Noida authorities caught napping as homeless struggle for shelters

Every year when the temperature starts dipping, scores of homeless are left to brave the chill around bonfires and this year too, the scenario is same in the national capital. With the beginning of the winter, the homeless can be seen sitting in groups under flyovers and pavements trying to brave the numbing chill.

While <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid #0000FF !important;text-decoration:underline !important;color:#0000FF !important">the Noida Authority has set up a night shelter for the homeless in <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid #0000FF !important;text-decoration:underline !important;color:#0000FF !important">the Noida Stadium at <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid #0000FF !important;text-decoration:underline !important;color:#0000FF !important">Sector 21, the shelter can accommodate just 50 families, around 200 people, when the number of homeless runs into thousands. Because of the absence of sufficient night shelters, the poor are being forced to spend the nights in chilly weather.

For those who manage to get into the shelter, the problems are compounded as the shelter is bereft of basic amenities such as toilets, firewood and blankets.

HL Gupta, district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar said, ‘Our past experiences show that night shelters are never occupied so we have set up only one so far. The authority has assured us that in case, there is a need for more shelters, it will set them up.’ He further added, ‘We are providing blankets and firewood to keep each person warm.’

The number of homeless is increasing in the city rapidly as hundreds of migrants from other cities and states are flocking to Noida in search of livelihood. What makes the situation even worse is the fact that authorities are clueless about the number of homeless in the city. When asked if the district administration has the data of the total number of homeless migrants, Gupta said, ‘So far the administration has not compiled such list.’

Various Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) and social activists are miffed with the district administration and the Noida Authority for not making sufficient arrangements.

Raj Kumar, <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid #0000FF !important;text-decoration:underline !important;color:#0000FF !important">member of Astha Welfare Samithi, an NGO, said that the administration is least bothered about the homeless people. ‘The officials are not aware of the ground situation and do not even bother to visit them and understand their pain.’

Dr. Mala Bhandari from Social and <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid #0000FF !important;text-decoration:underline !important;color:#0000FF !important">Development Research Action Group, <span style="border-bottom: 1px solid #0000FF !important;text-decoration:underline !important;color:#0000FF !important">another NGO that has been very active in serving the poor and homeless in the city, said that the authority and administration never consult them. ‘For the last so many years, the authority is putting up only one shelter when the need is much greater. They should do a proper mapping and spot the areas for night shelters.’

‘It is happening because the officials do not have complete information about the total number of homeless in the city. Also, they never consult us for identifying the poor and their needs despite the fact that we work on the ground level with the poor. It is important that we should work in tandem to help the needy, Mala added.