tejinder kaur

 I Dr Tejinder Kaur am a BIO-SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGIST from Department of anthropology, Panjab University Chandigarh.I , did my B.Sc (Hons) & M.Sc (Hons) with distinction from Panjab University, Chandigarh. I have worked as Project Fellow in two projects funded by DST and UGC-MAJOR Research Project Respectively. During the project work I had individually conducted field work (Interviewed Leprosy Patients) in GMCH-32, Chandigarh. My Doctoral thesis as a UGC JRF/SRF Fellowship was on Bio-Social Anthropology entitled “Appraisal of heavy metal contamination of ground water and health risks among the people living along some waste water drains of Punjab”, using EDXRF for elemental analysis of drinking water and vegetables.

I have also worked as Post-Doctoral Fellow in ICSSR(2017-18) for a time period of six months.Presently, I am a UGC Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Anthropology, Panjab University Chandigarh.

During my Doctoral work I have been assisting in theory and practical classes. I have a total of 10 articles published in reputed National and International Journals and edited books. Presently,(during Post-Doctoral Fellowship) I have been taking  theory as well as practical classes of B.Sc and M.Sc individually. I have presented 17 research papers in various National and International Seminars/Conferences/Symposium and attended 5 workshops.I have been the member of “The Water Networks” & “International Water Association (IWA) membership.

• M.Sc. dissertation on the topic “Reproductive Behaviour and Small Family Norms in two villages of district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh” An Anthropological Exploration” ( 2008)
• Project Fellow in a UGC-Major Research Project entitled “Social concerns and challenges of Leprosy patients” (2010)
• Project Fellow funded by DST-PURSE Grant, in Panjab University, Chandigarh (2011)
• Ph.D. in Ecological and Medical Anthropology :“Appraisal of heavy metal contamination of ground water and health risks among the people living along some select waste water drains of Punjab”.

My Doctoral thesis as a UGC JRF/SRF Fellowship was on environmental anthropology entitled “Appraisal of heavy metal contamination of ground water and health risks among the people living along some waste water drains of Punjab,” using EDXRF for elemental analysis of drinking water and vegetables. It was  conducted in rural Punjab with an effort using anthropological tools and techniques, to understand the effects of heavy metals in human body due to drinking contaminated water.

The research focussed  on the reflexive qualities of their subjects, and the extent to which these individuals are questioning their own environmental behaviour. Being an anthropologist, the major aim of this research was environmental awareness, conservation and planning. It was seen that there was lack of awareness among the rural population of study areas of Punjab leading to number of health problems. It was an attempt to investigate the current scenario of worldwide movement of the prevention of environmental degradation, the utilization of resources and a search for an ever-brightening future.

I have also worked as Post-Doctoral Fellow in ICSSR(2017-18) for a time period of six  months. My UGC Post-Doctoral research in the Department of Anthropology, Panjab University Chandigarh is in its last phase. During my post-doctoral, I had made an effort to incorporate the concept of agricultural anthropology in my research. The research deals with the coping of lifestyle, holistic and temporal study of the human element in agricultural activity. The study dealt with the current health scenario of the residents during performing agricultural activities, about the importance of insecticide and pesticide  use to get better yield. Also,  due to the  fact that India is not only the agriculture country but also agriculture is the base of  the Indian economy, which provides employment to 60% of the total population.