Meet on problems of homeless held

Over 21 non-governmental organisations, 22 officials from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Directorate of Municipal Administration and several shelterless people exchanged their views on the urban homeless issue at the State-level Consultation on Urban Homeless and Interventions in Karnataka, in the city on Tuesday.

Delivering the inaugural speech at the programme, Salma Fahim, Joint Commissioner, BBMP, promised that the Palike was committed not only to provide homes to the shelterless, but also look into their other needs.

Maruti, a former KSRTC employee who is currently homeless, claimed that both his legs had become useless following an accident while he was on duty and KSRTC had not provided any compensation to him.

Salma, while expressing concern over his situation, summoned all the relevant documents pertaining to the case and said the Palike,  through appropriate means, would try to address Maruti’s problems.

“One of the tyres of the bus was punctured. The conductor and I were changing it, when a lorry hit us. It was not our fault. The conductor and the kin of a passenger who died on the spot have received money. But the company has not paid me,” Maruti said.