Articles by Stephin Thomas

Delhi's vibrant colours pale as the city gasps for air each winter. Pollution levels soar, with the AQI often exceeding 500. In 2015, the Delhi High Court dubbed the city a ‘gas chamber’ due to its escalating pollution, demanding urgent action from both State and Central governments. With the air quality dipping each year, Delhi implements various measures to combat this crisis. One is the odd-even rule, which the government tried for a few years with limited success.   This year, in response to rising pollution levels, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was enforced, introducing specific rules based on pollution…

The extreme levels of air pollution reported in Delhi over the last week are shocking, but have not really taken anyone by surprise. It has become a yearly ritual in India’s capital. November has seen the average air quality index (AQI) hovering around 500 in the recent weeks, at ‘severe plus’ category, prompting the government to invoke several emergency measures.  While most people consider stubble burning a major cause of air pollution, a CSE analysis has revealed that vehicular pollution is the top contributor among combustion sources to Delhi's deteriorating air quality.  “Explosive motorization, choking congestion and inadequate public transport…

Moraya re bappa moraya re… can't get this song out of my mind. Ganpati is not just a religious festival, but a celebration that unites society. That's what I observed while roaming the streets of Mumbai during the 10-day-long festival. The emotions connected with the arrival and departure of the Ganpati are an experience. After visiting different Ganpati pandals I realised, you don't have to be a Hindu to experience the love and spiritual connection that Bappa evokes within you. The birth of Lord Ganesha is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm. It is so popular that people travel from…

During the Covid-19 pandemic, global healthcare systems went through a massive shock. In India, Mumbai was one of the worst affected cities with innumerable cases and deaths. The pandemic was an opportunity for the government to pause and look at the healthcare facilities in the city. Any disease that is diagnosed and treated in early stages has less chance of turning severe or fatal. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recognises primary health care as the centre for achieving health and well-being for all, at all ages.  Through the scheme of Aapla Dawakhana, the state government has tried to make…

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's health budget was Rs 6309.38 for the year 2022-23. Mumbai is home to 1.2 crore people. Moreover, its healthcare is accessed by Mumbaikars and a huge number of people coming from outside. Mumbai has 16 municipal general hospitals, six speciality hospitals, 29 maternity homes, 175 municipal dispensaries and 183 health posts. Besides this, the state government has established one medical college hospital, three general hospitals and two health units located in Mumbai. Citizen Matters spoke to the recently appointed additional municipal commissioner, Dr. Sudhakar Shinde, about the state of public health facilities, monsoon challenges and future…

It’s been more than two years since Vimal Gorakhnath Shinde retired, after working for over 30 years as a community health worker (CHW) with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). After spending a lifetime doing this work for the civic body, she did not anticipate that she would have to fight to be recognised as an employee and wait endlessly for a pension. She is one of 3700 health workers, who have been demanding to be recognised as employees, so that they get basic benefits such as pension. Vimal's eyes well up as she talks about her journey. Starting at 9.30…

The Mumbai Traffic Police declared the 9th and 16th of August this month as 'No Honking Day.' In a metropolis like Mumbai, where people spend hours in traffic, honking has become a habit that refuses to go. Not only is honking ineffective to navigate the traffic, it is also a major contributor for noise pollution on Mumbai roads. According to WHO, noise levels above 65 DB are classified as noise pollution. Worst affected junctions  Some of the worst affected areas in Mumbai are Sakinaka junction, Md. Rafi Chowk, Bandra West, Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk or Churchgate Junction, Vatsalabai Desai Chowk or Haji…

"My mother was a freedom fighter and so were her mother and her mother's mother." I read this quote by Aja Monet one day, and it made me wonder, "Do women ever achieve full freedom”? I came to Mumbai from my home in Raipur, Chattisgarh, after COVID to do a course in Media at a women’s college. It was strange for me that not many people even knew about the existence of Raipur. During my early days in Mumbai I had to explain to people that Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh and it is not in Jharkhand. A shift…

1200 chapatis, 45 kgs of rice, 95 kgs of vegetables, and 20 kgs of daal. This is just one meal cooked in the kitchen at KEM hospital every single day. Around 1700-1800 patients are admitted daily and the kitchen provides for their nutrition as they recover from various illnesses. People are often sceptical about the food provided by public hospitals because of concerns related to hygiene and quality. Especially in a city like Mumbai, thousands of patients visit public hospitals for treatment and are dependent on the facilities provided by the hospitals. Recently, the authorities at Mumbai’s largest, KEM hospital,…

Farzana Shaikh, a citizen from Kalina, Santacruz, worries as most of her family members catch stomach illnesses. As soon as she opens the water taps, only muddy water comes out. "During monsoon season, drinking water becomes contaminated; we cannot use it for drinking. We buy Bisleri for drinking, as the BMC water that comes into our home is very dirty. This happens every year in our building; people in my own house have diarrhoea and other stomach infections," says Farzana. Various stomach diseases spread due to contaminated water supplied to people's homes. Pic: Farzana Shaikh Malaria, dengue, leptospirosis, chikungunya, gastroenteritis,…