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Neki ki Deewars: Homeless shiver in biting cold as LMC yet to set up spots for people to donate clothes
During LMC meeting, it was also agreed upon that citizens would donate blankets at nearest shelter homes rather than giving it to the homeless directly so as to ensure more efficient distribution.
LUCKNOW In December last year, the authorities of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) vowed to set up ‘Neki ki Deewars’ outside all eight Nagar Nigam zonal offices in the city. At these spots, people could donate woollens that would then be distributed by officials to those in need. However, the novel initiative is yet to be implemented fully despite temperatures taking a nosedive.
“At present, the city has three already established ‘Neki ki Deewar’ spots -- including the one outside the zone 1 Nagar Nigam office. People can drop off clothes and blankets at these spots. We are in the process of setting up seven or eight more ‘Neki ki Deewar’ spots,” municipal commissioner Inderjit Singh had said following the December meeting.
During this LMC meeting, it was also agreed upon that citizens would donate blankets at nearest shelter homes rather than giving it to the homeless directly so as to ensure more efficient distribution. However, the donations received by the administration so far are not enough to meet the needs of the hundreds of homeless people in the city.
“We have counted approximately 200 blankets and perhaps a little over 100 sweaters that are actually usable. These clothes were distributed to a few shelter homes around the Charbagh area,” said Balveer Singh Maan of Ummeed Foundation. He added, “The donations made are far lesser than what is needed to cover all homeless people. The public needs to be more sensitised so that they know where and how to donate and are also motivated to help the less privileged in the city.”
“Unfortunately, the Neki ki Deewar outside the zone 1 office is less of a donation spot and more of a dumping area. People discard old clothes that cannot be given to the destitute to wear,” said Maan. He said this could even be a possible reason for the LMC to not set up more such facilities as there is no way to monitor the quality and condition of the cloth when it is donated.
In comparison, the ‘langar’ services (community kitchen) being run through donations is going rather smoothly.
Islamic Centre comes forward to help
LUCKNOW To help the homeless and the destitute, the Islamic Centre of India in Lucknow is running two charity establishments -- Adam’s Kitchen and Adam’s Mall (shop) -- in the state capital. According to Maulana Khalid Rasheed of Islamic Centre of India, “People donate old clothes that are in good condition here at Adam’s Mall, which are then dry cleaned by us and hung up at the shop. This facility is open for the needy to come in and pick up clothes that fit their measurements, so that they can protect themselves from the severe cold.”
