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Background and Aims: Highly cited papers (HCPs) can influence both research and clinical practice. They help to identify core literature and important advances in a field. This study aimed to assess the current status and prospects of South Asia COVID-19 research from the HCPs using bibliometric indicators. Methodology: COVID-19 literature from South Asia published between December 2019 and 29 November 2023 in the Scopus database was analysed. The top HCPs, having more than 200 citations, were evaluated. Information about citation counts, authors and organisations and their affiliations, year of publication, source journal, geographical origin, subject, article type, funding details, etc. were retrieved and analysed. Data and visualisation analysis was undertaken using Microsoft Excel and other bibliometric software. Results: The 298 South Asia HCPs were published from 2020 to 2023 and were cited 200–3,596 times, with a mean average of 413.9 citations per paper (CPP). Around 24.5% and 51.3% of HCPs received external funding support and were involved in international collaboration, respectively. The most productive organisations were the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, and the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, while the most impactful organisations were Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, and Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute, Mumbai. The most productive journals were Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews. Conclusions: This study has identified core and significant authors, organisations, journals, subject fields and significant keywords, collaborators and funding agencies involved in South Asia's COVID-19 research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most nuclear dyads are characterized by some degree of nuclear and conventional asymmetry. This paper argues that these asymmetries create an environment in which deliberate nuclear first use (DNFU) can be rational. This possibility has been discarded in the formal literature on nuclear escalation because of the common reliance on the assumption of mutually assured destruction (MAD). This paper develops a formal model that traces how and under what circumstances two types of DNFU are rational. First, nuclear imbalances and advancements in counterforce technologies create a damage limitation incentive for a strong actor. Second, conventional asymmetry creates an incentive for the coercive use of nuclear weapons by the weaker player. Moreover, this paper illustrates that these asymmetric conditions are a relevant characteristic in important and very different nuclear dyads: DPRK–US, Pakistan–India, and Russia–US. Thus, the model demonstrates the potential core drivers of DNFU in today's nuclear landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Credit rating agencies (CRAs) play an essential role in efficiently allocating capital in the financial system. However, several researchers have highlighted shortcomings of CRAs, leading to drastic consequences such as the 2008 financial crisis. The paper focuses on the competition among CRAs as one of the critical drivers of issues plaguing the credit rating industry. The paper uses quantitative and regression techniques to check the impact of competition on a firm's credit rating. The paper utilizes firm-level financial and credit rating data from India. The paper uses dual ratings to check whether competition leads to rating inflation and shopping practices in the credit rating industry. The paper finds that CRA inflates a firm's credit rating due to competition from other CRAs. Rating shopping is also evident in the credit rating industry, driven by competition between CRAs to gain new clients. The paper's findings also indicate that increased competition for large-size firms business leads to CRAs showing leniency when rating such firms. The results raise the need for regulators to actively monitor and control the competition among CRAs to ensure the accuracy of credit ratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite exponential growth in Indian research, Indian journals have low impact factors. A previous study by one of the authors (CA) of this paper showed that articles published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (IJP) under-referenced previously published relevant papers in the same journal. Based on this, we decided to investigate the citation characteristics of contemporary scientific articles published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine (IJPM). Methods: The citation characteristics of scientific articles published in 2018 (Vol 40, issues 1–6) in the IJPM were examined to determine how well the authors cited relevant articles published during the past ten years in the IJPM and the IJP. Results: There were 145 and 142 citation-worthy articles in the IJPM and the IJP, respectively; of these, 85.5% and 65.5%, respectively, had not been cited. Conclusions: Authors publishing in the IJPM under-reference previous relevant research published in the IJPM and IJP. This suggests unawareness of, deliberate disregard of, or even disdain for prior Indian research in the field. Additionally, if Indian researchers do not cite previous Indian research in the field published in Indian journals, the citation metrics of Indian journals will not grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have found restrictions on minority faith-based communities to be related to the onset of violent religious hostilities. Absent from this work, though, is a consideration of the fact that minority religious discrimination can take different forms, and, consequently, may encourage violence in different ways. This paper seeks to fill this void by examining different forms of minority religious restrictions and their relationship to religious violence. Specifically, we analyze the comparative strength of three basic types of religious discrimination—restrictions on minority religious practices, restrictions on minority religious institutions, and restrictions on conversion and proselytizing —on violence carried out by both religious majority groups and religious minority groups. Interestingly, our analysis shows all three forms of restrictions encourage violence from religious majorities, but not from minorities. We supplement the statistical analysis with a case study of faith-based discrimination and violent religious hostilities in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) market deserves further attention from researchers. The purpose of the paper is to profile the psychographic and behavioral heterogeneity within the BOP market in India employing a theoretical approach. We use constructs of the Theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify distinct BOP segments. It segments the BOP market in the context of durable goods, non-durable goods, and services. The findings demonstrate the presence of three consumer segments, each of the durable and non-durable goods. In the context of services, the findings show the existence of four segments of BOP consumers. This study offers insights into application of behavioral theories for segmentation, which could help with behavioral change of BOP consumers to use high-quality products and services. Further, it is significant because the BOP market has witnessed a progressive decline in size as a large segment of the BOP market is being transformed into the middle class. Comprehension of the cognitive and behavioral tendencies of each consumer segment would strategically help in retaining the brand loyal BOP customers when they upgrade to the middle class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In India, mental health rehabilitation centers run income generation programs (IGP) for therapeutic engagement, skills training, and income generation of clients. The centers have evolved IGP models relevant to their settings. There is a paucity of published literature on practices employed by the centers. Methods: This paper compiles data gathered from visits to 13 centers between November 2018 and April 2019. Information was collected through observation and interviews with staff involved in IGP, using a semi-structured pro forma designed for study. Results: Most centers were based in south India (n = 11) and urban areas (n = 12). Each center ran two to seven IGP. Each center involved 20–50 clients in IGP. Clients involved in IGP were aged 20–60 years. The centers ran a range of IGP, including the manufacturing of household consumables, paper products, textile products, handicraft products, food products, and jute products; animal husbandry and horticulture initiatives; and running cafeterias and petty shops. IGP were mostly selected based on market demand and sales value of products (n = 11); ease of doing (n = 5); interests, abilities, exposure, and experience of clients (n = 5); and availability of resources (n = 3). Products were priced primarily to cover input and labor costs (n = 8), and many centers sold products below the market rates (n = 5). Running stalls during public events was a common strategy for the sale of products (n = 9). Personal contacts and "word of mouth" publicity were used for advertisement (n = 6). Four centers involved family members in IGP. Conclusion: The nature of IGP varied in terms of setting, available resources, and profile of clients availing the services. Marketing and sales were a challenge. A supportive framework of policies and schemes is essential to promote IGP at mental health rehabilitation centers. This report may be helpful for professionals and centers planning to set up an IGP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute malnutrition is linked to child mortality and morbidity. Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programs can be instrumental in large-scale detection and treatment of undernutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 weight-for-height/length tables are diagnostic tools available to screen for acute malnutrition. Frontline workers (FWs) in a CMAM program in Dharavi, Mumbai, were using CommCare, a mobile application, for monitoring and case management of children in combination with the paper-based WHO simplified tables. A strategy was undertaken to digitize the WHO tables into the CommCare application.Objective: To measure differences in diagnostic accuracy in community-based screening for acute malnutrition, by FWs, using a mobile-based solution.Methods: Twenty-seven FWs initially used the paper-based tables and then switched to an updated mobile application that included a nutritional grade calculator. Human error rates specifically associated with grade classification were calculated by comparison of the grade assigned by the FW to the grade each child should have received based on the same WHO tables. Cohen kappa coefficient, sensitivity and specificity rates were also calculated and compared for paper-based grade assignments and calculator grade assignments.Results: Comparing FWs (N = 14) who completed at least 40 screenings without and 40 with the calculator, the error rates were 5.5% and 0.7%, respectively (p < .0001). Interrater reliability (κ) increased to an almost perfect level (>.90), from .79 to .97, after switching to the mobile calculator. Sensitivity and specificity also improved significantly.Conclusion: The mobile calculator significantly reduces an important component of human error in using the WHO tables to assess acute malnutrition at the community level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports and Crime are an integral part of the social reality of India. The recent case of Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar has again reinvigorated the public sentiments regarding the relationship between crime and the state of 'minor' sports in the country. This paper analyses the issue through an intersectional paradigm informed by the neo-Marxist analysis of sports and Classical Marxist Criminology. The paper argues that sports and crime are integrally related to each other in the rural hinterlands of India. This relationship is expressed in the processes in which sportspersons attempt to adapt to varying circumstances. Under neoliberal capitalism, where the dominant ideology proposes to normalise the idea of succeeding at all costs, sportspersons associated with 'minor' sports in India often resort to criminality because of their lack of social capital coupled with the faults associated with the process of management of these sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses how the Chinese short video-sharing platform TikTok, a key actor of global platform economy and its disconnect or subsequent ban influenced and changed ideas of creativity in India. Through qualitative interviews and content analysis of TikTok videos (available on YouTube), YouTube interviews of content creators and newspaper articles of the app ban, this paper suggests that TikTok, as a 'memetic text' and a site of 'vernacular creativity', encourages both 'everyday acts of resistance' and professionalism/entrepreneurial citizenship. While the app ban signposts digital 'imitation' publics' transition from 'low' to 'high' technology environments, the values of professionalism and entrepreneurship remain constant. The paper shows the tension between professionalism/entrepreneurship and the 'everyday acts of resistance' to state-led technocratic vision. It argues against the disconnect between democratisation and 'demoticisation' of technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health issues are common among college students, and structured services have been proven to enhance outcomes. Despite increased enrolment for higher education in India, college mental health services remain sparse. JEEVANI is the first structured state-wide college mental health service in India. This paper describes its framework and provides an overview of its functioning during the initial five months. Methods: In 2019–2020, the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Government of Kerala, implemented the program in 66 colleges catering to approximately 60,000 students. Qualified counsellors were trained to identify issues and provide interventions and early referrals, using a stepped-care approach. They conducted awareness programs to promote mental health and reduce stigma. Results: The services were accessed by 2,315 students during the assessment period (October 2019 to February 2020). The beneficiaries were predominantly females (54.1%). Over a third (38.8%) belonged to the lower socio-economic strata, and 2.5% had significant vulnerabilities. Although no syndromal diagnoses were made, anxiety and depression were the most common presentations. The counsellors provided 3,758 individual sessions and facilitated support for students who reported academic difficulties or interpersonal issues. Severe mental illness was detected in 54 students, and referrals for specialist mental health input were initiated in 68. Conclusion: Describing the framework, sharing the technical material, and providing an overview of its functioning from a resource-constrained setting in India may encourage higher education institutions in low- and middle-income countries to consider similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive and sexual health of women are sensitive areas of enquiry characterized by strong cultural oppression of women. Body mapping, an arts-based participatory research method, has proven useful in research with such sensitive topics. In this paper, I describe my experience of researching women's experience of childbirth through birth maps, an adaptation of body mapping. Live size maps were co-created along with birthing story and body key with women in Bihar, India. Body mapping is a very cost-effective method that ensures better recall, richer narratives, reduced power-based inequalities that enables to explore reproductive, maternal & sexual health topics respectfully. The birth map and birthing story can generate awareness about how women give birth, as an attempt to improve the quality and respectfulness in care provision during labour and childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian women are fast moving from conventional jobs to night-shift jobs in transnational call centers. Women working at night is a relatively new phenomenon and stands apart from the usual Indian lifestyle. Night work and the dual burden of work and family have adverse implications on women employees' physical and psychological health. The paper highlights the occupational health hazards of women employees of international call centers through a systematic review of 38 articles published between 2000 and 2018. Data and evidence from studies on women employees of international call centers in India reveal that odd working hours against the biological clock make women employees suffer from several health problems. Women were more prone to health problems as compared to their counterparts. The responsibility of balancing work and family leads to high levels of stress. Despite the attractive salary package, most women employees suffer health hazards and psychological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Every society has persons with illness who do not have any family support. Taking care of such uncared-for patients requires a well-structured system providing medical, psychological, emotional, and rehabilitory support. The first ever rehabilitation ward among government hospitals in Tamil Nadu was created at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), Chennai with the motto of "Caring for the uncared for." This paper highlights the organizational structure, functionality, profile of patients admitted, challenges faced, and the outcome of patients admitted in the rehabilitation ward. Methods: A retrospective study was done on the "untended" patients, who were admitted in the rehabilitation ward at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India from December 2020 to June 2022. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and outcome of the patients were analyzed. Results: A total of 201 adults with physical disabilities or mixed physical and psychiatric disabilities were admitted for intensive rehabilitation. Common medical illnesses included orthopedic disorders in 80 (39.8%), followed by neurological illness in 43 (21.4%) patients. The median length of stay was 50 (24.5-103.5) days with longest stay of 447 days. Of those patients who recovered, 54 patients (26.9%) reunited with family and returned home and 125 (62.2%) patients were sent to old age homes/asylums. Conclusion: A dedicated ward for untended patients is the first of its kind in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Such a venture has proved to be of benefit, considering the positive outcome in a significant proportion of the beneficiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid crises of trust in government, the legitimacy of public organizations has never been more important. In this context, access to performance information ensures democratic control and thus legitimacy. However, performance evaluation is hindered by transaction costs in accessing and cognitive biases in interpreting performance. We examine two antecedents of citizen evaluations of performance: sector and bureaucratic reputation. Utilizing two experiments on a representative sample of Indian citizens, we situate our paper amid the increasing privatization of public services, and reputation management strategies used to influence performance evaluations. We discuss our findings and their implications for public management theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses residential segregation over time in Indian cities. We examine the change in caste-based segregation longitudinally, while exploring how caste dynamics manifest differently across city size and region. The paper uses successive rounds of decennial census data, from 2001 and 2011. Contrary to expectations, we find residential segregation by caste/tribe persisting or worsening in 60 per cent of cities in our all-India sample, with differences by region and city size. For example, in the states of Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab and Tamil Nadu, a majority of cities experienced decreasing levels of residential segregation by caste/tribe, while in Maharashtra and Gujarat, 34 and 29 per cent of cities, respectively, experienced an increase. A greater proportion of small cities (population 20,000–49,999) than large cities (100,000–999,999) experienced an increase in residential segregation between 2001 and 2011. Across all city-size categories, the dominant trend has been no improvement in residential segregation by caste/tribe over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported psychotherapy with applications across psychiatric disorders. The demand for nonpharmacological interventions is increasing in the developing world. Unfortunately, existing resources are unable to cater to treatment and training needs. Methods: The aim of the current paper is to provide a description of the format of a series of CBT training workshops and their clinical impact in a psychiatric tertiary care center in north India. Over a period of nine years, nine training workshops were conducted. CBT concepts and skills sets were inculcated in faculty and student participants, using teaching strategies based on adult learning techniques. Results: The workshops resulted in a tremendous increase in the number of patients taken up for CBT. While therapeutic and training outcomes were not systematically assessed, the naturalistic outcomes (60 out of 85 patients completed therapy; improvement reported by >90% of the completers) are encouraging and showcase capacity building by means of CBT training in these workshops. Conclusions: CBT training workshops are an effective way to impart CBT skills and, therefore, to build CBT expertise in a resource-poor setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, in India was widely contested by both political parties and various civil society formations. Shaheen Bagh, a sit-in protest demonstration which continued for over a hundred days in the nation's capital from mid-December 2019 to late March 2020, occupied the central position within the corpus of these protest demonstrations. The protests at Shaheen Bagh were led by poor, Muslim working-class women, who had come out on the streets protesting and asserting their rights amidst the dominant ruling-class communal politics. The Shaheen Bagh protests were a potent force of the working-class and oppressed minorities of the country. The paper brings in Marxist and Gramscian perspectives to explain how Shaheen Bagh has contributed to Indian left-wing politics. The paper argues that the women in Shaheen Bagh have been successful in bridging the gap between the civil society and political society in the country and has to an extent, altered the very nature of Indian politics. Moreover, the assertive nature of the Muslim women regarding their religion and the support which they garnered from the Indian left, widely accused by many of being Islamophobic in nature, has wide repercussions as far as political and social alliances between the left and Muslim politics in India is concerned. The present paper locates the protest within the notion of subaltern unity and tries to analyse the possible impacts of the support for the protests, within and beyond the anti-CAA protest movement, from the Indian left. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments across the developing world are adopting digital technologies to improve the performance of public sector supply chains. However, empirical evidence regarding the impact of these technologies on performance is mixed. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of using biometric authentication (BA) devices on the performance of India's food security program. The program aims to deliver subsidized food grains to nearly 160 million low-income households through approximately 500,000 fair price shops (FPSs). Nearly half of those grains do not reach the beneficiaries and are diverted to the open market for private benefit. We estimate the impact of installing BA devices on reducing diversion in more than 3,300 FPSs in the Indian state of Karnataka between 2013 and 2015 using a difference-in-differences approach. We find that BA devices reduce up to 4% of the current diversion at the last mile. We argue that this relatively low impact is due to the presence of a workaround mechanism which results in imperfect monitoring and validate the decrease in diversion mechanism by estimating the differential impact of BA devices. We complement the empirical analysis with a simulation exercise to estimate the additional value that can be unlocked by using the BA devices. We find that the value of better replenishment planning using sales and inventory information captured by BA devices can be significant. The value of better planning can be as high as six times the value of reduction in diversion, depending on the preintervention levels of demand from genuine beneficiaries and diversion at the FPSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The high-cited publications (HCPs) (with 50 or more citations) on orthopedic research from India were analyzed on various parameters. Methodology: The HCPs that were published between 2002 and 2021, on the Indian orthopedic research and indexed in the Scopus database were evaluated on various parameters. A network analysis was used to evaluate and visualize the collaborative interaction among the most productive organizations, authors, and keywords using VOSviewer and Biblioshyn software. Results: Of the total 4606 publications, 179 (3.88%) were HCPs, that were cited 22767 times (averaging 127.19 citations per publication). An external funding was received in 24.58% of publications and 36.87% of publications had an international collaboration. The most productive organizations were the Indian Institute of Science - Bengaluru (n = 11), All India Institute of Medical Sciences - New Delhi, and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences - Kochi (n = 8 each) and the most impactful organizations in terms of citations per paper and relative citation index were Vellore Institute of Technology - Vellore, TIET - Patiala, and Lovely Professional University. The most productive authors were K. Chatterjee, D. Lahiri, and R. Vaishya. The most impactful authors were P. Mukherjee, S. Rajasekaran, and J. N. Babu in terms of citations per paper and relative citation index. Delhi was the epicenter of research and publications (n = 27). Material science and medicine contributed the largest number of publications (n = 77 and n = 73), followed by Engineering (n = 51). Treatment and clinical studies accounted maximally (24.58% and 8.38%) and hydroxyapatite (n = 40) was the most significant keyword appearing in the literature. Conclusion: This study provided an insight into understanding of research status including trends identified and studied the most influential contributions and performance of Indian organizations and authors and indicated broad and narrow subject fields contributing to this medical specialty. It gives some ideas about past, present, and future hotspots in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nursing schedule generation is an important activity that takes a considerable amount of time for managers to prepare and amend. It involves the optimal allocation of nurses to shifts, factoring various constraints like shift timings, holidays, leaves, and emergencies. This paper provides the design and development details for an automated nurse scheduling system called "ROTA," implemented for a 2032 bed multi-specialty tertiary teaching hospital, having 1800 staff nurses and 98 wards. The system generates daily, weekly, monthly schedules, nurse face sheets, duty allocation charts, swapping schedules, and training details for nurses. The system improved managerial control and saved a considerable amount of time for nurses to prepare the schedule. A survey conducted to gauge the system's satisfaction level showed that 91% of nurses were satisfied with ROTA. Overall, the system saved 78% of nurse scheduling time, resulting in a 3% cost reduction for the hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, a new approach to finance has been transforming shelter options for low-income households and supporting community-led development over recent decades. This paper examines the financial architecture developed to support hundreds of community-driven efforts by grassroots groups working in alliance with the Mumbai-based NGO SPARC. Much has been written about this Alliance’s work, but its financial architecture has had little attention. This paper seeks to explain how grants given for grassroots community development in urban areas can produce new forms of entrepreneurial behaviour among the urban poor, showing how they can design and execute large projects with the expertise gained from more modest efforts. It also shows how this Alliance has managed, invested and revolved these grants and other sources of funding, including its own savings, to leverage resources and opportunities for inclusive city development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While considerable existing literature has focused on the lack of sanitation services in informal settlements, this paper argues for the need for well-maintained sanitation services in city public spaces. Specifically, the paper describes the impact of a lack of sanitation facilities in public spaces and its linkages to waste picker women’s sense of safety and security. Drawing on the experiences of waste picker women residing in an informal settlement in Pune, it focuses on women’s everyday improvisations and negotiations to cope with the unavailability or inaccessibility of sanitation facilities while they traverse the city, picking and segregating waste, and the impact on their income, health and psychological well-being. The findings show that the policy discourse on sanitation needs to be expanded beyond a focus on informal settlements to include a public sanitation component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What role does language play in disciplining subjects in the international development sector? Previous critiques of international development organizations have focused on the role of knowledge tools, such as reports, in reproducing dichotomies between developed and under-developed subjects. In this paper, I de-colonize NGO reporting through a reappraisal of the boundary-object concept. I utilize Ngugi's (1986) problematization of language and translation to demonstrate how the boundary-object is experienced differentially across stakeholder groups and caste/class structures. Using findings garnered from a multisited ethnography of an international NGO in India, I examine the prominence of English language in NGO reports over indigenous languages. This paper therefore contributes to contemporary understandings of neo-colonial power relations as sustained by the English language within India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the patterns discovered in fruit and vegetable buying behaviour in the United States and India. Using claimed buying data obtained from online questionnaires, it compares the patterns against those found extensively in consumer goods categories across the world. This study analyses consumer loyalty with Double Jeopardy, consumer sharing with Duplication of Purchase and brand user profiles with Mean Absolute Deviations. The results show the buying behaviour patterns of Double Jeopardy, Duplication of Purchase and that brand user profiles exist within the fruit and vegetable categories. The implications of these findings are: (1) that the size of fruit and vegetable brands are largely determined by how many people buy them and not how loyal those consumers are; (2) fruit and vegetable brands share consumers with one another; and (3) fruit and vegetable brands are not purchased by unique segments of the population. Therefore, in order to increase the number of people buying fruit and vegetable brands, marketers should focus on increasing their mental and physical availability (i.e. the same strategies used for consumer goods brands). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine community collectives – place-based, community-led initiatives for sustainable livelihood, as an alternative to the top-down, efficiency-driven economic model. Drawing on the theoretical framework of prefigurative organizing, we examined the strategies employed by community members in confronting entrenched inequalities and overcoming marginalization as they envision and engage in inclusive futures. We conducted a comparative case study of two exemplary community collectives in India that exhibited differences in the degrees of internal and external marginalization. We identified two key cross-cutting themes of prefigurative organizing: projective cultural adjustment – whether a community leverages their traditional culture or breaks away from it, and tempered autonomy – negotiating autonomy without overtly challenging dominant groups, and exercising self-imposed restraints to make independent decisions. We show how these two themes manifested across three key processes of prefigurative organizing: prefiguring self-governance; commoning; and cultivating discursive spaces. These findings help us theorize that in communities where the degree of internal marginalization is high due to persisting social hierarchies, breaking away from past discriminatory practices, incorporating suspension of consent in the decision-making process, and introducing multiple constructive works are essential components of prefigurative organizing. In communities where the degree of external marginalization is high, building on the past, incorporating refusal in decision-making, and introducing unified constructive work are important components of prefigurative organizing. We suggest that prefigurative organizing against the dominant power structure, whether within community social hierarchies or external exploitative political-economic structures, is based on selective and strategic engagement without seeking an exit, as exit might not be an option for place-based communities. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this research for alternative organizing and grand challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen is gaining popularity as a clean fuel, and India is one of the countries that is exploring its potential. The paper analyzes the factors contributing to the adoption of green hydrogen in India. The government's policies to encourage usage of clean energy and cut down carbon dioxide emissions are a key factor driving the adoption of green hydrogen in India. Additionally, with the accessibility of renewable energy resources, the growing demand for hydrogen in various industrial applications, and the development of supportive infrastructure and policies are also contributing to the expansion of the green hydrogen sector. The study did a comprehensive literature survey to determine 21 variables that contribute to the green hydrogen development in India, which have been categorized under 4 blocks, namely, varied incentives, government support measures, R&D landscape, and green mandate. These blocks can be utilized to articulate and upgrade the green hydrogen policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial necessity and desperation is the primary reason for females to enter into sex work. The health and well-being of female sex workers (FSWs) depend on the balance between their earnings and the cost of living in their local environment. Therefore it would be of value to examine the comparative cost of living adjusted earnings of FSWs in different countries to gauge equity or its absence in their financial state. Data about per client per encounter earnings for FSWs in Pune, India was taken from primary research conducted by the first author. Equivalent secondary data was acquired for the US and Thailand from an online literature review. Earnings after converting to US dollar values were adjusted against the cost of living in the respective environments of the FSWs and then compared. An FSW in India, (Pune) earned on the average US $4.40 after adjusting for the cost of living locally, while in Thailand (Bangkok) the equivalent earning was US $18.77 and in the US (Washington DC region) it was $101.79. These results suggest that an FSW in the US earns 23 times more, and a Thai FSW earns 4 times more than an FSW in India. There are numerous variables that affect the earnings of an FSW and the limited defined scope of this paper based on available data does not permit detailed analyses of causal or intermediate influencing factors. Nonetheless, it can be said with reasonable confidence that much needs to be done and can be done to mitigate the earning disparity, particularly in an emerging economy like India as shown in this small study, and that can perhaps be done best under the umbrella domain of a "harm reduction approach." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handholding of start-ups through Incubation centers and Technology Parks have proven to be successful in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. Government of India is providing a major thrust to set up more incubation centers in the country and coming out with several policies like tax holidays, hassle free registration process to facilitate startup growth. However, many experts have commented that the incubation centers across the country are degenerating into a real estate play only. A large number of cases have been observed where successful start-ups operated from outside of the incubation centers. Following an analysis of the important services needed by start-ups in incubation centers the paper attempts to identify the gaps in the performance of the services being provided by the incubation centers. The paper outlines the areas that incubation centers need to focus on to encourage growth of start-ups being incubated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 70 per cent of India's surface water is polluted by human excreta and other waste and less than 35 per cent of urban wastewater is treated. This poses a severe risk to public and environmental health. Urban waterbody rejuvenation in India often focuses on aesthetic improvements rather than addressing its systemic interdependencies with sanitation. This paper establishes these systemic links through a mixed-methods study using water-quality testing and stakeholder interviews in the city of Bengaluru, India. A conceptual system dynamics model of technical, social, institutional and environmental factors is developed. Results show that sewage leaks into lakes via stormwater drains are a major pollution pathway, among others. Three system levers for positive change have been identified: coordination of government entities, adequate faecal sludge management and strong citizen involvement. Citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS) is proposed as an approach to provide leverage and solve the intertwined issues of public and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to demystify and deconstruct the current Smart Cities craze in India. It does so by refusing to be distracted by the discourses of the Smart Cities idea in general and of the Smart Cities Mission of the Government of India in particular. It focuses instead on the privatized physical spaces of urban inequality in India, specifically gated neighbourhoods and integrated townships. It argues that just as these privatized spaces have increased in size and complexity over time, their corresponding legitimizing ideologies have also evolved and become more sophisticated, to finally give birth to their newest avatar – Smart Cities. Seen in this light, Smart Cities appear less as a novel idea floated to guide the sustainable development of our future cities, and more as an ideological cover for the ongoing processes of neoliberal urbanization. The paper buttresses these arguments with an analysis of the design process of integrated township projects that I have been involved in, comparing the essential characteristics of these projects with the operational aspects and components of the Smart Cities Mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this review was to identify and synthesize the findings of the existing literature that highlighted the psychosocial and mental health issues of the migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Materials and Methods: An exploration of the PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google search, and some other manual searches was undertaken so that no relevant study was missed. A search on Indian scientific literature and cross-references retrieved was also conducted to get further information. The period of the search has been one year from March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. The database was searched with the terms "migrants," "migrant workers," "COVID-19 pandemic," "lockdown," "migrant population," "mental health issues," "psychosocial issues" to retrieve the published literature. Results: Initially, 48 research articles were retrieved and 10 of them were excluded as they had no sufficient information about mental and psychosocial challenges faced by the migrants. In the remaining 38 articles, 9 articles were original research work (n = 9) published from India related to the impact of COVID-19 on migrants. The second category consisted of editorials or commentary or letters to the editor or policy paper on psychosocial and mental health aspects of migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 17). The third category was 11 articles on perspectives or opinions or viewpoints (n = 11) related to various psychosocial and mental health issues among migrants in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Predominantly psychosocial issues found among migrants were living conditions, basic needs, family concerns, and joblessness. The mental health issues found among migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic included psychological distress, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders. Conclusion: Existing literature from India has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the psychosocial and mental health status of the migrants in India. This review suggests the need for more research work from the affected states of India and the development of psychosocial and mental health intervention strategies to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of rental housing in India has declined significantly over the years for various reasons, including the nature of the rent control laws. This paper assesses the impact of rent control for Mumbai, where it has created a shortfall in formal, affordable rental housing and contributed to distortions in the land market. The paper describes how "first-generation" rent control in Mumbai has led to deterioration of the existing rental housing stock, virtually halted the construction of new housing for rental in the city, and given rise to informal practices such as pagdi or key money. It also analyses the spatial concentration and composition of rent-controlled tenements in the city. It proposes reforms that would allow a gradual move towards rationalized rent controls, arguing that such second-generation controls will help incentivize investments in the rental sector and reduce the demand in the housing market at large, with implications for prices and affordable housing in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism is called "spectrum" disorder because there is a wide variation in the type and the severity of symptoms that people experience. India has a vast population, diverse cultures, and multiple languages, making it crucial to under- stand the unique challenges faced by individuals with autism spectrum disorder in the Indian context. This narrative review explores the current state of knowledge about autism spectrum disorder in the Indian context. Databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Sage journals, and other sources were searched with relevant terms for preparing this review. All published literature till January 2023 was studied and those which met the inclusion criteria were included. The resources included were original research articles, review articles, web pages, and book chapters addressing the purpose of the paper. Forty-eight such studies which met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Results showed that the prevalence of autism varied across different studies in India. The study found advanced paternal age, fetal distress, gestational respiratory infections, labor complications, preterm birth, neonatal jaundice, delayed birth cry, birth asphyxia, late initiation of breastfeeding, neonatal seizures, use of maternal hormonal intervention, and consanguinity as some of the identified risk factors of autism spectrum disorder. Parents and families of children with autism have to go through a complex negative experience, both in the family and the community. This negative experience is further compounded by the lack of awareness and access to appropriate professional help and resources. It can be concluded that there is an urgent need for services that help parents cope with the stress of parenting a child with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure of Elective Module on Research Initiated by Undergraduate Medical Students. To the Editor, Research is an essential aspect of medical science and it needs to be adequately addressed in the undergraduate (UG) curriculum in India. [6] There was rampant plagiarism in UG medical work, around 59%.[7] I Abysmal funding i : Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently increased its funding for UG medical research from 20,000 to 50,000, but the uptake of students as compared to applications remains extremely small. [Extracted from the article]

Urban sanitation in India faces many challenges. Nearly 60 million people in urban areas lack access to improved sanitation arrangements, and more than two-thirds of wastewater is let out untreated into the environment, polluting land and water bodies. To respond to these environmental and public health challenges, urban India will need to address the full cycle of sanitation, i.e. universal access to toilets, with safe collection, conveyance and treatment of human excreta. This paper outlines these concerns, and highlights the need for focusing on access to water and the full cycle of sanitation for the urban poor, as fundamental to addressing the sanitation challenge. Priorities for policy and financing for urban sanitation in India are discussed, and the paper concludes with an examination of key policy initiatives in the last decade, assessing the extent to which these priorities are gaining attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A participative and representative democracy like that of India cannot deny media's significant role in strengthening its democratic fabric. However, while media has offered a huge platform for creating awareness, educating and sensitising people, the quality of knowledge disseminated, the kind of awareness created, the way of connecting with the masses as also, the content flashed and the intention behind it are clouded with dubiousness. This paper proposed to conduct a qualitative study into analysing the role and performance of media towards nurturing democratic principles in Indian context through narrative analysis of certain instances picked deliberately for the purpose; and suggested certain measures for enhancing the effectiveness of media in this context. The paper reaffirmed media in the country, contrary to the expected role, to be biased, indulging in blatant fabrication of news, manipulating facts and spreading propaganda, hence fast losing its credibility, integrity and sanctity under the garb of reinforcing democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technology tools like any computerized system have a viral tendency and what awaits the Indian Elections in 2019 is a Trump style sophisticated digital computational propaganda. Such tools are emerging as threats to democracies, especially like India, with a free media and a booming population, connecting to the web through smart hand-held devices, increasingly relying on social media for its news sources. The Indian landscape for digital privacy is also fertile with vast amounts of data being pilfered, hacked and legally accumulated. If carefully designed election propaganda based on fake news and bots is launched on the eve of the 2019 elections who will protect the pillars of Indian democracy? This qualitative study paper with a triangulation of two methods examines the role of computational propaganda in elections and undertakes to find the likelihood of its replication during the Indian general elections in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a worldwide public health crisis. During huge surge in COVID-19 cases, most of the patient arrived at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai were severe due to late presentation and also available evidence demonstrating that the delay in treatment is directly associated with increased mortality or poor patient outcome. As an innovative concept of Zero Delay COVID-19 Ward were set up to provide the required critical care for all severe COVID-19 cases. The experience of setting up of such Zero Delay COVID-19 Ward and profile of admitted COVID-19 patients were described in this paper. Methods: A total of 4515 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted at Zero Delay COVID-19 Ward was analyzed retrospectively from 7th July to 31st December 2020. Results: At the time of admission the frequency of dyspnea were 85.6% among them 99.1% recovered from dyspnea after the oxygen therapy and other management at Zero Delay COVID-19 Ward. Of the 4515 COVID-19 individuals, about 1829 (40.5%) had comorbidity, 227 (5%) had died. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, COVID-19 death was more likely to be associated with comorbidity (OR: 18.687; 95% CI: 11.229-31.1) than other variables. Conclusions: Comorbidity is an independent high risk factor for mortality of COVID-19 patients. From our observation, it is strongly recommended that effective zero delay covid-19 ward model will help for the prevention of mortality in current/expected waves of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse is a detrimental experience that could cause deleterious mental-health outcomes in the survivor. Decades of research have revealed the complex nature of child sexual abuse in terms of its characteristics, dynamics, causes, and consequences. Efficacious psychological interventions for managing child sexual abuse-related outcomes in children exist. However, it is now well recognized that interventions alone are not enough for recovery from sexual or any other type of trauma; it requires an entire human service system that is well-informed about trauma and its effects. Given the lack of awareness about the consequences of child sexual abuse and the stigmatization that exists in the Indian context, which significantly contributes toward the evolution and severity of trauma outcomes in victimized children, this paper is an attempt to discuss the relevance of adopting a trauma-informed approach while responding to child sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the mechanisms through which democratic urban polities produce, maintain and reproduce inequality. It does so by looking at case law from 1990–2007 in New Delhi, where a seemingly relentless series of evictions of poor illegal settlements (colloquially known as bastis) were ordered by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India in Public Interest Litigations (PILs). While the power of the claims of the “middle class” and the emergence of a new urban political economy are well documented in the analysis of evictions, the specificity of how subaltern urban residents have been displaced from a development imagination remains relatively understudied. Put simply: how have the claims, presence and resistance of a significant proportion of urban residents been managed and even evaded within urban politics? This paper argues that case law on evictions makes visible not only the claims to the city of an insurgent urban elite but also the simultaneous “impoverishment of poverty”, which together create a new calculus for the contestations of urban citizenship in contemporary Delhi. This impoverishment is marked by a reduction in the efficacy of poverty and vulnerability as the basis of claims made by subaltern citizens to the elements of citizenship, i.e. the determination and distribution of rights and needs, access to resources and entitlements as well as a place within narratives of belonging and personhood. Making visible the multiple and particular processes of impoverishment is a critical part of a praxis that seeks to formulate effective resistance and imagine different urban futures. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents the use of thematic collages as a methodological innovation to participatory photography as a research framework. Participatory photography was used to understand the subjective "off-script" motivations behind the full or partial adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) by members of women's self-help groups in Andhra Pradesh, India. The addition of thematic collages to existing participatory photography methods was developed as a mechanism to better support the dialogic generation of new Freirean "generative themes" for investigation by a group. Further, the use of thematic collages invites the integration of "renegade" or non-thematic images into participant group analysis. ZBNF is an agricultural practice that has become an extension priority in Andhra Pradesh. It emphasizes the use of defined chemical-free inputs and regenerative farming techniques as a holistic approach toward socio-ecological resilience. As part of an interdisciplinary research project, this participatory photography design was piloted parallel to a soil science experiment in three geographically distinct agroecological zones in Andhra Pradesh. We show how participatory photography, with the novel addition of thematic collages, can be integrated into interdisciplinary research as a method to discover the underlying motivations to adopt agricultural practices and participate in agricultural movements like Zero Budget Natural Farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India has the second-largest population of elderly in the world. Serious mental illness (SMI) is a subset of the mental disorders that result in significant functional impairment and is usually long term. Persons with SMI face several challenges in their old age that are different from the issues faced by younger people with SMI. Understanding the problems faced by elderly individuals suffering from SMI is fundamental for planning programs to address them. The SENIOR (Support Systems Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Illness in Old age) project is a study aimed at evaluating the problems faced in obtaining mental health care by elderly persons having SMI in the Kerala state of India. Aim: To describe the scientific methodology of the SENIOR project. Methods: This study employs mixed-methods cross-sectional design among a minimum sample of 768 SMI patients identified through cluster sampling from three districts, and Focus Group Discussion among mental health program officials. Discussion: This paper presents a methodological model to assist researchers in future field epidemiological studies on mental illness. Assessing service needs and barriers to access for the most vulnerable among the mentally ill will help the policymakers make evidence-based decisions to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the response of the Indian pharmaceutical industry to the challenges of new drug discovery across the globe and the institutional changes in its domestic environment driven by economic liberalization and intellectual property reforms. The pharmaceutical Multi National Companies (MNC) in the US, Europe and Japan are increasingly facing the pressure of cost escalation and the need to bring new drugs to the market in time. The result is that the MNCs outsource the drug development, manufacturing and clinical trials to pharmaceutical firms in India and China to bring down costs and save time. It is in this context that the contract research and manufacturing services in the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is gaining currency. The paper describes how some select Indian firms in this space have attained superior competitive advantage through optimal configuration of their resources and competences. In this process, Indian pharmaceutical industry can become one of the major drivers of the 'Make in India' initiative of the Government of India to promote manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a signatory of the United Nations Commission on Child Rights, India has enacted laws and policies to protect the child's interests. The Juvenile Justice Act of 2015 addresses the needs and well-being of the most vulnerable children, including those who do not have anyone to care for or have experienced a traumatic upbringing and those who are allegedly in conflict with the law. No research from India addresses these vulnerable children's mental health and well-being. The current paper describes a pilot project to create mental health awareness and improve children's care access in India's Juvenile Justice System (JJS). Methods: Permission was obtained from appropriate governmental agencies in Odisha and Tamil Nadu and Child Care Institutions (CCIs) that consented to participate. A co-creation model was utilized to create youth-friendly spaces and methods to deliver mental health literacy for all stakeholders and access to care. Results: Seven CCIs and 278 children across two states participated in the implementation of the project. 37.8% of the children had resided for less than six months and 34.5% for more than two years in the current CCI. Of the various adverse childhood experiences, neglect was the highest at 76.3% followed by parental issues at 32%. Conclusions: Children in the JJS have many risk factors predisposing them to develop mental health issues. This unique pilot project describes implementing a codesigned and co-created model of delivery of mental health literacy and access to care to this vulnerable group of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: The objective of the paper was to develop a comprehensive "Adolescence Stress Scale" and to examine different psychometric issues in the development, initial validation, and standardization of this scale. Method: Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the data procured from a sample of 634 (11–18 years) school-going adolescents in India. Results: An exploratory analysis provided a 10 factor structure, namely, major loss induced stress, enforcement or conflict induced stress, phobic stress, interpersonal conflict induced stress, punishment induced stress, illness and injury induced stress, performance stress, imposition induced stress, insecurity induced stress, unhealthy environment induced stress. The 10 oblique factor solutions are found to be interrelated and interdependent with good indices of internal consistency, and content validity. Conclusions: This scale development is a novel and powerful measure that taps onto various aspects of stress experienced by school-going adolescents. The scale can facilitate researchers, clinicians, and teachers to identify and quantify the significant sources of stress in adolescents in school, or clinic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbols play a significant role in politics and assertion. In India, different kinds of signs are used in Dalit assertions and politics. In his struggle for Dalits' rights, Dr. B R Ambedkar had employed different modes of verbal and non-verbal communication tools. He used various symbols to popularise his ideology and messages among his followers. Ambedkar's sense of clothing, Manu Smriti burning, and Buddha all had symbolic meanings. This paper, under the theoretical framework of semiotics, seeks to ascertain how these symbols helped Ambedkar to spread his ideas of Dalit emancipation and emerged as vital tools for Dalit rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 has a profound impact on people with existing mental disorders, augmenting the prevailing inequalities in mental health. Methods: In order to understand the status of telepsychiatry in India and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mental health and its potential applications, a scoping review was done between March 2020 and May 2020. The literature review revealed 253 papers, which were used to derive the primary framework for analysis. The information was then reviewed for ideas and concepts, which were integrated with evidence from gray literature and categorized under broader themes based on the insights derived. Finally, a thematic framework was developed for discussion to tailor scientific information for decision-makers' needs. Results: Review findings are summarized under the following headings: changing patterns of health-seeking behavior, origin and evolution of telepsychiatry, possible applications of telepsychiatry and AI, technological features, and AI models in mental health. Conclusions: Though there are several potential opportunities, the time is not yet ripe for telepsychiatry and AI to be adopted fully in the field of mental health care. But it is time that we develop indigenous proprietary technology and test and validate it. With many solutions offered by telepsychiatry and AI, psychiatrists must choose an appropriate tool based on their requirements, availability of resources, and feasibility of deployment. Harmony between conventional care and technology-based care must be reached gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent literature, largely from Africa, shows mixed effects of own-production on diet diversity. However, the role of own-production, relative to markets, in influencing food consumption becomes more pronounced as market integration increases.Objective: This paper investigates the relative importance of two factors - production diversity and household market integration - for the intake of a nutritious diet by women and households in rural India.Methods: Data analysis is based on primary data from an extensive agriculture-nutrition survey of 3600 Indian households that was collected in 2017. Dietary diversity scores are constructed for women and households is based on 24-hour and 7-day recall periods. Household market integration is measured as monthly household expenditure on key non-staple food groups. We measure production diversity in two ways - field-level and on-farm production diversity - in order to account for the cereal centric rice-wheat cropping system found in our study locations. The analysis is based on Ordinary Least Squares regressions where we control for a variety of village, household, and individual level covariates that affect food consumption, and village fixed effects. Robustness checks are done by way of using a Poisson regression specifications and 7-day recall period.Results: Conventional measures of field-level production diversity, like the number of crops or food groups grown, have no significant association with diet diversity. In contrast, it is on-farm production diversity (the field-level cultivation of pulses and on-farm livestock management, and kitchen gardens in the longer run) that is significantly associated with improved dietary diversity scores, thus suggesting the importance of non-staples in improving both individual and household dietary diversity. Furthermore, market purchases of non-staples like pulses and dairy products are associated with a significantly higher dietary diversity. Other significant determinants of dietary diversity include women's literacy and awareness of nutrition. These results mostly remain robust to changes in the recall period of the diet diversity measure and the nature of the empirical specification.Conclusions: This study contributes to the scarce empirical evidence related to diets in India. Additionally, our results indicate some key intervention areas - promoting livestock rearing, strengthening households' market integration (for purchase of non-staples) and increasing women's awareness about nutrition. These are more impactful than raising production diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the very large numbers of low-income households displaced by development or infrastructure projects in Ahmedabad and their relocation by city government to housing on resettlement sites. It discusses the involvement of the Mahila Housing SEWA Trust (MHT) in setting up the required resident welfare associations (RWAs) in eight of these resettlement sites and the difficulties MHT faced in getting residents to follow the many time-consuming procedures that were necessary. Constraints included distrust by residents of the government agencies and the lack of social networks or leadership structures in the resettlement sites resulting from the housing allocation process, which did not keep neighbours or communities together. The city government's objective for the RWAs was not to support participatory governance or facilitate improvements in the lives of resettled dwellers but to pass on the costs, maintenance and management responsibilities of the resettlement sites to these associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]