By Avleen Anand, Agence India Press,
New-Delhi: In view of teeth-chattering chill, Homeless in Delhi are rendered sleepless. These people ate facing a pitiable condition as authorities seem to be in slumber. Fearing that the night shelters are unsafe, these people have no option but to remain tight-legged under open skies during night hours.
The shelters also lack basic facilities. According to data, Delhi’s homeless population is around 150,000 people.
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has provided 64 permanent shelters and 86 temporary shelters of tents, but this is able to suffice for only about 12,000 people.
One of the officials from NGO working for these Homeless told Agence India Press that which the freezing cold had claimed the lives of 300 people last winter.
“On an average, 2,500 people have been coming to the temporary shelters, while many don’t opt for the permanent shelters as they are far away from the city,” official added Many of the homeless do not prefer to stay in the night shelters due to distance, inadequate facilities and crime.
“The number of homeless people has expanded inexorably; with the Commonwealth Games and Delhi Metro construction, many migrant laborers have come to the city. Any figure less than this must be a gross underestimation,” said an official from Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan (AAA).
Nikita Rana student said “It is time for Delhiites to wake up to the condition of the homeless people who have taken to the streets even during bad weather conditions.