In another step forward towards ensuring right to shelter, shelter for urban homeless has been put on track with Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati taking a videoconference with Collectors of several districts recently.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary G Mathivathanan joining the Chief Secretary presented the details of the project and outlined the issues for discussion. Pati advised the Collectors and Urban local Bodies (UlBs) to construct shelters near bus stands, hospitals and railway stations and other such places where more number of homeless persons are seen. The Collectors were directed to prepare the detail plan and estimates by October 15 and send those for approval.
Detailing the project, H and UD Secretary Mathivathanan said that the urban shelter is meant for people who live and sleep in pavements, parks, railway stations, bus stations, places of worship, outside shops and factories, at constructions sites, under bridges, in hume pipes and other places under the open sky or places unfit for human habitation. It has been decided to construct such shelters in every city with a population of more than one lakh. One shelter home with capacity of accommodating at least 100 persons will be constructed for every one lakh population. The UlBs have been assured of financial assistance at the rate of Rs 40 lakh for one shelter home with capacity to accommodate 50 persons. Cities having the population above one million and cities of special social, historical or tourist importance will be taken up on priority under the project.
Official sources said arrangements have been made for providing Rs 6 lakh per annum towards operation and maintenance cost to each shelter home with capacity of 50 persons.
The Chief Secretary has directed to make separate arrangements for vulnerable groups like children, disabled, women and aged persons in these shelter homes. It has also been decided to have common kitchen facility, locker facility, fire fighting, first aid arrangements etc in the shelter homes. Adequate bathing and toilet arrangements will be put in place. Chief Secretary Pati advised the Collectors to link the inmates of these shelter homes to the social security schemes like old age, disable pension, food security schemes, anganwadi centres, schools, health insurance schemes, skill development training programmes etc as per their eligibility.
Available data shows at present cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Brahmapur, Puri, Baleswar, Bhadrak and Baripada have more than one lakh population. As per 2011 census, there is requirement for construction of shelter homes in nine cities to accommodate around 3,270 persons. Till now nine such shelter homes with total 278 capacities have been built. Other 18 homes have been sanctioned for 10 UlBs during 2014-15.