Delhi sisters who starved to death lived in car-sized windowless-room
What's the story
Days after three little sisters living in a Delhi shanty died of starvation, disturbing details continue to tumble out. They hadn't eaten for eight days, their mother is mentally unstable and father is missing. The family of five used to stay in a 7x7 windowless room, the size of a car, in Talab Chowk in Mandawali. Locals say the plight of many others in the area is similar.
Death
Landlord rushed girls to hospital, but they were brought dead
Tuesday, Pradeep Singh was informed that the three children of his tenants Beena and Mangal- Mansi (8), Shikha (4) and Parul (2)- had fainted. He rushed them to Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital, where they were pronounced brought dead. Doctors found they were severely malnourished. "There was no trace of fat on their bodies. Postmortem showed the stomach was absolutely empty," said Dr Amita Saxena.
Condition
The mother was unstable, father missing, there was no money
Pradeep later said the family was living in a slum, but due to rains, needed another place. They shifted into the current room on Saturday, where they were to live "until they found a better place. They weren't in a condition to pay the rent." Even then, Beena looked unstable, Pradeep said. "She could not interact properly. Her husband also came when they shifted. Since then, he has been away."
Help
Narayan, Beena's friend, has refused to leave her side
Since then, the small room has seen politicians coming and going while Beena sits dazed, having lost everyone. Her only friend is Narayan, who helped them get the room. He says Mangal, a rickshawpuller whom locals claim is an alcoholic, has disappeared before too, and generally returns in some days with money. Doctors say Beena too was starving. She was admitted to a hospital.
Food safety
Despite government's claims, Aadhaar didn't help Beena get food
The pathetic case has thrown light on the gaps in the government's food security programs. The family didn't have a ration card despite living in Delhi for over a decade; locals said officials asked them for several documents, which they didn't have. Though the family had Aadhaar, it wasn't accepted as address proof. So though PDS mandates foodgrains at Rs. 2-3/kg, families like Beena's often don't have access.
Inequality
Meanwhile, India's richest 1% pockets 73% of wealth
The rich in India are getting richer, with the wealthiest 1% pocketing 73% of domestic wealth in 2017. Wealth among the poorest 50% (67cr Indians) rose by just 1%, reflecting the deeply insidious income divide marring the country's equitable development. According to estimates, it would take nearly 1,000 years for India to achieve income equality.
Data
India wastes as much food as UK consumes
The sense of entitlement of the privileged classes is shocking. According to the CSR journal, "Indians waste as much food as the whole of United Kingdom consumes." That's about 40% of the food produced, or Rs. 50,000cr worth of food. Meanwhile, it ranks 63rd in UN's Global Hunger Index.
Status
Delhi government has now ordered a probe
The Delhi government has now ordered a magisterial inquiry into the deaths of Mansi, Shikha and Parul, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has announced. But Beena hasn't been of much help, police say. "When we tried to (enquire)...she only nodded or said no. We haven't been able to get details from her," a cop said. Her husband is still missing. Narayan is still sitting by her side.