• Source:JND
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Delhi Heatwave: In the scorching summer heat that has gripped Delhi, the city's homeless population is bearing the brunt of the dire conditions with over 190 homeless people lost their lives on the footpaths in just nine days.The lack of adequate facilities in the city's shelter homes is a significant factor contributing to this situation.

Many of the shelters located around areas like Turkman Gate, Jama Masjid, New Delhi Railway Station and Kashmiri Gate are lacking in basic amenities, with a severe shortage of ceiling and exhaust fans, coolers, drinking water and even proper bedding.

The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that many of these shelters are housing more homeless individuals than their intended capacity, leaving the limited facilities available in a state of disrepair. As a result, the homeless have been forced to seek refuge in alternative locations, such as the banks of the Yamuna River, under flyovers and even begging on the streets in the scorching sun around Jama Masjid.

Old Delhi Shelter Homes

Rescue measures in Old Delhi's shelter homes have been particularly limited. According to the operators of these facilities, the shelter home near the Old Delhi Railway Station is in dire need of eight coolers, one water cooling machine and eight exhaust fans. Similarly, two nearby shelters require a total of 21 coolers, for which a request has been made to the officials of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB).

The operators lament that it is only when the death toll rises that the authorities take the situation seriously, with no proactive measures in place to address the issue. Vicky Sharma, associated with the operation of a shelter home in Sitaram Bazaar, Old Delhi, described the condition of his shelter and others as unsatisfactory.

Outer Delhi Shelter Homes

The Outer areas of Delhi are facing similar situations with the shelter home in Sarai Pipalthala, outside Azadpur Mandi, has a capacity of 40 beds, but neither the coolers nor the water coolers are in working condition. Vinod, a resident of the shelter, expressed his dissatisfaction with the inadequate arrangements to provide relief from the heat.

Rohini Sector-3 Shelter Homes

In the shelter home located in Rohini Sector-3, the cooling arrangements in the male and female cabins were found to be relatively better, with functioning coolers and access to cold water. However, in the shelter home built in Aastha Kunj Park at Nehru Place in South Delhi, the situation was more dire. Out of the four coolers installed, three were faulty, leaving only one working cooler in the family shelter. The water cooler in the family shelter was also not functioning.

Govind Singh, a resident of the Aastha Kunj Park shelter, stated the harsh living conditions, stating that the water supply is erratic, lasting only two days after arriving every four to five days. Sanjeev, another resident, described the shelter as a tin shed, where the non-functioning coolers exacerbate the extreme heat.

West And East Delhi Shelter Homes

In contrast, the situation appears to be somewhat better in the shelters of West and East Delhi. The night shelter in Uttam Nagar, West Delhi, has two working coolers and two fans, providing some relief to the seven to eight homeless people who stay there during the day and the 12 to 13 who stay at night. Gurpreet Singh, a resident of the shelter, praised the caretaker, Amarpreet Singh, for maintaining the facilities.

However, the broader issue of delayed or non-payment of salaries for the shelter home staff remains a concern. Vicky Sharma and other employees reported not receiving their salaries from September to December, which raises questions about the seriousness with which the authorities are addressing the needs of the homeless in Delhi.