Urgent Action Required for the Inadequate Conditions in Delhi's Shelter Homes: NHRC Appeals to Chief Secretary
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New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has drawn attention to the dire state of shelter homes in the capital and the substandard conditions prevailing within them, urging the city administration to take prompt action to rectify the situation.
In a correspondence addressed to Delhi Chief Secretary, NHRC member Priyanka Kanoongo emphasized the inhumane conditions discovered by an NHRC team during recent inspections. The letter calls for the administration to ensure that residents of these facilities are afforded the right to live with basic dignity.
Kanoongo's letter pointed out serious issues such as poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene, a lack of essential amenities, and overcrowded shelters with an insufficient number of bathrooms and toilets. Within the three-page document, he detailed the alarming conditions at three prominent shelter homes in the city: Roshanara Road (Sabzi Mandi) managed by Jyoti Sewa Sansathan, and two facilities at Urdu Park and near Jama Masjid, both operated by Sofia Society.
“The conditions at these shelters are profoundly troubling and necessitate immediate intervention,” he stated.
“At the Roshanara Road shelter home, there are only 3 bathrooms and 4 toilets available for 40 inmates. The facility at Urdu Park has merely three operational washrooms, contributing to unhygienic conditions. Furthermore, there is a severe lack of blankets for the residents, and the premises are infested with rats, posing safety and hygiene risks, especially for women and children,” he noted in his letter.
“In Shelter Home II at Jama Masjid, the facility provides 3 bathrooms and 8 operational toilets for 250 inmates,” he added.
“The conditions in these shelters fall significantly below acceptable standards and are inflicting substantial distress on the residents, who represent some of the most vulnerable groups in society,” he remarked.
NHRC member Priyanka Kanoongo has also requested an Action Taken Report on this matter within a week.
Additionally, just a day prior, the NHRC reached out to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) CEO, raising concerns over alleged encroachments in the Urdu Park vicinity near Jama Masjid and demanding strict actions against violators.
