Month of horror for homeless
The cold has claimed several lives across the city this month and most of these people are homeless.
The cold has claimed several lives across the city this month and most of these people are homeless.
According to Delhi Police figures, 118 unidentified bodies have been found this month. Officials say at least 60% of the deaths can be attributed to the cold.
In simple figures, this means that around three people have died due to the cold in the city every day so far in December.
The maximum number — 31 — is from North Delhi district, an area that has the highest number of homeless people. The figure for central Delhi is 17.
But this is nothing new. Every year, hundreds of people die of cold. At times this happens even if a night shelter is set up just round the corner.
"The government sets up shelters every year but no one is doing anything about the occupancy," said Paramjeet Kaur, who along with her teammates from NGO Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan works for the homeless.
The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation had earlier this month sent a proposal to the urban development department to built a transit home for labourers and construction workers in Kanjhawala.
"No homeless person will ever move to Kanjhawala. Location is very important when it comes to getting the homeless to sleep inside a shelter. This plan will simply not work," said Kaur.