Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Coming to the rescue of homeless people who have been spending nights amidst biting cold in the open in the national capital, the Delhi government on Wednesday announced that it will provide porta cabins to such people.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday announced several measures and said all night shelters being run from plastic tents will be replaced with porta cabins.
The CM further instructed SDMs to make inspections at night shelters during night hours and ensure the same are being run properly.
Also, SDMs have to provide the government a list of areas where night shelters are required, by January 4 morning.
"We have come to know that there are many government-run night shelters which are operating from plastic tents but they cannot stop cold wind.
"A order has been passed to replace them with porta cabins in 3-4 days time," Kejriwal told a press conference yesterday.
"During night-time inspections by our ministers Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Birla and AAP leader Sanjay Singh, it came to our knowledge that many people are sleeping under flyovers and other such places and not willing to move to night shelters. The government has decided to provide porta cabin- based shelter to them on the spot," said Kejriwal.
Kejriwal said the government is also seeking the assistance of all MLAs in ensuring better facilities at the night shelters.
"We are writing to MLAs saying their help is also needed in this matter and sending them a list of night shelters in their respective areas. We are appealing them to visit night shelters," he said, adding the ministers and AAP volunteers will also assist them in this initiative.
The AAP leader hit out at the previous government of Sheila Dikshit for failing to provide relief to the homeless. He said the matter was in the Delhi High Court since 2010 but the government failed to take measures for the welfare of the destitute.
Kejriwal said AAP volunteers, along with members of NGO Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan, would conduct a survey to locate places where porta cabins are required.
"Members of the NGO today met us and gave a list of 45 locations where the homeless are living. Tonight AAP volunteers and NGO members will visit those 45 locations and prepare a list of spots where portacabins are required by tomorrow," said Kejriwal.
