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As far as the Indian sub-continent is concerned local governance/panchayat has an elaborate history. The rural population have for long practiced this system of governing themselves through their representatives. The mode of working and the powers vested in the local bodies, have not been uniform throughout. The federation conferred constitutional status to the local governance bodies in 1993 and this system has progressed in an interesting way. Karnataka, a southern State in India has been ahead of time in enacting legislations dealing with local governance. Even before the amendment inserting provisions to the Constitution of India was passed, Karnataka had and was implementing extravagant laws pertaining to panchayats. Since democracy and decentralisation are closely associated with the panchayats, the idea of representation has a key role to play. The concerns with respect to involvement and influence of political parties in the local body elections are an important aspect as well. This paper ventures out to understand the panchayat system in Karnataka, pre and post the Constitutional amendment. The paper intends to throw light on the essence of the legislations relating to panchayats in Karnataka and understand the idea of democracy, representational factor and the concept of elections on a non-party basis. The researchers have keenly pondered upon the implementation of apolitical elections in Karnataka, the flaws in the proposed phenomenon. The paper also aims to look into hurdles in the way of these local bodies and propose suggestions to get over the same.   Purpose: To Analyze the panchayat system in Karnataka, both before and after the 1993 constitutional amendment. Examine the essence of Karnataka's panchayat-related legislation. Explore the concepts of democracy, representation, and non-party elections in the context of panchayats. Evaluate the implementation of non-partisan elections in Karnataka and identify potential flaws. Analyze the challenges faced by panchayats and propose solutions.   Theoretical Reference: Mainly Doctrinal research methodology. Relies on primary sources like the Indian Constitution, relevant statutes relating to panchayaths, and relevant data. Draws on secondary sources like articles and research papers.   Method: Analyzes relevant legal documents and scholarly works. Analytical Method of Study Comparative Studies in relation to various factors pertaining to the research between the three levels of Panchayat (Gram Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat)   Results and Conclusion: Non-partisan elections in Karnataka are largely theoretical; political parties influence local elections. Political interference hinders effective panchayat functioning. The paper likely proposes recommendations for strengthening panchayats and minimizing political influence.   Implications of Research: Provides insights into the challenges and potential of decentralized governance in India. Informs policymakers and stakeholders about improving panchayat effectiveness. May contribute to debates on non-partisan elections and local democracy.   Originality/Value: The study offers a focused analysis of Karnataka's panchayat system within a specific theoretical framework. Its findings on the limitations of non-partisan elections could be valuable for other regions considering similar approaches.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to: Analyse the role of Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) in alleviating poverty in Karnataka, India. Identify the challenges faced by PRIs in implementing poverty alleviation programs. Explore potential solutions to overcome these challenges and improve program effectiveness. Provide recommendations for strengthening the role of PRIs in poverty alleviation efforts.   Theoretical reference: This paper draws on several theoretical frameworks, including: heories of poverty alleviation, focusing on the role of local governance and community participation. Theories of decentralization and the devolution of power to local governments. Theories of social justice and equity, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of poverty. Theories of sustainable development, highlighting the importance of integrating economic, social, and environmental considerations.   Method: This research is primarily a doctrinal study, relying on a variety of primary and secondary sources: Primary Sources: Statutory enactments: Constitution of India, 1950, Central Government Schemes implemented by PRIs, The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993. Policy documents: National Rural Development Policy, Karnataka State Rural Development Policy, Poverty alleviation scheme guidelines.   Secondary Sources: Statistical analysis: Government reports and data sets, Research reports and surveys, Research publications: Peer-reviewed articles and books on poverty alleviation, local governance, and development. Case studies: Examples of successful poverty alleviation programs implemented by PRIs.   Results: This research identified several key challenges faced by PRIs in implementing poverty alleviation programs in Karnataka: Corruption: Misuse of funds and resources hinders the effectiveness of programs and prevents benefits from reaching the intended beneficiaries. Caste: Deep-rooted social inequalities limit access to resources and opportunities for marginalized communities. Lack of awareness: Many people remain unaware of available schemes and benefits, leading to underutilization of resources. Limited capacity: PRIs often lack the necessary skills and resources to effectively plan, implement, and monitor programs. Lack of coordination: Poor coordination between different levels of government and stakeholders can lead to delays, duplication of efforts, and inefficient resource allocation. Despite these challenges, the research also identified several promising practices and potential solutions: Transparency and accountability: Initiatives like social audits and public hearings can improve transparency and hold PRI officials accountable for program outcomes. Community participation: Engaging communities in program design and decision-making can ensure programs are relevant and address local needs. Capacity building: Training programs can equip PRI officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage programs effectively. Technology and innovation: Utilizing technology can enhance program efficiency, data management, and communication with beneficiaries. Partnerships: Collaborations with NGOs, civil society organizations, and private sector can contribute resources, expertise, and innovation.   Conclusion: PRIs play a crucial role in alleviating poverty in India. While they face numerous challenges, there are also promising solutions and opportunities for improvement. By investing in capacity building, promoting transparency, fostering community participation, and embracing technology and innovation, PRIs can be empowered to become more effective agents of poverty alleviation in Karnataka and beyond. Implications of research: This research has several key implications for policy and practice: The need for strengthened capacity building for PRI officials to improve program planning, implementation, and monitoring. The importance of enhancing transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of resources for poverty alleviation programs. The necessity for increased community participation in program design and decision-making to ensure programs are responsive to local needs and priorities. The need for better coordination between central, state, and local governments to ensure effective implementation of poverty alleviation programs.   Originality/value: This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on poverty alleviation by: Providing a detailed analysis of the role of PRIs in Karnataka, India, a context that is often overlooked in research. Identifying unique challenges faced by PRIs in implementing poverty alleviation programs. Offering practical recommendations for strengthening the role of PRIs and improving program effectiveness. Contributing to the understanding of how local governance can be leveraged to achieve sustainable poverty alleviation.

Resumo: No que diz respeito ao subcontinente indiano, a governança local/panchayat tem uma história elaborada. Há muito tempo, a população rural pratica esse sistema de governar a si mesma por meio de seus representantes. O modo de trabalho e os poderes conferidos aos órgãos locais não foram uniformes em toda parte. A federação conferiu status constitucional aos órgãos de governança local em 1993 e esse sistema progrediu de forma interessante. Karnataka, um estado do sul da Índia, está à frente do tempo na promulgação de legislações que tratam da governança local. Mesmo antes da aprovação da emenda que inseriu disposições na Constituição da Índia, Karnataka tinha e estava implementando leis extravagantes relativas aos panchayats. Como a democracia e a descentralização estão intimamente associadas aos panchayats, a ideia de representação tem um papel fundamental a desempenhar. As preocupações com relação ao envolvimento e à influência dos partidos políticos nas eleições locais também são um aspecto importante. Este artigo se aventura a entender o sistema panchayat em Karnataka, antes e depois da emenda constitucional. O artigo pretende esclarecer a essência das legislações relacionadas aos panchayats em Karnataka e compreender a ideia de democracia, o fator de representação e o conceito de eleições sem base partidária. Os pesquisadores refletiram profundamente sobre a implementação de eleições apolíticas em Karnataka e as falhas do fenômeno proposto. Os pesquisadores refletiram profundamente sobre a implementação de eleições apolíticas em Karnataka e as falhas do fenômeno proposto. Objetivo: Analisar o sistema panchayat em Karnataka, antes e depois da emenda constitucional de 1993. Examinar a essência da legislação relacionada ao panchayat de Karnataka. Explorar os conceitos de democracia, representação e eleições não partidárias no contexto dos panchayats. Avaliar a implementação de eleições não partidárias em Karnataka e identificar possíveis falhas. Analisar os desafios enfrentados pelos panchayats e propor soluções. Referência teórica: Metodologia de pesquisa principalmente doutrinária. Baseia-se em fontes primárias, como a Constituição indiana, estatutos relevantes relacionados a panchayaths e dados relevantes. Baseia-se em fontes secundárias, como artigos e trabalhos de pesquisa. Método: Analisa documentos legais e trabalhos acadêmicos relevantes. Método analítico de estudo: estudos comparativos em relação a vários fatores pertinentes à pesquisa entre os três níveis de Panchayat (Gram Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat e Zilla Panchayat). Resultados e conclusões: As eleições não partidárias em Karnataka são em grande parte teóricas; os partidos políticos influenciam as eleições locais. A interferência política impede o funcionamento eficaz do panchayat. O documento provavelmente propõe recomendações para fortalecer os panchayats e minimizar a influência política. Implicações da pesquisa: Fornece percepções sobre os desafios e o potencial da governança descentralizada na Índia. Informa os formuladores de políticas e as partes interessadas sobre a melhoria da eficácia do panchayat. Pode contribuir para debates sobre eleições não partidárias e democracia local. Originalidade/valor: O estudo oferece uma análise focada do sistema panchayat de Karnataka dentro de uma estrutura teórica específica. Suas conclusões sobre as limitações das eleições não partidárias podem ser valiosas para outras regiões que estejam considerando abordagens semelhantes.

Propósito: Analisar o papel das Instituições Panchayat Raj (PRIs) no alívio da pobreza em Karnataka, Índia. Identificar os desafios enfrentados pelos PRIs na implementação de programas de redução da pobreza. Explore possíveis soluções para superar esses desafios e melhorar a eficácia do programa. Fornecer recomendações para o reforço do papel dos PRI nos esforços de redução da pobreza. Referência teórica: Este artigo baseia-se em vários quadros teóricos, incluindo: histórias de redução da pobreza, com foco no papel da governança local e participação da comunidade. Teorias da descentralização e da devolução de poder aos governos locais. Teorias de justiça social e equidade, enfatizando a necessidade de abordar as causas profundas da pobreza. Teorias do desenvolvimento sustentável, destacando a importância da integração de considerações econômicas, sociais e ambientais. Método: Esta pesquisa é principalmente um estudo doutrinal, baseando-se em uma variedade de fontes primárias e secundárias: Fontes Primárias: Decretos Estatutários: Constituição da Índia, 1950,Esquemas de governo central implementados pelo PRI, The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993. Documentos políticos: Política Nacional de Desenvolvimento Rural, Política de Desenvolvimento Rural do Estado de Karnataka, Orientações para o regime de redução da pobreza. Fontes secundárias: Análise estatística: relatórios e conjuntos de dados governamentais, relatórios e inquéritos de investigação, publicações de investigação: artigos e livros revistos por pares sobre a redução da pobreza, governação local e desenvolvimento. Estudos de caso: exemplos de programas de redução da pobreza bem-sucedidos implementados pelo PRI Resultados: Esta pesquisa identificou vários desafios principais enfrentados pelos PRIs na implementação de programas de redução da pobreza em Karnataka: Corrupção: O mau uso de fundos e recursos prejudica a eficácia dos programas e impede que os benefícios cheguem aos beneficiários pretendidos. Castas: desigualdades sociais profundamente enraizadas limitam o acesso a recursos e oportunidades para comunidades marginalizadas. Falta de consciência: Muitas pessoas continuam desconhecendo os esquemas e benefícios disponíveis, levando à subutilização de recursos. Capacidade limitada: os PRIs muitas vezes não têm as habilidades e os recursos necessários para planejar, implementar e monitorar programas de forma eficaz. Falta de coordenação: uma coordenação deficiente entre os diferentes níveis de governo e as partes interessadas pode levar a atrasos, duplicação de esforços e ineficiência na alocação de recursos. Apesar desses desafios, a pesquisa também identificou várias práticas promissoras e possíveis soluções: Transparência e prestação de contas: Iniciativas como auditorias sociais e audiências públicas podem melhorar a transparência e responsabilizar os funcionários do PRI pelos resultados do programa. Participação da comunidade: envolver as comunidades na elaboração de programas e na tomada de decisões pode garantir que os programas sejam relevantes e atendam às necessidades locais. Capacitação: os programas de treinamento podem equipar os funcionários do PRI com as habilidades e os conhecimentos necessários para gerenciar os programas de forma eficaz. Tecnologia e inovação: a utilização da tecnologia pode melhorar a eficiência do programa, o gerenciamento de dados e a comunicação com os beneficiários. Parcerias: Colaborações com ONGs, organizações da sociedade civil e o setor privado podem contribuir com recursos, expertise e inovação. Conclusão: os PRIs desempenham um papel crucial no alívio da pobreza na Índia. Embora enfrentem inúmeros desafios, também há soluções promissoras e oportunidades de melhoria. Ao investirem no reforço de capacidades, promovendo a transparência, fomentando a participação da comunidade, e abraçando a tecnologia e a inovação, as PRIs podem capacitar-se para se tornarem agentes mais eficazes do alívio da pobreza em Karnataka e além. Implicações da pesquisa: Esta pesquisa tem várias implicações-chave para a política e a prática: A necessidade de fortalecimento da capacidade dos funcionários do PRI para melhorar o planejamento, a implementação e o monitoramento do programa. A importância de reforçar a transparência e a responsabilização na afetação e utilização de recursos para programas de redução da pobreza. A necessidade de maior participação da comunidade na elaboração e na tomada de decisões de programas para garantir que os programas respondam às necessidades e prioridades locais. A necessidade de uma melhor coordenação entre os governos central, estadual e local para garantir a implementação efetiva de programas de redução da pobreza. Originalidade/valor: Esta pesquisa contribui para o corpo existente de conhecimento sobre a redução da pobreza ao: Fornecer uma análise detalhada do papel dos PRIs em Karnataka, Índia, um contexto que é muitas vezes negligenciado na pesquisa. Identificar os desafios únicos enfrentados pelos PRIs na implementação de programas de redução da pobreza. Oferecer recomendações práticas para fortalecer o papel dos PRIs e melhorar a eficácia do programa. Contribuir para a compreensão de como a governança local pode ser alavancada para alcançar uma redução sustentável da pobreza.

Assessment of anxiety and depression in patients attending low vision care (LVC) using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In this prospective, observational study, 100 patients with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) worse than 6/18 in the better eye or limitation of field of vision to <10° from center of fixation were assessed on the depression and anxiety subscales of HADS questionnaire before and after LVC. HADS is a 14-item scale with seven items each for anxiety and depression subscales. Scoring for each item ranges from zero to three. A subscale score >8 denotes anxiety or depression. Mean age at presentation was 38.2 years. Mean duration of symptoms was 9.6 years. Underlying etiology of visual impairment included retinal dystrophy/degeneration (n = 35), disorders of the optic nerve (n = 17), glaucoma (n = 10), diabetic retinopathy (n = 9), age-related macular degeneration (n = 5), uncorrected refractive errors (n = 5), and miscellaneous diseases (n = 19). Mean presenting BCVA in the better eye was 0.83 (±0.64) which improved significantly to 0.78 (±0.63) after LVC (P < 0.001). The HADS-Depression subscale score was comparable for severity of visual impairment for both distance (P = 0.57) and near vision (P = 0.61). Similarly, HADS-Anxiety scores were also comparable for severity of distance (P = 0.34) and near-visual impairment (NVI; P = 0.50). At baseline, mean HADS-Depression and HADS-Anxiety scores were 8.4 (±3.7) and 9.6 (±4.3) points, which improved significantly to 6.0 (±3.4) and 6.7 (±3.7), respectively, after low-vision correction (P < 0.001). Low vision correction can significantly improve anxiety and depression indicators in visually impaired patients.

Infectious endophthalmitis is a serious and vision-threatening complication of commonly performed intraocular surgeries such as cataract surgery. The occurrence of endophthalmitis can result in severe damage to the uveal and other ocular tissues even among patients undergoing an uncomplicated surgical procedure. If the infections result from common factors such as surgical supplies, operative or operation theater-related risks, there can be a cluster outbreak of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) or infectious endophthalmitis, leading to several patients having an undesirable outcome. Since prevention of intraocular infections is of paramount importance to ophthalmic surgeons, the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) has taken the lead in the formation of a National Task Force to help ophthalmic surgeons apply certain universal precautions in their clinical practice. The Task Force has prepared a handy checklist and evidence-based guidelines to minimize the risk of infectious endophthalmitis following cataract surgery.

Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma is a benign vascular hamartoma without systemic associations. For symptomatic cases, treatment options are photodynamic therapy (PDT), transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT), intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or radiation therapy. CyberKnife radiosurgery is an image-guided radiation therapy that delivers radiation to lesions anywhere in the body with an accuracy of 0.5 mm without damage to surrounding structures. We report a case of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma which was successfully treated with CyberKnife therapy. The literature search reveals cases of uveal melanoma, intraocular, and periocular lymphoma successfully treated with CyberKnife therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on such treatment for choroidal hemangioma.

Keratoprosthesis (Kpro) forms the last resort for bilateral end-stage corneal blindness. The Boston Type 1 and 2 Kpros, the modified osteo-odonto Kpro and the osteo-Kpro are the more frequently and commonly performed Kpros, and this review attempts to compile the current data available on these Kpros worldwide from large single-center studies and compare the indications and outcomes with Kpros in the Indian scenario. Although the indications have significantly expanded over the years and the complications have reduced with modifications in design and postoperative regimen, these are procedures that require an exclusive setup, and a commitment toward long-term follow-up and post-Kpro care. The last decade has seen a surge in the number of Kpro procedures performed worldwide as well as in India. There is a growing need in our country among ophthalmologists to be aware of the indications for Kpro to facilitate appropriate referral as well as of the procedure to enable basic evaluation during follow-ups in case the need arises, and among corneal specialists interested to pursue the field of Kpros in understanding the nuances of these surgeries and to make a judicious decision regarding patient and Kpro selection and more importantly deferral.

To evaluate the changes in the retinochoroidal vasculature in patients with exogenous obesity using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). In this prospective study, 60 patients diagnosed with obesity (47 males) (mean age: 46.47±10.9 years) were included, of which 30 patients underwent bariatric surgery (Group A), and 30 patients underwent conservative management (exercise/diet) (Group B). Parameters including choroidal thickness (CT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and retinal capillary density index (CDI) and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) were measured at the baseline and three months follow up. 30 eyes (30 age and gender-matched) of normal participants were included for comparison. Baseline CT was lower in 60 participants with obesity compared to controls. Compared with normal subjects, subjects with obesity had higher mean CVI (0.66±0.02 versus 0.63±0.04; p<0.01), smaller FAZ area (0.26±0.07 versus 0.45±0.32; p<0.01), higher CDI (superficial plexus: 0.7±0.04 versus 0.68±0.06; p = 0.04, deep plexus: 0.38±0.02 versus 0.35±0.06; p = 0.01), and lower AVR (0.68±0.05 versus 0.70±0.03 versus; p<0.01). At 3-month after intervention, CT showed a significant increase in participants from Group A (329.27±79μm; p<0.01) but not in Group B from baseline. No significant change was noted in CVI or CDI at 3-month in either group compared to baseline. AVR significantly increased in Group B (p = 0.03). Subclinical changes in retinochoroidal vasculature occurs in participants with exogenous obesity compared to healthy subjects. Surgical intervention (bariatric surgery) may have a favorable outcome on the choroidal thickness in these patients.