Minister inspects city’s night shelters as winter chill sets in

Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood on Saturday inspected two night shelters in the capital to review facilities available for the homeless amid the intensifying winter.

During the inspection, Sood said, “The Delhi government is committed to ensuring that no homeless person in the city is forced to spend night out in the open during the harsh winter season.”

He reviewed essential services, including beds, warm blankets, food, drinking water, sanitation, heating arrangements and security at night shelters at Hanuman Mandir and Chabi Ganj (second floor Women’s Wing).

Sood also interacted with officials of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to assess preparedness at the shelters. Highlighting ongoing infrastructure expansion, he stated, “Over 200 new night shelters, pagodas and temporary waterproof tents are being set up across Delhi as per requirement.”

The minister directed shelter management teams to ensure adequate winter supplies, proper lighting, cleanliness and functioning fire safety systems. He stressed special focus on women’s shelters, privacy measures and increased rescue operations to shift homeless individuals from roadsides to safe shelters. He said night shelters must operate with “utmost sensitivity and a humane approach”.

Sood also shared an experience from a recent inspection where he found several people near IIT Chowk burning discarded clothing and biomass to stay warm because of negative past experiences with shelters. He assured them that the government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is taking “several new initiatives to ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of their families and children”.

Sood added that all Delhi ministers are inspecting shelters in their jurisdictions to ensure better facilities, quality food and timely distribution of winter relief materials such as blankets.