Destitute sleeping in the open in Rohtak

Ravinder Saini

Rohtak, January 11

Several destitute people are compelled to sleep at nights in the open outside the local railway station in the bone-chilling cold as no night shelter has been set up there.The police allegedly do not let them sleep in waiting halls of the railway station.

Over 15 persons were found sleeping on footpaths outside the railway station when ‘The Tribune’ visited there on Wednesday night.

Set up night shelter near rly stn

We have no option but to sleep on the footpath in this biting cold as police officials check tickets if we use the waiting hall of the railway station. No night shelter is available nearby. —Sanjay, Patna (Bihar)

“We have no option but to sleep on the footpath in this biting cold as police officials check tickets if we use the waiting hall of the railway station. No night shelter is available nearby, which makes a mockery of the authorities’ claim of providing shelter to all destitute people in the severe cold,” said Sanjay of Patna (Bihar).

Naresh of Dahkora village (Jhajjar) said he used to do labour work in Rohtak and was unable to take a room on rent due to meagre income. “Once I tried to sleep inside the railway station but the police did not allow me to do so. Since then, the footpath has been my bed. The government should set up a night shelter at the railway station to help people like me,” he added.

As per information, at present, night shelters are being run at two places — on the premises of new and old bus stands — where several people avail stay facility daily but both shelters are away from the railway station hence many people do not go there.

Meanwhile, Ajay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, said one of the porta cabins was initially placed at the railway station, but had to be shifted due to some issues.

“I have directed the municipal officers to again see the feasibility of shifting one of the porta cabins from the old bus stand to the railway station,” he added.