Homeless Persons Lodged In Night Shelters Provided With Two Meals A Day Without Requiring Govt ID: DUSIB Informs Delhi High Court

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board has informed the Delhi High Court that all homeless persons residing in the night shelters in the national capital are provided with two meals per day, irrespective of them having a government issued identification card.

A counter affidavit stating thus has been filed on behalf of DUSIB in a plea filed by NGO Bandhua Mukti Morcha seeking directions to provide three meals a day to all homeless occupying the night shelters and also for providing age appropriate nutritious breakfast to children as per Schedule II of National Food Security Act, 2013. 

The plea also seeks directions to provide medical aid to such homeless persons including Covid-19 essential products.

DUSIB has submitted:

"DUSIB has provided Night Shelters with occupation capacity of 17,851 from 209 different locations. In compliance of COVID 19 SoPs and protocols, the revised capacity is around 7142. However, even then, approximately 2000 occupancy remains vacant," the counter affidavit filed on June 1 reads.

Additionally, the counter affidavit informs that DSUIB is following Covid-appropriate behavior inside the night shelters by maintaining and cleaning them at regular intervals, providing hand sanitizers and face masks to all homeless persons. 

It has also stated that medical facilities are provided to such people in coordination with health department of GNCTD including awareness programmes for taking precautions to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus.

DUSIB informed that it had set up 4 dedicated isolated centres in Delhi for ensuring proper treatment and nutrition to every Covid patient.

"There are separate toilets available for the Covid positive quarantined people with proper cleaning facilities. Information related to Dos and Don'ts are properly displayed at appropriate place in the centres. Pertinently, all the isolated patients are being provided with good nutritious food 3 times a day, as per Doctors' recommendation. It is clarified that the Breakfast is being given by the concerned NGOs in the said isolation centres," the counter affidavit reads.

The plea sought implementation of a decision dated September 25, 2020 wherein DUSIB approved the agenda for providing three meals a day including breakfast to the homeless residing in shelter homes.

When the matter came up for hearing before Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh earlier this week, the hearing was adjourned to September 27.

Case Title: Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. DUSIB & Ors.