In Udaipur, Rajasthan, 55-year-old Rekha Galbelia has given birth to her 17th child. The family is struggling with poverty, debt, and homelessness. The husband earns a living by collecting scrap, the children's education is affected, and life is full of hardships.
Udaipur: In the Udaipur district of Rajasthan, 55-year-old Rekha Galbelia gave birth to her 17th child on Tuesday (August 25th). Rekha is now the mother of 17 children, of whom 4 sons and 1 daughter passed away shortly after birth. The family is already grappling with the hardships of poverty, debt, and homelessness. Her husband, Kanwra Kalbelia, makes a living for the family by collecting scrap.
Several children in the family are alive, five of whom are married and have children of their own. The difficulties faced by Rekha's family have drawn the attention of local people and the administration.
The Difficulties of Rekha Galbelia's Family
Rekha's daughter, Sheela Kalbelia, says that due to such a large family, they have always faced difficulties. Sheela said, “When people find out that our mother has so many children, everyone is surprised. We have to struggle every moment in our daily lives.”
Kanwra Kalbelia stated that he had to take loans from moneylenders at 20 percent interest to run the household. He said, “We have paid back lakhs of rupees, but the interest is still not fully paid off. It becomes difficult to feed the children.”
The Family Does Not Have Its Own Home
The family does not have its own home. A house was approved under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Prime Minister's Housing Scheme), but they are still homeless because the land is not in their name.
Kanwra said, “We do not have adequate means for food and drink, nor do we have resources for the children's education. There is also a lot of trouble in marriages. Everyday problems exhaust us.”
Children Did Not Receive Education Due to Lack of Money
Due to financial constraints, the family could not provide education to their children. When Rekha was admitted to the hospital, the family hid her medical history and stated that this was her fourth child. Later, doctors revealed that this was her 17th child.
Dr. Roshan Darangi, a gynecologist at Jhadol Community Health Center, said, “Initially, the family did not provide correct information. Later, it was discovered that this is the 17th child, which is a serious matter from a health and social security point of view.”
