LG orders officials to ensure all facilities at night shelters

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung today directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to serve tea and rusk to people at night shelters in the morning and said its cost will be borne by the government.
He also directed DUSIB to replace old blankets at the shelters and get the ones which can be used dry-cleaned by next week. Jung told officials to add 40,000 new blankets to the stock by December 10, said a Delhi government official.
The LG also told the officials that no bus should be used to house the homeless during winters and they should be kept in permanent structures or porta cabins, the official said.

Also, Delhi Jal Board has been directed to ensure that water tanks at night shelters are filled daily, and in places where there is greater demand, they be filled twice a day.
DUSIB has been asked to double the capacity of water tanks from 500 litres to 1,000 litres in places where there is greater demand.
Jung asked the Health Secretary to ensure that mobile clinics visit night shelters twice a week and directed municipal commissioners to provide mobile toilet vans on the sites, the official said.

Jung was informed that at present there are 85 permanent night shelters and 102 porta cabins and 18 tent accommodations.

Porta cabins are being planned to be installed in Dandi Park, opposite Hanuman Mandir and at Yamuna Pushta and Sarai Kale Khan, he was told.
Besides, for streamlining the functioning and management of night shelters, DUSIB has enlisted 'shelter management agencies" through the process of tendering.
These agencies will operate on a cluster approach and will be responsible for all night shelters falling in their area. It has been done to make those running the night shelters more accountable and also for better coordination and management, the official said.
A 24x7 control room will become operational by December 1 for feedback and complaints pertaining to night shelters.

Also, a daily report on night shelters will be updated on its website (delhishelterboard.In) everyday.
Under 'Shelter for Urban Homeless under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission', land is being acquired from DDA and new shelters are being planning.
Jung meanwhile said, "No homeless should be uncared for this winter. It is the responsibility of DUSIB to make sure that each homeless person is provided for this winter.
"It is a shame in the 21st century that people could be left to die in the cold in winter. Any laxity observed shall not be overlooked.