Homeless forced to sleep in open outside shuttered night shelter

Tribune News Service

Harshraj Singh

Ludhiana, January 21

In the absence of any nearby operational night shelter, a number of homeless persons often visit an unsafe and closed night shelter near Clock Tower in Zone A, here.

Hence, they are forced to sleep in the open at nearby sites in bone-chilling nights, as the Municipal Corporation has failed to establish a new night shelter in place of the closed one.

At present, two elderly homeless persons, including a woman, are residing in the open outside the corporation’s closed night shelter, situated at a walking distance from Clock Tower and the railway station.

Without a place to call home or any form of assistance, the elderly persons endure the extremely cold nights outside the shuttered shelter. Rather than opting to reconstruct or repair the closed night shelter or make alternative arrangements, the civic body chose to establish a garbage dump next to it.

During the past years, many homeless people predominantly used to spent their nights at the shelter declared unsafe by the MC, which has been closed for over a year now. It’s important to mention that an office continues to operate in the same building where the closed night shelter is situated.

A shopkeeper near the closed shelter said two elderly persons always stay in the open area while no steps had been taken to construct a new shelter for the homeless in the vicinity. Even on these chilling nights, a number of homeless persons often come to seek shelter at the night shelter but they are denied entry into the building. Consequently, they frequently spend their nights in verandas of nearby markets or beneath Elevated Road. There is an urgent need to establish a new shelter in the vicinity of Clock Tower and the railway station.

Sarabjit Singh Bunty, a businessman, said many homeless people were forced to sleep on footpaths near Chand Cinema, Elevated Road, railway station and other areas in the absence of the required number of night shelters at nearby localities amid the extreme weather conditions.

“After the construction of sheds for waste compactors, the MC has not yet installed the compactors there. Given that the sheds are currently vacant and unused, they could serve as temporary night shelters for the time being,” he said.

Former councillor Gurpreet Singh Gopi said the night shelter near Clock Tower was used by many homeless people in the past. Since it was closed, no measures had been taken by the MC to construct a new shelter for the poor and homeless, leaving them to suffer. Many people are forced to spend nights in the open. The civic body must take the matter seriously, he added.

Joint Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Chetan Bunger said the MC plans to renovate the closed shelter near Clock Tower. Additionally, he stated that the MC operates buses to transport approximately 100 homeless persons to three other night shelters in Zones B, C, and D every night. Moreover, he said several homeless persons usually refuse to go to the shelters.

Many refuse to go to other zones in buses

Joint Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Chetan Bunger said the MC plans to renovate the closed shelter near Clock Tower. Additionally, he stated that the MC operates buses to transport approximately 100 homeless persons to three other night shelters in Zones B, C, and D every night. Moreover, he said several homeless persons usually refuse to go to the shelters.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.