Bengaluru’s homeless population still waiting for shelter
The Hindu
In July, the BBMP was directed to set up 40 shelters for homeless in three months; so far three have come up
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how vulnerable some sections of society are, especially the homeless.
With only 14 shelters currently operational, existing infrastructure can support barely 10% of Bengaluru’s homeless population. A random survey by NGOs in the city pegged the number of homeless at around 5,200 in 2018. In a repeat exercise a year later, it was 4,000. In July 2021, the High Court directed the BBMP to establish at least 40 homeless shelters within three months and a total of 84 within six months. So far, only three have come up.
The need for more shelters is not being disputed by the palike. BBMP Special Commissioner (Welfare and Administration) Dayanand told The Hindu that it had sent 38 proposals for the construction of new shelters across the city to the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), which has granted in-principle approval for the same. “While a majority of funding will be from NULM, the BBMP may have to chip in as well,” he said.