Homeless won’t be denied entry to shelter homes: Improvement Board

Taking cognisance of media reports regarding denial of entry to homeless people at shelter homes in the national capital, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has issued a clarification that no one will be denied entry to shelter homes.

Notably, The Tribune in these columns on December 23 highlighted the plight of homeless people in the city who were being denied entry to shelter homes, owing to strict scrutiny of Bangladeshi immigrants.

The DUSIB, in an official order, said it came to its notice that news articles were being published in newspapers in which it was alleged that homeless were denied entry to night shelters due to the lack of an Aadhaar card or identity cards.

“It is hereby clarified that homeless people will not be denied accommodation at night shelters/shelter homes of the DUSIB," the official order read.

The DUSIB further stated all night shelters/shelter homes are open 24X7 and provide accommodation and amenities completely free of cost.

"All shelter management agencies (SMAs) are directed to adhere to this directive. In case of non-compliance of the directive, an appropriate action, under the rules, will be taken against the agency," the order read, adding that any laxity in this regard would be viewed seriously.

A Delhi-based NGO “Centre for Holistic Development” had written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, highlighting the plight of the homeless people.

In the letter, NGO's executive director Sunil Aledia had stated that people who were not having any valid identification were not allowed to stay at any shelter home as the Delhi Police had issued instructions in this regard.

“We have found that the Delhi Police personnel have issued verbal orders at several shelter homes asking them not to allow anyone to stay without an identification. Several people have reported this at the control room of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB)," Aledia said in the letter.

Notably, the Delhi Police had recently started a comprehensive operation to find all people of Bangladesh origin who are illegally residing in Delhi without any documentation. The directives were given by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena who had set a two-month timeline to identify and expel all illegal intruders.

The NGO had also alleged that an application named 'Rain Basera' started by the AAP-led Delhi Government nine years ago to help homeless people during the chilly winter season and rescue them immediately is no longer functioning. "The application cannot be seen in the Playstore,” Aledia said.