Inside informatie: Amit Shiwani

-How do you feel about the slums in India?

ð I have never personally experienced or seen a slum closely but I feel that it represents the growing divide between the rich and the poor in India.

In my opinion, slum conditions are very much sub standard for living and there is probably a battle of survival every day.

ð Women and children in slums are most affected as they continuously manage their daily lives and chores in this decaying environment. Unlike men and children who go out to work and play, woman has to remain within those surroundings throughout the day. She slogs and sweats for the whole day. She is not aware where her children go, what type of activities they are performing, etc,. She is ignorant about many things including how to guide her children to remain clean and keep away from epidemic diseases.

ð In slums the child suffers from many handicaps. Foremost among them is the neglect from the parental care. The environment of the slum itself is one the greatest handicaps from which the child suffers. these children grow and attain youth without any preparedness for work and employment. There is absence of adequate programme for them to equip them to compete with others for modern training and employment opportunities. Their entire dream of being a good citizen, employment, marriage and other social participation becomes shattered. Even those few who are able to finish school or college education have to compete with the more privileged youth of upper class and such a competition sows seeds of hatred. The result invariably leads to miserable conditions. These may be due to inappropriate development strategies; inadequate marshalling of resources and inequitable distribution of fruits of urbanization exacerbating the decay.

(Reference: Slums in Lucknow, Chapter 5)

-How do people treat each other in the slums?

I cannot make a generic comment on that. But since it’s a battle of survival probably there is a jungle law in there i.e. people have groups and communities in there where people are very close like in a family, there is probably unequal distribution of power and people with more power mistreat people with less power. Women and children are surely exploited.

-How is the water management in the poorer areas of India?

Probably, very bad. Poor water management and lack of good drainage systems is biggest problem which leads to poor hygiene and health issues. Water is very precious and scarcely available people(women usually) spend a lot of time standing in lines to accumulate water.

-What do people do for their money in the slums?

I think most of them will be “hand to mouth earners” so the money is spent in fulfilling daily needs (food, clothing, basic necessities).

- How is the social structure in the slums?

Sorry cannot comment.

-What does the government of India do to reduce child mortality?

Please refer http://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/78(10)1192.pdf

-What do you think is the main cause for child mortality?

Please refer http://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/78(10)1192.pdf

https://sites.google.com/site/livingconditionsinindianslums/introduction-to-sl

-If you could make a change in your country, what would it be?

To educate people to make them believe that everyone has unlimited potential irrespective of their current circumstances and they have the power within to change their own circumstances and improve their current conditions.