The homeless in the Capital seem to be nobody’s people with the State government allegedly handing them half blankets to survive through the harsh Delhi winters which has already arrived.
Non-government organisations working in the area say that besides running behind schedule to distribute blankets, the temporary night shelters (over ten) set-up in tents by the Delhi government also don’t have electricity, beddings , water, toilet and caretakers.
Sunil Kumar Aledia of the Centre for Holistic Development (CHD) said: “Instead of the normal blanket size of six feet by four feet, what is being distributed measures just three feet by two feet. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) as per its winter planning was required to distribute blankets to the homeless latest by October 22. Sadly they are yet to cover all the night shelters.”
He added that the temporary night shelters that the government has set-up at Janakpuri West Metro Station, Subhas Nagar More (near Metro Station), Tilak Nagar, Uttam Nagar East Metro station, Eidgah extension park are not useable.
“The place offers no facility for the homeless at all. It does not even have basic toilet and water facility,’’ he said.
DUSIB, director, night shelter, Kamal Malhotra rubbishing all the allegations explained: “We have already washed and redistributed 14,000 blankets. These blankets have to be picked up by the non-government organisations working at the night shelters. Delay on their part cannot be attributed to government inaction.’’
“We have also issued strict instructions to all non-government organisations working in the field that all the damaged blankets can be returned and fresh blankets will be re-issued without any questions being asked. The department has in stock 24,000 blankets ready for use,’’ he added.
DUSIB claims that it will also be purchasing 20,000 blankets, 5,000 durries and 5,000 sq-feet of jute mats for use this season.
