Question : SHELTER TO HOMELESS

(a) whether the Supreme Court has directed the Government to take stock of the availability of shelter to the homeless and file status report thereon;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Supreme Court has also directed the Government to make arrangements for providing temporary shelters to homeless all over the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the action taken by the Government to provide shelter to homeless especially during the winters?

THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.

STATEMENT

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 241 FOR ANSWER ON 10.12.2014 REGARDING SHELTER TO HOMELESS.

(a): The Hon’ble Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to call the Chief Secretary or Administrator of every State/Union Territory and find out the necessary steps undertaken in implementation of the Scheme of Shelters for Urban Homeless.

(b): In compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, a meeting with States and Union Territories was held on 21-11-2014.

(c): The Hon’ble Supreme Court had directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to find out ways and means to provide temporary shelters to all the shelter- less and homeless people in different States/Union Territories.

(d): The State Governments have been asked to make arrangements for Temporary Shelters for winters. They have been advised to open up vacant buildings like old schools, etc. for faster provision of temporary shelters.