The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila gets a taste of women's anguish

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 08, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila gets a taste of women's anguish

Staff Reporter

Slum dwellers come out in large numbers to tell tales of agony

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit got a chance to come face to face with the ground realities at the Katha Asia International Utsav here on Saturday. With women living in slums coming out in large numbers at Katha Adalat to tell their stories of difficulties coping with scarcity of water, sanitation and electricity, it was their chance to get heard.

The women complained about sewer, sanitation, water, electricity, public toilets and other civic amenities. They also demanded primary schools and primary health centres. The issue of police misbehaviour and corruption was also raised.

Assuring that she would act on their complaints, Ms. Dikshit said Delhi was facing a problem due to people migrating to the city. "The consumption of water and electricity also goes up with the increase of population. The rate of increase in consumption of water and electricity in Delhi is the highest in the world. Delhi has to depend on supply of raw water from other States,'' she said.

She appealed to women to make rational use of water and electricity. She said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi would be instructed to set up primary health centres and primary schools.

The women also raised questions about "unsatisfactory" mid-day meals being served in the school and complaints about public distribution system. They also stated that they faced difficulties in filling different forms and getting information about Government assistance. Ms. Dikshit said that the women could contact her residential office for getting information and related matters.

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