News hook: Maha Panchayat (Mega assembly) of Delhi homeless on 24 February 2008, 8:30 am – 12 noon, Urdu Park near Jama Masjid

Includes cultural program with theatre and music by homeless children, youth and professional artists

Winter is over but shelter needs still critical, say campaigners

22 February, New Delhi: As over 5000 homeless from across Delhi gather for an annual Maha Panchayat they are seeking answers from government officials as to why there are no lasting provision for thousands living without shelter.

“Every year we come together to celebrate government and NGO initiative to provide shelter for homeless in the city. These efforts are very vital but it is not enough,” shares Deendayal, 26, who lives in shelter run by Ashraya Adhikar Abhiyan.

“As winter ends many shelters close down, giving us no options but to go back to living on pavements, in parks and under flyovers,” he adds.

Over 150,000 homeless people are exposed to great risks and harsh conditions on the streets. Heat, cold and rains only add to those. Existing shelter cater to less than 5% of the homeless in the city.

“The gaps in shelter provisions are glaring. It is high time that government comes out with consistent policy remedies. One of the biggest blows has been closing of the only year round shelter for women in the capital,” shares Paramjeet Kaur of Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan (a campaign by ActionAid) which has helped organise the Maha Panchayat since 2003.

“There is an urgent need to increase shelters for men, women and children in the city”, adds Kaur.

Slum evictions under JNNURM and Delhi Master Plan are adding to the numbers of homeless. Preparations for 2010 Commonwealth Games will also involve major displacement.

“Evicted families are either left on the streets or relocated to sites as far as 40 km from their work. To retain their jobs in the city they join the ranks of Delhi’s homeless,” says Indu Prakash Singh of ActionAid.

Government raised Rs.105.71 billion for the first phase of the Delhi Metro, over Rs.10 billion for the high capacity bus corridor, and over Rs.52 billion for the 2010 Commonwealth Games as well as  provision of land for stadiums and other constructions.

“Why can't the authorities allocate a fraction of these resources to find space for public housing and shelters for the homeless who are making immense contribution to the city’s development through their labour,” asks Kaur.

Government officials have been invited to attend the Maha Panchayat where homeless people will share the daily struggles of living on the streets and draw up priroty areas for government action.

Homeless groups are calling for:

• reservation of land and earmarking funds for housing for all low-income groups
• halting slum demolitions and forced evictions in the city
• providing legal security of tenure to all slum dwellers
• ensuring participation of the homeless in drawing up of all city development plans

ENDS.

Notes to editor:

Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan(AAA) is a shelter rights campaign initiated by ActionAid in the year 2000. As well as working improve government policies, AAA runs shelter, provides mobile health services and legal aid and mobilises homeless groups including children, senior citizens and those with chemical dependendency. AAA interventions reach over 80% of Delhi’s homeless.

According to a headcount survey conducted by Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan  in January 2007, there are 7000 homeless women in Delhi and over 150,000 without shelter in the national capital.

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together. In India ActionAid works with communities in 24 states and two Union Territories.