Irregularities alleged in shelter home

Surat: Mayor Hemali Boghawala paid an unplanned visit to a shelter home for homeless people in Rander on Tuesday. The sudden visit followed complaints of bias towards people from specific community.
Boghawala claimed that she found some irregularities and has asked the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials to look into the matter.
Boghawala, a councillor from Adajan Gorat ward 11, claimed that she went on a surprise visit following multiple complaints from BJP councillor Keyur Chapatwala, who had been complaining that people from specific community were being harassed. “I received multiple complaints in the past few months. People from specific community were thrashed at the shelter home,” Chapatwala, who claimed that he received the complaints from locals, told TOI.
The shelter home was developed two years ago and is being managed by a contracting agency. SMC pays the contractor for the occupants. “SMC has been receiving complaints related to irregularities at the shelter home since February 2022. I visited the shelter home and found that the register of people taking shelter was not properly maintained,” said Boghawala. “I have asked officers to inquire into the matter and take actions against the agency managing the shelter home,” Boghawala added. A hearing has been scheduled on Wednesday to allow the agency managing the shelter home to submit their reply.