Over a year after the Centre announced a scheme for shelters for the urban homeless with 75 per cent funding, the Supreme Court on Thursday called up the States and the Union Territories to reveal what steps they had taken to extend this scheme to the urban poor, especially with the winters fast approaching.
The court, dealing with a bunch of PIls on this issue, directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to hold a meeting with the State Chief Secretaries and the Administrators of Union Territories within 10 days and report on the progress made in achieving the objective by December 4, the next date of hearing.
For the time being, the bench headed by Chief Justice Hl Dattu ordered the Centre to consider “ways and means” of arranging temporary shelters in the States where winter had already set in.
Under the “Scheme of Shelters for Urban Homeless” released on December 13, 2013, the Centre envisaged permanent shelters for homeless in urban localities. The States had to bear just 25 per cent of cost with the Centre contributing 75 per cent financial assistance as part of the scheme.
The Bench, also comprising Justices Madan lokur and AK Sikri, recalled that on September 4 this year all States and UTs were asked to report on action taken under the scheme. Going through the responses of some States, the Bench said, “It appears they have not met at all.” The Court directed the responsible officer of the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry to meet the Chief Secretaries/Administrators and report on the action taken by them on next date.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan who appeared in one of the PIls insisted on appointing a panel of independent officers to visit each State. He felt that the Monitoring Committee under the Scheme comprised officers who have to implement the scheme. Moreover, shelters should have sufficient space and amenities of water, toilets and other basic needs. The lack of it was seen as a major cause why occupancy in night shelters remained low. The bench decided to await the Centre’s report before passing further orders.