SHAHRI ADHIKAR MANCH:

BEGHARON KE LIYE

Homelessness is both a result of inadequate state policies and response. Burgeoning property and housing prices, land speculation, the lack of affordable and public housing options in cities and towns, lack of livelihood options in rural areas, and demolitions and displacement without adequate resettlement forces many men, women, children and entire families to live on the streets. While there is no official government data on homelessness in India, the number of homeless people is on the rise.

A homeless person is considered to be someone who is not living in a “census house” and found living in adverse locations and precarious conditions such as on the roadside, pavements, drainage pipes, under staircases, in temples, and on railway platforms. Of particular concern are the threats faced by homeless women and children. The homeless population also consists of the destitute, handicapped, persons with disabilities, older persons, persons with mental illness, as well as workers of the unorganized sector. The majority of the homeless are employed and contribute to the city’s economy but are denied the basic rights of city dwellers.

While being denied a range of human rights, the most severe violations the homeless face are related to the human rights of:

• Adequate housing
• Food
• Health
• Work and livelihood

One of the greatest issues that homeless people struggle with is that of legal identity, as identity is integrally linked to place of residence and determines eligibility for a number of other benefits such as ration cards, voter identification cards and access to ICDS centres.

ORIGIN

The last few years have witnessed several initiatives and efforts towards realizing the rights of Delhi’s homeless. Recently, a need was however perceived for a stronger and larger coalition consisting of groups and movements of the homeless to deal with the severity of the homelessness crisis in Delhi.

The Indo-global Social Service Society (IGSSS) recently completed a survey in which it found that the number of homeless people in Delhi has increased more than 60% since the last study conducted in 2000 by Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan (AAA). The study also revealed that the condition of homeless people has remained the same and there has not been any improvement in their lives. All government plans and programmes for the urban poor are limited to slum dwellers while the homeless are left to fend for themselves, against all odds.

Even the number of temporary shelters for the winter months has remained static over the period, and the condition of the aged, women, handicapped and children has worsened. A large numbers of families have been rendered homeless due to displacement and demolitions and are living out in the open. While government response has been inadequate, the number of non-government organizations working with the homeless is also insufficient.

Several organizations thus came together in September 2008 and agreed on the need to work collaboratively on the issue of homelessness as the problems are multi-dimensional. These discussions led to the creation of SHAHRI ADHIKAR MANCH: BEGHARON KE LIYE (Urban Rights Forum: For the Homeless). The main purpose of this Manch is to develop a platform to work with and for the homeless people and ultimately to enable them to lead their own movement and advocate for their own rights.

Shahri Adhikar Manch has been created in a spirit of participation and inclusion to strengthen the movement of the homeless in their struggle for their own rights and to address the structural causes of homelessness. Over 30 organizations and individuals have resolved to work together, in whatever capacity they can, to tackle the homelessness crisis in Delhi. The Manch invites interested and concerned organizations and individuals committed to the issue to join and help build the movement.

For more information, please contact:

Shahri Adhikar Manch

c/o Indo-Global Social Service Society

28, Lodhi Institutional Area, New Delhi

Phone: 91-11-24692192, 91-11-24692193

Email: shahriadhikarmanch@gmail.com