Concerned with the plight of homeless, the Delhi Government has started to provide snacks and food, besides other facilities at night shelters in Delhi.
The Government has appealed to the residents to donate blankets and mattresses to homeless people who have taken refuge in night shelters to battle the harsh cold. The Government has also urged NGOs to adopt a night shelter each and provide food to the homeless. Those wanting to donate blankets, mattresses and other material should dial 011-23387879, 8527898295 and 8527898296.The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board has set up about 250 night shelters to cater to those battling the icy chill and hunger out in the open.
“As winter approaches, the Government has been working overtime in order to provide relief to these homeless people. We further need public support to speed up the process. Generally daily labourer and beggars came here for spending nights. When we offered them tea with snack a morning they could not believe their eyes, said Rajesh Kumar, executive director Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), an NGO.
“We have even provided a television set for entertainment of these people. Further we are in process to provide them employment so that their plight would be reduced,” he added.
Hasrad Ali, a labourer from Muradabad while watching news on television at Delhi Gate night shelter said, “Blankets, bed, tea, snacks, are being provided here free of cost. I do not have any word to thank these people. Earlier, I had to spend `100 for tea and food but now I can save it as we are provided here.”
Vishnu Sharma, who hails from Bihar and earns his livelihood by working as a daily wager, said he came here six month ago in search of job. He spent three nights on the pavement. One day he came to know about a night shelter at Chandni Chowk. He visited there same day and he is still living there with all comfort.
“I was surprised after being served food. I earn `300 per day and with these facilities here I could save more and sent it back to my home. I am very thankful to the government for all this,” he added.
“I have been promised a job. I will earn some money and then go home for a while. My parents force me to study and I don’t like it. I prefer it here,” said Manohar, who is sharing the shelter with 100-odd people. While the lucky ones get cots, others have to make do with sleeping on the floor, he said.
Although mostly helpless people prefer to stay at night shelter but people like Mohan Ram, who is at the shelters by choice, are rare. Mohan Ram who stays at a night shelter near Mori Gate is very happy on new initiatives taken by the Delhi Government to provide tea and snacks free of cost.
The Pioneer visited four shelters and found that the occupants were either unemployed or daily wage labourers. Most of them said they were searching jobs.
“There are 262 shelters across the Capital - some permanent, others in temporary tents - are lifesavers for thousands, offering them much-needed warmth during harsh winter. The capacity of these shelters is varied from 40 to 80 people but we never refused needy even after seats filled.
Officials of these shelters said DUSIB employees and members of the NGO, which runs the shelter, have been conducting regular inspections.
However a supervisor at a night shelter said some of the occupants are addicts.
“They drink and do drugs outside and create trouble inside. I have given them final warning,” an official said.