Delhi’s homeless will be protected from cold: Walia

NEW DELHI - As north India continues to battle cold winds, the Delhi government Monday said it was making all necessary arrangements to shield the homeless in the various night shelters of the capital.

Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia visited several night shelters in the old quarters of the city and took stock of the facilities being provided to the homeless.

“Government is committed to providing adequate medical services to the occupants apart from basic amenities such as toilets, a clean ambience, sanitation, blankets and drinking water. There has been a marked improvement in the shelters since the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board was set up,” he said.

Earlier, the night shelters were functioning under the Slum and Jhuggi and Jhopri Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, added the minister.

“We will ensure that not even a single occupant is forced to put his or her life in danger in this extremely cold weather,” assured Walia.

According to the minister, mobile health check-up vans would be deployed at every shelter at least twice a week and there will be no shortage of night shelters in the city in view of the Supreme Court’s order.

“The Board is in the process of identifying more places for setting up of night shelters and has released an amount of Rs.70 lakh for providing beddings in 86 temporary night shelters and Rs.2 crore for upgradation of permanent night shelters,” added Walia.

The Supreme Court Dec 15 had asked the government to not remove any night shelters for the homeless till the biting cold abates, terming it as “insensitive and callous”.

Even the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Dec 24 had sought an explanation from the Delhi government over the plight of homeless children in the capital and the lack of dedicated night shelters for them.