making capabilities. Furthermore, it emphasizes the inclusive and intersectional nature of TRLM programs, which aim to close social and economic gaps across ethnic and class lines. Despite these successes, the study also identifies research gaps, such as the need for more data on women's participation in formal cultural policymaking and long-term sustainability of TRLM-supported initiatives. Still, the findings underscore how SHGs and TRLM interventions not only uplift women economically but also enable them to serve as custodians and innovators of Tripura's rich cultural heritage. The achievements of these women, recognized nationally, illustrate the potential of grassroots empowerment to drive sustainable rural development. Their stories exemplify how traditional arts can become instruments for socioeconomic change when supported by structured training, policy inclusion, and digital access. The study concludes that TRLM and SHGs offer a replicable model for fostering sustainability, gender equity, and cultural resilience across similar rural contexts.

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 Keywords

Empowerment, Cultural Heritage, TRLM, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Sustainability

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This study investigates the relationship between death anxiety and life satisfaction among college students, with particular attention to gender differences. A total of 100 male and 100 female undergraduate students from Nashik City, Maharashtra, aged 18-25 years, were selected using stratified random sampling. The Death Anxiety Scale (DAS-CT) and Life Satisfaction Scale-Revised (LSS-R) were used as research instruments. The study followed a quantitative correlational design, and data were analyzed using SPSS. Results revealed that male students reported significantly higher death anxiety (M = 33.42, SD = 4.36) than female students (M = 25.27, SD = 5.14), while female students reported significantly higher life satisfaction (M = 94.03, SD = 4.97) than males (M = 82.39, SD = 5.31). Independent samples t-tests confirmed significant gender differences (p < .01), and Pearson's correlation indicated a strong negative relationship between death anxiety and life satisfaction (r = -.78, p < .01). These findings support Terror Management Theory, suggesting that heightened awareness of mortality can negatively influence subjective well-being. The study highlights the need for gender-sensitive psychological support and intervention programs in academic settings to help students manage existential anxiety and enhance life satisfaction.

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Death anxiety, life satisfaction, college students, gender differences, Terror Management Theory, psychological well-being, existential fear, undergraduate mental health.

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This paper examines the mechanisms behind the process of how Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea functions as a postcolonial and feminist counter narrative to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It analyses the character of Bertha Mason, reimagined as Antoinette Cosway, through a postcolonial and feminist lens, offering a re-evaluation of her narrative and identity. While Jane Eyre depicts Bertha as a subjugated, grotesque "other", Rhys re-establishes Antoinette's narrative allowing her to reshape her own life story by portraying her as a subject of colonial violence, bearing the brunt of racialized oppression and rendered voiceless by patriarchal structures. Employing a multi-perspectival, intersectional approach informed by postcolonial and feminist theory, this paper asserts that Wide Sargasso Sea not only re-envisions a classic Victorian novel but also undermines the foundational tenets of hegemony and androcracy. This research reveals how narratorial perspective, deterritorialization and cultural hybridity precipitate the transfiguration of the madwoman by decolonizing the self through a feminist lens, reclaiming agency and challenging hegemonic narratives.

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Redeeming the Feminine: A Decolonial Feminist Analysis of Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea

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The growing interest in natural remedies and wellness products has led to the development of convenient and health promoting formulations such asherbal tea granules. The demand for natural, health promoting beverages has led to growing interest in the herbal teas that offer therapeutic benefits beyond basic nutrition.This study supports the development of herbal tea granules as a convenient, shelf-stable alternative to traditional herbal infusions. This study involves the formulation and evaluation of herbal tea granules composed of clitoria ternatea, Cymbopogon citratus (Lemongrass),Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom),and Piper nigrum (Black Pepper). These herbs were selected for their scientifically supported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, digestive and immune boosting properties. The powder of clitoria ternatea extracted with hydroalcoholic solvent by maceration extraction method. The filtrate was concentrated and stored properly. The granules were prepared using wet granulation technique and evaluated for organoleptic properties, physicochemical properties including flowability, pH, ash value, water soluble ash value, and in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity were also assessed. The optimized formulation exhibited good granule characteristics, acceptable taste and significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential indicating its suitability as a functional herbal beverage. Herbal Tea has a mild, slightly sweet-bitter taste. The mild flavor makes it a good base for tea blends, allowing other flavors to shine through commonly mixed with natural sweetener as jaggery. This research highlights the potential of herbal tea granules as a convenient, caffeine-free, and functional beverage that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle

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Herbal tea granules, Antioxidant activity, Anti-inflammatory activity, Wet granulation, Functional beverage

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Agra and Firozabad were connected by road and other transport from the Mughal Period to now. These are the two important places of trade and commerce in the Mughal period as well as in the British period. These two unique centers were also popular for their business activities as well as indigenous industries and local markets in the United Provinces from the Mughal period to the British period and in present times. However, Agra was famous for its Leather footwear industry and Firozabad was renowned for its Glass Bangles Industries from the British period to the present times. Besides the popularity of the Leather and Glass industries, Agra and Firozabad have also established indigenous industries and local markets in different places of their locality. The local markets also known as Mandis and Haats were situated in different localities of Agra and Firozabad. These Mandis and Haats were important local markets for the local people to meet their local demand for household commodities. This paper highlights the importance of indigenous industries and Local Markets of Agra and Firozabad. This paper focuses on business activities in Agra and Firozabad of the United Provinces from the Mughal Period to the British Period. This paper also focuses on the Mandis and Haats as well as the activities of arhatias (local traders) in Agra and Firozabad.

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Agra, Firozabad, United Provinces, Industries, Mandis and Haats.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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The present study aims to explore the levels of stress experienced by college students and the various strategies they employ to manage that stress. To gather relevant data, a stress questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 200 college students, comprising both males and females. These students were aged between 13 and 21 years. The sample was selected through convenience sampling from a specific educational institution located in Muzaffarpur. The collected data were analyzed using frequency and percentage methods to derive meaningful insights. The findings revealed that a majority of the participants reported experiencing either normal or low levels of stress; however, a notable portion indicated they faced high levels of academic stress. Additionally, the research identified that the stress levels were significantly influenced by the college preparation efforts of both the students and their parents.

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Academic stress, Management's strategies, college students

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Anita Desai is one of those couple of Indian writers in English who have attempted to see personally the quandary of their female characters. The world of Anita Desai's books is the internal universe of her characters. She does not appear any preference for the political and social issues that win around her characters. She is more inspired by her characters than in making the condition which is utilized to characterize the persona. Making characters is more imperative to her than recounting a story. Anita Desai is packed in alarming seclusion, thinking that it's difficult to accommodate with self's general surroundings. Her female characters corresponding with these lines are continually a rebel. Dissatisfaction is prevalent in their connection to themselves and to their prompt human setting. Satisfactory standard of conduct is unknown to them and the root of this is not far to discover.

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Feminine, Psyche, Sensibility, Women, Trauma, Conflict, Life

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Telehealth has emerged as a revolutionary solution to bridge healthcare gaps, particularly in rural areas where medical resources are limited. In India, over 65% of the population resides in rural regions, often with inadequate access to specialist care, diagnostic facilities, and emergency services. Telehealth promises to mitigate these disparities by leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to deliver healthcare remotely. However, despite substantial potential, the implementation of telehealth in rural India faces multiple challenges including technological infrastructure, digital literacy, regulatory concerns, and socio-cultural barriers. This review synthesizes the current landscape of telehealth in rural India, examining accessibility, implementation hurdles, and potential strategies to optimize telemedicine deployment.

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Telehealth in Rural India: A Review of Accessibility and Implementation Challenges

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This study has been undertaken to investigate the minor salivary gland neoplasms arising from uncommon anatomical regions such as the parapharyngeal space and buccal mucosa are exceedingly rare. Their clinical detection is often delayed due to non-specific symptoms and concealed locations, frequently resulting in late-stage diagnosis.[1][2] Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC), more commonly arising in the parotid gland, and adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC), recognized for its perineural invasion and protracted course, are infrequent in these sites.[3][4][5] Awareness of their varied presentations is essential to guide timely diagnosis and appropriate management. Case Summary: The first case features a 50-year-old woman with progressive dysphagia, later diagnosed with ACC in the left parapharyngeal space. MRI revealed a well-defined enhancing mass, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis with immunoreactivity for SOX10, DOG1, and PanCK.[6] Surgical resection was curative. The second case involved a 46-year-old woman with a gradually enlarging cheek mass, identified as Grade II AdCC of the buccal mucosa with perineural invasion and involved margins.[5] She was advised adjuvant chemoradiation following surgical excision. Conclusion: These cases highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with minor salivary gland tumors in atypical regions.[1][2] Multimodal imaging and histopathological evaluation remain pivotal, while complete surgical excision is central to management.[3] Adjuvant therapy may be necessary depending on histological features and margin status.[5] Sustained follow-up is imperative due to the risk of delayed recurrence.[5]

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

Acinic Cell Carcinoma, Parapharyngeal mass, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, Minor Salivary Gland

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition