Telangana to set up advisory committee on rehabilitation of urban homeless

HYDERABAD: A meeting on shelter for the rehabilitation of the urban homeless and beggars here on Tuesday decided to constitute an advisory committee at the state level as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

Chief advisor to the government Rajiv Sharma, who presided over the meeting, said that rehabilitation of the urban homeless should be a well thought-out strategy with mutual acceptance of the recipients and in a manner that empowers them without undermining their dignity.

He also suggested that a joint meeting with NGOs and other government departments be convened shortly to work out modalities and to put in place a system for rehabilitating alm-seekers and urban homeless people. Best facilities should be provided to the urban homeless in the shelters, he said.

The meeting also decided to constitute a management committee at the district level under the chairmanship of the district collector.

Principal secretary to municipal administration and urban development (MAUD) Arvind Kumar said that apart from providing free medical and health counselling and check-up, these people were being rehabilitated by taking up skill development programmes, economic support schemes and economically-linked utility support schemes.

The urban homeless are also being provided with Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, bank accounts and legal support, if needed.

Home secretary Rajiv Trivedi, director-general (prisons) V K Singh, MEPMA additional mission director John Samson and other officials attended the meeting.