Meerut: Despite the dip in temperature , none of the 12 shelter homes in Meerut have opened their doors to the homeless. The homes are yet to receive an electricity connection, mattresses or blankets. Municipal authorities say that even though instructions have been issued to put things in place, the execution on ground remains poor.Shelter homes are opened every winter for the poor and homeless. However, most of them are in a shambles and all of them are still locked.Gajendra Chauhan, Meerut municipal health officer, said, “The temperatures have dipped quite recently and it takes time for the arrangements at the shelter homes to be completed. We have given instructions to the officials concerned to see to it that the shelter homes are cleaned. Mattresses, clean drinking water and quilts will also be provided.”Authorities said that instructions to make appropriate arrangements were issued about a week ago, but they are yet to be implemented. Right now, the shelter homes paint a sorry picture with faulty lights, water scarcity, torn mattresses and damaged beds.A homeless person, Gita Kumari, said, “I have young kids but there is no place for us to sleep except on the roads and footpaths. My children will survive the cold only if they open the shelter homes”“We look forward to spending nights at the shelter homes as they keep us warm. However, they are still closed. We have no place to go, so we sleep in the open on a footpath, after lighting a bonfire,” said Mohd Hamid, 62.

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