The article maps urban poverty, using the `livelihoods assets framework' to develop a new index of multiple deprivation, examining the implications for area and sector targeting by policy-makers. This article deals with the index and the results for Delhi. The study maps: the spatial concentration of poverty; the diversity of deprivation at ward level; whether poverty is concentrated in slums; and correlations between voting patterns and poverty levels. The index uses census data disaggregated to electoral-ward level for multicriteria analysis, through GIS. Results show that hotspots of poverty are diverse in character, but are not concentrated in slum areas, with strong implications for policy-making and poverty studies methodology. These results suggest that the new index allows better insight into poverty with better targeting possibilities for policy-makers.

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Urban governance offers opportunities for more inclusive urban management, incorporating tacit knowledge and citizens' preferences. The question is how to elicit such knowledge and preferences so that they are both inclusive as well as efficient. Field visits to Indian cities have shown that a lot of effort is put into the implementation of E-governance tools and setting up Geographic Information Systems (GIS), focusing on administrative interaction with citizens. Little attention is paid to how GIS could be included in strategic governance processes.The main question here is how a combination of GIS-based qualitative and quantitative approaches can make local embedded knowledge visible for inclusive urban governance. Therefore workshops were held in four Indian cities (Mysore, Hubli-Dharward, Kalyan and Mira-Bhayandar) with participants from local government departments and elected councillors to elicit and discuss local knowledge on urban inequalities. GIS maps were used as an input to the process and for visualizing outcomes.The workshops show that using GIS throughout the process provides an understanding of the local context, enriches knowledge obtained from local databases, and therefore supports multiple forms of knowledge. However, the outcome depends greatly on the nature of input maps, the situated knowledge of workshop participants and map literacy.

INTRODUCTIONThe consequences of spinal cord injury are multifactorial.1 Spinal cord injury reduces the quality of the life by developing several complications such as decubitus ulcers, chronic pain, spasticity, bowel/bladder dysfunction and compromised sexual function.2,3 A detailed literature about the etiology of spinal cord injury is available from the developed nationals. 4,5 Whereas in developing countries like India, though the risk factors are high, the availability of region/area wise literature support is lacking. 6 Hence it is necessary to conduct an epidemiological study to provide information about spinal cord injury trauma and its complications at a regional level like Chennai, a metropolitan city in India. Such studies may help to develop the precautionary actions which may decrease the risk of spinal cord injury. METHODSThe present study is to investigate the epidemiology of spinal cord injury in in-door patients of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, India. Only the traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were admitted to the hospital were included in the study group. The following conditions of spinal cord injured patients were evaluated using the questioner which included the age, ABSTRACT Background: Spinal cord injury is a fearsome disability leading to increased rate of morbidity and mortality. Information about the incidence of spinal cord injury may provide support for the healthcare advancements. The aim of the present study is to investigate the epidemiology of spinal cord injury. Methods: The present study was carried out in Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital, Chennai, India. The study design was approved by the institutional human ethical committee. Questionnaire was used to collect the information from the patients in a prospective manner. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scoring systems was used to evaluate the severity of spinal cord injury. Results: A total of 245 cases of spinal injury were studied. Among them, 88 % (n=216) were male and 12% (n=29) were female. Spinal cord injuries of falls from height were prominent over the road traffic accident. Cervical level injuries are widespread in males and dorsal level Injuries are common in females. Conclusion: Hence awareness of the spinal cord injury and availability of healthcare facilities may minimise the consequences of spinal cord injury.

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