IntroductionThe gig economy has expanded significantly in urban public spaces; however, the perception of unsafe urban spaces by women and their families restricts their participation in the gig economy. This study aims to identify the safety concerns of female gig workers and the strategies adopted by various stakeholders to address them.MethodsAn advanced search was performed in online databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, and APA PsycInfo, to identify articles pertaining to the safety of female gig workers for this scoping review. PRISMA approach for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) was employed to assess the scope of relevant literature and synthesize the prevalent safety concerns and strategies adopted by various stakeholder to mitigate that concern. A narrative and tabular synthesis approach was used to describe the collected data.ResultsA total of 482 studies were identified and retrieved from the databases. Sixteen studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Abusive behavior in the workplace, fear of nighttime operations, working on digital platforms, customer anonymity, and lack of client verification were identified as prominent safety concerns. Apart from scant informal strategies, there are no formal structures that address harassment against female gig workers.ConclusionSeveral barriers pose safety concerns for female gig workers, thereby hampering their participation in the workforce. An altered approach to the existing legal and policy framework will ensure the safety of female gig workers from sexual harassment at the workplace.

Culture is created and modified in stages through human practices comprising numerous elements- products of culture- that are developed, altered, andat times, lost or redefined. This study presents the classical example of 'Phulkari'- an embroidery technique which represents intergenerational gendered work in parts of Punjab, India. This tradition is rooted in matrilineal practice where the skill and knowledge of this form of embroidery is passed down through generations - symbolizing the love of mothers and grandmothers towards their daughters, embodying their emotions and long-standing heritage. This mixed method empirical study is based on data collected using Questionnaires and Key Informant interviews with female artisans and shop owners who operate small-scale production units in the Adalat Bazaar and Tripuri marketplaces located in the Patiala District of Punjab (India). This study reveals the intricacies surrounding the loss of this gendered tradition. It significantly contributes to the discourse on the intangible value of cultural heritage and emotional connections in the contemporary business of Geographical Indication (GI) tagging. The repercussions of standardization and commercialization include marginalization of women, dismantling of their community spaces, and a decline in the culture of local craft (wo)men, including the values and emotions intertwined with it.

Background: Early and comprehensive interventions are crucial for preventing substance use in adolescents. In school settings, such interventions can be easily integrated into the curricular and co-curricular activities with the active involvement of school administration, teachers, trained staff, parents, and community members. This review aimed to comprehensively examine preventive, protective, and corrective school-based intervention models for substance use to suggest an evidence-based and effective educational model for preventing substance use in children. Methods: In this scoping review, online databases, including SCOPUS and Web of Science, were searched to identify and collect articles evaluating the effectiveness of school-based prevention models. The PRISMA approach for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) was employed to assess the scope of relevant literature and synthesise existing school-based intervention models. Two independent reviewers independently screened records (κ = 0.75). Due to heterogeneity, findings were synthesised narratively using a socio-ecological framework. Study quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Results: Forty-three studies, mostly from the United States, were included in the review. All school-based interventions examined were preventive or protective in their approaches. There was no school-based intervention model that was corrective in its approach. Increased knowledge, negative attitudes towards substance use, and reduced substance use in the intervention groups were key outcomes. Effective interventions involved a multi-pronged approach wherein teacher training, student education, and the involvement of parents, senior citizens, police officials, experts, and the community were key components. Additionally, culturally tailored interventions have shown promising results. Conclusions: Among school children, tobacco and alcohol use are most prevalent, and schools can play a crucial role in addressing this issue. Apart from preventive and protective intervention models, the focus needs to shift towards developing integrated school-based corrective models to address the concerns of substance use among school students.

Background: Rapid 21st-century urbanization has spurred city growth and socio-economic development, offering diverse opportunities. However, cities remain paradoxical, promising better lives while excluding many. Urban experiences, shaped by social identities, result in complex, unequal spatial dynamics, with gender significantly influencing these. Women often perceive urban spaces differently than men, facing conditional access and heightened public vulnerability. A 2021 NCRB report revealed Delhi's lead in crimes against women among Indian cities, with a 40% increase from 2020 to 2021. Data Methods, Materials and Methodology: This study evaluates women's safety and access to public spaces in Delhi, aligning with SDG goals. Safety audits and structured questionnaires were employed in 10 locations with higher walkability and visibility, examining both objective and subjective factors. The study emphasizes that cities are not inherently designed for women's safety; instead, women 'create' their own spaces, termed "HerSpaces," through constant negotiations in their daily lives. Furthermore, the three A's-accessibility, affordability, and accountability- widen the gap between existing city spaces, their design, and actual usage by women. Findings: This unequal and highly differentiated access, resulting from and in turn leading to the marginalization of women, presents itself as a multi-faceted challenge exacerbated by institutional inefficiency, among other things, serving as obstacles in the way of transforming Delhi into a city for everyone - safe and inclusive in every sense of the words.

Background: Effective and sustainable drug policy for youth in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3.5 encompasses two primary approaches: addressing the etiological factors and consequences of substance abuse and enhancing the health outcomes of young substance users while expanding rehabilitation opportunities. Aims and objective: Effective social reintegration of young substance abusers requires understanding stigma among peers regarding the possibility and effectiveness of rehabilitation. Methods: A self-designed questionnaire containing 28 Questions was administered to 453 (n=453) college students in Delhi NCR. Of the total 453 respondents, 281 (62.03 percent) were male and 172 (37.97 percent) female students. Results: The mean attitude score for the substance abuse and abuser subscale was 22.99 (min = 11.50, max = 29). The mean score for the impropriety of substance abuse subscale was 11.139 (min = 3, max = 29). The mean score for the legal and policy response subscale was 23.10 (min = 10.29, max = 32.71). The mean score for the rehabilitation and reintegration subscale was 33.33 (min = 25, max = 44.88). More male respondents (75.44%) than female respondents (69.18%) believed substance abuse is a habit, not a disorder. Conclusion: Out of all social-demographic factors, none significantly impacted the average attitude score on substance abuse and the abuser. However, average attitude scores on the impropriety of substance abuse subscale varied significantly across the course and year of study categories. Average attitude scores on the rehabilitation and reintegration subscale varied significantly across the gender and categories of respondents with drug users among their known groups. An integrated cohesive approach where various stakeholders' contributions are mutually reinforcing and holistic in addressing the social issue of substance abuse among college students needs to be adopted.

Globally, 30% women, in a relationship, have been experiencing both physical and sexual violence by their intimate partners, particularly in the South-East Asian region. The grave reality of violence in marriage is the acceptance and justification of wife beating by women themselves. Recent cross-sectional studies have pointed out that a woman’s acceptance of wife abuse is related to her actual experience of being a victim, such that the victims of violence are perhaps more likely to justify the behaviour. This study analyses the role, if any, played by measures of women’s autonomy, access and freedom in impacting the acceptance of wife beating in marriage by women. This is undertaken in the background of different levels of human development attained in different groups of states in India. Two groups of states are identified: (a) one group of states represented by states of South India—scoring above national average figures in all parameters of human development including measures of gender empowerment. (b) Second group of states represented by the Empowered Action Group states—scoring lower than national average figures in all parameters of human development, including measures of gender empowerment. Indicators selected related to women’s access to microcredit, freedom of movement, ownership of assets, employment status and literacy levels. In addition, the proportion of households in a state in the lowest quintile also was selected as a factor of wealth. This study further analyses the role that acceptance of violence in marriage by women plays in explaining the deficit in reporting cases of domestic violence in the selected group of states.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which was enacted with an intent to control drug abuse and prohibit its trade, has blurred the line between the offender and the victim, particularly in cases of addicts. Nonetheless, the focus of this study is the multifarious victimization of the offender: overcriminalization in terms of measures, lengthy pretrial incarceration and increased sensationalism in cases of offenders belonging to high strata of society, thus creating a moral panic. Incident of victimization is juxtaposed with public concern solicited by the reporting of cases. The stigmatization endured and the trauma suffered by the accused owing to the full media glare strike on their innocence and violate their right to life and dignity. Aim and Objective: A criminal justice system is an institutionalized means of rendering justice. One of the virtuous traits of a criminal justice system modelled on the ethos of due process is its attempt to achieve certainty and transparency in its process and the outcomes. However, no institution is infallible as manifested by the misuse of draconian provisions of the NDPS Act 1985. This study first evaluates whether disposal of bail matters in NDPS cases is a classic case of overcriminalization leading to the victimization of the offender; second, it gauges the impact of public reaction depicting ‘moral panic’ of the offender in the disposal of bail matters. Methodology: The study was conducted through a detailed content analysis of the public reaction in the Aryan Khan drug case on the micro-blogging site Twitter with the help of the content analysis tool NVivo. Findings: The outcome of the study manifests positive interrelationship between moral panic and public perception, positive interrelationship between moral panic and status of the person arrested which consequentially affects the period of pretrial incarceration (denial of bail).

Thesis Statement: National and international policy documents have consistently placed a premium on adolescent nutrition improvement. While the health and well-being of children aged 14 to 19 is a critical indicator of a country's economic growth, the same is always argued to be even more so for females of the same age. Malnutrition's detrimental effects on young females aged 14–19 is of particular concern to health planners. Methodology: Using data from the NFHS-03 (2005–06), NFHS-04 (2015–16), and NFHS-05 (2019-20) surveys, the current study examines the impact of two key policies, the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthaya Karyakram (2019-20) and the Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Program (2005–2014) on the health status of adolescent girls. Results: The study found a strong link between adolescent nutritional and anaemic status, teen pregnancy, and child marriage. Additionally, the disparity between resources allocated and expenditure under Rashtriya Kishor Swasthaya Karyakram has a detrimental effect on the nutritional status of adolescent girls in Indian states. Conclusion and implications: Given that, despite legal interventions, child marriage and teenage pregnancy continue to occur in Indian states, policy interventions and serious implementation become essential for not only improving the health of the female cohort, but also for the future well-being of the next generation. Literacy levels of women and their anaemic status bear a significant negative correlation. Not just the literacy levels, but longer the time the girls have attended school also has a significant negative impact on their anaemic status. Thus, literacy and health and wellbeing of adolescent Indian women bear a significant relationship and poses to be two sides of a coin. Keywords: Adolescent girls, Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Program, Anaemia, Nutrition, Sustainable development goals

To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in National Capital Territory of Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), India. Various nations, including India, devised strategies to impose lockdowns and movement restrictions on their citizens in order to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Cooperation and compliance by the populace are crucial to the effectiveness of such measures. People’s knowledge, attitudes, and behavior toward such diseases are crucial in determining the adaptability of a society to such changes. Using Google Forms, a self-designed semi-structured questionnaire was created. This study is cross-sectional. Participants were eligible to participate if they were over the age of 18 and presently resided in the study area. The questionnaire included demographic variables such as gender, age, location, occupation, and income level. A total of 1,002 people completed the survey. A 48.80% of the respondents in the study group were females. The mean knowledge score was 13.14 (Maximum Score = 17), while the mean attitude score was 27.24 (Maximum Score = 30). Most of the respondents (96%) had adequate knowledge about the disease’s symptoms. A 91% of the respondents had an average attitude score. A 74.85% of respondents accepted that they had avoided large social events. Gender had a negligible impact on the average knowledge score, while the score differed significantly across education levels and occupation categories. Consistent dissemination of messages regarding the virus, its spread, control measures implemented, and precautions expected from the public aids in reassuring the public and reducing their anxiety regarding the virus.

Marriage is the socially sanctioned union involving two or more individuals for procreation. The State has been particularly interested in the age of marriage of girls. In the Vedic period, girls were married at 16 years or above. Age of marriage or the nuptial age has always remained a contentious issue in India. The age at marriage which was pegged at 14 and 18 years for females and males respectively (Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929), has been continually revised and increased over time. The age of marriage for females has been increased from 14 to 15 (1949 Amendment) and then 18 years (1978 Amendment) to delay the incidence of early marriage. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2021 proposes increasing the age of marriage for females from 18 to 21 years to bring about gender equality in marriageable age for men and women, lower the incidence of teenage pregnancy, infant and maternal mortality rate, and to improve nutritional levels and sex ratio (The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2021). The health and well-being of adolescent mothers are further exacerbated by the contradictions in the interplay of laws.

Globalization, its corollaries -increased female literacy levels and rapid urbanization, has brought a radical change in women worldwide. However, with the more significant influx of women in India's mainstream workforce, sexual harassment at the workplace has assumed more critical dimensions. Assessment of the awareness, attitudes, and perception of colleagues towards the victim, victimization, and the wrongdoer through a KAP research methodology which is meant to be a representative survey of a target population, forms the central focus of the study. The sample size was 512 respondents from public and private sector undertakings. The structured questionnaire consisted of four core sections ranging from including respondent's socio-demographic characteristics to including questions regarding the assessment of respondents' knowledge of sexual harassment at the workplace and committee to address the issue, their attitudes towards sexual harassment at the workplace, and inquiries about practice towards sexual harassment at workplace. The study affirms, firstly, both public and private sector organizations lack in their rehabilitative approach towards the victim. Secondly, the co-workers' approach both in the private and public sector lacks sensitivity and includes victim-blaming. Thirdly, there is a need for sensitization training of ICC members. Building Safe workplaces is a prerequisite to building sustainable workplaces.

Across countries, in the sphere of economic employment, in contrast to men, women face higher unemployment, informal nature, and instability. Founding gender equality, promoting women's empowerment is an integral constituent of the Sustainable Development Goals. The neo-liberal development processes leading to greater urbanisation offer a significant opportunity for women to enter paid employment. But, societal gender norms play a vital role in these decisions, often creating segregation of workspaces terming them 'suitable' for women/men or 'unsuitable' for them. City petrol pumps are one such gendered workspace, which is highly masculine in its work practices, customer base, and approach. This study based on the women petrol pump operators in Delhi elaborates on how women 'negotiate' their workspace, how gender relations are built, sustained, and altered, strategies adopted, and impediments faced by women to regulate themselves in this occupation.

The present paper elaborates on the provisions of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in LARR Act-2013 for the urban areas. The article focuses on the specific issues of urban land acquisition, compensation, and social impact assessment. It further elucidates the efforts at circumventing', if any, by the State Governments by issuing their own land acquisition rules and the significance of such regulations for urban areas. The paper elaborates on the legal conundrum that has ensued because the affected persons in the urban areashave taken the course to the Courts. In this paper, the authors present the case studies of land acquisition in NCT of Delhi, especially after the 2013 Act. The present article also highlights the alternative policy mechanisms like land pooling, which may facilitate the conflict-stricken process of land acquisition in urban India, especially Delhi.

Even though the term premenstrual syndrome has entered the common lexicon, yet it still remains a Gordian knot that needs to be untangled by not only the medical profession but also the legal profession. Resolving this conundrum requires a balancing of the dichotomy between ‘medicalizing’ women’s lives and a need to affirm women’s experiences. There exist several legal impediments while presenting evidence of this syndrome for diminishing the responsibility of a woman in a criminal trial. The present research is undertaken with an aim to determine the relationship between female criminality and premenstrual syndrome. The research further examines the credibility of utilizing the evidence of premenstrual syndrome to excuse a woman from criminal responsibility during a trial. This article is a step in the direction of pushing the envelope for spurring a holistic development of law, which is inclusive of the specific needs of women.

Background: The World Health Organization estimates that one in every four person is undergoing through some mental disorder in their lives. There are around 450 million people around the world who at present are afflicted with such conditions. Among the foremost causes of bad-health and debility in the world, mental disorders attain a primary position. It is astounding to see that even after the availability of affordable treatment; around two-thirds of the population afflicted with a proven mental disorder never seek help from a health professional. Misplaced stigma, misdirected discrimination and misinformed neglect are a product of lack of understanding about mental illness in a community. This vicious inter-relation where neglect resuscitates little or no understanding and lack of understanding revitalizes negligence create a situation which prevents construction of an environment of care and treatment for people with mental illnesses.

Background: During a disaster, the community remains the primary and the sole line of response for quite long time period and therefore, incorporating local communities in disaster recovery and risk reduction is crucial, critical component. Aim: Evaluating the vulnerability of a selected society on four aspects: Information, Awareness, Training and Preparedness in a multi hazard prone state of Delhi, India, constitutes the central focal point of this study. Methodology: The data primarily was collected through two separate questionnaires administered to the sample of 726 respondents in the age group of 15 – 75 years. Community was sub-divided into two groups – First included professionals, housewives, retired persons (n= 280) and second included students of school (n=160) and college/university level (n= 286). The sampling technique employed was stratified random with methodology as empirical and analytical. Findings: The study affirms, firstly, that there is lack of awareness of the community about disaster plan, its components and agencies entrusted with disaster planning; secondly, there is a vague understanding about their role both during and post disaster; thirdly, significance of participation in training is also underestimated. Recommendations: A roadmap for increasing resilience of communities through effective training and outreach programs for capacity building up for the ‘whole’ community. Keywords: Disaster risk reduction, community preparedness, resilience, participation, disaster management

Thesis Statement: In spite of being globally prevalent, mental illness faces apathy from the community as well as policymakers and is a point of grave social concern. Health—including mental health—and education are an imperative precondition of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Education plays a crucial role in inculcating a positive attitude towards mental illness hence high mental health literacy would benefit the society at large. The present research aims to decipher the knowledge and attitude of undergraduate college students towards mental illness. Method: Students of medicine, law and engineering from different colleges in Delhi, India were cross-sectionally surveyed to fathom their attitudinal differences towards mental illness using the CAMI Scale. Results: An affirmative response was observed on Benevolence as well as Community Mental Health Ideology Sub-Scales and a dissenting opinion was identified on the Authoritarian and Social Restrictive Sub-Scales, howbeit significant differences were discerned on the basis of faculty of education. Conclusions and Implications: Results suggested that to accomplish the aspirations of the SDGs there is an ardent need to improve mental health literacy of students. The course curriculum of students needs to be revisited to integrate informative sessions on mental illness. Keywords: Sustainable Development, Education, Mental Health Literacy, CAMI Scale, Undergraduate Students