MADURAI
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) running Shelters for Urban Homeless Poor (SUHP) in the city have raised concern over restructuring of aid provided by Madurai Corporation by alleging that the move had effectively reduced the already scant aid they receive every month.
The NGOs running the four SUHPs that are in operation in the city, each with a capacity to accommodate 50 people, were until now receiving a fixed amount of ₹ 50,000 per month while the rest of the expenses had to be managed by the NGOs through support from donors.
A copy of the order available with The Hindu showed that the Corporation has restructured this amount by providing a fixed component of ₹ 35,000 for employee salaries and maintenance and a paltry variable cost for ₹ 10 per occupant per day for food and other expenses. “While we were receiving the amount promptly before, it was kept pending for the past three months. When the arrears were cleared last week, we were shocked to see that the amount had been reduced,” said a manager of one of the homes.
He pointed out that as per the revised calculation, only if the homes were running full, they will get ₹ 50,000. “Since the occupants in all the homes are just around 40, the aid has reduced,” he added.
A manager of another home said the homes had a tough time even with ₹ 50,000 they were receiving earlier. “Despite aid from donors, our operating cost is nearly double the aid provided by the Corporation. We were pleading with officials to increase it. It is saddening that they had reduced it instead,” he said.
V.P. Manikandan, a social worker who helps these homes, said ₹ 10 per occupant per day, which worked out to ₹ 300 per month for an occupant, was grossly inadequate even to meet the food expenses.
“There are many elderly and physically-challenged people in these homes, whose medical needs also had to be met. If one of them had to be taken in an auto-rickshaw to a hospital for consultation, the trip will cost ₹ 300,” he said.
A Corporation official said the move was to increase the efficiency of these homes. “The restructuring was made as per the guidelines of National Urban Livelihoods Mission. It was wrong that they were previously receiving a fixed amount every month. If they operate efficiently, the NGOs can easily manage,” he claimed.
Stating that many of the occupants were staying in the homes for long while SUHPs were intended only for temporary shelter, the official said the move will encourage the NGOs to rehabilitate the occupants with their families.
When contacted, Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri, however, said the issue had not been brought to his notice and assured to ensure that the operation of the homes was not affected.
