In this paper, we critically examine if the contributions of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare adequately represent the realm of women’s healthcare. This would be relevant for achieving and accelerating the gender equality and health sustainability goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations. Following a systematic literature review (SLR), we examine if AI applications in health and biomedicine adequately represent women’s health in the larger scheme of healthcare provision. Our findings are divided into clusters based on thematic markers for women’s health that are commensurate with the hypotheses that AI-driven technologies in women’s health still remain underrepresented, but that emphasis on its future deployment can increase efficiency in informed health choices and be particularly accessible to women in small or underrepresented communities. Contemporaneously, these findings can assist and influence the shape of governmental policies, accessibility, and the regulatory environment in achieving the SDGs. On a larger scale, in the near future, we will extend the extant literature on applications of AI-driven technologies in health SDGs and set the agenda for future research.

In this paper, we study the incidence of COVID-19 and the associated fatality with altitude using high frequency, district level data from India. To understand the implications of the nationwide lockdown after the outbreak, we use data for about four months- two from the lockdown period starting from March 25 till May 31, 2020 and about two months after unlocking was initiated (June 1-July 26, 2020). The multivariate regression result indicates slower growth in average rate of infection during the lockdown period in hilly regions, the gains of which attenuated after the unlocking was initiated. Despite these early gains, the rate of fatalities is significantly higher during the lockdown period in comparison to the plains. The findings remain robust to multiple alternative specifications and methods including one that accounts for confounding possibilities via unobservable and provides consistent estimates of bias adjusted treatment effects. The evidence supports the need for provisioning of public health services and infrastructure upgradation, especially maintenance of adequate stock of life support devices, in high altitude regions. It also underscores the necessity for strengthening and revising the existing Hill Areas Development Programme and integrating important aspects of public health as part of this policy.

The tiny Himalayan state of Sikkim is well known for its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic identity. There is a political and historical debate regarding the identity of communities in Sikkim. Lepchas are considered as original inhabitants of Sikkim. Currently, Lepcha, Bhutia and Limbu are recognised as minor communities and have Schedule Tribes (ST) status in the state. Individual community concentration is mainly found in North and West Sikkim. Lepcha-Bhutias are found mainly in North Sikkim whereas Limbus are concentrated in West Sikkim. Community concentration is profound in rural areas. Gyalshing sub-division of West Sikkim has been selected for the present study. Purpose of this study is to investigate the Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) level economy and social development of the rural areas based mainly on secondary sources of information. A field survey was also conducted to interact with the local people. Findings suggest that education and population density are the key determinants for GPU level disparity in social development of the study area. It has been found that the economy is primarily agriculture based and fully organised by organic farming system. Recently, homestay (eco)tourism business has been started here like other parts of Sikkim.

SWOT model is a technique to appraise strategies for rural development. This study aims to apply this model to examine the development of Yuksom Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) of West district of Sikkim, India. To accomplish this analysis, internal factor evaluation (IFE) matrix and external factor evaluation matrix (EFE) were prepared to identify the critical and less important factors for development. Finally, a framework for strategy has been formulated by linking ‘strength-opportunity’ (SO) and ‘weakness-threat’ (WT) aspects. Results show mountain environment sustainability as the most agreed one (SO) and on the other hand, implementation of ‘land bank scheme’ and microfinance (WT) as the alternate planning strategies for the development of the Yuksom area

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