Night shelter needs more facilities

Rajamahendravaram: The municipal corporation's night shelter for urban homeless in the city is not enough to homeless as it is running in three rooms in the corporation building. Though they are hundreds of homeless in the city, only 45 are taking rest in night time in the shelter and remaining are sleeping on the footpaths in the city.

The corporation was mum to conduct survey to identify and provide shelter to the urban homeless in night times from all these years. Though it is a joint project, Government of India and State government, the corporation is not taking initiative to provide shelter to urban homeless in large numbers. Moreover, the bad maintenance of night shelter posing health problems to inmates.

Foul smell all along the steps on the way to rooms is another problem to inmates. According to an official of corporation, the night shelter was started in 2006 and managed it through an NGO which left it after some days. Now, Swarnandhra Seva Samsta is running the shelter under the supervision of the corporation. The corporation identified as many as 128 urban homeless and only 45 are using the night shelter, he added.

The corporation only provides food in night along with cots, blankets and in the morning, the inmates go for their works and come in night time. The corporation is paying an amount of Rs 50 per head for food night time and the organisation brings food from their office and serve them.

Proposals were there to start a second night shelter. One inmate of the shelter underlined the need to provide more facilities with proper maintenance of sanitation.