Mahasweta Devi responding to treatment, still critical

Kolkata, July 20 (IANS) Social activist and writer Mahasweta Devi on Tuesday continued to be in a critical condition requiring partial life support, a doctor said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the litterateur at the hospital where she is undergoing treatment.

"She is responding to treatment and is on partial life support. There has been slight improvement in her condition but she is still critical. Her kidneys are not functioning properly," a doctor said.

Banerjee discussed the author's health issues and arrangements with her doctors.

The 90-year-old suffers from various ailments and was put on non-invasive ventilation earlier in July after her condition worsened.

The writer, who was honoured with the Jnanpith Award in 1996, has been undergoing treatment at a hospital here for about two months now.