NGO urges Delhi Govt to expedite winter action plan amid forecast of severe cold

With weather agencies warning of an early and harsh winter due to the La Nina effect, a Delhi-based NGO, the Centre for Holistic Development (CHD), has written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior Delhi Government officials, urging immediate implementation of the Winter Action Plan 2025-26 to protect the city’s homeless population.

In a letter addressed to the CM, Lt. Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Commissioner of Police, Chief Secretary, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and the Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chandigarh executive director Sunil Kumar Aledia highlighted thousands of vulnerable individuals could be left exposed to life-threatening cold if the plan is not advanced ahead of the scheduled date (November 15).

“Given the high likelihood of harsh weather conditions arriving earlier than usual, the current timeline risks leaving thousands of vulnerable individuals unprotected during the crucial early weeks of the season,” the letter stated.

The NGO urged DUSIB to activate night shelters, ensure adequate blankets, warm clothing and heating facilities and deploy outreach and rescue teams to identify and relocate homeless individuals before temperatures drop further. To strengthen preparedness, Chandigarh proposed expanding shelter management and rescue teams, improving the 24×7 monitoring system and control room, updating the Delhi Shelter Board mobile app and ensuring timely repair and maintenance of existing shelters.

According to the latest DUSIB occupancy report, out of 325 shelter homes, 82 are in RCC buildings, 103 in porta cabins, 10 under special drives, 8 in temporary buildings and 122 in tents.

Earlier this year, Chandigarh had reported that 474 homeless people died in the National Capital between November 15, 2024 and January 10, 2025, during the peak of the winter season. The NGO claimed the absence of official data obscures the true scale of the crisis, estimating that around 80 per cent of “unidentified dead bodies” in Delhi are those of homeless individuals, based on police data.

The NHRC had subsequently taken suo motu cognizance of the reported deaths and issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report within a week.

CHD’s latest appeal stresses proactive steps now could save countless lives. “Delhi has the capacity and resources to ensure that no one dies due to cold on our streets,” the letter said.