Jaipur: Homeless freeze in the cold

A survey released by the People\\\’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), which voluntarily monitors the condition of night shelters, claims that 40% of these shelters have improper bedding facility. Also, many poor are still spending night in the open due to sufficient shelters.

Date of Survey- December 30, 2012 and January 1, 2013.

Time – 8:00 pm- 1:00 pm

A rapid assessment of the night shelters of the Jaipur City was done on 30thDecember 2012 and 1st January 2013 by the various teams of 18 students interning at People’s union for Civil Liberties. The survey was focused on the night shelters that were recorded in the previous years to be existing in the city. The reports were taken in tabular form and in the questionnaire, formulated on the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

This survey recorded the presence and conditions of the pre- existing Shelters, the homeless residing outside the shelters and the homeless waiting for the shelters to be constructed either in form of concrete based structures or in the form of tents.

The data was recorded after the observation by the students, interaction with the guards, the residents and the homeless and destitute staying outside the shelters. The survey done this time showed no better situation around.

Some of the major issues that emerged through the spot study are as follows:

Unhygienic surroundings! Poor sanitation! Unsafe drinking water! environment full of hazard! and the list is endless.

Some of the critical issues that emerged through the teams’ observations are as follows:

The women were not provided with safe and separate shelters, which is why the team could find very few women coming to the night shelter to stay.

There is great lack of publicity by the authorities resulting into lack of awareness about the existence of the shelters meant for homeless.

In several places there was no trace of night shelters as yet. The team interacted with the local people and they had no idea of the night shelter at that place. Even in places where there were night shelters, its residents were not given proper water and sanitation facilities.The food was also not in good condition for the residents.

Problem of access has also been found in several night shelters. It was very difficult for people to find these shelters and many did not know about the existence of the night shelter in the area. This is the reason that many people were forced to sleep on the roads, railway platforms and in many unhygienic places.

Type: It is of permanent type. The rooms are cleaned on the regular basis.

Access: It is accessible and approachable to the needy.

It is near S.M.S hospital and Bangar hospital, which are one of the populated areas of the city.

Space for women: There is a separate room available for women.

Sanitation: The bathrooms & toilets are not separate for men and women. Sanitation facility is available inside the night shelter. The facility of electricity & water (by the medium of tap) is provided in there. Bathrooms are separate from the toilets. Water facility was not at the running stage when we arrived at the night shelter on 01 Jan, 2013 but we were told that the water is not available since two days only. It was followed by the situation that the people in the ‘rain basera’ had to use the ‘sulabh complex’ sanitation facility which was chargeable at Rs. 5/- and Rs. 10/-.

Food Facilities:Food is provided once in a day (in the evening at around 8 pm) which was free of cost. The quality & quantity of food is good and sufficient, as per the people living in the ‘rain basera’. In the food, dal, sabji, 5 chapattis and pickle is provided on a regular basis, which according to me is sufficient as per the reasonable man.

Electricity:The tube-lights were well lit up. The quantity of tube-lights & bulbs are proper and sufficient.

Bedding facility:They are sufficient in number but the quality is not so proper. When we visited the place, we saw that the mattresses are torn and not much tidy. The quilts were also of the similar condition.

View of visitors: They were sufficed with the facilities provided to them. But demanded for the cleanliness of the rooms and washrooms on a regular basis, which could be said as appropriate by a reasonable man.

Our view about the shelter: The environment at the place is clean and hygienic to the extent but not much. It could be considered just a living environment for the people in the shelter. Food quality is good but could be made better. The night shelter might be a better stay as to other night shelters, as per the present scenario in the night shelters but this cannot be considered as the best, one could get. As per the reasonable man, the condition could be made much proper compared to the present one.

Type: permanent

Access:  easily accessible

Space for women: there was separate bedding facility for women in the shelter

Sanitation: proper facility provided to the residents, proper toilets facility and water facility.

Food Facilities:  food was given once in a day in the evening.

Electricity:  there were tube lights and mobile charging facility which was in good condition.

Bedding facility: there was proper bedding facility and number of mattresses and blankets was adequate.

Personnel Observation: the people who lived in a shelter are fully satisfied for the facility which is provided to them like proper water facility, proper sanitation.

Our view about the shelter: Shelter was permanent and it was good in condition, all the facilities were given to the residents. Cleanliness was there. Health checkup is done by once in a week.

Type: Tent

Access: easily accessible.

Space for women: no provision for the women in the shelter

Sanitation: unhygienic condition.

Food Facilities: proper food facility to the residents once in a day, usually in the evening.

Electricity: electricity was provided to them but was not adequate to fulfill the requirements of the inhabitants.

Bedding facility:  good facility of bedding. Ratio of bed sheets and quilts were equal.

Personnel Observation; there was severe lack of facilities. Health checkups were not done.

Our view about the shelter: bathrooms were not clean. Cleanliness was not there. Health checkup was not provided to the residents of the shelter.

Type: It is of tent type. The cleanliness is not well maintained in the tent. Tent is available for men and there is a room available for women, inside which women were not present and a motor-bike was parked in it.

Access: It is easily accessible to the needy people and could be easily located.

Space for Women: Yes, the rooms are available for women but no woman comes there.

Sanitation: There is no facility for sanitation provided and no water facility was available at the place. Neither the drinking water was available, nor was the water for bathing there.

Food facilities: The food was average quality but in appropriate quantity. In the food, dal, sabji, 5 chapattis and pickle is provided on a regular basis, which according to me is sufficient as per the reasonable man.

Electricity: There were two tube lights present in the tent which would suffice the need of the people in there.

Bedding facilities: The bed facility was bad. Mattresses and quilts were torn up.

View of visitors: Toilets, bathrooms and running water facility could be provided for the people in there. Presently, people need to go outside the shelter for using any water facility such as toilet, washroom and drinking water which is chargeable. They asked for the broken and falling gate to be fixed at the earliest, as any person could be damaged severely if gate falls on him/her. Bed sheets are not adequate. The tanker must be provided as the water source and water must be changed on a regular basis. The first aid box must be made available.

Our view about the shelters: Living condition at the place is not so well maintained which might be due to the temporary tent form of night shelter. The food is good but not the best. The interaction with the people was positive. Things could be better if suggestions provided by the living in people could be made available at the earliest.

Type: Tent

Water facilities:Source of availability of drinking water is through tankers. Water is contaminated, therefore unfit for drinking.

Sanitation: Sanitation facilities were available but were at a distance of 100-200m.

Food Facilities:The food was free but was found to be not sufficient enough as it was provided once in a day.

Electricity Facilities:Electricity supply was found to be sufficient and proper but there were no ports available for charging mobile.

Bedding facility:No proper and sufficient bedding available. The condition is not so good.

Security Facilities:Security facilities were not available for the residents.

Personnel Observation:According to the residents there is a problem of drinking water, toilets, bathrooms and the quality and the quantity of the food. According to the guard there is a problem of mobile charging ports. Doctors do not come daily but the guard has medicines for the residents for usual sickness.

Our view about the shelter:Drinkers are not allowed to enter inside the shelter.

Everything was found to be good and proper except the points mentioned above.

Type: Temporary

Access:  Easily accessible.

Space for women: There was a separate space for women.

Sanitation:  Toilet facility was not there, the inhabitants used the public toilet  which was quite far from the shelter.

Food facility:   The quantity of food was not adequate and the quality was  poor as well. The food was given only once in the evening.

Electricity:  There was no provision for facilities like sockets for charging the mobiles or boiling water.

Bedding facility:   There were 70 mattresses and 70 blankets which were in good proportion to the number of people.

Our view about the shelter:  At the time of survey, 32 men and 2 females were there at the shelter. Water was provided by the nagarnigam which is about 5m from the night shelter. There was no bathroom as well. Health examination was done at this centre but the doctors were not qualified. There was no provision for the rehabilitation of the drunkards. Medicine was not present in proper amount.  There was no facility for lockers.  Cleanliness was satisfactory.

Type: Temporary

Access:  Easily accessible.

Space for women:   not provided.

Sanitation:  Toilet and bathroom facility were not there, the inhabitants used the public toilet.

Food facility:   The quantity of food was not adequate and the quality was poor as well. The food was given only once in the evening.

Electricity:  not adequate.

Bedding facility:   There were 50 mattresses and 50 blankets which were in good proportion to the number of people but the condition was unhygienic.

Our view about the shelter:   There was no rehab facility. The conditions were unhygienic and cleanliness was not maintained.

Type:    temporary tent.

Access:  The night shelter was temporary in nature but was not put up on the night of survey.

The survey team searched the whole area of laalkothi for about one and a half hours but was not      able to find the shelter.

Our view about the shelter: When enquired, it came to the knowledge of the survey team that   most of the people in the neighboring areas were not aware about the shelter and some said that this night shelter was irregular.

The team went to the area in search of the shelter but could not find it.

After the interaction with the people living nearby the rain basera for about one hour, we came to know that no rain basera exists at the designated place.Some people had a notion that the rain basera exists somewhere nearby the community center. Our survey team consisting of five members did not found any rain basera nearby the community center. The people nearby this place have a notion that no rain basera is provided by the state government here and if any person needs to go to any rain basera, then he needs to go to the city to find one. After seeing and analyzing this place, we came to the conclusion that the people have no clue about the existence of rain baseras provided by the state government. This might be due to the lack of sources of information to the citizens of the state.

Type: Permanent.

Water facilities:The information is not available as the shelter was closed.

Sanitation:Sanitation facilities were available but in a very unhygienic condition.

Food Facilities:The information is not available as the shelter was closed.

Electricity Facilities:The information is not available as the shelter was closed.

Bedding facility:The information is not available as the shelter was closed.

Security Facilities:The information is not available as the shelter was closed.

Personnel Observation: People are not aware about the existence of the shelter. Although there is a guard but he visits just for 1-2 hours just to lock the gates. No one lives there.

Our view about the shelter:According to the people residing nearby to the shelter, no one lives there.  The sanitation facilities are very pathetic and disgusting.

The team went to the area in search of the shelter at 23:30 hours but could not find it.

Type: Tent.

Water facilities:Source of availability of drinking water is by way of tankers. Water is not sufficient for the residents.

Sanitation:There were no toilets available, Sanitation facilities were very bad.

Food Facilities:The food was found to be sufficient.

Electricity Facilities: There was no Electricity supply.

Health Facilities:Health facilities are available but medicines are not available. The authorities do not know about the medicines.

Bedding facility:No proper and sufficient bedding available but the beddings were clean.

Security Facilities:Security facilities are not available for the residents.

Personnel Observation:According to the residents, sanitation and bathing problems are very severe but as per to the workers, all the facilities are available.

Our view about the shelter:The shelter is in a good position and is sufficient to accommodate 30 people. The most concerning problem is of sanitation and bathing. The food facilities are good enough.

Type: Tent

Access: This particular shelter started functioning on the night of survey, so many people were unaware of its existence.

Space for women: No separate provision of any kind in the shelter for women.

Sanitation:  Toilet facility was not proper, it was unhygienic in fact.

Food Facilities: Facility of food was there for the residents once in a day (evening)

Electricity: There was facility of electricity but it was not adequate.

Bedding facility:  There was no proper facility of bedding the ratio of bed sheets and quilts were not equal.

Personnel Observation; Behavior of guard was good, lack of water facility. The residents were not satisfied by the food which was provided to them.

Our view about the shelter: It was observed that the facilities that were provided were satisfactory but not good. The there was a common problem of dirty blankets, unsafe drinking water, and poor sanitation.

The team went to the shelter at 20:45 hours and saw that the shelter was locked and no one was seen nearby the shelter.

Type: permanent

Access: easy to access people can easily found that place and reached there.

Space for women: there was no specific space or place for women in the shelter.

Sanitation: the situation was better, and cleaning is done on daily basis

Food Facilities: the facility was provided to the residents in the sufficient amount once in a day in the evening.

Electricity: the facility of the electricity was provided in the shelter there was ten tube-lights, and charging facility was there.

Bedding facility: there was no proper bedding facilities provided to the residents. The ratio of the bed-sheets and quilts was not equal.

Personnel Observation: it was favorable than other shelters.

Our view about the shelter: this night shelter was more favorable than others as locker facility is provided, along with big rooms for accommodation. Even though there were 91 people staying at the shelter, only 76 blankets were available. No hot water facility is provided, also the drinking water was unhygienic.

Type: permanent

Access: Not easily accessible as it is located in the interiors.

Space for women: No separate space for women provided in the shelter.

Sanitation: Sanitation facilities were available and were inside the premises of the shelter. Running tap water is available. Maintenance is required and there are no separate toilet facilities for women.

Food Facilities :Food is not provided to the inhabitants of the shelter.

Electricity: Electricity was available in the shelter.10 tube lights were available, phone charging facility was also provided but there was no facility for hot water.

Bedding facility: No pillows, quilts, mattresses, bed sheets were provided to the inhabitants.

Personnel Observation: Personnel were very satisfied with the conditions and the facilities provided in the shelter.

Our view about the shelter: Although Shelter was in a good condition there were certain facilities such as food, hot water, separate sleeping and toilet facilities for the women should be  provided to the inhabitants.

Type: permanent

Access The shelter is easily accessible to the people staying in the area. Somedescription who does not belong from the same area might find some difficulty.

Space for women: There is a separate room for women.

Sanitation The toilets were well-maintained, easily accessible and well equipped. Water was also available to the people.

Food Facilities The food was insufficient. The quality also needed some improvement.

Electricity Electricity was available to the people and there were enough tubelights.

Bedding facility: There were insufficient bedding facilities in which people had to adjust. They only had 15 beds and 15 blankets.

Personnel Observation: There was no special facility for the disabled to reach the shelter, it being on the first floor. Also, there was no first aid for the people nor did any doctor visit the shelter for regular checkups of the people.

Our view about the shelter: The shelter needs some improvement in cleanliness. Enough quantity of food should also be provided. The guard said he had asked for some more bedding facilities to the nagarnigam, but all in vain.

Type: permanent

Access: not easily accessible.

Space for women: there was no specific space or place for women in the shelter.

Sanitation: no sanitation.

Food Facilities: the facility was provided to the residents in the sufficient amount once in a day in the evening.

Electricity: the facility of the electricity was provided in the shelter there was three tube-lights, and charging facility was there.

Bedding facility: the facilities provided to the residents but were not sufficient. The ratio of the bed-sheets and quilts were sufficient.

Personnel Observation: the shelter more like abandoned place with 2 extremely small rooms. It was not at all properly maintained.

Our view about the shelter: the rooms were in a very bad condition, nodescription could even stay there for some time, let alone a whole night. It was dirty, had not been swiped for a long time it seemed. There were no toilets for the people staying at the shelter. The guard had kept his stock of alcohol in the room.

Type: Tent

Access- Easily accessible.

Space for women: There were no separate rooms available for women

Sanitation: There was no facility of sanitation available for the people

Food Facilities: There was facility available for the people. The quality of food was good but quantity was insufficient.

Electricity:There were 3 tube lights in the shelter, but plug points were not available.

Bedding facility:The bedding facility in the night shelter was inadequate. Sometimes two people had to share bedding, which could not be sufficient even for two people.

Personnel Observation:The night shelter on a whole was in an average condition. The guard kept it clean.

Our view about the shelter: There was no facility of sanitation for the people. In the night shelter medicines were not available. A bigger tent, with more bedding is necessary in the shelter.

Type: Tent

Access:  It was accessible.

Space for women: No separate space for women

Sanitation: Such facility was not available.

Food Facilities: Food was sufficient and of good quality.

Electricity: There were only 2 tube lights which were not sufficient

Bedding facility: There were 15 mattresses.

Personnel Observation: Water was stinking because no one cleans the water drum. Water comes after 2-3 days. There are no lockers provided to the people. So they keep their cloths and belongings under their head as well as carry with themselves. For the sanitary needs they go to the permanent night shelters with receipt given by the guard to them so that they do not have to pay for the services. If they don’t have the receipt they need to pay Rs.10 for their sanitary needs. They only get facility of 1 time food and sleeping facility. They don’t get any facility accept these two. Provision of Medicine was another problem. Some are expired and some are not given in time. There are no facilities for ladies to sleep.

Our view about the shelter: We found that their basic need is water, washroom, food, medicines which they are not getting and if getting it is in not proper condition.

The team went to the shelter at 21:45 hours and saw that the shelter was locked and no one was seen nearby the shelter.

Type:  Permanent

Access:  It was easily accessible in terms of reach because it was in the building of fire station but because of being on the 1st floor disabled person wouldn’t be able to reach the night shelter.Since it was in the same building of the fire station therefore very few people come there, Earlier there was no mention of a night shelter on the building but later on the fire department contacted the authority and put up a board for night shelter.

Space for women: There was no space for women because the night shelter was having a hall only where men live and women are not safe in that night shelter as per the beneficiaries.

Sanitation: -There was no bathroom or toilets in the night shelter and the night shelter was not properly cleaned.

Food Facilities: – food was provided by motidungriganeshmandir. The food provided was edible but the chapattis were hard that it was very difficult to eat them.

Electricity: – Proper electric facility was available in the night shelter.

Bedding facility: – The mattresses were in sufficient amount and were properly washed. They were sufficient for sleeping in winters.

Personnel Observation: – the shelters condition was average and was suitable for living. But the guard was very irregular and most of the times the night shelter remained closed.

Our view about the shelter: – The shelter was closed and the bathroom and toilet facility was not available there. At the time of survey the room was locked and there was no guard. The building looked properly maintained. There was no provision for rehabilitation center and drunkards were not allowed. Medicine was scarce. This information could not be verified as any authoritative mode was unavailable.

Type: Tent

Access: Easily accessible to the people as it was in the close proximity.

Space for women: No separate space for women was available.

Sanitation: Poor sanitation facilities

Food Facilities: Satisfactory food was provided.

Electricity: Proper Electricity was present at the shelter.

Medicine: no medicine facility

Bedding facility: 50 mattresses were there, which were enough for the people.

Personnel Observation: water facility was good. There was no medicine facility and they were asking foe it urgently. Food was not sufficient for the people staying there. Cleanliness was taken care of. For their sanitary needs they go to Ajmerigate.

Our view about the shelter: water facility was satisfactory. Cleanliness was maintained. When the survey team reached the shelter all except guard were asleep.

Type: Tent

Access: Not accessible as night shelter was not operational this year. Quilts, mattresses were sent back .

Space for women : No separate space for women provided in the shelter.

Sanitation : Shelter not accessible this year. Water is not available and no sanitation facilities available.

Food Facilities : Food was provided to the inhabitants of the shelter by the GaneshaMandirmotidoongri ,jaipur

Electricity: Shelter not accessible this year.

Bedding facility : Shelter not accessible this year.

Personnel Observation : Personnel were very dissatisfied with the conditions and the facilities provided in the shelter last year and even complained  that guard used to charge rs 5 from every inhabitant of the shelter..

Our view about the shelter : Shelter should be made accessible for the inhabitants. And complaint regarding the guard charging rs 5 from the inhabitants should be paid immediate attention.

Type: Temporary tent.

Access: The night shelter was accessible.

Space for women: There was no separate provision of any kind in the shelter for women.

Sanitation: There was no provision for sanitation; people use the toilet of the bus stand with the help of a token.

Food facilities: There was provision of one time free meal the quality of which was satisfactory.

Electricity: There was proper light in the shelter and the number of tube lights was 3 which were adequate in accordance with the area occupied by the shelter.

Bedding facilities: There were 20 mattresses and blankets but there were no bed sheets or pillows. A few mattresses were quite dirty. There was no separate bedding provision for women.

Our view: At this shelter the survey team found the facilities in terms of bedding adequate but all other facilities were either

scarce or satisfactory.

Type: temporary tent

Access: The night shelter was accessible

Space for women: There was no separate provision for women either in terms for bedding accommodation or any other facility being provided at the shelter.

Sanitation: There was no facility of either toilet or bathroom.

Food facilities: One time meal is provided for free, usually at night. The quality of food was satisfactory but it was generally cold.

Electricity: There was proper light in the shelter which was adequate in accordance with the area occupied by the shelter

Bedding facilities: There were 35 mattresses and 35 blankets. There were no bed sheets or pillows. The condition of bedding was not good. Some blankets were dirty as well.

Our view: The inhabitants of the night shelter were mostly from the working population. According to the authority present there, this shelter was not adequately provided with all the facilities. There was no facility for safe keeping of goods of the inhabitants.

Through this survey it was found that the night shelters were not taken care of by the responsible authorities. The team felt that there should be some monitoring by the side of the community too so that a pressure could be created for the proper functioning of the night shelters.

The observations were not satisfactory because most of the night shelters were found in the form of tents. There were places where the night shelters have not come up as yet. The night shelters that were found to be in working condition were not properly laced with the facilities as per the guidelines of the hon’ble supreme court of India.

The orders provide that there should be proper bedding and electricity facilities which were nowhere found to be satisfactory. Somewhere the beddings were not enough in no. and where they were present also; it was not clean enough to be used for humans. Poor sanitation facilities were seen in the shelters that were surveyed.

The drinking water was not changed for days and at some places for weeks while some places had no drinking water available. Other issues like unavailability of security guards and issues related with safety of women, non separate shelters for families, the misplacing of belongings, lack of lockers, etc were found to be the major cause for the people not preferring night shelters.