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Andhra Pradesh
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Hyderabad
The area lacks basic sanitation facilities forcing people to defecate in the open 
NAUSEATING: Squalid conditions prevailing at Singareni Colony provide a perfect breeding ground for various diseases. HYDERABAD: Puddles of slush, heaps of garbage, open drains and children eating close to children defecating -- these are the scenes that mark the sprawling slum at the Singareni Colony in Saidabad. The colony stands as a living example for the neglect of the civic authorities. “There is garbage everywhere and hardly anybody steps in here to clean it up. Even fogging machines do not come into the interior locations. The area woefully lacks basic sanitation facilities and women and children are forced to defecate in the open,” complains Motilal Naik, a social worker in the area. Unbearable stinkThe situation needs to be seen to be believed. One has to constantly watch one’s step as all the paths have become absolutely slushy due to the recent rain. Unbearable stink follows the visitor wherever he or she goes. Small pits are dug up for each household to deposit soiled bath water. The water that houses the mosquito larvae needs to be emptied manually every now and then. No wonder then that the colony has quite a few patients suffering from different kinds of fever, common cold, throat infection and skin eruptions. Hospital visits“I and my son are down with cold and fever for quite some time now. We had to spend about Rs. 500 for the doctor and the medicines. Not having enough money, I bought only half the dosage prescribed by the doctor. The rest, I will buy if the fever persists,” says T. Lakshmi, a resident of the Gajupaka Nagar. She says that there is no government hospital in the nearby vicinity forcing them to shell out huge amounts for treatment at private clinics. The nearest government facilities, Motilal says, are at Vanasthalipuram and at Koti. “The number of patients with complaints of fever is on the rise. I have sent quite a few samples for tests. And we are getting positive results for Plasmodium Vivax. Thankfully, there are no strains of Plasmodium Falciparum so far. However, people here never take complete course of drugs, which results in frequent relapses,” says Dr. Kiran Kumar from Sri Gayatri Clinic, the only notable hospital around the area. Another private clinic a little away charges much more and hence, not preferred by the residents. Group effortsThe authorities, people say, are baulking from providing proper drainage facilities in the slum as the land is facing a dispute in court. At a few places, local people are forming into groups of ten or fifteen towards contributory drainage facility. Contribution“We have formed a group of ten with contribution of Rs. 2,000 from each. The amount thus collected will be enough to provide sewerage facilities for all the ten families,” Chandu Naik, a private cab driver said adding, “It makes much more sense than spending on hospital visits.”
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