The city Corporation is set to open permanent shelter homes for the homeless who are forced to sleep on the streets, as part of a project under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
The local body will, on Wednesday, night launch a survey across its hundred wards to get an accurate number of people who sleep on the city’s footpaths, in front of shops, and in other public places.
Announcing the project and the survey here on Tuesday, Mayor V.K. Prashanth requested the cooperation of the public for the successful completion of the survey.
“The survey has a lot of practical difficulties as it can be carried out only at night, when these people come to sleep. It involves waking them up, asking their name and other details, and even taking their photographs. So, it has to be carried out with a lot of sensitivity to avoid any misunderstanding. The public also has to be informed that such an activity is being carried out so that no other issues crop up,” said the Mayor.
Pilot survey held
As a preliminary step ahead of the survey, the Corporation held a meeting with shopkeepers, autorickshaw and taxi drivers, police officers, and councillors to ascertain the locations where people are found to sleep at night. A pilot survey was held on July 6. Steps have been taken to ensure the help of police personnel for carrying out the survey.
The survey will begin from near the Government Medical College Hospital here at 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The team will travel in the Corporation health wing’s vehicles. The public can also inform the Corporation about such areas where people sleep at night.
The local body is identifying a suitable location to build shelter homes, using the NULM funds. The Mayor said the existing facilities at the beggar rehabilitation home at Kalladimukham and the old-age home in Malamukal can also be made use of immediately.