Question : Shelter Homes

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether there has been delay and denial of shelter homes to the urban homeless in the country and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(b) whether only 789 shelters out of the total 1331 shelters for urban homeless are functional and if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of shelter homes constructed by the Government from 2014 to 2018, city-wise;

(d) the initiatives taken by the Government to ensure access to basic services specifically for the urban homeless;

(e) whether there is any special provision for special shelters to marginal categories of homeless people like children, people with mental illness and drug-addiction; and

(f) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS

[SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI]

(a) to (f): It is the primary responsibility of Governments of the States/Union Territories to provide shelter for the urban homeless. In order to complement and supplement the efforts of States/ UTs in this regard, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs is administering a scheme ‘Shelter for Urban Homeless’ (SUH) as one of the components of
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), through respective States/UTs. The guidelines of SUH prescribe that systematic surveys would be undertaken in cities/towns by the local/municipal bodies so as to assess accurately the need for shelters at suitable locations.

As per the information received from the States/UTs, as on 06.12.2018, a total of 1776 shelters for urban homeless have been sanctioned by 25 states/UTs under DAY-NULM. Out of these, 1076shelters are operational and remaining are under construction /refurbishment. The city-wise details of sheltersoperational under DAY-NULM are at Annexure-I.

The initiatives taken by The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs include amendment of guidelines to enable taking buildings on rent for shelters, as an interim arrangement, uploading of information of shelters in DAY-NULM portal in public domain, directing the State/UT Governments to conduct third party systematic survey to identify urban homeless, and to keep the funds for SUH in a separate head of account by the States/UTs.

The operational guidelines of SUH providethat States/ULBs may establish special Shelters for certain segments of homeless persons viz. old persons without care, mentally or physically challenged, recovering patients and their families, and attendants of the patients admitted in hospitals etc.

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