With residents of Delhi’s Shakur basti slums being forced to live on the streets after their shanties were razed to the ground during a demolition drive by Indian Railways, a woman gave birth to child in the wee hours of Monday, battling freezing cold and apathy by hospital staff.
The residents of the slums alleged that the local hospital refused to admit the pregnant lady and even asked her to go to a private hospital.
“At first the hospital refused to take the case, they chased her away. Then later one lady came and got the woman admitted in the hospital,” said Sri Ram, one of the residents of Shakur Basti slums.
“Around 1.30 am, a girl child was born to one of my relatives. First the hospital refused to admit her and then later they admitted her,” said another resident, Lakhan.
The residents also said that hospital later admitted the woman after intervention by the media.
“They chased the pregnant woman away, when we asked them to give medicine they asked us to go to a private hospital. They came back, and then the ambulance took her away after we complained to media,” said Gulab.
Last week, around 500 slums were razed by Railway authorities as part of their demolition drive.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had on Monday visited the razed Shakur Basti slums and promised them that he would extend every help possible to alleviate them of their problems. He had accused the Delhi government and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre for the razing of the slum and asserted that the law had been clearly broken during the demolition.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government had questioned the timing of Railways? action and asked why proper arrangements to rehabilitate the dwellers was not made before their houses were demolished.
ANI