Delhi’s lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Thursday directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to set up separate night shelters for homeless women before the onset of winter. At a high-level meeting with Deputy Commissioners (Revenue), Jung has directed to carry out a survey in their districts and identify locations for establishment of such night shelters. “These night shelters for women shall be located independent of the existing night shelters primarily occupied by men. l-G also directed that the general upkeep of existing night shelters be improved,” said lG House officials.
A review meeting with the DCs of all districts revealed low or no occupancy of night shelters by women and raised concerns about the safety and security issue of homeless women. Apart from that, the safety audit carried out by DCs to assess safe and unsafe areas for women in their districts suggested that attention be paid to street lighting in certain areas, officials said. Jung further directed that the gram sabha and other land, made free from encroachments, should be used for establishing dispensaries and schools and requires close coordination with departments of Health and Education. For instance, in the south-west district, 15 locations have been identified where dispensaries running in rented accommodation can be shifted, he said.
Jung instructed the DCs to send a list of locations, identified by them in their districts to set up one new girls’ school, to the Education Department. He also directed that the land identified for establishing a working women’s hostel be handed over to the Women and Child Department for necessary action.