The seven shelter homes opened recently by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) in the State capital are in miserable condition and the officials responsible appear least bothered about the maintenance and arrangement of these Raen Baseras.
Basically, the conditions of the temporary Raen Baseras are undesirable and are used mainly by stray dogs. The space available in these temporary shelters is insufficient for the homeless as in the tent-shelter opened near Parade Ground which appears to have been opened as a formality following the Chief Minister's orders.
When asked about this anomaly, Mukhya Nagar Adhikari, Ashok Kumar said, “We can’t do much in this and the officials of the MCD can’t be present all the time at these shelter homes.” He informed that all the basic facilities including electricity and woodstoves are already provided at the permanent shelter homes. He also said that the materials are being stolen from the shelter homes and municipal officials are helpless in this regard.
Recently Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli had also instructed the officials to redress the anomalies at these shelter homes but to no avail. The condition of the Raen Baseras is worsening by the day but the MCD officials appear least bothered. It must be mentioned here that recently after the instruction of the MNA total seven shelters for the underprivileged and homeless people were opened in the town. Among these total seven shelter homes three are permanent while four of the shelters were opened on temporary basis.