Study ward where average age of death is 39: Panel to BMC

Authorities seem to have finally woken up to the problems in M-east ward where the average age of death is just 39 years, 44% of the children are underweight, 57% are stunted and 88% of pregnant women are anaemic, according to an NGO’S report.

The six-member committee, which submitted its recommendations for the Development Plan (DP) 2034 to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has now suggested a detailed risk analysis of the M-east and M-west wards of the city ,

These include Chembur, Govandi, Deonar and Shivaji Nagar — areas comprising a lot of slums and lacking even basic civic amenities.

The recommendations will be debated in the 227-member general body, which has to pass the city’s blueprint by March 20. According to the recommendation, BMC must carry out the analysis in a time-bound manner and act on the results.

The area also includes refineries, industries and a dumping ground that has affected the health of citizens. A senior civic official said, “We got many suggestions from groups regarding the wards which is why the rec the plan.”

According to reports submitted by an NGO Apnalaya (in February), the human development index in the M-east ward is 0.05 as compared to Kurla, which at rank 23, is 0.29. The ward has no hospitals, no maternity homes; it survives on one dispensary and 4 healthposts.

77% of the population lives in slum-clusters and over 60% have to buy potable water everyday. Arun Kumar, CEO, Apnalaya said, “The intention of the authorities counts here. If it is a study that translates into demolishing slums then its dangerous, but if its a study that looks at areas lacking civic amenities, then it is good. However, there are already many studies that tell us about the