Gwalior - the place and its children

The Indian Government's Tourist Department runs a site on the internet, from which pictures of beautiful temples, and a resume of its history, can be downloaded. The sun shines on a tropical garden. None of that is very real, should you be unfortunate enough to have to live there - where the temperature can reach 47 degrees, (120 degrees Fahrenheit). It does rain, in July and August, but piped water - if you have pipes - is available for only 2/4 hours a day. 60% of people live in pathetic and unhygienic conditions with no electricity, water or sanitation facilities. The delivery system in slums & rural areas is in pits. People are not aware of their health needs, importance of hygiene, sanitation, family planning etc.

Most of the villages are bereft of medical facilities, deaths occuring every now and then due to non-availability of even basic medical care in many places. Many times ladies deliver babies and breathe last in tractor trolleys on way to health centre or hospital. So do often die infants and children for the lack of health care and education. Malnutrition is rampant leading to many chronic diseases, otherwise preventable. Poor hygiene and sanitation with impure water based infectious diseases are cause of numerous deaths. These poor innocent people fall prey to quacks and touts, working in each and every corner for lack of awareness and education. Diseases are rampant and many die for lack of medical facilities and transportation especially in rural areas. Most of the children are deprived to a degree, we can hardly imagine. Little education, little food, endemic diseases, high levels of disability and parental rejection, and work-from as early as 5 years of age.

Many survive, briefly, by begging and scavenging. There is no help for them and no hope either, as children's affairs have no priority and rampant corruption at all levels. We can give love and happiness to as many of these children as possible, with your help and support, as we know the area and its people well.