<p>It was a memorable day for the slum dwellers of Kachchpura near the Taj Mahal here as they had a VIP visitor -- US second lady Jill Biden who spent nearly an hour with them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Known for her interest in education and healthcare issues, Jill braved the sultry weather and walked the half-a- kilometre unpaved mud road to reach the place. She was accompanied by her daughter Ashley Biden and son-in-law Howard David Krein.<br /><br />Her visit to Kachhpura was to take stock about the Health for the Urban Poor programme, funded by US-AID which is aimed at providing basic healthcare to urban poor focusing on maternal health and community participation.<br /><br />She was greeted by Machla Devi, president of Adarsh Mahila Arogra Samity, its secretary Manju and other members. Adarsh Mahila Arogra Samity is a group of local women who are working to raise awareness among the women and children about basic health related issues.<br /><br />After interacting with the members she visited the pre-school cum anganwadi centre and met children there.<br /><br />Jill, a Ph.D. in education who has been an educator for over two decades, had her special gift for the children there -- a basket full of books ranging from colour books to story books and book on the White House.<br /><br />She interacted with the workers there about the work on community centre and various maternal and healthcare programmes run by the centre. She also gave two drops of polio to a small girl child of one-and-a-half months.<br /><br />Her son-in-law Howard asked about vaccination program run in India.<br />Jill also inquired about the nearest delivery centre for pregnant women in the area.<br /><br />Kachhpura is one of the 46 slums of Agra where the Health for Urban Poor programme is running. A settlement from Mughal empire days, it was notified as a slum in 1998. Half of over 3200 people are involved in the shoe making while rest are engaged in other occupation such as farming and dairy.</p>
<p>It was a memorable day for the slum dwellers of Kachchpura near the Taj Mahal here as they had a VIP visitor -- US second lady Jill Biden who spent nearly an hour with them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Known for her interest in education and healthcare issues, Jill braved the sultry weather and walked the half-a- kilometre unpaved mud road to reach the place. She was accompanied by her daughter Ashley Biden and son-in-law Howard David Krein.<br /><br />Her visit to Kachhpura was to take stock about the Health for the Urban Poor programme, funded by US-AID which is aimed at providing basic healthcare to urban poor focusing on maternal health and community participation.<br /><br />She was greeted by Machla Devi, president of Adarsh Mahila Arogra Samity, its secretary Manju and other members. Adarsh Mahila Arogra Samity is a group of local women who are working to raise awareness among the women and children about basic health related issues.<br /><br />After interacting with the members she visited the pre-school cum anganwadi centre and met children there.<br /><br />Jill, a Ph.D. in education who has been an educator for over two decades, had her special gift for the children there -- a basket full of books ranging from colour books to story books and book on the White House.<br /><br />She interacted with the workers there about the work on community centre and various maternal and healthcare programmes run by the centre. She also gave two drops of polio to a small girl child of one-and-a-half months.<br /><br />Her son-in-law Howard asked about vaccination program run in India.<br />Jill also inquired about the nearest delivery centre for pregnant women in the area.<br /><br />Kachhpura is one of the 46 slums of Agra where the Health for Urban Poor programme is running. A settlement from Mughal empire days, it was notified as a slum in 1998. Half of over 3200 people are involved in the shoe making while rest are engaged in other occupation such as farming and dairy.</p>