AP Photo

Seema sits cross-legged on a filthy sheet of cardboard next to a crumbling concrete planter in the central square of Nehru Place, New Delhi's computer and electronics hub. Four years ago, at the age of about 14, she gave birth to a son on this very spot, without the aid of a kettle of boiling water or a clean blanket, much less anesthesia or a doctor. Four days ago, the same little boy, Rajesh, died here, on the same slab of pavement.

Suffering from pneumonia, Rajesh never saw a real doctor, even though his mother and the community of rag pickers who live here scraped together everything they had to collect 500 rupees ($12) to pay for treatment. Not knowing any better, Rajesh's family took him to an informal medical clinic on the outskirts of town - the only private medical care...