Reflective Journal

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Earlier, Health was very misunderstood concept for me. And the challenge for me to clear the
understanding among the people about health of basti. They resonate disease and health plays
against each other. We plan to meet women to understand their perspective about healthy life.
With lots of question and doubts, I approach one of the group basti sitting under shadow of a
tree.

After explaining the purpose of our visit, five members of Gulab SHG come for discussion about
life of basti and their challenges. We started the discussion with their daily work routine and
challenges faced by them. In my experience, personal problem give the space and comfort to
speak up in-front of stranger. They get up early and bring water for household consumption,
and prepared breakfast for all. They also support their family by doing domestic work nearby
flats. The workload is heavy for women in slums. Women from basti used to work as agriculture
labour in the Aredhi village. They used to sew paddy and wheat and harvest the soya &
ladyfinger.

The summer was unbearable for newlywed couple. The electricity supply was interrupted and
sleepless night for the slum deteriorated their health. Some of them get sick and saline water
administered into body during summer season. Whenever children or elder get sick, they went
to Dr. Khan for treatment. For sever case, doctor refer to Hamidia, 1205 or AIMS. For seasonal
cold & cough, they use ginger water and other home remedies for treatment. They also believe
in secrecy to prevent illness.

We discussed the meaning of Health in your life. They roam around disease free life & finally
come to the point of mental peace, cleanliness and good food. They refer the mental peace in
the sense of no more quarrels, no tense environment.

We interacted with community at two spot with Mohit sir. This was FGD with SHG members
regarding health and related challenges & their coping mechanism. The Shankar khadan area
SHG members explain on incident of their member and that incident create fear from hospital.
At the time of COVID, No one come back. 16 years old girl got ill without any past record of her
illness. She died at hospital due kidney failure all of sudden.

Second half, Furkan joined us and we went to computer center run by SOS. We interacted with
members of Baal Panchayat of Arehdi crusher basti regarding organizing the next Baal
Panchayat in Basti. The adolescent girls raise the issues of eye teasing and not feeling safe at
night. They decided the agenda for next meeting to address Girls safety, alcoholism and health.