Mumbai :Today “Beghar Majdur Ekta Sanghatana” walked from Hutatma chawk to Azad Maidan demanding the Homeless shelters before Monsoon in Mumbai. Beghar Majdur Ekta Sabghatana is Mumbai based organization of Homeless Citizen. The organization is built by the Homeless citizens for Homeless citizens for securing the basic rights and entitlements.
As you all are aware that Supreme Court has directed to all the state and local self government to open shelters for homeless in the cities having population above 5 lakh. For legitimizing this central government has come up with the scheme of shelter for urban homeless under the National Urban Livelihood mission which was launched in the year 2013. As per census 2011 in Mumbai 57416 citizens are homeless and staying without roof. In spite of this fact MCGM is running only 7 homeless shelters in Mumbai which are only catering children and youth. Maharashtra State government has provided Rs. 69 cores to MCGM under the NULM( National Urban Livelihood Mission) still MCGM has not open the shelters for homeless men, women, and for the children staying with families.
We homeless are facing the sordid summer on street and in coming days we are going to face the harsh monsoon. As you are aware, our children, women and elder people are dealing with the several problems when they are on street. In monsoon the problems will get worse and we will face difficulty to get the place to stay, sleep, to cook food and our children will not be able to do the study.
Today we met at Azad maidan and discussed about the issues of homeless citizens concerning the right to life. We have submitted their demands to Additional municipal commissioner Mr.Sanjay Deshmukh.
Our demand is:
1) MCGM should urgently provide the shelters for Women, Children and Elderly people for their protection.
2) MCGM should build 24 hours 7 days running homeless shelters in Mumbai.
3) MCGM should urgently provide temporary shelters to homeless before monsoon
4) MCGM should not evict us in the Monsoon.
5) MCGM to use the 69 cores given by Maharashtra government under National urban Livelihood mission (Scheme of Shelter for Urban Homeless).
Mr. Deshmukh has given assurance that MCGM will provide with the night shelters to homeless. He has also promised that he will discuss the issue of providing shelters in monsoon to the homeless with Municipal Commissioner and will try to organize a meeting with him.
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