Nagpur: With the city experiencing biting cold, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), along with the Social Service Branch (SSB) of the city police, has expedited efforts to provide refuge to homeless people living on city streets and footpaths. However, in doing so, the NMC is facing multiple challenges, including a lack of space to accommodate the homeless and opposition from a few locals regarding the setup of temporary housing for homeless people.
On Thursday, the city recorded the coldest day at 9.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest this season. With the chilling cold, it is becoming increasingly difficult for homeless people to spend their nights in the open. To protect these individuals from the cold, the NMC, under deputy municipal commissioner Ranjana Lade, has launched a drive to rescue homeless people. The department, under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission, is also conducting searches to locate them.
Currently, the NMC is running six shelter homes with a capacity to accommodate 280 homeless people and has provided refuge to 215 homeless individuals. "We are intensifying our efforts to find more homeless people. However, we fear that in the next few days of the drive, more homeless will need to be rehabilitated, and we will lack space. So, we are also planning to set extra beds in the current shelter homes, apart from setting up temporary ones. But when we try to do this, a few people object and stop us from setting up temporary shelter homes in their areas at closed govt buildings," said an NMC official, adding that citizens must also cooperate with the civic body to ensure sanctuary for homeless people.
The official also mentioned that since 2022, more than 1,800 homeless people were sheltered, and their complete makeover was done, including providing necessary treatment and even connecting them with their families. "As per rules, we have to teach the homeless people skills and ensure they become proper citizens within eight months of their admission to shelter homes. However, there are multiple challenges in bringing them in and providing them with all the necessary items, including food, clothes, and other materials," said the NMC official.
The NMC has also called upon citizens to inform their homeless helpline numbers if they spot any homeless people on Nagpur's streets.