Biting cold claims 478 lives this winter in Delhi: NGO

Ujwal Jalali

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 11

The chilly winter season has so far claimed lives of more than 470 homeless people in the National Capital in between November 15, 2024 to January 10, 2025, as per a report compiled by a Delhi-based NGO through ZipNet.

The NGO, Centre for Holistic Development, stated that the absence of official statistics on deaths among the homeless masks the gravity of the situation, yet experts estimate that roughly 80 pc of the ‘unidentified dead bodies’ in Delhi (sourced from Police data: http://zipnet.in/ ) are those of homeless individuals, underscoring the gravity of this crisis. Highlighting the plight of homeless people in a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) Chairman, the NGO Executive Director Sunil Aledia stated that the harsh winters of Delhi had taken a severe toll on its homeless population, leading to alarming rates of mortality and morbidity.

“For those living on the streets, winter brings sleepless nights and a host of health issues, including respiratory infections, skin ailments, arthritis flare-ups, and worsening mental health conditions. Chronic illnesses such as asthma, COPD, and cardiovascular diseases are exacerbated by the cold, leaving many homeless individuals vulnerable to severe complications and even death,” the letter read.

Letter to Delhi Chief Secretary

“Chronic illnesses such as asthma, COPD, and cardiovascular diseases are exacerbated by the cold, leaving many homeless individuals vulnerable to severe complications and even death,” Sunil Aledia, Executive Director, Centre for Holistic Development wrote in a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary and DUSIB Chairman

Homeless individuals are often excluded due to the lack of identity documents and permanent addresses, the letter further reads

Aledia said that existing shelters are insufficient to meet the demand, and many lack facilities like heating and hot water, leaving people exposed to severe cold.

“Despite policies like the Deen Dayal National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM-SUH) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), homeless individuals are often excluded due to the lack of identity documents and permanent addresses. This systemic exclusion underscores the urgent need for intermediary housing options to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions,” he said.

The NGO urged the government to adopt a comprehensive approach to protect homeless population during winters, including increasing shelter capacity, ensuring access to hot water and protective clothing, and addressing the root causes of homelessness through inclusive housing policies and support services. Notably, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has been operating and managing approximately 197 shelter homes in the city with a capacity of 7092 people.

Out of 197, 82 shelter homes are operational in RCC buildings and 115 in porta-cabin structures throughout the year. However, during the current winter action plan, 250 more shelter homes have been set up in Pagoda tents at those locations which have high concentrations of homeless people.