Health, edu facilities in Delhi's 2 minority-dominated areas

Health and education facilities in two minority-dominated pockets of the city are below par, causing hardships to the people, says the latest report of Delhi Minorities Commission.
In its annual report for 2014-15 based on the information provided by departments concerned of Delhi government and municipal corporations of Delhi, Commission highlighted the health and education status of these minority areas of Okhla in South Delhi and Mustafabad in East Delhi.
The Okhla area, consisting of a dozen minority-dominated colonies including Zakir Nagar, Batla House, Noor Nagar, Gaffar Manzil, Shaheen Bagh and Abul Fazal Enclave, and having a population of nearly 6-7 lakh, has only two government dispensaries to take care of health needs of the residents.

The report says that no allopathic health centre is run by South Delhi Municipal Corporation in the area though it runs an Ayurvedic and a Unani dispensary at Sari Julena and Taimur Nagar.
There is also no maternity home or any other facility for women and child care and basic gynaecological care in the area, it said.
The MCD official emphasised on the need of a well-equipped health facility in view of the large, "under-served" population and inadequacy of public health facilities, the report says.

A total of 17 schools are run by the Delhi government and MCD in the area.

"Health and education facilities are not adequate in Okhla cluster of colonies. Keeping in view the parameters for providing health and education services, this area is under-served causing hardships to people of minority community," the report says.
In Mustafabad area, comprising half a dozen minority colonies, the condition of health and education is not much different.
East Delhi Municipal Corporation's primary school was found to be in an "appalling" situation running in a rented three-room accommodation.
There is an acute shortage of primary schools in this cluster of colonies, the report mentions.
Delhi government and MCD health officials apprised the Commission about "acute shortage" of medical facilities in Mustafabad.

The report identified unavailability of land as the one hurdle in establishing more health and educational facilities in these thickly populated areas.
The report detailing the Commission's various activities, programmes and initiatives in the year, was recently submitted to Delhi government for its consideration and follow-up action, Secretary of the Commission K K Jindal said.