Sheltering lives, nurturing hope

The initiative taken up by the GHMC of housing the homeless and the destitute in night shelters was received with much criticism from both the civic body’s standing committee and residents’ associations across the city.

But, this criticism has not managed to scathe the establishment of many night shelters in the city. One of the night shelters near Bible House, RP Road, which is run by an NGO- Aman Vedika Ashram, is home to 45-50 working individuals. The shelter is cleaned, managed and looked after by the inmates itself. “Most of the men who live here are daily wage workers, painters, caterers or waiters.

They work mostly in function halls. For many, their jobs are completely seasonal. If it is the wedding season, they have employment. Else it is a dry-spell for them. In the shelter they are provided with a mattress, blanket and a pillow along with communal bathroom facilities, drinking water and electricity. “We also serve dinner for those who opt for it. For dinner they have to pay Rs 15 before 8pm,” said Ramanujam, caretaker of the shelter.

The piping hot meal served to the inmates is a full-veg thali, which is cooked within the shelter. The caretaker further added, “We also provide the inmates counselling sessions and employment opportunities. We do not encourage any person to reside in the shelter for more than a year. If they get used to this attitude, it will only make them lazy. Only after they are employed, have a steady source of income and a place to stay, they move out of the house. Most of the people here migrated to the city from villages, in search of occupation.” One of the inmates said, “When I came here, I was lost.

I used to sleep at Patny circle. After my fellow wayward told me about this house, I moved in here. Now I work as a waiter for a catering company. Seven months of the year, I am employed. But the remainder of the year when the wedding season is off, I look for odd-jobs.”