Open house: How can authorities protect homeless from cold?

Urgent cold wave preparedness needed

Forecasts predict a record-breaking cold wave across the Punjab plains this winter, attributed to climate change, global warming and pollution. As temperatures drop annually during the winter season, people rely on winter clothing to protect themselves from the bitter cold. This year, however, the chill is expected to be unusually severe. Besides Punjab, states including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are also likely to witness excess cold, according to predictions. Cities under the Smart City Mission receive substantial funds from the Union Government for development and beautification. In this context, the Punjab administration must urgently frame a strong mechanism to deal with the cold wave. In the past, fires were lit in open spaces known as “Alaap,” which proved to be an effective way to help homeless people cope with extreme cold. The administration had also permitted cutting additional tree branches in cities and villages to arrange fire points at various locations, where homeless people could gather collectively to keep warm. Temperature decline is not limited to the plains; it becomes even more severe in hilly areas. After rainfall in the plains and heavy snowfall in the hills, temperatures fall sharply. It is commonly believed that after rain, several ailments such as dry cough diminish naturally, becoming concepts of the past. During this period, demand for heaters, geysers and warm or woollen clothing rises manifold. Meanwhile, homeless people are forced to take shelter under tree branches, corridors and flyovers to survive the bitter cold. The Union Government, State Government and local administration should frame a clear policy to provide temporary accommodation to homeless persons during winter, especially when temperatures dip sharply. Arrangements must be made for blankets, socks, gloves, sweaters and boots, and these should be distributed to the needy and homeless so they can withstand the cold wave. During extreme cold spells, the State Government often announces school holidays for a few days; such periods can be utilised to temporarily shift homeless people to safer shelters. Dense fog is also expected and cannot be ruled out, further worsening conditions for those without shelter. Facing a cold wave without woollen clothing is extremely difficult for homeless individuals. The government should release adequate funds to enable the administration to procure woollen items and protect the rights of homeless people. Social organisations must also come forward to support this noble cause.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Warmth for the destitute

Weather reports indicate an extremely harsh winter across the plains of Punjab and neighbouring regions. Under such conditions, the homeless and underprivileged remain the worst affected. From December to February, sharply dipping temperatures, cold winds, dense fog and occasional showers make survival unbearable without proper shelter. Although raen baseras have been established in some towns, these facilities are inadequate, poorly maintained and often lack basic sanitation. In several cases, unhygienic surroundings create risks of disease outbreaks and inconvenience for nearby residents. Due to poor planning and lack of preparedness, numerous casualties are reported every year, affecting not only homeless people but also outdoor workers, farmers and livestock. When substantial public resources are spent on beautification of roads and public spaces, it becomes imperative that a meaningful portion is allocated to upgrading and maintaining shelter facilities. While a permanent dwelling for every citizen should be the long-term goal, immediate arrangements for adequate temporary shelters are essential to protect vulnerable populations from severe cold. Religious institutions such as gurdwaras, sarais and dharamshalas have historically played a vital role by providing temporary shelter and food, and their continued contribution remains invaluable. Civil society can further assist by donating warm clothing, blankets, quilts and other essentials. A coordinated task force comprising government officials, community volunteers and NGOs can ensure timely and effective relief delivery.

Authorities must proactively engage to protect people from adverse weather conditions. Helping homeless individuals who suffer silently during extreme winters is not merely an act of charity but a humanitarian duty. Extending warmth, care and dignity to the destitute is, in every sense, service above self.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Strengthen night shelter network

In view of forecasts predicting a chillier and harsher winter this season, the local administration must not only spruce up existing night shelters, commonly known as raen baseras, but also construct new shelters at prominent locations with adequate facilities. These shelters should be capable of accommodating people safely during extreme cold. The authorities should actively connect with NGOs engaged in providing temporary shelter and food to destitute and homeless individuals. Such coordination would help streamline activities and maximise outreach in a systematic manner. To further improve efficiency, the administration should appoint a nodal officer to operate a centralised, continuous helpline to synchronise requests for shelter and food with available official and private facilities. Adequate publicity of these services at prominent public places is equally necessary to ensure easy access and awareness among those in need.

Jagdish Chander

Accountability in homeless welfare

Since November, countless underprivileged people in Punjab have been sleeping under the open sky during one of the coldest periods of the year. Despite the existence of several raen baseras in the state, the government has failed at the critical moment to provide proper shelter to poor and destitute individuals. Numerous NGOs in Punjab collect substantial funds in the name of helping the homeless, yet no visible improvement has been seen in reducing their suffering. This raises serious questions about accountability, both for the government and privately run organisations claiming to work for the welfare and protection of underprivileged people. The responsibility clearly lies with administrative bodies and private institutions that raise funds in the name of the poor. To rebuild public trust, the government must take concrete steps. Raen baseras and ashrams should be fully functional and prepared in advance each year to accommodate large numbers of people throughout winter nights. As an immediate measure, temporary shelters such as tents should be set up across the state, along with a one-time meal programme for those affected by the freezing January winds. Regular inspections must be conducted on NGOs and donation homes claiming to support homeless populations. A transparent account should be maintained comparing donations received with money spent on infrastructure and facilities for impoverished communities. If any organisation is found guilty of misuse or negligence, all forms of donations to it should be declared illegal, and the institution should be immediately banned from receiving any aid. Furthermore, all funds allotted in the name of the underprivileged should be made public to raise awareness and curb irresponsible practices. These measures can prove effective in addressing the current crisis and preventing its recurrence in the future.

Lakshit Jindal

Upgrade raen baseras with adequate infra

It has become a recurring problem that urgent issues requiring immediate resolution are consistently ignored. One such concern is the condition of night shelters, which desperately need upgradation. Despite this pressing need, little attention is paid to these shelters, while lakhs and crores are spent on less critical projects. This reflects a misplaced prioritisation of public funds. The authorities have a moral and administrative responsibility to ensure that available resources are utilised properly and transparently, especially for the welfare of the downtrodden. For homeless people, night shelters are not a luxury but a basic necessity. In extreme cold and harsh weather conditions, the lack of proper facilities exposes them to severe health risks and even loss of life. Raen baseras must therefore be upgraded with adequate infrastructure, cleanliness, heating arrangements, and basic amenities. Timely action in this regard will provide dignity and safety to the homeless during harsh winters.

Ravneet Kaur

Humane, inclusive approach is essential

It is difficult to understand why, despite the availability of night shelters, many people are still found sleeping on roads and footpaths. This situation is deeply concerning and should not be considered normal. Exposure to extreme weather, especially during winter, poses a serious threat to their health and well-being, often leading to illness and, in severe cases, loss of life. The authorities must take active notice of such individuals and identify the reasons that prevent them from using night shelters. Proper outreach and awareness measures should be undertaken to encourage people to sleep inside these shelters, where they can remain safe and protected. In many cases, the lack of an Aadhaar card or other identity documents becomes a barrier to accessing shelter facilities. This issue must be addressed urgently by providing alternative verification methods so that no one is denied basic protection due to documentation gaps. At the same time, the conditions of night shelters need significant improvement. Cleanliness, security, adequate bedding, heating arrangements, and basic amenities should be ensured. A humane and inclusive approach is essential to safeguard vulnerable populations from the harsh realities of sleeping outdoors during winter.

Yashika Sharma

Raen baseras are in deplorable condition

Jalandhar is among the most robust real estate hubs of the state with ever new areas being included under urban expansion and huge new apartment buildings and colonies coming up in newer areas. Crores of money is spent every year to construct concrete monoliths. Similarly crores are spent on new roads and highways every year. Undoubtedly, there's tonnes of government and private money being routed for concretisation. Can't people or administrations spend some of this amount for shelters? The existing raen baseras are in a deplorable condition. They haven't been revamped for years. There is clearly no lack of money but only intent from the well-heeled to fund more homes and raen baseras for the poor. A cursory look at the railway station's environs on a cold winter night is enough to reveal the number of people who need a roof over their heads in the winter chill, but don't have.

Sameer Bhargav

Provide shelter to the poor

In the age of optics and FB and insta reels, as people concentrate on being beautiful and on all things beautiful, the poor are increasingly being relegated to the side-lines. Hundreds of poor labourers, immigrants, elderly, destitute women and children spend cold evenings in the open, shivering, but don't have decent facilities to spend the night in the city under a warm quilt. Those who have money need to do better to safeguard the well-being of those who weren't born so lucky. The city needs many good quality raen baseras across areas to provide shelter to the poor.

Sunita Vashisht

Old people need care and respect

Many shelter homes in the city have closed down or limited their intake of inmates in the past few years. But ironically, the number of raen baseras haven't increased. So that leaves one with the question, where do the poor go? It seems that for those immobilised due to sickness etc., the civil hospital is the only place left to go. Meanwhile, a bunch of shelter homes or ashrams are already housing inmates enough for their capacity. The old need much better care and respect than the one they are currently getting. Setting up of state of the art raen baseras is the foundational step which needs to be taken in this direction.

Simrat Kaur