Desperate rush for food packets outside Niloufer

Attendants of ailing children forced to play the food-distribution lottery to cut down expenses, clueless about GHMC’s Annapurna centres

Watching their child ailing is arguably the most painful experience for any parent, but attendants at Niloufer Hospital here have another battle at hand too — taking care of hunger pangs without running out of whatever little money they have.

Every time a food-distribution vehicle pulls up near the biggest State-run paediatric tertiary care centre, they rush towards it, without minding the traffic on the road. Jostling with pavement dwellers and with hands stretched out, they go through this drill almost every afternoon in the hope of grabbing a free food packet. Those who are unable to get their hands on the packet put up with a fiercely growling stomach for a few more hours until another such vehicle or a group of volunteers lands up with food.

Niloufer Hospital, which mostly caters to patients from economically-disadvantaged sections, has around 1,400 beds and is nearing full capacity with a large number of children admitted for serious health ailments, respiratory issues, and seasonal diseases. Many of them have come from neighbouring States too.