‘More needs to be done for the homeless’

The intense cold wave may not have gripped Delhi fully, however, the number of homeless and the steps taken by authorities to accommodate them in ‘rain baseras’ has again highlighted the issue of the Capital city’s treatment of its poor and the homeless.

“I think rain baseras are not taking into consideration the larger problem. It is a short-term solution to a long-term problem,” says city’s renowned social worker Harsh Mander. He further added: “We still have a Victorian mindset towards treating the destitute and homeless. Most of the homeless also consist of unemployed men and single working women who rather will want to be treated with dignity than being cramped in shabby conditions.”

Most of the social workers acknowledge that the homeless in Delhi have increased over the years, however, the city does not only have people belonging the city, rather an influx of outsiders has also added on to the already huge number. Rahul Verma, who heads a prominent city NGO said: “We recently met a family which came from Bundelkhand. There is a drought in his village and he has come to Delhi because there is nothing in his village to eat. Delhi provides him an opportunity to have at least two meals a day.”

“Homeless in Delhi are increasing because rural economy in many parts of the country is crumbling,” Mander added. When asked about the figures, Mander mentioned there are approximately 2.5 lakh homeless in Delhi which is around 1 per cent of the city population. Mander mentioned that not only homeless the situation of people living in slums is also very bad and pitiable. Mander said: “Poor people die more in the summers than in the winters.”

When asked for solutions, Rahul Verma said there should be a comprehensive and a long-term approach, a Public Private Partnership in investment is required and the authorities would also have to ensure that rather than locating rain baseras (night shelters) only in the central parts of the city, other parts of the city are also included.

The experts said that it is only when the authorities realise that urban poverty is a long-term problem can an effective plan be made.