Telangana Govt firm on decent living by homeless

Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar at a review meeting regarding shelter of homeless, held on May 28, asked officials to complete the enumeration of urban homeless people in their respective local bodies by the June 10 to provide them birth certificates, Aadhar cards, pensions and bank accounts as well by June 30 of this year.

The civic officials have to ensure that none of the shelterless people are deprived basic facilities, Arvind Kumar had said and asked them to ensure that medical check-up was regularly conducted for the urban homeless. "The Municipal Commissioners should visit the centers regularly and take pride in taking care of all the homeless," Kumar insisted. Speaking to The Hans India, Vijaya Lakshmi, the Project Officer in Urban Community Development (UCD) wing, said the Principal Secretary had called for 100% capturing of data of homeless in all the circles of GHMC, and also shifting the identified homeless to nearby shelters.

Additional Commissioner will constitute teams to enumerate and complete the process by June 10 and information would be furnished in a proforma as finalised, capturing details of issuances of entitlements such as Aadhaar cards, EPIC cards, ration cards, birth certificate, pensions, opening of Jan Dhan and other bank accounts, skills training, social security insurance. Officials have been tasked with conducting enumeration of homeless by visiting locations like bus stations, railway stations, religious places etc.

The government is firm that no destitute or shelter less remains without shelter by June-end. All the homeless should be provided medical assistance wherever necessary. "Let this be the resolution for the 5th year of formation of Telangana State. Also mobilise the homeless for Kantivelugu camps, based on requirement," the top official thus issued a diktat to municipal commissioners.

Philanthropists and NGOs are to be identified to get donations like clothes, recreational materials, blankets, food, medicines etc for the shelters. Officials were also asked to explore the possibility of tying up with Aksaya Patra for sponsoring food to the shelter less. Aravind Kumar plans that all the ULBs including GHMC shall ensure nobody remains shelter less in respective ULBs by providing a dignified life of living to the most deserving of all cases.