On a Cold Night, I Spent 7 Hours at a Homeless Shelter in Delhi

The Delhi govt has constructed 257 night shelters which can provide accommodation to around 20,000 homeless people.

According to official estimates, the Delhi government has constructed 257 night shelters which can provide accommodation to around 20,000 homeless people.

(Photo: Shadab Moizee)

Every year, the cold wave grips Delhi; journalists pick up their cameras, visit some night shelters and talk to the people there. This then becomes a story on the suffering of the people, the lack of adequate facilities in the shelters and the negligence of the government. I am not saying that this is a wrong thing to do or that these journalists are not showing the truth. I just feel that we need to dig a little deeper to understand better the condition of these night shelters as well as those who are sleeping in them.

So we decided to spend an entire night in one of these shelters in the national capital.

According to official estimates, the Delhi government has constructed 257 night shelters which can provide accommodation to around 20,000 homeless people.

We started our search for a night shelter from the Nizamuddin railway station area in Delhi. After inquiring around, we ended up reaching the Sarai Kale Khan locality, where we managed to find a night shelter. The night shelter in this area can accommodate around 150. While one has to show an identity card to get accommodation, there were people staying here without any identification proof.

The caretaker of the shelter told us most of the people who come here are intoxicated.

We ask every person who comes here for an identity card. However, what can one really do if someone does not have an identity card? We can’t leave them to die in the cold. 80 percent of the people here are intoxicated. If we make them run away, they will end up spending the night on the roads and die there.

Caretaker

Thievery Seems to be Common

When it was time to sleep, I spread out my rug on the floor. Using a blanket given by the night shelter, I tried to switch off, but noticed an army of rats gracing the place.

Since sleep was elusive, I got to talking to some of the people staying here.

A man named Ajay, working at a printing centre, told me:

I live near Dwarka, but I have to go to South Delhi for work. I cannot use the metro to go back home everyday since the fares are really high. I have stopped here because it is really cold and I have to go for work early in the morning. But someone stole my mobile the very first day I stayed here. And then, the blanket is dirty and there are so many rats. I stay here telling myself that one has to endure hardships if one wants to save money.

As the night progressed and the mercury dropped further, I was still finding it difficult to sleep.

4 Toilets for 150 People

At 6 in the morning, there was a long queue outside the toilets. There were only four toilets for 150 people. After taking my turn, I left for work, knowing I wouldn’t have to return.

I may have been exposed to the sufferings of these people in those 7 hours, but I certainly cannot say that I have completely understood their problems.

These people's battles are not just restricted to sleeping at these shelters at night, but also ensuring that they make a living during the day.

Video Producer: Hera Khan

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam and Sandeep Suman