M E M O I R SMaharani Abantibai College of Home Science, Kanpur

Realizing the importance of Home Science education in rural family system, the department of Home Science was initially established under the faculty of Agriculture in 1983-84. The department achieved the status of College of Home Science in the year 1996. Besides offering a three years degree course leading to the award of B.Sc. (Home Science) the college started two year Master Degree Programme in Home Science with specialization in the discipline of Foods and Nutrition during the year 1993-94. This marked the beginning of research and teaching an integral component of Postgraduate curriculum. Postgraduate teaching programme expanded further to offer specialization in Family Resource Management during 1997-98. The Degree of B.Sc. (Home Science) was later upgraded to four year B.Sc. (Home Science) Hons. degree programme.

Vocational elective programme as an in-plant training of two months is imparted to the students in the VIII semester of B.Sc. (Home Science) Hons as an industry–academic interface. The service–oriented industries are centres such as hotels, hospitals and non-government organizations (NGOs), undertaking developmental programmes for family well-being and women's empowerment, Government Departments, agro-industries, food processing units (bakeries and confectionaries), interior designing firms and small/ large entrepreneurial units run by women fall within the ambit of training centres for this programme. Presently, the College of Home Science has the following departments- Food Science and Nutrition; Family Resource Management; Textile and Clothing; Human Development and Extension Education and Communication Management. The College imparts education in the following fields.

Four year course leading to the degree of B.Sc. (Home Science) Hon.

Two-year course leading to the degree of M.Sc. (H.Sc.) in the disciplines of Food Science and Nutrition, Family Resource Management, Textile and Clothing, Human Development, Extension Education and Communication Management.

Ph.D. programme in Family Resource Management and Extension Education and Communication Management.

Till now, 169 and 7 students have been awarded Master's and Doctorate degree, respectively in Food Science and Nutrition; 65 and 7 students have been awarded Master's and Doctorate degree, respectively in Family Resource management; 49 and 10 students have been awarded Master's and Doctorate degrees, respectively in Extension Education and Communication Management. In addition, 41 and 45 students have been awarded with Masters degree in Textiles and Clothing and Human Development disciplines.

Research Achievements: Besides imparting teaching to UG and PG students, the departments are also conducting researches in priority areas. The salient achievements made are given here-

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Community nutrition: A study to assess the nutritional status of primary school children of 7–9 years age, adolescent girls (13–18 years), college going girl students (18–21 years), elderly population (55 to 75 years), working and non-working women, hospital patients suffering from chronic and nutritional diseases like liver cirrhosis, oral cancer, coronary heart diseases and diabetes mellitus was conducted. It was found that diet of schoolchildren lacks adequate amount of protein, vitamins A and C, calcium and calorie. Clinical symptoms like bitot's spot and bleeding gums were observed. Height and weight for age was found to be below than NCHS standard. Diet of cancer patients was found to be deficit in antioxidants like vitamins E, C and A. Elderly population was found to be suffering from disease like CHD, diabetes mellitus and low blood pressure. Elderly belonging to high-income group were found to consume fat more than recommended level. In general, fat intake was found to be more in all age groups than recommended level. In another study, prevalence of nutritional deficiency diseases like anemia in different age groups, osteoporosis in women was assessed. It was found that anaemia is prevalent in adolescent girls and pregnant women. Osteoporosis is prevalent in women after menopause. Bone mineral density was found to be low in women.

Nutrient composition evaluation of food products: Nutrient composition and cooking quality of different varieties of paddy, wheat, amaranth, methi, sesame seeds, pulses like mungbean, soybean, germinated chickpea, underutilized leafy vegetables and coriander seeds, was assessed. It was found that blending of 20% soyflour improved protein quality. Protein content of wheat varied from 11.9 to 13.4%. Maximum gluten content was found in extremely late varieties HUW-234 and HUW 2285.

Food quality assessment with reference to commercial products: Milk products like khoa, khoa-based burfi, ice-cream, chhena based rasogolla, rasogalla from buffalo milk admixed with soymilk, doodh-burfi, milk chocholate, milk drink and paneer, low fat chhena spread, khoa-based paida, fruit juices and street foods were procured from different markets of Kanpur and microbiological evaluation for toxin producing microorganisms like salmonella, staphylococci, E. coli was done. Results indicated that products prepared in the laboratory under hygienic conditions do not have any contamination, whereas samples collected from the market showed microbiological contamination. Toxins in the food cause food poising and may lead to even death. Studies recommended that milk products, fruit juices and street foods like chaat must be purchased from the shops having facilities like deep freezer, uninterrupted power supply and clean and hygienic surroundings and utensils.

Product development: Nutrient rich products like chapattis using soybean flour, leaf protein supplemented wheat flour chapatti, fruit flavoured drinks from milk, papaya shrikhand, kalakand prepared from blend of cow and buffalo milk, narampak sandesh fruit flavoured drink from paneer whey, rabri, maida and chickpea flour based snacks using green leafy vegetables, were prepared and sensory evaluation of these products was done. It was found that sensory values together with nutrients could be improved by mixing different foods. The products, thus developed, were found to be acceptable.

Dietetics: A comparative study between post-operative parental nutrition versus eternal nutrition support in surgical patients was done. Effect of diet counselling on blood sugar and lipid profile was studied in diabetic patients. Findings indicated that most diabetics were of NIDDM type and diet counseling showed positive effect. Diet counselling must be given to patients for control and prevention of nutrition related diseases.

Other research programmes:

Design and development of hand device for partially handicapped: A low cost new crutch tackle was developed to improve the capability of partially handicapped. Jobs like computer mouse movements, operation of some easy and small equipments and pulling and weight lifting can be performed by handicapped while sitting on wheel chair. By this way, the problem of lack of motoring of the handicapped can be minimized.

Assessment of physical features and quality of rural kitchen: Kitchens in rural areas were found to be an enclosed place without any scientific designing and has little provision of well organized storage space. Cross ventilation was a rare phenomenon and physical features were influenced by income of households. The storage of items, groceries and supplies in small or large quantities were common, but practices were unorganized. Kachcha kitchen found in rural houses add to maintenance and repair cost and negative impact upon cleanliness and sanitation. Hence awareness regarding improved low cost materials for construction, improved kitchen design, storage spaces, good posture for cooking and merits and demerits of standing and sitting type of kitchen was created amongst rural folk.

Participation of farm women in agricultural activities: Farm women participate in cleaning of seeds and grains, harvesting, weeding, storage and threshing in wheat and paddy crops. In case of potato cultivation, they participate in sowing and digging activities. They also participate in animal husbandry activities like removing of cow dung, cleaning and feeding of animals and concentrated feed making. Base line data were collected on women participation in agricultural activities. These data will help in developing improved technology to reduce their workload.

Stress in dual role of working women: The employment of women outside home performs dual function, one in and other outside

College of Home Science

TEACHING ACTIVITIES College of Home Science

PhD students in classroomUndergraduate students in Textiles classroom

Undergraduate students in classroomUndergraduate students in Foods & Nutrition Lab

Undergraduate students in computer LabPostgraduate students in Nutrition Lab

Undergraduate students in Food Science LabUndergraduate students in FRM Lab

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the home. Some of the reasons of stress among these women are overwork load, not getting enough time for family and personal care, unable to manage house and tension about their children loneliness. Expectation of family members, physical fatigue and nuclear family were the major causes of home conflict, socio-economic status and stress were negatively correlated. On the other hand, occupational stress and home stress were positively correlated. They can overcome the stress by giving more time to family, facilities of crutches, sleeping and handling positively when their children form bad habits.

Food habit: In a test on efficacy on some non-toxic material against the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) infestation, camphor, neem seed oil, mustard oil, diflubenzuron, clove oil to be media effective for treatment, turmeric powder, mercury tablet and mentha oil were found to be less effective treatment and salt having no effect on non-toxic material against rice weevil infestation.

In a study conducted on relative preference of Tribolium castaneum Herbst. in milled products and spices, effect of different kinds of containers against their infection and cheap effective and safe method for preservation of Tribolium castaneum Herbst, it was found that their development and multiplication were fast in coarse wheat flour kept in plastic and mud pitchers, Camphor @ 0.2g in 1kg food material is an effective treatment.

Milk samples procured from organized sectors of Kanpur city for detection of adulteration were found fit for human consumption. In unorganized sector, the quality of milk was generally poor with regard to fat and chemical constituents. Almost all the samples contained thickening agents and preservatives. Some home remedies were suggested to the housewives of Kanpur city for detection of adulteration in milk.

Constraints in adoption of biogas technology: Problems faced in adoption of biogas technology are, bad odour, water accumulation in the gas pipe, leakage in drum and gas pipe due to rusting and corrosion, leakage in foundation and digester tank, fermentation problem in gas plant, low pressure of plant and maintenance cost, whereas non adopters face problem of absence of male members in the family, shortage of land, family liabilities, cumbersome in process of collection of dung and lack of knowledge of technology, declining number of animals and lack of repair and replacement facilities.

Comparative study on solar cooker and electric solar cooker: Results revealed that colour, flavour and less time in cooking are very good in food cooked in solar cooker, whereas texture, appearance and taste are very good in electric solar cooking. The technology was propagated among rural households.

College of Home Science