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Kumarkhera in Narendra Nagar township of Lesser Himalaya (Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand in India) is showing signs of an impending disaster. The potential mass wastage zone may take toll of human lives in the near future and cause damage to residential and commercial area and infrastructure, namely road, telephone and electric lines and water supply lines. This paper aims to document the strategy for managing this potential disaster.

Study of satellite images and field investigations were carried out in order to probe the possibility of potential landslides in the near future and to find out the risk enhancing anthropogenic activities. Furthermore, the elements at risk were also assessed in order to evolve a disaster management strategy.

It is suggested that a series of prevention and mitigation measures (both structural and non‐structural) with the involvement of the local community are required to avoid an impending disaster in the study area.

This paper highlights the need for reading the signs of landslides and identifying the elements at risk and also calls for timely initiatives, including structural and non‐structural mitigation measures, so that the impact of the disaster can be minimized.

Naitwar Bazar in the Upper Tons valley Indian Himalaya (Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal in India) is showing signs of an impending disaster. This settlement has witnessed active mass wastage during rainy season of 2003 which has caused damage to infrastructure (crucial road link), hospital (i.e. the sole health facility) and residential cum commercial area. The active mass wastage zone may take heavy toll of human lives during the rains. Therefore, the paper proposes examining this subject.

Field investigations were carried out to assess the damage during the past events, probe the causes of mass wasting hazard and to assess the elements at risk in order to evolve a disaster management strategy.

It is suggested that a series of prevention and mitigation measures (both structural and non‐structural) with the involvement of the local community are required to avoid the impending disaster in the area.

This paper highlights the need for hazard prognosis and vulnerability assessment in the remotest settlements of Himalayas in order to timely plan the awareness initiatives, response mechanism and structural and non structural mitigation measures. An attempt has also been made to bring forth importance of incorporating the disaster management component into the local developmental planning.

The aim of this paper is to present a discussion on prognosis and mitigation of major landslide zones in an attempt to minimize the impact of such disasters in future. A case study on the sequence of sliding events of Varunavat Parvat, Uttarkashi (India), response of masses and administration and causative factors of sliding events has been presented in detail for prognosis and mitigation of large slide zones.

The prognosis and mitigation strategy discussed is based on the monitoring of mass wasting zones through field investigations and satellite image analysis (of pre‐ and post‐landslide period images) and experiential learning and interaction with village elders in landslide hazard‐prone Himalayan terrain.

The paper finds that Himalayan habitations such as Uttarkashi (which is situated in an area of fragile rocks, complex tectonics, seismic activity and cloud burst‐prone unstable hill slopes with colluvium and old slide zones) should have minimum anthropogenic activity in the form of slope cutting for road or building construction.

The paper reflects the author's individual understanding of causative factors and indications of landslides in Varunavat Parvat area in Uttarkashi township of Uttarakhand (India).

The paper calls for amalgamation of experience‐based local knowledge of villagers of landslide‐prone areas and modern scientific and technical know‐how and above all the coordinated efforts of community and authorities for prognosis and mitigation of large‐scale landslides in the inhabited areas. It has been further emphasized that sensitization and awareness programs and strict implementation of land‐use regulations are vital components of effective mitigation strategy.

This research examines the association of physical development density, prevalence and types of microbes in colonized façade finishes of buildings in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria.

Survey and experimental research designs were adopted. A total of 383 buildings were investigated with samples collected from those with colonized façade finishes. The microbes were identified using the standard procedure for genomic sequencing with descriptive statistics, and the chi-square test used to analyse the data.

The results revealed a 64% prevalence of microbial colonization and a significant association between this and physical development density with 71.0% of the colonized buildings located in high-density neighbourhoods of the metropolis. The sequencing also showed 24 different microbes with Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichoderma harzianum species being the most common in the colonized façade finishes.

The research informs building professionals and owners of the specific microbes involved in the colonization of façade finishes of buildings in high-density urban areas. It also provides a clue about the nature of damages and defects associated with microbial colonization of building façades and the type of biocide additives required for the production of microbial-resistant façade finishes in the hot-humid tropical environment of Nigeria and beyond.

The study has shown that there is a significant relationship between the intensity of urban land use and microbial colonization of façade finishes of buildings. It also identified some new or less known microbes responsible for the biodeterioration of façade finishes and the effects this has on the buildings and public health in the hot-humid tropics of Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

The study aims to highlight fundamental causes and effects of disasters in the northern district of Uttarkashi, which lies in the fragile mountains of Himalaya. Disasters such as the 1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake, the flash floods of the Bhagirathi river and the devastation caused by the Gyansu landslide are discussed.

The following approach was used for this study: precise geographical location of the various landslides was marked through Global Positioning System Receiver (GPS); landslide types were identified based on activity (active or old) and debris flow slide and rock fall were marked based on the sliding material and slope condition; the land use/land cover pattern of Varunawat Parvat was also assessed; the vulnerability of population, houses and infrastructure etc. was listed; the condition of existing stability measures, e.g. check dams and drains, was assessed; and slide‐specific mitigation measures were suggested.

The Himalayan state of Uttaranchal has been witnessing the fury of nature for a long time. In recent years there has been an increase in the frequency of natural disasters. Earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods have caused great damage to life and property in various parts of the state. The Himalayan orogenic belt is tectonically active and subject to modifications by natural processes. Adding further to the fragility of this belt are the anthropogenic activities like the unplanned cutting of slope for construction activity, blasting of highly jointed rock mass for road construction and unplanned disposal of the slope cut debris material.

The study is based on the data/information collected during the monsoon season from 15 June to 15 September 2003. The period is short for developing any hypothesis but sufficient care has been taken to consider vital factors.

A calamity of rare severity requires a high level of recovery and management. Sound mitigation mechanism helps the Government and the community to tackle the problem immediately and efficiently.

The study highlights fundamental causes and effects of the landslide and suggests steps to overcome them.

This chapter aims to provide a review of women's empowerment indicator in Arab countries. It estimates the determinants of women's economic empowerment in Arab countries to conclude some insights related to the effect of access to finance on empowering women. Moreover, the chapter aims to assess MFIs performance in supporting women's empowerment, based on actual data during the period 2008–2016 for selected Arab countries. Results show that women access to finance indicator is not sufficient to give clear evaluation for the role of MFIs in Arab Countries in empowering women. This issue requires many efforts from various parties from micro to macro players in the economy. In addition, the analysis of percentage of female borrowers and their share of gross loan portfolio concludes that performance in terms of empowering women through MFIs seems to be effective for some Arab countries while poor for others.

Movement of people from one retail trade area to another in search of better options and deals has been studied across the world owing to its large impact on trade flow. Studies have been done in various rural and urban settings. However, almost all except one fails to provide a comprehensive model of outshopping which has its own limitations with regard to its applicability’s across cultures and in various settings. Nonetheless findings from the literature provides necessary inputs to start studies in various other cultures and settings. Results are presented in form of various definitions, various types, methodologies used, factors identified (individual characteristics, market characteristics, product related variables and accessibility factors) and patterns across continents. Attempts have also been made to explain their applicability to Indian conditions along with various limitations and gaps.

Financial inclusion is more than just granting access to financial services; it involves fostering individuals’ overall financial health and prosperity. Financial inclusion has gained significant importance for policymakers and academia in the preceding two decades. It encourages individuals by extending ownership of their financial situation and empowering them to make well-informed decisions regarding their future. The literary work highlights the importance of financial inclusion in promoting prosperity and progress in society. Furthermore, the psychological effects of financial inclusion are addressed with an emphasis on reducing anxiety and stress associated with accessing necessary financial resources and increasing experiences of financial assurance and trust. Finally, the current condition of financial inclusion and ongoing initiatives to improve it is discussed with a regional focus on Asia. The idea of the empowered consumer is introduced, along with a discussion of how financial inclusion may enlighten customers, making them more knowledgeable and engaged members of the financial market. Finally, the conclusion presents a global perspective of underdeveloped nations, emphasizing the imperative requirement for financial integration in these places and the potential benefits it can provide. The chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of financial inclusion, its significance, and its psychological effects on people and their communities, particularly in Asia and developing nations.

The purpose of this paper is to explore store choice behaviour of Indian apparel shoppers and analyses the factors influencing their choice of retail formats from an emerging market perspective.

The research draws on a data set of 336 structured questionnaires with adult urban Indian respondents to understand their perceptions about organised and unorganised apparel store formats. The exploratory study uses a comprehensive list of demographics, shopping situations and format stimuli parameters along with two established psychographic scales to assess the extent of their effect on the store choice of apparel shoppers.

Factor analysis revealed five well defined store attributes influencing the apparel shoppers’ decision. The growing market for organised retail with a preference for multi brand stores is highlighted. The study establishes that the shoppers’ perception of single-brand stores is still going through a formative phase. Further at the micro level of the decision process, significant differences are established by a number of variables.

The paper explores the store choice behaviour from a wider perspective that may be useful for future research on developing integrated store format choice models. However, the data used herein relates to a cross-section of shoppers in urban India due to the feasibility and convenience of studying relatively organised retail forms and structure of retail in an emerging market environment.

The paper attempts to enumerate befitting analyses of factors that influence the store choice behaviour of apparel shoppers by using apt format classifications that are specific to the emerging retail market scenario in India.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the dimensions of mall attractiveness for Indian shoppers from the metro cities of New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai; and subsequently investigate the effect of these dimensions on shoppers’ mall experience.

A shopper intercept survey was conducted in the aforementioned cities and 400 responses were obtained which were analysed with exploratory factor analysis and stepwise regression.

The results indicate that tenant management, facilities management, atmospherics and entertainment potential are the factors which attract shoppers to malls. Tenant management, facilities management and atmospherics also emerge as significant predictors of mall shopping experience.

Due to limited resources, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the derived factors and hypothesized relationships further.

Contemporary retail settings have transited to offer holistic experiences, generated out of tenant mix, facilities and atmospherics. Managers of shopping malls can enhance their mall attractiveness by identifying an optimal mix of factors such as crowd management, tenant variety, parking, etc. as seen in the results of this study. Entertainment emerges as a mall attractiveness dimension but not as a significant predictor of shopping experience which shows that Indian shoppers’ inclination towards hedonism is still in elementary stages and economic pursuit continues to be a dominant motivator for visiting a mall.

This paper attempts to provide a holistic overview of mall attractiveness dimensions in India and its implications for shopping experiences.