No roof above them, thousands face winter scare

Promises seem to be falling apart to provide night shelters to the homeless in the national Capital despite considerable initiatives and arrangements. Unfortunately, scores of people will be left with no option but to brave the chilling winter out in the open on the Yamuna river bed this year.

Despite Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board’s (DUSIB) assurances to provide night shelters to the homeless last week, there hasn’t been much done in this regard. 

The people, who are forced to struggle in the cold said that they have been living on their own for quite long as no agency has taken up their issue in the right forum yet. They claim that despite dozens of deaths of infants, minors and senior citizens last year during the winter, no measures have been initiated to improve their conditions. The DUSIB officials, however, said they are doing their bit but it seems impossible to provide amenities to each and every individual.

The DUSIB, which looks after condition of homeless people, claims that they have made sufficient arrangements of shelters throughout the city but all arrangements seem to have fallen apart and there has been no work in most parts of the flood plains, spanning for over a few kilometres across the national Capital. As temperature of the area is 5-6 degrees less compared to other areas in Delhi, people struggle hard to survive during the severe winter, resulting in several deaths every year. As the government has left little options for those whose colonies have been demolished during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, they have set-up make-shift arrangements along the river bed and majority of them are still living in temporary huts out in the open. These make-shift arrangements and huts are not strong enough to withstand gusty winds and lashing rains and thundershowers. 

A physical survey of the area reveals a sorry state of affairs and ill-preparedness of government agencies. While visiting the river bed in the vicinity of ITO, Yamuna Bank, Shastri Park and other pustas too, it has been found that hundreds of homeless people are living in this situation. 

Although many of them have made huts with the help of bamboos and used torn clothes as roofs and walls, they fear for their survival from extreme cold in the forthcoming days. They fear that lack of shelters and other arrangements may cause life risk this year too. 

“Last year, we lost six infants due to the cold but no authority came to our rescue. If they cannot construct night shelters, they must offer warm clothes and other essentials at least. Once temperature goes down to an alarming level, we will be the biggest sufferers,” said Munna Khan, a 50-year-old who lives along with his family in the area called Raini Well-VII. 

Notably, more than 175 homeless people had lost their lives during the winter last year and majority of the deaths had taken place in the river bed region as a population of more than 5000 people reside there. 

Another family, living in the vicinity of Yamuna Bank metro station, said life comes to a halt when temperature falls during December end and January. The children suffer more as many diseases develop during this period. 

“Harsh winters do not result in deaths always. But kids also fall ill due to various diseases and infections. The government assures proper care but fails to implement it year after year,” said Laxman, a casual labourer by profession. 

On the other hand, the DUSIB said that they have constructed few night shelters and tents and are in process to set up more as per requirement. “Generally we construct a night shelter for gathering of 50 persons or more and it becomes tough to arrange facility for people scattered all over the place. Presently, we have set up dozens of shelters in this belt and if required we will construct more shelters also,” said Kamal Malhotra, Director (Night Shelters) of the DUSIB.