As city ails, Mum's the word at BMC meetings

RTI findings reveal that councillors almost never ask the civic body all-important questions at health committee meetings about measures taken to address the rising incidence of various diseases in the city In the world's largest democracy that is supposedly built on the foundations of dialogic exchange, elected representatives appear to be subscribing zealously to the motto Mums the word.This is the shocking revelation made by data compiled by PRAJA foundation, an NGO which works towards good governance by seeking information through the Right to Information (RTI) route. The organisation's investigations have revealed that of the 36 members appointed to the civic health committee for the year 2010-11, 17 odd councilors remained mute at all 14 health committee meetings. This was in a year when the city witnessed a record number of 20,000 malaria cases, which resulted in 137 deaths.Of the 47 questions asked by various councilors in the meetings held in 2010-2011, only two questions were related to malaria and other monsoon ailments.Most of the questions instead pertained to health infrastructure, including hospital upgradation, treatment costs and availability of medication.Ironically the councilors evinced more interest in the measures taken for the dead rather than the living, going by the fact that 12 of the 47 questions asked were related to cemeteries and crematoriums. Five others were regarding licensing of eateries.Shocking apathyThe main motive behind digging out this information was to evaluate whether the councilors really deal with issues that directly affect the public's health, in these meetings.u00a0Malaria and others diseases like diarrhoea, hypertension, diabetes are taking a heavy toll on the lives of Mumbaikars.u00a0But somehow, these issues take a backseat at the meetings, and are upstaged by matters that only indirectly affect the people. This is data that we have received from the civic body itself, said Nitai Mehta, managing trustee of the foundation.Ailing cityAccording to statistics compiled by the PRAJA foundation, 23,317 malaria cases were reported in the 2008-09 financial year.u00a0The numbers swelled to an alarming 39,898 in 2009-2010, and touched a whopping 78,448 in 2010-2011. These figures unequivocally illustrate the manifold manner in which incidence of the deadly disease has been on the rise, between 2008 and 2010.Cases of diarrhoea have also seen a steep rise in the last three years. Between 2008 and 2009, 81,321 cases of diarrhea were registered in public hospitals and BMC dispensaries. The number increased to 11,6295 in 2009-2010. In the 2010-2011 financial year, the numbers had risen to 1,25,999.Calm of despair?In the 12 meetings conducted by the health committee in the year 2009-2010, only 30 odd questions were raised by the committee members, most of them concerning staff behaviour. The findings also reveal that of the 36 members who were part of the committee, 21 did not bother to raise a single question. In the 16 health committee meetings conducted in the period 2008-2009, only 33 questions were raised by councilors present.Of the 36 members, 23 members did not feel the need to ask a single question. Most of the queries that were asked pertained to infrastructural concerns and staff behaviour.Surprisingly, not one of the questions raised at these meetings, over a period of two years, pertained to the measures taken by the civic body to eradicate diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, diabetes, tuberculosis and hypertension, which claim many lives every year.u00a0It was only in the meetings held in the 2010-11 session that only four councilors raised questions about the diseases plaguing the ailing city. In course of our interaction with the councilors, we discovered that many of them are not aware of the protocol that is to be followed in these meetings, and do not know how to put forward questions. We planning to organise training sessions for our representatives, added Mehta.Why so quiet?MiD DAY spoke to those councilors to find out why silence reigns in the meetings over the last three years. 4The number of deaths due to malaria in the city this yearWARD:u00a0 DNAME: Minal Juwatkar There is no particular health problem plaguing my ward. So I ask no questions. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 DNAME: Kokila PamarI have raised a question this year, only because I felt the need to. Everything has been smooth sailing in my ward over the last two years. There isn't a large slum population in my ward, so there aren't too many problems. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 1WARD:u00a0 H/ENAME: Krishna ParkarParkar could not be reached for comment. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 F/SNAME: Prakash ChalkeMy ward houses the KEM Hospital, and everything is operating smoothly. I believe in visiting hospitals and inspecting facilities myself, instead of asking questions, just for the sake of it. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 G/SNAME: Parshuram DesaiIn the year 2007-08 I was the Committee Chairman, thus I knew exactly how to get any work done. There was no need to ask questions. At times, a problem can be solved without asking questions. Last year, I raised a question about the availability of medicines in the dispensaries, so as to reduce the burden on bigger hospitals. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 1WARD:u00a0 H/ENAME: Baliram GhagAfter repeated attempts, Ghag could not be reached for comment. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 K/ENAME: Manohar PanchalHealth work is going smoothly, so I abstain from attending the meetings. I belong to other committees as well, and time constraints prevent me from attending all the meetings, leave alone asking questions. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 K/WNAME: Abdul BarudgarNo good ever comes of raising questions. The authorities simply promise that things will be worked out, and then forget about it. In the next meeting, I will surely raise a question. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 K/WNAME: Jayanti SiroyaWe sort out our issues at the ward-committee level, so there is no need for me to ask question to the health committee. We directly contact the respective authorities and get our patients admitted. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 NNAME: Kashinath TharliI always discuss issues. It is not necessary for every one to ask a question. I contribute to the discussions. I believe in directly going to the hospital and helping the patients. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0WARD:u00a0 NNAME: Ashwini MateMate has been holding the position of Health Committee Chairman for a year. After repeated attempts, he could not be reached for comment.WARD:u00a0 SNAME: Anjali DaradeDarade could not be reached for comment. Period Number of questions asked 2008-09 0 2009-10 0 2010-11 0