Uttar Pradesh:Yet another acute malnourished child is struggling for her life

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Uttar Pradesh:Yet another acute malnourished child is struggling for her life

Shruti Nagvanshi and Shabana 1/5/2008 5:53:44 PM(IST)


Varanasi: Gudia three and half year old youngest daughter among three children of Sanjay Kumar Gaur. Gudia is resident of village Soyepur Madwa block Harahua in Varanasi district of UP in India. Gudia was diagnosed as acute malnourished girl by Dr. S.P Singh in Pandit Din Dayal Upadhaya hospital and weight only 3 ½ kg and from 23rd April, 2008 till now she is under medical treatment due to support of Care House Fondation,Sweden.

Gudia was born under weight and she is blind by birth. She was not immunized with six life saving immunization by Ms. Urmila auxiliary nursing mother (ANM). ANM is taking 5 to 10 Rupees from every one for preparing card of immunization.



PVCHR activist Ms. Sushila Devi identified Gudia in a way to office from her home but her parent were unable to do medical treatment due to economic scarcity. On 23rd April, 2008 Gudia get admitted in Pt. Deen Daya Upadhaya hospital. Gudia is not enrolled in Anganwadi centre which is one kilo meter far from her house.

Sanjay belong to Gaur (Schedule caste) community in India. Earlier Sanjay weave clothes on power loom but due to plight of weaving industries and irregularity in electricity Sanjay only gets weaving work for 10 to 12 days in a month which is irregular. In a whole day Sanjay earn only 30 to 35 Rupees and in this nominal money he is unable to manage the need of his family.

Sanjay has Below Poverty line (BPL) card no. 17180 but Sanjay share half ration with his brother as his brother did not have any ration card. Gudia mother Mrs. Urmila is working as maid servant in same village and earn nominal money to assist her husband in managing the need of the family. But after hard labour Gudia parent are unable to provide two time food to their children.

Earlier Subham and Paro elder brother and sister of Gudia were studying in Government Primary school but now they left school for caring her younger sister Gudia as their parents were outside for work.

There are Auxiliary Nursing Mothers [ANM] who are supposed to be working through the Anganwadis to attend to the immediate medical needs of rural children. The ANM and Anganwadi employees didn't provide any assistance to malnourished children.

Dr. Lenin said,"Therefore I urge to Uttar Pradesh Government intervene in the case to provide emergency assistance to Gudia family and direct ANM for not taking bribe and immunize six life saving immunization to every child. Anganwadi worker should identify malnourished children and enrolled them in the centre. So the right to life may be assured under article 21 of Indian constitution."

Shruti is founder of Savitri Bai Phule women forum.

Shabana is Astt. Director of PVCHR.