Sound can be music, speech or noise. In urban area the noise generated through various sources is augmented by narrow streets and tall buildings, which produce a canyon in which traffic noise reverberates. Noise influences motor and cognitive behavior and can trigger glandular, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal changes. The ill effects of noise have been well recognized, but people are not aware about the level of noise to which they are exposed and the measures to control noise. Hence, a study was undertaken to find out noise level on selected areas of Vadodara city which is an urban area and its adverse effects on the residents. Level of noise measured on the road gave alarming findings. Noise entering in the house was very high and the homemakers did not know how to control its entry so as to reduce its ill-effects which they face. The research published in the form of present book will prove to be a rich resource material for academicians and researchers concerned with noise pollution and people in general, as, some suggestions are given to reduce noise generation and the measures to control it entering in the house

Community Garden is a neighbourhood space designed, developed and managed by residents of a housing colony on a vacant land, enclosed and used by the residents of a particular colony. As the cities are becoming congested with reducing greenery, community gardens are one of the sources to bring some balance in the environment in the cities having high rate of air pollution. Community gardens provide psycho-social, economic health and environmental benefits. A well designed, well developed and maintained community garden ensures its optimum utilization leading to user's satisfaction It is essential know about the expectations of the users of community garden so as to make it more user-friendly rather than plan anything and give to the people. The book presents information about users, their satisfaction and expectations of residents of selected community gardens, which can be used to plan other community gardens so as to make them more beautiful and functional.

The family has survived hundreds of years but has not remained untouched by social change. There has been gradual transformation in the forms of the family, even in India. From the joint family system it has become nuclear family and now there are single- parent family, commuting family, extended family, female-headed family- each having its own merits, demerits & unique problems. The homemakers face several kinds of problems in each type of family. Excessive problems cause stress on the home maker, which in turn, lead to their poor health, which aggravate the problems. The book presents multidimensional research analysis of various forms of family focusing on the attitude the homemakers have towards the family to which they belong, the problems they face and the coping strategies adopted by them .The coping strategies suggested in the study can be adopted by others. The book will be a rich resource material for not only the academicians but also for all those who are concerned with the welfare of the family, as, the healthy family-not only in physical terms but also in social and psychological context- leads to healthy community and to a healthy nation.