After Hindustan Times highlighted the plight of homeless in the biting cold due to non-availability of night shelters in the district, the district administration swung into action and identified and demarcated four such buildings.
The SC had ordered governments across the country to
make provision for such night shelters three years ago.
The four such sites identified in Nawanshahr are Water Tank building at Pandora Mohalla in Nawanshahr city, Bus Stand in Banga, Jagotiya Mohalla in Rahon town and ward number-13 in Balachaur sub-division of the district.
Deputy commissioner Tanu M Kashyap has also ordered executive officers of the municipal councils concerned to make arrangements for electricity, water, toilet facilities, sanitation arrangements and beddings, including blankets, mattresses and jute mats at these night shelters. Executive officers would be responsible for the running and maintenance of these night shelters for homeless persons.
The district did not have a single night shelter before this, even as the SC order asked governments to have one night shelter per 1 lakh of population.
The homeless had been passing nights after nights without any assistance from administration. Fires, which they somehow managed to arrange, also became ineffective.