Need to spread awareness among homeless

  • | Wednesday | 13th January, 2021

Notably it is the only night shelter of the city where folding beds are available for the visitors. The sanitary conditions at the night shelter of Ghoda Colony were looking better than other three night shelters of the MC Ludhiana. Issues needing attentionLike other nights shelters there is no provision of washing or cleaning of used blankets and bedding covers at Ghoda Colony night shelter. A city resident Jagjeet Singh said “The MC should create awareness among the homeless persons about the night shelter. Superintending Engineer (B&R) at MC's Zone B Parveen Singla said they make all efforts to bring the homeless persons to the night shelter.

Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana January 11 The night shelter of the Municipal Corporation (MC) at Ghoda Colony near Cheema Chowk generally remains about 75 per cent vacant these days. Meanwhile many homeless can be seen sleeping on roadsides or under the flyovers in the city. In the absence of direction boards or wayfinding signage it is difficult to find the location of this night shelter that was constructed around four years ago. A number of homeless persons in areas like Samrala Chowk Industrial areas and others are not aware about the location of this night shelter that falls under the MCs Zone B. Amid the cold wave just 20-30 persons visit this shelter these days. The officials claimed that there was arrangement for 130 persons in two big halls of the night shelter. Notably it is the only night shelter of the city where folding beds are available for the visitors. These beds have been placed by maintaining social distance for the prevention of Covid-19. At other three night shelters beddings are placed on floor. The sanitary conditions at the night shelter of Ghoda Colony were looking better than other three night shelters of the MC Ludhiana. Issues needing attention Like other nights shelters there is no provision of washing or cleaning of used blankets and bedding covers at Ghoda Colony night shelter. There is also no provision of food or tea for needy persons. A water purifier for drinking water is required to be installed at the shelter. A city resident Jagjeet Singh said “The MC should create awareness among the homeless persons about the night shelter. It must install signboards to indicate the direction to the night shelter from Cheema Chowk Transport Nagar side Samrala Chowk and nearby areas. Moreover the street vendors shopkeepers as well as residents of nearby areas should also be made aware about the night shelter facility so that these persons can further share information with homeless persons. If provision of food is made available I think more homeless persons can be motivated to stay at the night shelter during winter season.” Councillor from ward No. 20 Navneet Singh said “I will raise the demand for the installation of direction boards at different locations like Cheema Chowk and other areas to indicate the way leading to the night shelter. However many residents of Ghoda Colony are aware about the night shelter.” For the prevention of coronavirus masks and sanitisers were earlier unavailable at the night shelter. But an official said that these had been made available two days ago. MC SDO Arvind Aggarwal said there were two halls one each for men and women. Superintending Engineer (B&R) at MCs Zone B Parveen Singla said they make all efforts to bring the homeless persons to the night shelter. On job say civic body officials MC SDO Arvind Aggarwal said a city bus had been deployed to bring the homeless from different locations. We motivate the homeless to visit the night shelter. Potable water is supplied at the shelter. We had earlier got the blankets washed. Superintending Engineer Parveen Singla said they would also take measures to display direction boards regarding the night shelter.

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