Amid pandemic, night shelter near Clock Tower full to brim

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 9

As rain started on a recent night, more homeless persons began reaching the MC’s night shelter near Clock Tower, Ludhiana.

This most popular night shelter of the city is located at a walking distance from the Ludhiana railway station.

Even amid Covid pandemic, the shelter generally remains full these days. Meanwhile, a number of homeless persons are still forced to spend nights in the open at nearby locations. Thus, there is a need to construct more night shelters for the needy.

Hemanand (28) was the 55th person who entered the shelter on a recent night when rain lashed the city. When the lockdown was imposed, Hemanand had moved to Uttrakhand, but has not got any work after coming back to the city now.

Like him, a number of persons belonging to other states, including Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, UP, Bihar, Delhi and even from different parts of Punjab, come to this night shelter these days.

When this correspondent visited this shelter, a few persons were found sleeping in the corridor. A man at the shelter said there was no more space in the rooms as social distancing was being maintained. Around 8.45 pm, mostly persons had gone to sleep. Meanwhile, a few persons were seen playing cards.

Naresh Kumar of Haryana said, “I take langar at nearby religious places. At night, I come to this shelter. I earlier used to clean utensils at marriage palaces, but have not got any work. I hope I will get work at marriage palaces after Lohri when the wedding season will begin.”

Pending issues

There is no provision of food or tea for the needy. Two toilets are seemingly not sufficient for 50 or above visitors. Some old blankets and beddings were looking dirty. It was learnt that there was no arrangement for washing or cleaning blankets and mattress covers.

Though rooms were almost full, no masks and sanitisers were available at the shelter for the prevention of Covid. There is shortage of staff too, as no MC employee was available for night duty. Currently, a man performs multiple duties on a voluntary basis at night.

There is need to improve sanitary conditions near the night shelter building. Several people urinate in the open near the night shelter building due to which foul smell pervades the area.

A former councillor Parminder Mehta said, “The night shelter near the Clock Tower is most popular and generally remains full. The MC needs to construct more night shelters near the Clock Tower area as still many homeless persons, especially labourers from other states, can be seen sleeping at nearby locations like Jagraon Bridge, under Elevated Road and old city areas.”

When the accounts branch of the civic body was shifted from this building to the MC’s Zone, a building over a decade ago, this night shelter was set up. The MC’s Superintending Engineer, Teerath Bansal, said around 40-45 new beddings had been arranged for the shelter this season. He said he would look into the matter if there was any issue at the night shelter.

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