Shelter homes to brace all weather

These homes may be completed by June 15

All the shelter homes run by the Delhi government for the homeless people during the last winter are being upgraded to make them ‘all-weather homes’.

Aimed at providing roof to the homeless during the winter, summer and rainy seasons, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) is upgrading these homes and the process is likley to be completed by June 15.

“In the first phase, 30 homes out of 150 will be upgraded as special shelter homes. As part of the exercise, the walls and roofs are to be upgraded. In order to beat the intense summer heat, fans will also be provided,” said DUSIB CEO Chetan Sanghi.

Sanghi said special shelter homes would cater to people with special needs such as physically challenged, senior citizens as well as those suffering from substance abuse, besides children, families and women.

“In response to an appeal by the DUSIB to land-owning agencies to part with vacant land and unused buildings, the Delhi Development Authority has offered one plot at Narela and two at Rohini to build permanent shelter homes,” Sanghi added.

According to government figures, the city has around 60,000 homeless people, out of which only 14,000 could be accomadated in the shelter homes built by the government.

The officials said that the government has decided to provide electricity and water connections to all the shelter homes while the possibility of providing Anganwaris, health and educational facilities is also being explored.

A monitoring support committee has been set up to undertake an independent audit of the shelter homes. “Other than official members, the committee will have representatives from TISS, Delhi School of Social Work and IGNOU’s School of Social Work,” Sanghi said.

There are 66 permanent and 84 temporary shelter homes in Delhi, which are equipped with all basic amenities.