Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood on Friday directed all District Magistrates to conduct regular and surprise inspections of night shelters, submit reports to his office and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), ensure Aadhaar verification of occupants, and take strict action against fake employees and operational lapses.
He also instructed DUSIB to coordinate with district officials, implement a digital attendance system for staff, and address security issues, especially in women’s night shelters, on a priority basis.
The directions came during a high-level review meeting convened at the Delhi Secretariat, following Sood’s surprise inspection of five night shelters in Sarai Kale Khan a day earlier.
According to Sood, the inspection had revealed alarming shortcomings, including water leakage, power failures, lack of clean drinking water, absence of attendance registers, and unauthorized cleaning personnel.
He also expressed concern over the presence of “ghost employees” drawing salaries without appearing for work and the growing threat posed by anti-social and criminal elements occupying the
shelters. He emphasised that security lapses, particularly in women’s shelters, could lead to serious consequences and must be resolved without delay. “People seeking refuge in night shelters deserve safety, dignity, and clean living conditions. There can be no compromise,” Sood said.
In response to these issues, DUSIB officials informed Sood that a mobile application is being developed to digitally track the attendance of shelter staff in real time.
This initiative aims to eliminate the problem of fake employees and improve transparency in daily operations.
To further enforce accountability, Sood directed that all District Magistrates be provided with a standardised inspection proforma.
Reports generated through this format must be shared regularly with both DUSIB and the Minister’s office.
He instructed that night shelters reporting major lapses be given immediate attention and flagged for priority monitoring. The Minister also asked district officials to identify shelters where families are residing and prepare a separate list to ensure that additional safety measures are put in place. Aadhaar card camps in each district are also being considered to verify shelter occupants and restrict access to individuals with criminal backgrounds.