If one is little lenient with the definition of homelessness, then perhaps the many who sleep on the foot overbridges (FOB) at Geeta Colony road won't qualify as people without a home.
Mosquitoes menace
In the adjoining forested area, these people have what can be best described as 'semblance' of a home in the form of temporary structures, for which they pay nominal rent, keep their belongings, cook and eat, and sometimes sleep too. Not during summers though.
Nineteen-year-old Budh Singh, a seasonal migrant labourer from Bihar who lives in one of these structures, says they become inhabitable by night. “There are too many mosquitoes because of the forest. They make it impossible to sleep,” says the young man, one of the few who was awake around 11.30 p.m. “ Itna machchar hai ki insan ko utha ke le jaayega [there are enough mosquitoes to haul away a man],” he says in mock exaggeration to describe the extent of the problem.
It's here that these FOBs meant for pedestrians crossing busy roads are also used as alternative accommodation. People start arriving at the FOB from 9.30 p.m. onwards. The last batch come in by midnight, taking up almost the entire space the FOB has to offer. Some space is left for the odd pedestrian or two who wish to use it for the purpose it's meant to serve. Separated by a few hundred metres, there are three FOBs — at Kishan Kunj, Ramesh Park and Lalita Park — in that order as one proceeds eastwards from ITO using Geeta Colony road.
Sound sleep
The fatigue after a hard day's work sets the tone for sound sleep at night, one that's not interrupted by hundreds of honking and speeding vehicles passing under the FOBs.
The house is practically a furnace during the day. Spending a few hours inside the house when there's no work is more punishing than working in the blazing sun. At least working keeps their mind from thinking about the weather.
The height of the FOBs and the flow of air, which is cool thanks to the forest on one side, make them more suitable if not an entirely comfortable place to crash. There are some who opt for an extra layer of protection by bringing mosquito nets with them.
Like Budh, his friends Santosh Kumar, also a labourer from Bihar, and Naseer are fast asleep some distance away. Some of them live in the Capital, while others land here during off season, that is when they are not working in the fields.
Stray animals
Except Ramesh Park FOB, which has a market next to it, the police and other officials let these people use the public facility to sleep. However, stray animals or intoxicated fellow sleepers are often a cause for concern.
At Lalita Park FOB, The Hindu met a group of adolescent boys who were quick to issue a disclaimer that while they don't sleep here they come here regularly to smoke. They add that the FOB keeps them away from the prying eyes of their parents and neighbours.
"These regular visits have helped us become familiar with the people who sleep here, their families and occupations," says one of the boys with a sheepish smile. Their collective wisdom
also offers possible insights into why it's not the usual chock-a-block affair on a Thursday night, when The Hindu visited.
Shab-e-Baraat night
“It’s the Shab-e-Baraat night. Many who sleep here are e-rickshaw drivers who have gone to ferry the passengers attending the procession. They'll make an extra buck. Sleep can wait another day,” an adolescent boy added.
