New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Friday issued a notice to the Delhi government for failing to provide adequate shelter to about 1.5 lakh homeless people surviving on city’s roads in the winter chill.
Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report, the NHRC has sought a report from the chief secretary of the Delhi government within four weeks.
“About 1.5 lakh destitute people are spending life on Delhi’s footpaths and over-bridges. As per government orders, shelter homes in metro cities must get operational when the temperature drops below the season’s average, but the shelter homes in Delhi are still lying unattended,” said the commission.
“The issue raises concerns as it may cause loss of lives,” it added.
According to NHRC, Delhi has only 175 shelter homes and even these do not have proper infrastructure and sanitation facilities.