Combined effect of lime and drying on bacteria of public health significance in Edible Oyster (Crassostrea madrasensis) from Munambam coastal belt (Kerala, India) were studied (without depuration). Samples were examined for Total Plate Count (TPC), Staphylococcus aureus (hygiene indicator), Total coliforms, Faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, (faecal indicator) Faecal Streptococci (faecal indicator), Salmonella, Vibrio cholera and Listeria monocytogenes. The fresh oyster meat though did not confirm to the specifications laid by National shellfish sanitation programme (NSSP), after treatment with lime with and without drying found to show significant reduction in counts and meet the required standards. Prevalence of faecal indicators in the fresh sample indicated faecal pollution in the area. The isolation of potentially pathogenic bacteria, V. parahaemolyticus in fresh sample indicates high risk of people consuming and handling oysters in raw and semi processed form and also it may lead to cross contamination. The present study indicates that treatment with natural organic product like lime and simple preservation technique, drying can effectively reduce the bacterial load. The study also revealed that TPC of water and soil collected from the site from where oysters were collected was less than from the meat.

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Aspirational district programme was launched by the government of India to uplift the 117 backward districts in the country through rapid development. Ten districts of Odisha were included in this programme which included Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Balangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada and Nabarangpur. Socio-economic variables formed important dimension for identifying the backwardness of districts. Hence, the socio-economic status of people in the 101 blocks in the ten backward districts were analyzed to address the weak points. The socio-economic indicators analyzed were: population density, sex ratio, SC and ST population, total literacy percent, male and female literacy percent, and gender gap in literacy percent and they were compared with the state average. Most of the aspirational districts are located in the southern part of Odisha except Dhenkanal. In the aspirational districts 89.3 percent of the population live in rural areas compared to 83.3 percent for state average. These aspirational districts have high tribal population (39.4 percent) with lower human density (153 per sq km), higher sex ratio (1010), low total literacy (58.1 percent), low female literacy (47.1 percent) and high gender gap in literacy (22.2 percent). The 101 blocks in the aspirational districts of Odisha were also ranked based on these indictors. The study revealed that the socio-economic indicators in the aspirational districts were weak which need focused attention for their improvement.

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