In a bid to resolve the issue of the plight of the homeless in winters, Delhi lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday directed concerned authorities to constitute a committee to address the annual problem.
Emphasising on the need to increase Government-NGO partnership, Jung ordered more shelter homes be built and said he would personally visit a few of them in the city. Jung issued these directions at a meeting, which was attended by senior officers from the Delhi Government, Municipal Corporations, the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Police and representatives of various NGOs.
“A committee must be constituted to address the problem of shelter, security, food, health and sanitation that homeless citizens in the Capital face. The working group shall have representatives from the Government as well as NGOs. The committee will have to submit its report within three weeks. It will create a comprehensive and sustainable plan for the homeless in Delhi,” said Jung.
While the Delhi Government’s Women and Child Department informed the l-G that 173 shelter homes are currently being run under it, the NGO representatives apprised him of the difficulties they were facing in running the shelter homes in various parts of the city. Some of the NGOs present at the meeting were Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan, Prayas, Prerna Trust, Shakti Shalini, among others.
The l-G stressed the need for NGOs and the Government to work in tandem for the homeless. “The NGOs and the Government should think apathetically. The objective should be to help these people join mainstream society,” added Jung.