Hyderabad: The Congress is preparing a specific declaration for the Old City of Hyderabad to address the unique challenges that its residents face, said Hyderabad DCC president Sameer Waliullah. The party has begun work to identify the issues, he said.
Waliullah said that they were reviewing recent surveys to get an insight into the living standards and challenges faced by the people. They also plan to collaborate with NGOs and social activists to come up sustainable solutions. The findings and proposed solutions will be shared with the leadership and included in the election manifesto.
Waliullah said that according to some surveys, 60 per cent of the Old City's 58 lakh people, who are mainly Muslim, live in slums. Of these, 74 per cent are tenants. Thirty eight per cent said do not have white ration cards. In 37 per cent households, women are the sole breadwinners.
According to him, 15 per cent of children drop out of school between Classes 5 and 10. Hyderabad accounts for 33 per cent of chronic diseases but the Old City alone reports over 50 per cent of these cases. Sixty five per cent of families face high-interest debts according to the surveys, Waliullah said.
