Shyamnagar bears the brunt of neglect

Between the Eastern Express Highway and the railway tracks lies Shyamnagar. You can get to it from Bhandup station on the way to Mulund, adjacent to Veer Sawarkar Marg.

The locality has recently come into focus on reports of rampant malnutrition. Seven children from Shyamnagar were admitted in Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar on June 9 for reported malnutrition.

However, when the medical superintendent of the hospital was contacted, malnutrition could not be confirmed.

"I cannot say anything about it. The reports have been sent to senior doctors. However, what I can say is that the children are being given the best possible treatment here," said V B Shukla, medical superintendent of Rajawadi hospital. He also added that things have been blown out of proportion.

The Children were brought to the hospital with symptoms of dysentery, vomiting and extreme weakness. A few had stunted growth. One of the children's mother said, "We tried to get treatment at Bhandup at a private clinic but it was very expensive."

Vinod Udartiya of Salah, the NGO which helped in spreading the issue, said, "We measured the children's weight and height by age, and found that these children, who are below ten years of age are not getting adequate food and are suffering from malnutrition."

Cats seem to have made the pediatric department their home. When this correspondent took a photograph, a nurse intervened and asked him to delete it.

Later, it was told that some other publication had printed the photograph the previous day and the hospital officials had to face the brunt of their seniors.

Shyamnagar has a population of over 3000 and houses around 800 families. There is no water or electricity in the locality. Families depend on the corporation tap located a 15-minute walk away. "We need at least an hour to bring water from that place," said one of the residents.

People can be seen bathing in the adjoining gutter. "We cannot bath daily. We take water from the gutter. When it is clean, then only do we bathe," said Manohar Ingole, a resident of Shyamnagar.

Incomplete buildings, standing untouched for more than 20 years, have been made into homes. The residents say because of some court cases the builders have abandoned the place. However, no one knows who the builder is.

Volunteers of the NGO Salah said that last year the residents were given ration cards (red card for homeless). But the cards could be used only nine months back.

However, not all were fortunate enough. Even with the ration cards they have not been given any grains. One of the residents showed the red card but said, "They (the public distribution system) say that there is no quota for us. For the last nine months we are devoid of any supply."

Ingole said, "The kind of dirt and filth that we are bound to stay with, it goes without saying that more cases of diseased children will come up. Being poor, we do not have enough to feed the children."

Pointing to the government policies he added, "The government does so many things for the rural poor. Have urban poor no rights to live a better living? Why are we not given places to stay?"

The education level in the community is very poor. "Having no work we cannot afford to continue the education of our children," said Baburao Ingole, another resident. NGO volunteers said that many children end up becoming labourers.

Three days before, volunteers said, a team form the National Human Rights Commission visited the place and assured them a tap in the area within ten days.

Meanwhile, reports have come that similar health related problems emerged in Chembur and Mankhurd as well. They have been admitted in the Govandi Municipal hospital.