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कृषि में भी लैंगिक असमानता; कमाई में महिलाएं पुरुषों से पीछे

लैंगिक असमानता की जो खाई कृषि में भी महिलाओं का पीछा नहीं छोड़ रही है। कहीं न कहीं यह कृषि में महिलाओं की घटती भागीदारी के लिए भी जिम्मेवार है। आँकड़े दर्शाते हैं कि कृषि में जिस काम का पुरुषों को एक रुपया मिलता है, वहीं उसकी तुलना में महिलाओं को केवल 82 पैसे ही मिल रहे हैं। मतलब दोनों की मजदूरी में करीब 18.4 फीसदी का अंतर है। यह जानकारी संयुक्त राष्ट्र के खाद्य एवं कृषि संगठन (एफएओ) द्वारा जारी नई रिपोर्ट ‘द स्टेटस ऑफ वीमेन इन एग्रीफूड सिस्टम्स’ में सामने आई है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, जहाँ 2005 में 33 फीसदी महिलाएं अपनी आजीविका के लिए कृषि पर निर्भर थीं, वहीं 2019 में यह आँकड़ा 9 फीसदी की गिरावट के साथ 24 फीसदी पर पहुँच गया है। लैंगिक असमानता की यह दूरी सिर्फ यहाँ तक ही सीमित नहीं है, कृषि उत्पादकता के मामले में भी इनके बीच की खाई काफी गहरी है। पता चला है कि पुरुष और महिला किसानों के बीच कृषि उत्पादकता में करीब 24 फीसदी का अंतर है। इसी तरह पुरुषों और महिलाओं के बीच खाद्य असुरक्षा की खाई 2019 में 1.7 फीसदी से 2021 में 4.3 फीसदी तक बढ़ गई है। ऐसे में खाद्य एवं कृषि संगठन ने अपनी इस रिपोर्ट में इस बात पर जोर दिया है कि यदि असमानता की इस खाई को भरने पर ध्यान दिया जाए, तो न केवल महिलाओं को इससे फायदा होगा साथ ही सारे समाज को इसका फायदा पहुँचेगा। देखा जाए तो इस अंतर के लिए कहीं न कहीं हमारी सामाजिक व्यवस्था और भेदभावपूर्ण मानदंड ही जिम्मेवार है, जहाँ महिलाओं को पुरुषों से कमतर आँका जाता है। आज भी दुनिया के कई हिस्सों में महिलाओं को घर से बाहर काम करना हीन समझा जाता है। (‘डाउन टू अर्थ’ से साभार)

Antibiotic use in animals, humans can trigger AMR in each other: study establishes links

Reciprocity of antimicrobial consumption and resistance between animals and humans emphasises the need for integrated strategies to stop transmission across various One Health domains A recent study has found there are bidirectional associations between antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates in humans and animals. Antibiotic use by humans can lead to AMR in animals and antibiotics in animals can cause AMR in humans. While antimicrobial consumption in animals was significantly associated with AMR in human pathogens (listed under critical priority by the World Health Organization), AMR in humans was associated considerably with animal AMR rates, noted the study published in The Lancet Planetary Health on April 4, 2023. Read more: Antimicrobial resistance: How factory farming is destroying our planet AMR is the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the drugs used to inhibit or kill them. Antibiotics are used in food-animals to promote growth and prevent diseases. This overuse and misuse can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can then be transmitted to humans. Critical priority human pathogens include carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii, carbapenem-resistant E. coli, third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, cephalosporin resistant K. pneumoniae and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. The study has been carried out by researchers from various universities as well as experts across the globe. Carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumanii, third-generation cephalosporins-resistant escherichia coli, and oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (all antibiotic-bacterium specific pairs) were found to have significant associations with animal antibiotic consumption. These bacteria are known to cause severe infections in humans such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, meningitis, urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, bacteremia, etc. This is one of the first studies that has identified the global two-way animal–human associations. In addition, significant associations were also noted between animal antimicrobial consumption and AMR in food-producing animals and between human antimicrobial consumption and AMR, specifically in critical-priority and high-priority pathogens. In view of antibiotic consumption in humans, higher consumption is found to be associated with greater resistance in carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumanii, carbapenem-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa, third-generation cephalosporins-resistant escherichia coli, third generation cephalosporins-resistant klebsiella pneumoniae, oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus faecium. Read more: Unregulated use of antibiotics a threat to public health, say experts Third generation cephalosporins and vancomycin belong to the highest priority critically important antimicrobials category; carbapenems belong to critically important antimicrobials category and oxacillin belongs to highly important antimicrobials category, as classified by WHO. Antibiotic consumption in animals was positively associated with rates of third-generation cephalosporins-resistant E. coli, oxacillin-resistant S. aureus and carbapenem-resistant A. baumanii. Overall, for the critical human pathogens, the study found that carbapenem and third-generation cephalosporin consumption in humans and antibiotic consumption in food-producing animals were linked to an increase in AMR. These were also positively associated with resistance in food-producing animals. The study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that antibiotic use in animals may be contributing to the rise of AMR in humans. The reciprocity of antimicrobial consumption and resistance between animals and humans emphasises the need for integrated strategies to stop transmission across various One Health domains. Adopting better preventative measures, such as biosecurity, vaccination and waste management, may fall into this category. A 2021 report by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment showed how critically important antibiotics are misused and overused in the Indian food-animal production sector. In the dairy sector, 21 critically important antimicrobials from six classes, 14 critically important antimicrobials from four classes in the poultry sector, and three critically important antimicrobials in the aquaculture sector were found to be in use. Read more: Clear and present danger: Lancet study highlights AMR time bomb in India, world In the dairy sector, third, fourth, and fifth-generation Cephalosporins and several other critically important antimicrobials were used. These findings can now be viewed in light of the associations established in the study to understand how the use of cephalosporins in animals poses a risk of resistance in human population. Efforts to establish similar food-animal and human associations were also attempted in another report titled Antimicrobial consumption and resistance in bacteria from humans and animals. It focuses on six antimicrobials classes: Third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, polymyxins, aminopenicillins, macrolides and tetracyclines, five out of which are critically important antimicrobials. In the report, associations between food-producing animals and humans were observed between the consumption of an antimicrobial class and bacterial resistance to the antimicrobials in this class in the same population. For example, in the case of food-producing animals, a statistically significant positive association was observed for one or more years between the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and AmpC beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and consumption of third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins. In addition, resistance in bacteria in humans was associated with antimicrobial consumption in animals as well as resistance in bacteria from food-producing animals which, in turn, was related to antimicrobial consumption in animals. For example, a statistically significant positive association was observed for one or more years between resistance to third-generation cephalosporins through a univariate analysis in invasive E. coli isolates from humans and the consumption of third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, both in humans and in food-producing animals. Globally, antibiotic sales are increasing with rising food demand, making antimicrobial resistance a serious concern in countries where antibiotics can be purchased without a prescription, such as low- and middle-income countries. Some 93,309 tones of antibiotics were sold for use in food-producing animals worldwide in 2017, with that figure expected to rise to 104,079 tones by 2030, according to the study. The associations presented in the study demonstrate a strong understanding of the importance of conserving antibiotics because, whether used in animals or humans, they will undoubtedly pose a risk to other counterparts and make disease treatment difficult for both. In addition, the study has also identified determinants of AMR in humans and food-producing animals and established a positive association of antimicrobial resistance with indicators such as socioeconomic and demographic indicators, environmental indicators, health-related indicators and antibiotic policy and regulation in humans and animals. Their specific indicators that establish positive association are presented in the table below.

How Electric Three-Wheelers Are Crucial To Delhi's Smart City Mission

Electric three-wheelers have emerged as a crucial component of Delhi's Smart City Mission as they offer a cleaner, more efficient, and affordable mode of transportation. The government launched the Smart City Mission in 2015 to promote sustainable and inclusive development of cities across the country. One of the key objectives of the mission is to improve the quality of life for citizens, reduce pollution levels, and enhance mobility. In this context, electric three-wheelers (e3Ws) have emerged as a crucial component of Delhi's Smart City Mission, as they offer a cleaner and more efficient mode of transportation. Advertisement: 0:11 Close PlayerUnibots.in After the launch of the Delhi electric vehicle policy in August 2020, e3Ws emerged as the highest-selling electric vehicle in the capital. A total of 5,534 new e3Ws have been registered from August 2020 to February 2021 to make the switch towards clean modes of transportation even smoother. The growth of the e3Ws surged to 34 per cent in FY 2021 and 46 per cent in FY 2022 as compared to just 20 per cent in the financial year 2020. India witnessed 345,200 registrations of e3Ws from April 2022 to February 2023, i.e., 124 per cent higher than the previous year. And, being the second-largest EV market with 1,25,347 vehicles on road, Delhi’s contribution to green mobility has been quite remarkable. In recent years, the Delhi Government is running ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign, which is focused on generating awareness of the benefits of e3Ws along with the benefits offered under the Delhi EV policy for those who want to make a switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles to electric mobility. In the second week of the campaign, many users, environmentalists, celebrities and industry leaders come forward to express their support for the campaign. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the transportation sector is the second-largest contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions after power generation. In India, the transportation sector is responsible for nearly 12 per cent of the country's CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the increasing number of vehicles on the road has resulted in severe air pollution in many Indian cities, including Delhi, which has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the world. To address these challenges, the Delhi government has launched several initiatives to promote electric mobility, including the deployment of e3Ws. These vehicles are widely used in Delhi for short-distance transportation, such as last-mile connectivity and intra-city travel. E3Ws are also popular among small and medium-sized businesses for their low operating costs, sustainability and high efficiency. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), there are over 100,000 registered e3Ws in Delhi as of 2021, making it the largest market for such vehicles in India. The report also highlights the environmental benefits of electric three-wheelers. For instance, an e3W emits zero tailpipe emissions and is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by up to 1.5 tonnes per year compared to a conventional gasoline-powered three-wheeler. Moreover, e3Ws are more energy-efficient than their conventional counterparts, which translates into lower operating costs for drivers. According to a study by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), electric three-wheelers in Delhi consume nearly 60 per cent less energy than conventional gasoline-powered three-wheelers. The study estimates that switching to electric three-wheelers could result in a cumulative net savings of up to $1.3 billion for drivers by 2030. This estimate is based on various factors such as the lower operating costs of electric vehicles compared to traditional petrol/diesel vehicles, the availability of government incentives and subsidies, and the projected increase in the adoption of electric vehicles in India. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), switching to electric vehicles could save India up to $60 billion in diesel and petrol costs by 2030. The study includes all types of electric vehicles, including electric three-wheelers. However, it is important to note that this is just an estimate and the actual savings may vary depending on various factors such as the cost of electricity, battery technology improvements, and other market factors. The Delhi government has also launched several initiatives to promote the adoption of e3Ws. For instance, it has introduced subsidies and incentives for the purchase of electric three-wheelers and established charging infrastructure across the city. The government has also partnered with private companies to launch electric three-wheeler taxi services, which offer a cleaner and more affordable mode of transportation for citizens. In a nutshell, e3Ws have emerged as a crucial component of Delhi's Smart City Mission, as they offer a cleaner, more efficient, and affordable mode of transportation. The widespread adoption of electric three-wheelers in Delhi has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enhance the quality of life for citizens. Therefore, it is crucial that the Delhi government continues to promote and incentivize the adoption of electric three-wheelers as part of its efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive city.

Winter 2022-23 saw highest pollution levels in Maharashtra and Gujarat in four years: CSE analysis

Centre for Science and Environment’s Urban Lab’s Air Quality Tracker Initiative reports alarming rise in PM2.5 levels in western Indian states According to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the winter of 2022-23 in the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat was the most polluted in the last four years. The CSE’s Urban Lab carried out the analysis from October 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023, using real-time data from 58 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 17 cities in the two states. Winter pollution in the region typically sets in during late November and early December, when cooler and calmer conditions trap local pollution. The analysis found that winter pollution has been rising in Maharashtra on a yearly basis and stood at 66 µg/m³ this winter, a 13% increase compared to the mean of the previous three winter seasons. Gujarat was the more polluted of the two states, with a winter average of 73 µg/m³, a 6% increase compared to the mean of the previous three winters. Most polluted locations in the region were located in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The report calls for immediate action to control pollution from key sources across the region.

कोयले का इस्तेमाल बंद करने की गति बहुत धीमी, तीन डिग्री सेल्सियस की ओर बढ़ रही है दुनिया

दुनिया भर में कोयले से बिजली पैदा करने में जिस रफ्तार से कमी आने की सोची गई थी, वैसा नहीं हो रहा है। पेरिस समझौते का अधिकतम दो डिग्री तापमान का लक्ष्य विफल होता दिख रहा है और दुनिया 2.5 से तीन डिग्री तापमान में वृद्धि की ओर बढ़ रही है। एक नए अध्ययन में यह बात कही गई है कि बढ़ते तापमान से बचा जा सकता है। यह अध्ययन चाल्मर्स यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ टेक्नोलॉजी और स्वीडन की लुंड यूनिवर्सिटी के शोधकर्ताओं ने किया है।

This summer, Delhi to join hands with neighbours to fight bad air

NEW DELHI: Delhi government hopes to tackle pollution in the summer with a 16-point plan. The plan will focus on initiating dialogues with the neighbouring states on joint action that will tackle dust pollution, which is one of the major sources of summer pollution, and industrial pollution. Developing ponds and parks are also envisaged. Environment minister Gopal Rai, who chaired a meeting with 30 government departments on Wednesday, directed the officials to submit their section's detailed plan to the environment department by April 20. Based on the suggestions received from the various departments, the government will announce a summer action plan to contain pollution. Track the pollution level in your city Rai said, "Immediate and long-term action programmes, which will be part of the summer action plan, will be put into effect to control Delhi's pollution. Specific tasks have been assigned to different departments to prepare an overall action plan." The plan will have as its various elements dust pollution, industrial pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, solid waste management, tree plantation, tree transplantation policy, real-time apportionment study, open burning and development of city forest, real time apportionment study, urban farming, development of ponds, development of park, e-waste eco park, eco club activity and dialogue with neighbouring states. The minister said, "It has been seen in Delhi that the surrounding states also play a key role in the rise in pollution. Dialogues will be started with the neighbouring states to formulate a joint action plan to control pollution." Rai has appointed a nodal agency to coordinate with the other departments. For real time source apportionment study, Rai said work was being done in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur to determine the sources of pollution in the city. "India's first e-waste eco park is being built on zero-waste policy," he added. Responding to Wednesday's developments, Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "This action plan is incomplete without measures for vehicular pollution. Motor vehicles are among the highest contributors to pollution in the city, emitting significant particulate and gaseous pollutants. It is necessary to reduce traffic intensity and on-road emissions." Roychowdhury said one of the key summer problems was the exceeding of ozone standards. Experts explained that ground-level ozone was produced by the complex interaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted by vehicles, power plants, factories and other combustion sources. They undergo cyclic reactions in the presence of sunlight to generate ground-level ozone.

Rajasthan's beekeepers in the honey trap of high costs and low prices

The apiarists of Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan are as busy as a bee itself. Sadly, they are not getting a fair price for the hard work they put in. Over the years, production cost has soared, but honey prices have not increased proportionately, putting around 1,500 beekeepers in the district in a tight spot. accommodation of labourers and transport, the production cost of one kg of honey comes to Rs 125. In contrast, companies buy the produce for Rs 60-70 per kg, which is at least Rs 10 less than the procurement price provided almost two decades ago! The struggle does not end with this wide disparity in input and procurement costs. The drop in honey production also stings beekeepers. "Twenty-five years ago, one colony produced 50 to 60 kg of honey in the mustard growing season (October to March). With the increased use of pesticides and fertilisers, this has come down to 15 kg," said Punjab-based Jaspreet Singh, who supplies bee colonies to apiarists in Hanumangarh. "Bees do not visit flowers of crops sprayed with pesticides, else they will die. This has affected pollination. There is also a new concern that genetically modified plants might have an adverse effect on pollinators," he added. Honey trap Among the many issues, the addition of artificial colours and sugars to honey is a major cause of concern for beekeepers. "The authorities are hand in glove with procuring companies. It keeps changing norms, which encourages companies to sell adulterated honey instead of buying pure produce from us. Some parameters were unnecessarily diluted, without any explanation,' Prakash Singh Badal, a resident of Nohar in Hanumangarh and president of the northern Rajasthan unit of the Rashtriya Beekeepers Sangharsh Samiti, told 101Reporters. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has defined honey as a natural sweet substance produced by bees from the pollination of plants or by separating living parts of plants or by insects sucking on living plants. The bee collects, transforms, dehydrates and stores it, ripens and matures it in the hive. For the greed of money, several companies play with the health of unsuspecting consumers by selling honey mixed with maize and rice syrup. An investigation carried out by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2020 found that 10 out of the 13 major brands sold honey containing sugar syrup. "In 1994, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had set the standard for pollen count and plant element in honey at 50,000 per gram, but it was changed to 25,000 per gram in 2018. A year later, it was diluted to 5,000 per gram. The government also did away with the quality control test for honey," Badal explained. At the same time, pollen count is not considered a measure of the quality of honey globally. Consequently, determining adulteration by checking the pollen count has been a matter of controversy. This is exacerbated by the fact that pollen count varies in different types of honey. For example, it can be different in mustard, litchi, or honey obtained from a single flower or different flowers.

This winter most polluted for Maharashtra and Gujarat in last 4 years: CSE report

Context: The last winter (2022-23) turned out to be the most polluted one for Maharashtra and Gujarat in the previous four years, revealed a new analysis by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). More on the News: The average winter pollution level in the cities of Maharashtra rose by 13 per cent compared to the mean of the previous three winter seasons. Winter pollution has been rising in Maharashtra on a yearly basis and stood at 66 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) this winter, the study found. Winter pollution has been on a decline in Gujarat since 2019, but it spiked up this winter. In absolute terms, Gujarat was the more polluted of the two states, with a winter average of 73 µg/m3. Gujarat registered an increase of 6 per cent compared to the mean of the previous three winters. The regional influence of pollution is sharply evident in the synchronised spread of winter pollution across the cities. Analysis: In these states, winter pollution typically sets in during late November and early December, when the cooler and calmer conditions trap local pollution. In the western regions experience temperature inversion, which occurs when the surface temperature in the surrounding regions is lower than the air temperature. As a result, pollutants get trapped closer to the ground, leading to a significant rise in PM 2.5 levels. Overall, winter amplifies the effects of various sources of pollution, including industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and agricultural burning, leading to a significant rise in PM 2.5 levels. The geographical phenomena, including temperature inversion and the direction of the wind, play a crucial role in exacerbating the pollution levels during winter in various regions of India.

Maharashtra and Gujarat faced the highest winter air pollution levels, says CSE

For the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the winter of 2022-23 had been the most polluted in the last four years – says a new analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of the region’s winter air quality (PM2.5) trends. The analysis, done for the period October 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023, has been carried out by CSE’s Urban Lab. In these states, winter pollution typically sets in during late November and early December, when the cooler and calmer conditions trap local pollution. “The fact that the big cities as well as smaller towns have experienced the rise in winter PM2.5 levels points to the rapid spread of the air pollution problem in this region. This is evident in both the seasonal average and the peaks,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research an advocacy, CSE. “While local pollution is increasing in these rapidly motorising and developing cities, the regional influence is further aggravating the challenge. This is overpowering the advantage of natural ventilation of the coastal climate. This demands immediate roadmap to control pollution from the key sources across the region,” she added. “While in absolute terms Gujarat has a higher pollution level, it is rising faster in Maharashtra. Most polluted locations in the region are located in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Vapi and Surat are among the most polluted locations in Gujarat. Nagpur registered the highest increase in pollution with a 105 per cent rise compared to the previous winter,” says Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. This analysis is part of the third edition of Urban Lab’s Air Quality Tracker Initiative which was started in the winter of 2020-21. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in these two states. A huge volume of data points have been cleaned and data gaps have been addressed, based on USEPA methods, for this analysis. Winter here is defined as the period between October 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023. Winter average is based on the mean of daily averages where continuous data is available since 2019. India’s e-commerce logistics space to exceed 10 billion parcels by FY28 According to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants, India’s e-commerce logistics market would surpass 10 billion parcels by FY28 as it grows in Tier 2 plus cities, new categories, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) companies. In FY23, e-commerce logistics’ total shipments (forward and reverse) increased to 4 billion. (excluding hyperlocal shipments). In this pie, the shares of in-house logistics and third parties were about equal. According to the Redseer research, “Over the course of the year, the industry witnessed intensifying competitive trends from smaller incumbents with yields also being challenged.” The whole e-commerce logistics opportunity is expected to increase at a minimum CAGR of 20% to comfortably reach 10 billion parcels by FY28 on the back of continuous e-commerce development, according to the report. Despite this, the market is still a compelling long-term investment. D2C has become a rapidly expanding area of e-commerce. According to Redseer, D2C companies will have a 35% increase in overall GMV (gross merchandise value) over the next several years, with brand.com contributing significantly to this rise. By CY27, D2C brands are anticipated to produce a combined US$ 33 billion in GMV over all channels. According to Redseer, logistics providers with pertinent and tailored offerings for direct-to-consumer (D2C) firms are well-positioned to gain market share in this rapidly expanding industry. In the future, they are anticipated to have a greater yield profile.

Reinvent tiger conservation

We need to rethink the practice of exclusion and fortification of the original and western-oriented tiger charter as one which includes the interest of people who coexist with the tiger The year 2023 marks 50 years of the birth of Project Tiger — India’s flagship programme to protect its flagship species. In 2005, I chaired a tiger task force with fellow conservationists as its members to review what had gone wrong in the Sariska tiger sanctuary that had lost all its tigers. Our report, Joining the Dots, put forward the agenda for tiger conservation. It was not well received in the close-knit “tiger” community, as it was seen to be more human-centric than a conservationist. Much water has flowed under the bridge since we submitted the report to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Much has been done to follow up on its recommendations — the tiger census methodology has changed from tracking pugmarks to scientific estimation using camera traps; the tiger authority and wildlife crime bureau have been established with much-enhanced budgets; new protocols for management and protection have been laid down; relocation costs to villages have been enhanced. All these have borne results in terms of a stable and now increasing tiger population in the country. But still, in this 50th year, we should recognise that there is a huge unfinished agenda that needs to be worked upon. India’s challenge now is twofold: One, to safeguard the tigers in the wild and two, to grow the tiger numbers beyond the carrying capacity of the designated reserves. This is why the agenda of co-existence — where conservation works are reconciled with support for local communities — must be the future. There is some reason to cheer. The 2006 All India Tiger, Co-predator and Prey Estimation found that there were 1,411 tigers in the country; in 2010, the numbers increased to 1,706; by 2014 to 2,226 and in the fourth round in 2018, to 2,967. But there is a catch. In 2006, the tigers roamed some 93,000 sq km; by 2018, this came down to 89,000 sq km. This means there is now better protection inside the tiger reserves, but the habitat of the tiger is shrinking. The “zoo-fication” of the tiger is happening. Also, the 2018 estimation showed that some 1,923 tigers — 65 per cent — are found within the confines of the reserves; the rest roam outside in the contiguous forests, habitat to both wild animals and people. This is why I would reiterate that my position on co-existence — working with people outside the core area of the tiger reserve to build alliances and to bring them benefits — which was much reviled by the conservation community, must find real takers. Till now, the policy has ensured that communities outside the reserve get nothing from protection. Over the years, with little investment and even less understanding of how to plant trees that survive cattle and goats, the lands outside the reserves stand denuded. People have no option but to send their cattle to protected areas for grazing. As the ruminants move into forests, the herbivores — deer and other animals — move out to farmers’ fields to forage and destroy. We must learn this reality if we want more land to safeguard more tigers. The answer is in, first and foremost, paying people quickly and generously for the crops destroyed or the cattle killed. Second, we need to ensure that there is huge and disproportionate development investment in the lands that adjoin a tiger reserve. People should be benefitted to live in the buffer of the reserve. They must want to secure the tiger for their own interest. Third, people must directly gain from conservation. They must be preferred in jobs to protect. They must be partners, owners and indeed earners of tourism the tiger brings. We know today that wildlife tourism is growing; it is also high-end, exclusive and caters to all of us in the middle classes who want to see animals in the wild. It must grow, but in ways that can benefit people who live in the tiger’s habitat. This is not happening. The fact is that conservation is still happening in ways that exacerbate the conflict between animals and local communities. Today, in many cases, tribals are relocated from the parks and there is a virtual takeover of the same area by luxury tourism. This only adds to alienation and conflict. In the 2005 Tiger Task Force report, we had asked for a 30 per cent cess to be imposed on hotels that were in the vicinity of tiger reserves and had asked for this money to be ploughed back to people and the park. We had also said that homestead tourism, owned and run by local communities should be incentivised, indeed pushed, so that people are partners in protection. They have an equal stake in the tiger and its future. This is not happening, but it must. The new conservation agenda should not revolve around tigers versus tribals. It has to be about tigers and people. This is why in the next 50 years, we need Indian ethics of conservation — we need to reinvent the practice of exclusion and fortification of the original and western-oriented tiger charter as the one which includes the interest of people who coexist with the tiger. Only then can the tiger roam free, far and be bright. DTE The writer is the Director-General of CSE and editor of DownToEarth. Views expressed are personal

Right date with net zero

PM Narendra Modi set the tone for the country's climate action trajectory by targeting net-zero by 2070.... The 2070 date is not drastically different from most pre-COP26 estimates of what is economically viable for the country. For example, the International Energy Agency's India Energy Outlook 2021 report identified the mid-2060s in its Sustainable Development Scenario, and the Centre for Social and Economic Progress estimated 2065-70 to be a fair target for net zero in India. India's 2070 target takes into account its contribution to total emissions in comparison to emissions released historically by developed countries, and includes policies that prioritise its economic growth. The Centre for Science and Environment details that 2070 is on a par with the commitments of industrialised nations considering OECD countries and China have significantly delayed their own net-zero targets. Despite being the thirdlargest global emitter, India's emissions are relatively low in per-capita terms. This makes India's 'enhanced' commitments not only ambitious but also more useful. India's 'enhanced' commitments combine short-, medium- and long-term accountability measures to ensure that its net-zero target is not just a 'diplomatic tick box'. This could see India's annual greenhouse gas emissions peak by 2030, as noted by Professor Nicholas Stern. From 'India for Net Zero: Is 2070 the Real Deal?', The London School of Economics and Political Science

Perception, environmental determinants, and health complications of excess weight in India: a mixed methods approach

In light of the high and rising prevalence of obesity, we studied females and males aged 25–54 years with excess weight in the Kolkata metropolitan region, one of India's main cities, to understand the perception, environmental determinants and health complications of obesity. We resorted to primary fieldwork. The close-ended quantitative survey questionnaire was designed to capture the perception and health complications of the sampled population, while a semi-structured interview guide comprising open-ended questions was prepared to capture the target population’s in-depth views. Following the WHO guidelines on BMI and WC cut-off for Asian adults, the sampled population comprised females and males aged 25–54 with a waist circumference of 80 cm and 90 cm or higher, respectively, and a BMI of 25 or higher in the Kolkata metropolitan area. Using a concurrent mixed methods approach, we collected and analysed quantitative and qualitative data separately using descriptive statistics and inductive coding before combining them. In the study area, we completed 120 surveys and 18 in-depth interviews. Some environmental factors promoting obesity were the lack of access to healthy, fresh foods, lack of health awareness programmes, advertisements, and weather conditions in Kolkata. Interview participants also extended their concerns about food adulteration and the food industry. Participants confirmed that obesity could increase the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and heart disease. Further, participants felt squatting was challenging for them. Hypertension was the most common existing health complication found among the study participants. Participants suggested raising awareness, promoting and making access to healthy food and wellness programs more accessible, and regulating fast foods and sugary beverages at institutional, community and social/public policy levels to prevent obesity. Health education and better policies are required to combat obesity and related complications. Introduction According to World Health Organization (WHO), two-thirds of the global burden of diseases are chronic non-communicable diseases, primarily associated with people’s diet1, and high energy density foods are the primary agent conditioned by other environmental conditions that result in obesity2. Globally, obesity prevalence increased threefold between 1975 and 2016, with 15% of women and 11% of men, i.e. estimated to be 650 million or more individuals with obesity3. Since many adults have excess weight in several countries, the WHO consultation report has accentuated that obesity needs to be addressed and understood as a population problem, not an individual one4. It has been estimated that human genes can be accountable for around 40–70% of having obesity. Even though human genetic build-up plays a significant role, influencing the risk of obesity becomes much more robust when it interacts with environmental factors and lifestyle5. Understanding the physical environment is vital in determining the risk of obesity. Environmental factors include food marketing and advertising, knowledge regarding exercise and nutrition, availability of resources, local walkability and crime, etc., making the role of the environment multifaceted and complex6. Obesogenic neighbourhoods built by ‘food deserts’ make access to healthy and fresh foods challenging. Further, too many fast-food chains contribute to such an environment, selling unhealthy meals with low nutrition and high fat at low prices7. Living in such an environment encourages people to make poor food choices and to become less active while making it challenging to maintain a healthy body weight. Therefore, at the neighbourhood level, fast food consumption increases alongside a degraded home diet while promoting the possibility of nutritional morbidities like diabetes and obesity. This is how our environment unconsciously or consciously encourages people to make wrong choices6. Obesity can affect overall health, i.e. physical, mental/psychological, social and cultural, emotional and spiritual health8. The long list of associated complications of obesity includes type 2 diabetes7,9,10,11, hypertension, heart problems, stroke, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease7,9, dyslipidaemia, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, polycystic ovarian syndrome7, cancers7,11, pregnancy complications and depression7,9,12. People with excess weight have twice the higher chances of becoming the victim of heart failure than non-obese individuals, and 85 per cent or higher of type 2 diabetes patients are overweight. Individuals with obesity are at higher risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer than normal-weighted subjects. Besides, osteoarthritis risk increases by 9 to 13 per cent with a gain of every two pounds9. Even individuals with Body Mass Index (BMI) over 25 exhibited a higher risk of contracting Covid-1913, with a 50 per cent increased risk of mortality14. Alongside undernutrition, India is now facing another malnutrition problem, i.e. obesity, with around 20 per cent of the population aged 15–49 years with a BMI of 25 or higher15. In 2014, 3.7% of males and 5.3% of females worldwide, who ranked fifth and third, respectively, had excess weight in India, according to the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration research study. The percentages increased from 0.8% for females and 0.4% for males, moving the percentage from 19th place in just three and a half decades16. Increasing prevalence can increase the medical burden and decrease labour productivity17, which can be challenging in low- and middle-income countries with poorly equipped health systems5, lack of sub-optimal services and unqualified carers18,19. Despite recent reforms, India’s health system remains challenging because of the low financial investment and increasing non-communicable diseases13. India's health system is yet to be well-equipped to deal with non-communicable diseases20. Historically, India has had poor financial health coverage for most of the population. Partly due to the low government investment in health, out-of-pocket spending accounted for around 62.6 per cent of total health expenditures in 2015, thrice the global average and one of the world’s highest18. Due to the poor government facilities, people avail the private carers18. On the other hand, a community-based study in Delhi found that when the government offered quality healthcare services, people who previously went to private healthcare providers opted for community clinics19. Even with the insurance plan, several services and treatments related to obesity may not be covered6. India has well-drafted, articulated policies and programmes, which are only partially implemented. On the other hand, many people may forego medical care due to the higher costs of stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases12. In India, the urban population have a higher prevalence of obesity than the rural population21. We have chosen Kolkata metropolitan area as the study area since it is the largest urban agglomeration in Eastern India and the oldest metropolis in India22. It ranked 7th out of 640 districts, the highest among the five major urban cities in India, with around 43 per cent of the male and 41 per cent of the female population aged 15–49 years with a BMI of 25 or higher15. In light of the high and rising prevalence rate in Kolkata, it was worthwhile to study perceptions, environmental determinants, and health complications of excess weight, which could help to design necessary interventions and programs for public wellbeing. This study found the participatory/advocacy philosophical worldview appropriate to deal with the research problem. Furthermore, using mixed methods, no previous studies have explored the perceptions, environmental determinants, and health complications of excess weight among adults with excess weight in the Kolkata metropolitan area. The present study's novelty is that it is based on the recently collected field data, qualitative and quantitative data. The principal investigator (PI) measured each participant's height, weight, and waist circumference. Methods Research design We opted for a concurrent mixed methods design where we separately collected data between November 2019 and October 2020, analysed the quantitative (closed-ended) and qualitative (open-ended) data and then integrated them. We gave equal weight to quantitative and qualitative data23. A drawing of the convergent mixed methods design has been presented in Fig. 124. To develop the field instruments and framework for this study, we considered the Social-Ecological Model and the Health Belief Model. Figure 1 figure 1 Diagram of concurrent mixed methods design (Forman 2019). Full size image Sampling, study population and data collection procedure Purposive and snowball nonprobability sampling procedures were adopted for this study's quantitative and qualitative aspects. In the Asian population, the body fat percentage is 3–5 per cent higher than that of European descent17. Hence, the Consensus Guidelines25 and WHO26 suggested different BMI guidelines for Asian adults and labelled obesity at a BMI of 25 or higher. Similarly, the at-risk waist circumference (WC) cut-off is 90 cm in males and 80 cm in females due to higher odds for cardiovascular risk factors at and above the same range. Following the same guidelines, we opted for purposive sampling because we aimed to examine females and males aged 25–54 years with a BMI of 25 or higher and a waist circumference of 80 cm or 90 cm, respectively, who had lived in the Kolkata metropolitan region for the prior six months. We took this age group and those with excess weight for several reasons. First, it has been mentioned in the literature12 that people tend to gain weight as they get older, especially in their middle years. Second, this group was selected because it represented the years when an individual was most productive. Careers are built, marriages occur, and children are reared during this time. Hence, it is essential to prioritise a healthy lifestyle and establish preventative health habits for oneself and their family. Last but not least, previous research has shown that people with excess weight are more likely to experience clinical and sociological complications. Furthermore, we decided to do snowball sampling because there was no data to single out the intended study population, and we did not choose a door-to-door or household survey due to the sensitivity of this topic and the potential stigma attached to bigger bodies. PI reached out to the participants via referral, phone, or social media, and the rest PI recruited with the help of other research participants. PI pre-informed the interviewees that interviews would be audio recorded, and PI took prior consent with a signature on the consent form. PI measured height, weight and waist circumference for every participant using a standard long tape, a weighing machine and a waist measuring tape, respectively. PI gave out the quantitative questionnaires to the participants or administered them during the fill-up, depending on the respondents' preference. PI assigned a pseudonym for the interview participants. Saturation was reached with the completion of eighteen interviews. The investigator tried to be as harmonic, unbiased, respectful, and non-judgmental during the interviews and surveys27. Jawaharlal Nehru University's Institutional Ethics Review Board (IERB-JNU) granted pre-approval for data collection. The final results have been reported truthfully to uphold the study's ethics27. The PI conducted the entire survey and the interview procedure. Instruments used for data collection The closed-ended quantitative survey questionnaire provided a numeric portrayal of the perceptions of the sampled population23. There were 28 items to answer that used a five-point level of agreement Likert scale, whose Cronbach's alpha was 0.76, 4 items that used the five-point level of importance on the Likert scale, whose Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 and another 5 items that used the two-point dichotomous Likert scales, whose Cronbach's alpha was 0.37. With the assistance of three native Bengali speakers, the English quantitative survey questionnaire was translated into the regional language, Bengali. The survey took about ten minutes to complete. To gain a more in-depth insight into the target population's perception, we created a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions aligned with the quantitative survey questionnaire and research problem. PI audio-recorded the discussions while conducting face-to-face interviews. We asked six semi-structured questions in total. PI administered the interviews with voluntarily agreed-upon participants in their native languages (Bengali, English, and Hindi), designed to allow the interviewees to speak their minds freely. An interview lasted an average of 20 to 25 min to complete. Field experiences Between November 2019 and October 2020, the PI visited the field. The covid-19 pandemic, weight-related prejudice, and lack of interest, time, and motivation made it challenging to conduct surveys and interviews. The final results included 120 quantitative surveys and 18 in-depth interviews. Analysis of data Univariate analysis We used descriptive statistics to present the percentage and frequency of demographics and responses of the sampled individuals with the help of Stata 14.0. We estimated the BMI by inputting each participant's height (cm) and weight (kg) into the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website. Coding of themes We followed Creswell's23 six-step approach for analysing qualitative data: a) Transcribing the audio recording and writing up the field notes b) Re-reading the data to evaluate the overall meaning and credibility of the transcripts; c) Writing a code for the relevant sections that is an abbreviation of the given topic; and d) These codes are then developed to construct broad themes as a representation of the study findings e) Making connections between narrative and the themes; f) documenting the qualitative data alongside with the literature. The lead investigator transcribed the interviews, which was laborious and took approximately 1–2 h per interview. In this study, we focused on three prominent themes. Merging results of two datasets We used 'joint displays' to combine, compare, and exhibit the results by juxtaposing (side-by-side) the qualitative and quantitative data23. Human and animal ethics The Institutional Ethics Review Board of Jawaharlal Nehru University (IERB-JNU) gave the pre-approval for collecting data and approved the study protocol. Furthermore, informed consent was obtained from all subjects and we obtained their approval via a signature on a consent form. The authors confirm that all methods have been carried out in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. All data are kept anonymous and confidential. This research study did not involve the use of biological or human tissue samples. Results Descriptive statistics of the survey participants The study enlisted the participation of 120 persons, 60 of whom were females and 60 of whom were males. The descriptive statistics of study participants aged 25 to 54 years, with an average age of 39 years, are shown in Table 124. The participants in the study were mainly between the ages of 25 and 34. Half of the respondents had obtained their diplomas or had completed their college education. The average monthly family income of the participants was between 40,001 and 80,000 INR, and they were generally employed, with a household size of around four people. Most of those who took the survey were Hindu believers, from the General or Other Backward Classes (OBC) social group and spoke Bengali as their native language. The majority of the people who took part were married and had children. In addition, more participants had a BMI of 30 or higher, a waist circumference of 102 cm or higher, and were nonsmokers. The average BMI of the study subjects was 31.28, with a waist circumference of 106.44 cm. In addition, 45.83 per cent of those who took the survey never consumed alcohol, and one-fifth of them had hypothyroidism. Table 1 Descriptive statistics of the survey participants, Kolkata, 2019–20. Full size table Descriptive statistics of the in-depth interviewees Nine females and nine males, 18 individuals, volunteered to participate in the interview (Table 2)24. The interviewers' mean age was also 39, ranging from 27 to 52 years. Most participants had graduated, were employed, had a monthly family income of more than 80,000 INR, and generally lived in four-person households on average. Hinduism was the most common religious belief among the sampled participants, who were mainly from the 'General' social category and spoke Bengali as their first language. Most of those interviewed were married people with children. Further, most sample interviewees had a waist circumference of more than 102 cm and a BMI of over 30. The average BMI of the participants was 32.87, with a waist circumference of 109.28 cm. Furthermore, nearly half of the participants stated that they had never smoked, occasionally drank alcohol, had at least one health concern, or were on medication. Table 2 Descriptive statistics of the interviewees, Kolkata, 2019–20. Full size table Themes Three broad themes emerged from the qualitative data: 1) environmental determinants, 2) health complications, 3) preventing obesity. Environmental determinants A side-by-side comparison of quantitative and qualitative findings on environmental determinants is shown in Table 3. The table is a side-by-side display with three sections: The first column displays the type of integration for each domain and the relationship between the two types of data. The quantitative results appear in the second column, while the qualitative results appear in the third. By confirmation, we signify that two types of evidence agree; by expansion, we mean that understanding is expanding. On the other hand, the unstructured observations are generally derived from the PI's field visits and while collecting the surveys. See Table 3. Table 3 Juxtaposed findings of quantitative and qualitative investigation on environmental determinants. Full size table Health complications Table 4 is a joint display combining quantitative and qualitative findings on health complications. The green colours indicate agreement, and the blues imply disagreement as per the maximum study participants’ responses to the associated health complications. Furthermore, the grey colour specifies the inconclusive answers, while red demonstrates the existing health complications among the study respondents. Table 4 Juxtaposed findings of quantitative and qualitative investigation on health complications. Full size table Preventing obesity Table 5 is the final side-by-side display combining quantitative and qualitative findings on preventing obesity. The green colours indicate the agreement, and the grey colours pinpoint the strategies to prevent obesity as per the maximum study participants’ responses. Table 5 Juxtaposed findings of quantitative and qualitative investigation on preventing obesity. Full size table Discussion Environmental determinants Participants in this study had reported encountering serious challenges posed by the built environment—most notably, the food environment. Participants shared their concerns about packaged foods and food advertisements, especially those of western origin, which have become the badge of belonging to a higher social status. Participants also shared their concerns about the affordability of healthy and organic food. They hinted at the profit-making food industry and the profit-making fitness industry. On the other hand, they found no discussions about food knowledge or awareness programs related to good health practices. Participants indicated that the food, medical, and weight loss industries were profiting from people's weaknesses. On the contrary, most participants felt they lived in a walkable, convenient, and safe neighbourhood. Nevertheless, the interview participants found the city's weather their perceived barrier to engaging in physical activities. The relationship between environment and obesity is multifaceted and complex, involving communities, workplaces, and homes6. Prior research had established the link between obesity and the built environment28, as also found in our study. Obesogenic environments comprising food affordability, availability, marketing, etc., have been confirmed to encourage obesity in populations5. According to Jones and Bentham29, the modern diet includes high-energy–density foods as well as large portion sizes. When coupled with reduced physical activity, the energy balance gets tipped in favour of obesity. On the other hand, individual food preferences are often influenced by people’s culture29. The increasing income and literacy alongside urbanisation, improved infrastructure, and connection to the global trend are reshaping consumer preference and their demands in India30. Recent dependency on imported foods has simplified people's diets in an unhealthy manner, displacing the genetically diverse nutrient-rich whole foods in favour of more processed foods due to corporate branding31. Changes in food behaviour, such as the dependency on instant foods or the conventional diet, have roots in economic and social trends and self-choice. Consistent with the study's findings, numerous food and beverage advertisements and promotion appears on the internet, in magazines, in newspapers, and on television, with consequences that the general population may be ignorant of6 and can be challenging to overcome. Advertisements with food images primarily promote high-calorie, less nutritious foods and tend to encourage consumption, creating a poor food environment6,7. Harris et al.32 observed that most adults did not foresee the impact of food advertising on their eating behaviours. To sum up, the contemporary built environment encourages sedentary behaviours and the intake of more calories than required6. Hence, people now also tend to gain weight since they live in an obesogenic environment7. Besides, participants also shared their concerns about food adulteration. Adulterating food products could cause adverse effects on human physiology, and it is plausible that it plays a significant role in increasing the rate of obesity in Kolkata. Even though no literature had been found that showed a link between food adulteration and obesity, a study on food contamination was not published and was conspired into silence33. The Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), 2014–15, revealed that nearly one-fifth of the food items were misbranded or adulterated34. A study by Marshall et al. published in 2003 tested common vegetables (spinach, cauliflower, okra) that were found in the daily Indian diet in Delhi between May 2001 and June 2003 and found that 72% of the 222 spinach samples exceeded the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue as per the Indian standard35. In India, pesticide contamination of food is a big issue, especially in milk, vegetable and fruit. Despite that, government agencies in33 do not regularly test heavy metals in vegetables. These food safety incidents are caused mainly by lax regulations and poor standards35. Policymakers and public health professionals should consider these factors while planning intervention programs. As the national income rise in developing nations like India, changes in dietary pattern and activity levels increase the risk of overnutrition while undernutrition is still there7. Since the urban rates of obesity are much higher than their rural counterparts15, urban residents should get access to a clean, healthy food environment. Health complications Survey participants appeared to be well perceptive on physical health complications of obesity except for cancer. The interview participants frequently mentioned that obesity could increase the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and heart diseases. They also linked female reproductive problems, haemoglobin issues, breathing troubles, thyroid, fatigue, uric acid, depression, gastric issues, arthritis, asthma, body pain and joint pain, kidney problems, migraine and carpal tunnel syndrome with obesity. However, few also asserted that some of these health complications might also be related to genetics9 and that one can be equally functional and have excess weight. On the contrary, the interviewees did not mention cancer, liver problems, sleep apnea or premature death as the physical health complications of obesity. Participants manifested their understanding of several health complications of obesity, consistent with the findings of prior studies36,36,38. Obesity has been associated with several comorbidities and may lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other complications9. Besides, in another previous study, it was given that people of different bodyweight might have varying health outcomes due to the complex range of factors37. Around 68.33 per cent (n = 82) of the survey participants said they had at least one health complication, while 17.5 per cent (n = 21) had three or more health complications. Altogether, these complications were more commonly found among female survey participants, with a BMI of 30 or higher and waist circumference of 102 cm or higher. On the other hand, 11 interview participants, three females and six males had at least one health complication, while two female participants had at least three or more complications with a BMI of 30 or higher and a waist circumference of 102 cm or higher. That suggests that higher BMI and waist circumference will likely elevate the risk of health complications. The four most-cited complications present among the participants were hypertension, thyroid, cholesterol and high blood glucose. These health complications and BMI tend to increase with higher age. In addition, a few interview participants also pinpointed concerns regarding the lack of health and nutrition education. The associated physical health complications were also mentioned in the literature7,9,38. Chronic diseases like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes tend to emerge in the middle ages due to prolonged exposure to unhealthy lifestyles, specifically poor diet, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use39. Among survey participants, fewer people agreed to have problems with walking, climbing stairs, doing household chores, and being depressed, whereas more agreed to have difficulty squatting and snoring. Among them, 37.5 per cent (n = 45) had three or more concerns, and only 2.5 per cent (n = 3) had all six. While the interview participants now and then mentioned having problems with walking, climbing stairs, doing household chores, and squatting and that they were depressed and snored. These concerns were also more commonly found in females, with a BMI of 30 or higher and a waist circumference of 102 cm or higher. It is known that snoring could be a symptom of sleep apnea40. Although 51.38 per cent of snoring survey participants did not report having sleep apnea, it is likely that more than 21.67 per cent of individuals had sleep apnea but were unaware of it. Agrawal et al.41 also reported that many women had problems with walking, climbing stairs, squatting, and doing household chores because of their body weight. In addition, prior research7,9 also showed that individuals with excess weight were more likely to be depressed. Preventing obesity At the community level, obesity was seen as a critical health problem in Kolkata, with other diseases rising. In the present study, more than half of the interview participants (n = 10) stated that they had gained weight over the years. Participants suggested that there should be awareness programs and knowledge dissemination on nutrition, health, healthy behavioural habits, promotion and easy access to healthy food options and other wellness programs, and promotion of participation in physical activities at the institutional and community level. At the social/public policy level, there should be regulation on fast foods and sugary beverages. Nevertheless, participants hinted at the association between the big food industry, influential stakeholders, bureaucracy, and the government. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cancer etc., perhaps implies that people are not consuming the right kind of food that their bodies are designed to have42. Hence, public health messages need to opt for a balance to convey health risks targeting the disease ‘obesity’ and not an individual35. Most importantly, the key to healthy living should be moderation, balance and variety43. Furthermore, the general population should be protected from 'toxic' food industries, which have been thoroughly established in the literature44. The food industry’s motive for profit-making target people’s craving for sugar and claims that all calories are equal45 and that the association between diet and obesity is bad science33. Conversely, Spell46 recommended, “Counting calories alone doesn’t work”, and people also need to look into the quality of the calorie. However, these profit-driven food businesses are enshrouded by multinational stakeholders who receive backing from powerful lobbyists and are well aligned with the political system44, making them a challenging target. Conclusions The present study assessed the perception, environmental determinants, and health complications of excess weight in Kolkata using a concurrent mixed methods approach. Some environmental factors promoting obesity were the lack of access to healthy, fresh foods at a fair price and a lack of health awareness programmes, advertisements, and weather conditions in Kolkata. Interview participants also extended their concerns about food adulteration and the food industry. Participants repeatedly confirmed that obesity could increase the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and heart diseases, whereas they periodically disagreed with the association between cancer and obesity. Further, participants felt squatting was challenging for them. Hypertension was the most common existing health complication found among the study participants. Several survey participants agreed that sleep apnea was a health concern of obesity; few already had it; however, no interview participants cited it as a health concern. Participants felt most concerned about the food environment. Hence, they suggested raising awareness, promoting and making access to healthy food and wellness programs more accessible, and regulating fast foods and sugary beverages at institutional, community and social/public policy levels, respectively, to prevent obesity. The finding illustrates a safe environment and social and public policies promoting good health practices are essential to make an intervention. Henceforth, emerging from the results and discussion, further statements can be made. It is imperative to raise consumer awareness about food safety risks. Rigorous inspection and continuous monitoring of food products must be carried out to ensure food safety. India needs to regulate its pesticide usage following the latest scientific findings to ensure food safety and safeguard public health33. Obesity is a complex chronic disease that can challenge primary care treatment, and in the absence of specialist obesity treatment in India13, several people would be unable to maintain a healthy body weight5. Thus, healthcare services need to improve47. After the Ayushman Bharat Program (ABP) was announced in 2018, it was asserted that the success and effectiveness of Health and Wellness Centres would depend on a rapid transition from the policy stage to implementation, increased and dedicated funding by the government, participation of the community and other stakeholders, focus on population health interventions & public health services, political will, effective use of information and communication technology, among other factors48. Even though ABP could assist India in achieving universal health coverage, it would be untenable on its own and need to be combined with other initiatives18. Besides, improved policies governing the sale, marketing, and advertising of junk and fast foods, as opposed to controlled pricing of healthy whole foods, can directly or indirectly encourage healthy eating. Improved policies and programmes addressing the social, environmental, and commercial roots of obesity are fundamental to legitimate support systems for healthier lives5. Obesity is a pandemic and one of the most significant public health problems in recent years. Yet the government in India does not classify obesity as a disease; even more, it is subsumed under the nutrition agenda. At the very least, India needs to reform its healthcare systems to address new developing realities to achieve universal health coverage, as pledged in the National Health Policy 201720. Even though political investment extends to trans-fat and sugar tax, very little financial investment is given to obesity. Although numerous medical organisations have clinical guidelines and recommendations for obesity, their uptake is poor because these guidelines lack government support13. In addition, in 2003, when WHO urged governments to grow more vegetables and fruits and pushed toward healthy food subsidies and food education to combat obesity, the government of India chose to criticise the approach33. Unless we take action by educating, raising awareness and challenging, it will continue to rise and escalate even in the rural areas and, even worse, among individuals with lower socio-economic positions, which would undoubtedly put an economic burden on the public health expenditure and especially on the individual resources. Furthermore, future research should raise and address food safety and health concerns. Data availability The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available since this study is based on a primary survey but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. A supplementary Appendix file has been provided for the survey items. Abbreviations ABP: Ayushman Bharat Program BMI: Body Mass Index FSSAI: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India IERB: Institutional Ethics Review Board JNU: Jawaharlal Nehru University NFHS: National Family Health Survey NIH: National Institute of Health NCD: Non-communicable disease OBC: Other Backward Classes PCOS: Polycystic ovary syndrome PI: Principal investigator SC: Scheduled Caste ST: Scheduled Tribe WC: Waist circumference WHO: World Health Organization References Shannawaz, M. & Arokiasamy, P. Overweight/obesity: An emerging epidemic in India. J. Clin. Diagn. Res. 12(11), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/37014.12201 (2018). 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चुनौतियों के बावजूद शौचालयों से जुड़े बायोगैस अपनाने में प्रगति की राह पर कोल्हापुर

महाराष्ट्र के कोल्हापुर जिले में 25% शौचालय बायोगैस इकाइयों से जुड़े हैं जो मौके पर ही मल का निपटान करते हुए उसे ईंधन में परिवर्तित कर देते हैं। यह महत्वपूर्ण है, क्योंकि आम तौर पर भारत में बायोगैस उत्पन्न करने के लिए मानव मल के इस्तेमाल को अनुचित माना जाता है। इसकी बड़ी वजह गैस का खाना पकाने में इस्तेमाल किया जाना है। कम तकनीकी जानकारी के अलावा, भारत में खाना पकाने के ईंधन, उर्वरक और स्वच्छता के लिए अत्यधिक सब्सिडी वाली प्रतिस्पर्धी योजनाएं भी बायोगैस के कम इस्तेमाल के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं। पश्चिमी राज्य महाराष्ट्र के कोल्हापुर जिले में चौधरवाड़ी गांव की 35 वर्षीय रूपाली चौधरी का उनकी शादी के बाद ज्यादातर समय परिवार के लिए खाना पकाने में बीतता है। पहले वह चूल्हा जलाने के लिए जलाऊ लकड़ी इकट्ठा करने के लिए दिन में तीन बार अपने गांव के पास एक जंगल में जाया करती थीं। लेकिन 2018 में उनके घर के पीछे आंगन में एक बायोगैस संयंत्र स्थापित होने के बाद से जंगल में आना-जाना कम हो गया और उनका काफी समय बचने लगा। अब वह खाना पकाने का काम बायोगैस से जलने वाले चूल्हे पर करती हैं। इससे न सिर्फ उन्हें धुएं से मुक्ति मिली है, बल्कि जलाऊ लकड़ी पर उनकी निर्भरता भी कम हो गई है। उनका ये चूल्हा बायोगैस संयंत्र से निकलने वाली गैस से चलता है, जो उसके घर में हाल ही बने शौचालय के साथ जुड़ा है। चौधरवाड़ी के 100 में से 60 परिवारों ने अपने शौचालयों को ‘बायोगैस डाइजेस्टर्स’ से जोड़ा हुआ है जो वहां के शौचालयों से निकले कार्बनिक पदार्थ को विघटित कर बायोगैस उत्पन्न करता है। इसका एक मतलब यह भी है कि रूपाली को अब शौच के लिए रोजाना आम सार्वजनिक शौचालय में जाना नहीं पड़ता है। उन्होने कहा, “मैं अब खेतों में ज्यादा समय बिता पाती हूं। संयत्र से निकलने वाला घोल (स्लरी) अच्छी खाद बनाता है जिसे हम अपने दो एकड़ के गन्ने के बागान में इस्तेमाल करते हैं। नतीजन यूरिया पर होने वाला खर्च कम हो गया है।” कोल्हापुर की कृषि अधिकारी गौरी पी. माथापति ने कहा, “बायोगैस से जुड़े शौचालय हमारी महिलाओं के लिए जीवन बदलने वाले रहे हैं। ये महिलाएं खाना पकाने और जलाऊ लकड़ी इकट्ठा करने के काम के बोझ तले दबे रहती थीं और यहां तक कि शौच के लिए घर से बाहर जाने पर भी उनकी सुरक्षा का जोखिम भी बना रहता था।” कोल्हापुर में लगभग 25% शौचालय यानी 5,30,000 में से 1,19, 780 शौचालय बायोगैस संयंत्रों से जुड़े हैं। बायोगैस डाइजेस्टर के निर्माण में लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने के लिए जिले को 1982 से देश में और महाराष्ट्र में कई बार प्रथम स्थान दिया गया है। कोल्हापुर के 1186 गांवों में से 12 गांवो में बायोगैस से जुड़े शौचालयों (बीएलटी) का 100% कवरेज है। मौजूदा या नए शौचालयों को बायोगैस संयंत्रों से जोड़ने की पहल कोल्हापुर में जिला प्रशासन की ओर से तब शुरू की गई थी, जब 2014 में ‘स्वच्छ भारत अभियान’ लॉन्च किया गया था। सरकार बायोगैस से जुड़े शौचालय बनाने के लिए लोगों को प्रोत्साहित करने के उद्देश्य से अनुमानित खर्च के लगभग 30% की सब्सिडी प्रदान करती है। लेकिन इस पहल की अपनी कुछ चुनौतियां हैं, जिनसे निपटना आसान नहीं है। सबसे बड़ी चुनौती मुख्य रूप से लोगों के व्यवहार में बदलाव की है। कोल्हापुर के जिला कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक (जिला जल और स्वच्छता मिशन) विजय पाटिल ने कहा, “शौचालय लोगों में घिन पैदा करता है। वह इसे हिकारत भरी नजरों से देखते हैं। मल को संसाधन के रूप में मानने की मानसिकता में बदलाव इस प्रक्रिया में सबसे बड़ी बाधा थी। लेकिन एक मजबूत जागरूकता कार्यक्रम ने हमारी मदद की। ” भारत को 2019 में खुले में शौच मुक्त घोषित किया गया था। लेकिन ग्रामीण भारत में अभी भी सीवरेज नेटवर्क नहीं है। भारत के 6 लाख गांवों में से सिर्फ 1.36 लाख में तरल अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन के लिए कुछ व्यवस्था है। अपशिष्ट से निपटने के लिए ज्यादातर शौचालय के साथ सेप्टिक टैंक यानी जुड़वां गड्ढे या एक गड्ढा बनाया जाता है, जिसे हर कुछ सालों में खाली करने की जरूरत होती है। बिहार में 2018 के एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, यह शौचालय का इस्तेमाल करने में सबसे बड़ी बाधा के रूप में उभरा है। कुछ गांव खाली किए गए मल को पास के शहरी क्षेत्रों में उपचार संयंत्रों में ले जाते हैं लेकिन यह एक महंगा मामला है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई), नई दिल्ली स्थित थिंक-टैंक की वरिष्ठ कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक सुष्मिता सेनगुप्ता ने कहा, “मानव मल से निपटने के लिए ऑन-साइट प्रबंधन महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि तभी इसका पूरा फायदा उठाया जा सकता है. बीएलटी को किसी भी इलाके में स्थापित किया जा सकता है और विशेष रूप से जल-जमाव वाले क्षेत्रों के लिए यह काफी अच्छा है।” कचरे से ईंधन भारत में आमतौर पर एक बायोगैस संयंत्र में मुख्य फीडस्टॉक के रूप में गाय का गोबर होता है और इसमें तीन भाग होते हैं – एक इनलेट जहां से गोबर को पानी के साथ मिलाया जाता है, एक डाइजेस्टर और एक स्लरी संग्रह टैंक से जुड़ा एक आउटलेट। लेकिन मानव शौचालय सीधे पीवीसी पाइप लाइन के जरिए डाइजेस्टर से जुड़ा होता है और इसे मैन्युअल रूप से संभालने की जरूरत नहीं पड़ती है। बायोगैस में 55-65% मीथेन, 35-44% कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड और अन्य गैसें होती हैं। बायोगैस का उत्पादन कार्बनिक पदार्थ के रूप में होता है और डाइजेस्टर के ऊपर से खाना पकाने के स्टोव तक पाइप से जुड़ा होता है। गैस का बढ़ा हुआ दबाव स्लरी (घोल) को स्लरी स्टोरेज टैंक से बाहर निकलता है। फिर ये घोल 20-30 दिनों के लिए डाइजेस्टर में रखा जाता है, अधिकांश रोगजनकों और खरपतवार के बीजों को विघटित करता है, जिससे नाइट्रोजन युक्त खाद बनती है। बायोएथेनॉल या बायो-डीजल के विपरीत बायोगैस कचरे से प्राप्त होती है, इसलिए इसमें खाद्य उत्पादों के लिए भूमि और जैव विविधता के साथ प्रतिस्पर्धा शामिल नहीं है। बायोगैस संयंत्र जो सिर्फ मानव मल पर काम करते हैं, वे घरेलू उद्देश्यों को पूरा नहीं कर पाते हैं। दरअसल इनमें पर्याप्त मात्रा में गैस का उत्पादन करने के लिए फीडस्टॉक बहुत कम होता है। गाय के गोबर और मानव मल का मिश्रण अधिक प्रभावी होता है। कोल्हापुर में पूर्वनिर्मित बायोगैस संयंत्रों की आपूर्ति करने वाली एजेंसी शिवसदन सहकारी सोसाइटी के प्रबंध निदेशक आर.पी. नीलकांत ने कहा, “एक किलोग्राम गाय के गोबर से 40 लीटर बायोगैस पैदा होती है जबकि एक किलोग्राम मानव मल से 70 लीटर गैस पैदा होती है। (अगर गाय के गोबर और मानव मल का उपयोग किया जाए) स्वाभाविक तौर पर रोजाना खाना पकाने के लिए ज्यादा ईंधन उपलब्ध हो पाएगा।” दो क्यूबिक मीटर/दिन (2000 लीटर) क्षमता की एक बुनियादी बायोगैस इकाई पांच सदस्यों के परिवार के लिए रोजाना के इस्तेमाल के लिए काफी होती है। इसके लिए प्रतिदिन 4-5 मवेशियों के गोबर और मानव मल की आवश्यकता होती है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा ग्रामीण जल आपूर्ति और अपशिष्ट जल प्रबंधन पर सफल केस स्टडी के विस्तृत विवरण ‘बिग चेंज इज पॉसिबल’ नामक एक रिपोर्ट का कहना है। “एक महीने में दो घन मीटर का संयंत्र 26 किलोग्राम एलपीजी, 88 किलोग्राम चारकोल या 210 किलोग्राम जलाऊ लकड़ी के बराबर 60 घन मीटर बायोगैस का उत्पादन कर सकता है। अगर कोई परिवार महीने में एक एलपीजी सिलेंडर का इस्तेमाल करता है और बीएलटी में शिफ्ट हो जाता है, तो इससे सालाना 12,000 रुपये की बचत होगी।” कोल्हापुर में प्रगति कोल्हापुर के गगनबावड़ा ब्लॉक के धुंडावाडे गांव में 60 परिवार हैं। साल 2021 तक सभी के पास बीएलटी सुविधा आ गई थी। धूंदावड़े के सरपंच सरजाराव चौधरी ने कहा, “मेघालय के बाद गगनबावड़ा में सबसे ज्यादा बारिश होती है। मानसून के दौरान, जलाऊ लकड़ी को सूखा रखना मुश्किल हो जाता था।” पहला बीएलटी 15 साल पहले धुंधवाडे में लगाया गया था। उन्होंने कहा, “लोगों ने इसके फायदे देखे। हमें पहले एक एकड़ धान के खेत में 500 किलो यूरिया की जरूरत होती थी। स्लरी के प्रयोग से अब सिर्फ 150 किग्रा. यूरिया से काम चल जाता है। कुछ लोगों को हाल ही में एलपीजी कनेक्शन मिला है, लेकिन उन्होंने भी अब इसे छोड़ दिया है क्योंकि उनके पास पूरे दिन का खाना पकाने के लिए पर्याप्त बायोगैस होती है।” कोल्हापुर में जलस्तर काफी ज्यादा है और समय-समय पर यहां बाढ़ आती रहती है। पदाली खू गाँव के प्रकाश एस पाटिल ने कहा, “सेप्टिक टैंक बनाने से यहां का पानी दूषित हो जाएगा।” इस गांव के 1700 घरों में से 250 में बीएलटी हैं। जल और स्वच्छता शोधकर्ताओं सी एस शारदा प्रसाद और ईशा रे ने ‘व्हेन द पिट्स फिल अप- (इन) विजिबल फ्लो ऑफ वेस्ट इन अर्बन इंडिया’ नामक अपने 2019 के एक अध्ययन में कहा था कि गड्ढों से मल अपशिष्ट की लिंचिंग और फिर पीने के पानी के स्रोतों को दूषित करने वाले रोगजनकों का खतरा उच्च भूजल तालिका या मानसून की बारिश वाले क्षेत्रों में आम है। कोल्हापुर के एक खेत में बायोगैस से जुड़े शौचालय का निर्माण कार्य। तस्वीर- कृषि अधिकारी, जिला परिषद, कोल्हापुर। कोल्हापुर के एक खेत में बायोगैस से जुड़े शौचालय का निर्माण कार्य। तस्वीर- कृषि अधिकारी, जिला परिषद, कोल्हापुर। खेतिहर मजदूर उमा जाधव ने दो साल पहले बीएलटी बनवाया था। इसके बाद से उसकी कमाई बढ़ने लगी है। उन्होंने कहा, “अब मेरे पास काफी समय बच जाता है। समय बचने का मतलब है कि मैं और अधिक काम कर सकती हूं।” उसके गांव संगरोल में 3000 परिवारों में से लगभग 2000 ने बीएलटी स्थापित किए हैं। वह बताती हैं, “बाकियों के पास घर में जगह नहीं है, इसलिए वे सेप्टिक टैंक रखने को मजबूर हैं।” पाटिल ने कहा, “हम एक कृषि अर्थव्यवस्था हैं। बायोगैस संयंत्र को बनाए रखने के लिए हर घर में काफी मवेशी हैं। खुले में शौच मुक्त गांवों का अभियान जब पहली बार शुरू हुआ तो लोगों का झुकाव सेप्टिक टैंक की तरफ ज्यादा था। लेकिन जब उन्होंने महसूस किया कि इसका मतलब हर कुछ साल बाद गड्ढों को खाली करना होगा, तो वे बीएलटी में जाने के लिए तैयार हो गए।“ महाराष्ट्र के अन्य जिलों में 250 की तुलना में कोल्हापुर ने इस साल 1000 बीएलटी का लक्ष्य रखा है। रूपाली से जब पूछा गया कि क्या वह कभी अपने शौचालय से निकलने वाली बायोगैस का इस्तेमाल करने के खिलाफ थीं, तो उन्होंने कहा, “यह गंदा नहीं है। आखिरकार, आग में सब कुछ जल जाता है। ” हालांकि माथापति ने बताया कि उन्हें अभी भी शिरोल और हाटकनागले ब्लॉक में कुछ समुदायों को समझाने में मुश्किलें आ रही हैं। उन्होंने कहा, “उनके पास बीएलटी स्थापित करने के लिए सभी साधन मसलन जमीन, पशु और पैसा है। लेकिन वे ऐसा नहीं करना चाहते हैं। उन्हें लगता है कि बायोगैस पर बना खाना अशुद्ध होता है। हमने उन्हें बताया कि वेदों के अनुसार, “अग्नि” सब कुछ शुद्ध करती है। वास्तव में, अगर वे लकड़ी के लिए पेड़ काटते हैं तो वे हिंसा कर रहे हैं। लेकिन वे हमारी बात से सहमत नहीं हैं।” ‘अनुचित‘ माने जाने वाली तकनीक जिला कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक पाटिल ने 2011 का एक उदाहरण दिया, जब महाराष्ट्र के बाहर के अधिकारियों की एक समिति 2011 में कोल्हापुर में एक स्वच्छ योजना ‘निर्मल ग्राम’ के कार्यान्वयन की जांच करने आई थी। अधिकारियों ने बीएलटी से जुड़े चूल्हे पर बनी चाय को पीने से इनकार कर दिया था। उन्होंने कहा, “अगर स्वच्छता विभाग के अधिकारियों का ऐसा रवैया है, तो हम अनजान लोगों से इस तकनीक को अपनाने की उम्मीद कैसे कर सकते हैं।” 1970 के दशक में पहले तेल संकट के बाद भारत में बायोगैस तकनीक पर काफी ध्यान दिया गया। उस समय यह साफ हो गया था कि कमर्शियल एनर्जी ग्रामीण और शहरी गरीबों की आर्थिक पहुंच से बाहर रहेगी। ऊर्जा को अधिक सुलभ बनाने और संकट के प्रभावों को कम करने के तरीके के रूप में बायोगैस संयंत्रों को प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए सब्सिडी देने पर विचार किया गया और फिर 1981 में राष्ट्रीय बायोगैस विकास कार्यक्रम शुरू हुआ। इसे अब नया राष्ट्रीय बायोगैस और जैविक खाद कार्यक्रम कहा जाता है। 30 करोड़ गोजातीय आबादी के साथ, जो बायोगैस संयंत्रों के लिए फीडस्टॉक का स्रोत है, भारत में 1.2 करोड़ से ज्यादा बायोगैस इकाइयां स्थापित करने की क्षमता है। आज तक देश में पचास लाख प्लांट लगाए गए हैं। भारत में कितने बीएलटी मौजूद हैं, इसका कोई आधिकारिक रिकॉर्ड नहीं है। साल 2020-21 में नवीन और नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा मंत्रालय ने 8450 ऐसे बायोगैस शौचालय स्थापित करने का लक्ष्य रखा है। यह 60,000 बायोगैस संयंत्रों के वार्षिक लक्ष्य का 14% है। सरकार दो घन मीटर बायोगैस संयंत्र के लिए 14,350 रुपये की सब्सिडी के साथ-साथ इसे शौचालय से जोड़ने के लिए अतिरिक्त 1,600 रुपये भी देती है। सब्सिडी का प्रतिशत 50,000 रुपये के अनुमानित खर्च का लगभग 30% है। फिर भी उम्मीद के मुताबिक चीजें आगे की ओर नहीं बढ़ रही हैं। कोल्हापुर में बायोगैस से जुड़ी शौचालय योजना के लाभार्थी। फोटो -कृषि अधिकारी, जिला परिषद, कोल्हापुर कोल्हापुर में बायोगैस से जुड़ी शौचालय योजना के लाभार्थी। फोटो -कृषि अधिकारी, जिला परिषद, कोल्हापुर इंजीनियरिंग प्रोफेसर से किसान बने धीरेंद्र और स्मिता सोनेजी गुजरात के नर्मदा जिले में रहते हैं। ये दोनों एक एनजीओ ‘प्रयास’ के साथ ग्राम-स्तरीय सुपरवाइजर थे, जिसने 1986 में गुजरात में बायोगैस संयंत्र स्थापित किए और बायोगैस इकाइयों को शौचालयों से जोड़ा। उन्होंने कहा, “लेकिन किसी ने उन शौचालयों का इस्तेमाल नहीं किया। वे उनमें लकड़ी या खेती के उपकरण जमा करते हैं, लेकिन शौच के लिए इसका इस्तेमाल कभी नहीं किया।” असम में 2022 में एक अध्ययन किया गया था। इसमें राज्य और यूनाइटेड किंगडम के शोधकर्ताओं ने तकनीकी, सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक और सामाजिक-तकनीकी में बीएलटी को अपनाने की अनिच्छा के कारणों का विश्लेषण किया था। अध्ययन के मुताबिक, सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक कारण भारत की जाति व्यवस्था में मौजूद हैं। यहां समाज को उसके पेशे, पवित्रता और अपवित्रता की धारणा के आधार पर बांटा जाता है। अध्ययन के प्रतिभागियों ने बताया कि बीएलटी धार्मिक प्रथा के खिलाफ है, बीएलटी पर खाना बनाना पाप है, मानव मल के साथ गाय के गोबर को मिलाना अपराध है, परिवार के बुजुर्ग इसे स्वीकार नहीं करेंगे, रिश्तेदार उनके घर खाना नहीं खाएंगे। अगर लोगों को पता चलता है कि वे बीएलटी का इस्तेमाल कर रहे हैं तो उन्हें उनकी जाति या गांव से बाहर कर दिया जाएगा। अध्ययन में पाया गया कि बीएलटी कैसे काम करता है, इस बारे में ज्ञान और अनुभव की कमी इन मान्यताओं को मजबूत करती है। अध्ययन में जिन सामाजिक-तकनीकी कारणों का जिक्र किया गया, उसमें से एक यह था कि खाने से टॉयलेट की गंध आएगी। लोगों को शौचालय गैस पर खाना पकाए जाने के बारे में सोचना भी हिकारत लगता है। उनकी नजर में बीएलटी की देखरेख करना एक गंदा काम है और बायोगैस पर पका हुआ खाना खाना धार्मिक और शारीरिक रूप से अपवित्र है। हालांकि, प्रतिभागियों ने बताया कि ईंधन स्रोत के बारे में नाम न बताने से लोग बीएलटी के अभ्यस्त हो सकते हैं। गुजरात विद्यापीठ, अहमदाबाद में बायोगैस रिसर्च एंड माइक्रोबायोलॉजी विभाग के पूर्व सहायक प्रोफेसर प्रदीप आचार्य ने कहा, “यह ऐसा है जैसे किसान अपने खेतों में इस्तेमाल करने के लिए सीवेज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट से खाद खरीदते हैं लेकिन अपने बायोगैस संयंत्र से निकलने वाली जैविक खाद को हाथ लगाना नहीं चाहते ।” फिलहाल आचार्य बीएलटी पर सलाहकार के तौर पर काम कर रहे हैं। बीएलटी लाभार्थियों का कहना है कि इसके इस्तेमाल को लेकर कई तरह की सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक वर्जनाएं हैं और साथ ही बहिष्कार का डर भी है। तस्वीर- कृषि अधिकारी, जिला परिषद, कोल्हापुर बीएलटी की कम स्वीकार्यता का एक अन्य कारण इसके बारे में कम जानकारी है। बीएलटी में दी जाने वाली सेवाओं मसलन खाना पकाने के ईंधन, उर्वरक और स्वच्छता को सब्सिडी वाले और जीवाश्म ईंधन आधारित एलपीजी, रासायनिक उर्वरकों से प्रतिस्पर्धा मिलती है। इसमें सरकार का स्वच्छ भारत मिशन भी शामिल है, लेकिन वह मुख्य रूप से बुनियादी गड्ढे वाले शौचालयों पर केंद्रित है। हालांकि बीएलटी इस मिशन के एक घटक के रूप में है। पूंजीगत लागत, बायोगैस संयंत्र के रखरखाव के बारे में कम जानकारी, और सही लाभार्थियों तक पहुंचने में सरकार की अक्षमता ने बायोगैस की सफलता को प्रभावित किया है। गुजरात विद्यापीठ में बायोगैस और माइक्रोबायोलॉजी विभाग के सहायक प्रोफेसर प्रतीक शिल्पकार ने कहा, “बायोगैस एक संपूर्ण सर्कुलर तकनीक है। यह जरूरतमंद लोगों तक पहुंचनी चाहिए, जो अभी भी जलाऊ लकड़ी पर निर्भर हैं और जिनके पास शौचालय नहीं है।” और पढ़ेंः बायोचार में बिगड़ते मौसम को बचाने की ताकत, लेकिन लागत बड़ी बाधा एक बायोगैस संयंत्र का नियमित रखरखाव करना पड़ता है- पर्याप्त पानी, रोजाना उसमें डालने के लिए गोबर, टॉयलेट साफ करने के लिए किसी तरह का एसिडिक क्लीनर का इस्तेमाल न करना, समय-समय पर सफाई और देखभाल, उचित धूप या फिर सर्दियों में गर्म पानी, क्योंकि उस दौरान माइक्रोबियल क्रिया धीमी हो जाती है। यह सब काम लोगों को बोझिल लगता है। प्लांट के ठीक से काम न करने पर उसकी मरम्मत के लिए प्रशिक्षित राजमिस्त्री की कमी समस्या को और बढ़ा देती है। कंक्रीट की बढ़ती कीमतों के कारण दो घन मीटर बायोगैस संयंत्र की पूंजीगत लागत 50,000 रुपये से ज्यादा बैठती है। साल 1997 से कोल्हापुर में बायोगैस संयंत्र स्थापित कर रहे वर्कर उत्तम निगड़े ने कहा “उन्हें कम से कम 50% सब्सिडी देनी चाहिए ताकि लोग आगे आयें। शौचालय बनाने का खर्च भी बढ़ जाता है। हालांकि सरकार शौचालय के लिए 12,000 रुपये की सब्सिडी देती है। लेकिन सेट-अप की पूरी लागत ज्यादातर लोगों की 2-3 महीने की आय से ज्यादा है। ”