Govt now in process to buy blankets for poor when winter chill has already set in: Akhilesh

In a Facebook post, Akhilesh claimed that thousands of people are forced to shiver all night long as the district administrations have made no arrangements for them

LUCKNOW Taking on the Uttar Pradesh government over “insufficient” preparations to keep the homeless protected from biting winter cold, Samajwadi Party chief and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has said that the district administrations are yet to make bonfire arrangements and distribute blankets to the poor. He said despite the temperature levels falling every day, the authorities are not doing enough for the vulnerable sections of the society.

Akhilesh Yadav has said that the district administrations are yet to make bonfire arrangements. (HT Photo)

In a Facebook post, Akhilesh claimed that thousands of people are forced to shiver all night long as the district administrations have made no arrangements for them. He added that the government has only now issued orders to purchase blankets when the winter chill has already set in. No one can say when this purchase will take place and what would be the quality of the blankets distributed among the poor, read the social media post.

Yadav pointed out that the municipal corporation and some voluntary organisations have started opening a few night shelters in Lucknow. However, he quickly added that these shelters can accommodate only a limited number of people. “In several night shelters, basic facilities like quilts and mattresses are not available. The condition is such that the poor bring their own blanket to night shelters,” said the SP chief.