By Srishti Mukherjee

https://youtu.be/4_p9RtkFQuo

In the bustling metropolis of Delhi, the Lal Bagh slum stands in stark contrast to its urban surroundings. A walk through this area reveals a challenging reality that has been neglected for years: open drains, waterlogged streets teeming with mosquitoes, and garbage dumps. This part of the city, overshadowed by persistent neglect, paints a vivid picture of the sanitation crisis affecting its residents.

The Struggle for Basic Sanitation

Kukuva Devi, a resident of Lal Bagh, shares her distress, “From this poor sanitation only, our children fall sick. Worms and large mosquitoes breed in these places. There is no water in the cooler, and no place to bathe, so we bathe inside our shanties with a small amount of water. There are many mosquitoes inside too.”

Another resident, Chaiya Devi, echoes these concerns, emphasising the impact on the community’s most vulnerable members. “It’s because of these unsanitary conditions that our senior citizens and children are falling sick, due to the garbage dumps. Roads are also not being constructed. The authorities keep making assurances, but when it rains, our children get injured and break their hands and legs.”

Health Crisis Among Children

The poverty gripping Lal Bagh has a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of its youngest residents. Malnourished children are a common sight. Parents, constrained by severe financial hardship, struggle to provide essential medical care when illness strikes.

Kukuva Devi shares a heart-wrenching story about her grandchild’s battle with cancer. “We were at AIIMS, but they did not admit my child. I was told my child has cancer, and there was nothing they could do. We have no contacts here, and I am not educated. For how long do we keep running from pillar to post?”

The Ration Card Crisis: Another Layer of Struggle

Amidst the sanitation woes of Lal Bagh, another critical issue emerges, compounding the struggles of its long-term residents. Many of these inhabitants, despite living in abject poverty, are deprived of essential ration cards.

Read Full Story https://theprobe.in/stories/delhis-lal-bagh-overlooked-by-politicians-plagued-by-poverty/