New Delhi:
Delhi Cantonment, a military land which is a secure and protected area and hidden behind the vast Defence establishments, is a sprawling, squalid <i>basti</i>, Kirby place, inhabited by construction labourers who have built Delhi Cantonment.
Malnutrition has alarming proportions here. Out of 20 children, only two make it in the category of normal. But there are still no Anganwadis where under the Integrated Child development Scheme (ICDS), children can be given supplementary food and their health can be monitored.
"For the last three years we have been trying to get an Anganwadi for our slum... we forwarded an RTI application... but without any luck we are still struggling," said Seema Singh, a social worker from the area.
The ICDS mandates one Anganwdi for a population of a 1000, but here there are 7000 people fighting, long and hard for just one centre to open.
The Delhi government says they are not responsible as Kirby place is on land that belongs to the Cantonment Board which is a separate municipal entity under the armed forces. But the Cantonment board doesn't' recognize the settlement either.
"They have voter cards, ration cards and all other kinds of cards... but when they go to the government asking for facilities, they are told that they live here illegally," said a man from the <i>basti</i>.
Hence, malnutrition is a reality that stares us in the face and the scourge isn't confined to the rural areas only. Skewed, flawed urban planning has meant that our cities have vast overpopulated pockets that become no man's land. Politicians ensure those who live in these spaces have votes and nothing else. Not even basic schemes for their children who live precariously fighting hunger and sometimes fighting for survival.