Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the research team was able to recommend the following course of action for different stakeholders. What the Government and Local Bodies can do: Activate the Joint Apex Committee and co-opt more members from NGOs as well as from the Government. Giving it more powers will help provide better facilities and services for the homeless and street children. Increase the number of 24-hourshelters. There are many government buildings that have been lying vacant for years; the same can be converted into shelters. Where such buildings are not 22 Indo-Global Social Service Society available, government should construct new shelters. Create24 *7*365 shelters for families, women and children on priority basis. These can be on the similar lines of the NDMC on R. K. Ashram Marg, which was converted as shelter for the migrants from Kashmir. Explore the Private-Public Partnership model while building shelters; local businesses benefit from the presence of homeless people so they have a stake in the welfare of their workforce. Construct more pay-and-use toilets especially in zones, which have high concentrations of the homeless. Effectively manage existing night shelters. Convert the night shelters from 12 hours to 24 hours; AAA is already doing this. IGSSS shelters are also open 24 hours, throughout the year. Provide more avenues for relaxation at these shelters; indoor games, newspaper, counselling, medical support and vocational training can be provided in-house. Issue Voter Identity cards and ration cards as soon as possible. Implement relevant government schemes: Stri Shakti camps, pension for the aged, etc. Start a mobile health service for the homeless in the evenings and ensure that it reaches the high concentration zones. Scrap anti-poor laws such as the Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act, 1959. Give the homeless tehbazaari rights and space in DDA market complexes for setting up shops. Holistically address the economic/livelihood issues of the homeless. Formulate effective policies for the homeless and thereafter implement it in a time bound fashion.

 Effectively and sincerely implement the schemes for the homeless, which have been made available by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. Involve NGOs and important locals in the management of shelters. Conduct more studies on different aspects of homelessness and do a headcount every five years to know the exact status of the homeless people. This data should constantly feed support mechanisms created for them. Adhere to the criteria of 1 shelter per 1 lakh population (100,000) as laid out in clause 4.3 of Master Plan for Delhi 2021. These shelters should be open 24 hours, 365 days, throughout the year. Accept homelessness as the serious issue that it is and take corrective and humanistic steps to address the same. Indo-Global Social Service Society 23

What the NGOs can do:

More NGOs need to take up this issue. NGOs working on health, drugs and womens issues need to work on the issues of the homeless because of their interlinks. NGOs can partner with the government in providing services to the homeless. They can develop a comprehensive advocacy strategy, aimed at all levels of the government, to address this issue. Sensitisation workshops need to be conducted for government departments (police included) and civil society to change their attitude towards homeless people. A common platform can be developed where different NGOs interested in working on homelessness can come together and make a time bound program. Piecemeal efforts will have no impacts. It needs to be targeted for the whole city. The program should be participatory where the homeless people are equal partners and take up the responsibility of ensuring that the efforts coming in remain consistent and that resources are shared equally. NGOs should pressurise the government for provision of basic services and stopping the harassment of the homeless people as well as scrapping of the anti poor laws. More training programs and awareness drives about the rights of the homeless, preventive health care and vocational training can be done in the existing shelters for homeless citizens. Efforts to be made for organizing the homeless and helping them form unions and Self Help Groups.

 NGOs can take financial support from Central Government Schemes meant for homeless people. To develop Corporate-Government and NGO partnership as without the presence of homeless even the business houses will suffer. Involving more and more stakeholders in this issue like academics, students, lawyers, doctors, etc. who can take up the issue at various forums. More micro level studies need to be done to highlight each and every issue pertaining to the homeless community. NGOs can come forward and take up the management of shelters and provide other services like, medical, training, awareness, vocational training, etc. in the shelters to the homeless. 24 Indo-Global Social Service Society

What the Civil Society can do:

Civil society needs to be more sensitive toward homeless people. It needs to empathise with the homeless; the tendency to accord them disrespect, consider them anti-social and keep complaining to the police about them needs to go. Market associations can give identity cards to the homeless people working on a regular basis in their markets and perhaps help set up shelters for them. The homeless are an exploited lot and have little leeway of redress. Supporting the homeless people when they are being cheated and speaking up against police harassment can help. Religious institutions and schools can open their premises for the homeless people to sleep there. The civil society needs to be involved in the management of the shelters.