I was wondering what is the reason for the differences in awareness between the women in Chennai slums and those in other places who were less aware. Were there differences in their levels of education or membership to any group?
Also, has there been any effort anywhere in India (government of NGO) to provide public facilities like a Sulabh Souchalay near any slum?
Is it true that slum dwellers do not get ration cards, etc., since they don't own property? For example, how do they get mail since they don't have an address?
I hope there will be more articles on sawf on various aspects of slum life in the future.
Thanks for writing about this.
Mamata
DIANA comments : hi, i am a student of ACJ as well. i am in ther print stream.apparently even ni am doing my sluym report now.With all the confusions in my head, i am trying to do some ggogle searech regarding various slums of chennai, when i came acroos ur article. i liked it a lot. great work keep it up.
Diana comments : hi, i had replied u few days back. i hav som doubts in my mind regarding the women living in slums in chennai. i visited the shenoy nagar slums. i am doing a report on the living conditions of women in slums. i ahv special interests in the health condition. i tried to find out data regarding HIV\AIDS infection among the women but didnt get any substantial information. As we all know that it is a common phenomeneon that men in the slums are ususally invloved in drinking, gambling, womanising.and in the porocess they go to prostitutes. i personally hav seen women in my home state who were infected by AIDS from there husbands. But here the mwomen are rather shy nto speak about it. they only say that life in the slums is horrible because their husbands hit them every night and spend all the money outside. When i went to the doctors of the KMC hospital which is where they frequently visist for check-ups, One doc, DR.Vidya revealed that few months back there were 2 cases of pregenant HIV\AIDs women who continued with the pregnancy. She also continued to say that many cases come up to her where women are infected with AIDS or HIV from their husbands who visit the protitutes and bring the infection from them. These women donot come out with such information as they feel that its safe to be with the husband life long even if the husband may be having extra-marital afffairs. I wouls request u to write somethin regarding this aspect of health of women living in slums.
