Life of Pavement Dwellers

SARTHAK KAURA

Street-dwellers are among the most deprived people in urban areas, in terms of living conditions, access to basic facilities, and health indicators.

Thousands of homeless, destitute street dwellers live day after day on the sidewalks and pavements of Delhi.

Regardless of the reasons for people living on the street, street-dwelling can create specific problems, such as crime, and other antisocial activities, including prostitution, begging and drug abuse.

Literacy level of the pavement dwellers shows a grim picture. Out of total respondents more than two third were illiterate.

One needs to take this low level literacy seriously because without bringing these groups of population within the purview of literacy program government will not be able to achieve the universal literacy in the country.

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As we take a walk at 10 pm in Delhi, a few pavement-dwellers are still awake. The cold and an empty stomach keep them awake.

The winter in Delhi has been harsher this year; temperatures have plummeted to 1 degree Celsius in the night.

According to government figures, 138 people have died so far in this year's cold wave.

According to a local NGO, 22 people die every night in the bitter cold. The truth probably lies somewhere between these two numbers.

The basic problem of homelessness is the human need for personal shelter, warmth and safety, which can be literally vital. Other basic difficulties include:

personal security, quiet, and privacy, especially for sleepingsafekeeping of bedding, clothing and possessions, which may have to be carried at all timeshygiene and shaving facilitiescleaning and drying clothesobtaining, preparing and storing food in small quantitieskeeping contacts, without a permanent location or mailing addressHostility and legal powers against urban vagrancy.

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They are often faced with many social disadvantages also, reduced access to private and public services and reduced access to vital necessities:

Reduced access to health care and dental services.Limited access to education.Increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse.General rejection or discrimination from other people.Loss of usual relationships with the mainstreamNot being seen as suitable for employment.Reduced access to banking servicesReduced access to communications technology

Immediately improve temporary shelters to make them habitable, including providing electricity, fans, drinking water, toilets, healthcare, and mosquito repellents. 

Securing the basic human rights of under privileged communities in the future urban development for alternative housing of low-income groups is very important in these regions. The local government is aware of the need to give this vulnerable community a shelter, especially during the winters. Keeping this in mind, staying shelters for immigrants have been implemented by the Municipal Cooperation of Delhi.