Sir,
Over the last few days, many parts of northern India are reeling under severe cold with mercury plummeting to a record low level at many places including the national capital.As a result of shivering winter, some shelterless people are reported to be dying of cold.It is tragic that a large number of shelterless people have to spend their nights under the open sky in the biting cold even after more than six decades after the attainment of freedom in our country.It is the responsibility of the Government to protect the citizens from cold and other such conditions which endanger their lives.
The need of the hour,therefore, is to take measures to construct a large number of night shelters for the footpath dwellers and homeless people and provide basic facilities like warm bedding, toilet facilities, medical facilities and entertainment facilities in such shelters, especially in winter, to enable the poor people to spend their night in a proper and comfortable manner.The NGOs too need to come forward for the help of such people and pool funds for the construction of community night shelters on affordable’ pay and use’ basis and ulilize the amount thus received for the maintenance and provision of facilities in such shelters. The big corporate houses and Multinational Companies too must come forward and supplement the efforts of the Government as a goodwill gesture in providing shelter to those who are not lucky enough to own a dwelling unit.
The Government, the Municipal Corporations and other local bodies ought to formulate a comprehensive Housing Policy to provide a dwelling unit to shelterless people and till the policy is implemented fully in letter and spirit, the temporary night shelters with basic facilities of boarding, lodging and health should be constructed to enable the poor homeless people to spend their nights in a comfortable manner and thus save their precious lives from the cruel jaws of death.Last but not least,homeless people can also be accomodated at night,especially in winter, in those buildings which are used only during the daytime.
Yours etc…..
Ashok Sharma
Flat No 4,Housing Colony, Udhampur
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