Urban homelessness and baseras/shelters: an evaluative study conducted during winter in NCT Delhi

ABSTRACT

The relentless winters in Delhi compel many urban homeless to nestle in shelters run by the Delhi Government with the aid of non-governmental organizations. However, many still chose not to stay in those shelters. With Supreme Court of India’s directive following the spur in death toll of homeless due to dipping mercury, it becomes imperative to appraise the living conditions of the shelter homes in Delhi so that no homeless sleeps rough. This study has assessed the initiatives taken by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to upgrade the quality of life of the homeless. In this primary study, 21 caretakers and 72 inmates from 21 baseras situated in all 11 districts of Delhi were selected based on convenience and purposive sampling and interviewed. The thematic analysis is done to evaluate the facilities provided to shelter seekers including safety and security, the developments that have come up in the recent past, and the reasons for homelessness. Based on findings of this empirical study, recommendations have been put forward for the policymakers. To conclude, the authorities have overhauled persistently in improvising the living standards of homeless in Delhi but a lot more needs to be done.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban homeless
• urban shelters
• winter
• living conditions
• Delhi

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Shankey Verma is Master in Criminology from LNJN National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science, New Delhi, India. He is currently a Doctoral Research Scholar at Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana, India.

Vartika Srivastava is Master in Criminology from LNJN National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science, New Delhi, India and an independent researcher.

Notes

1 DUSIB has come in existence under Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Act, 2010 which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi on the 1st April 2010 and has come in force by the orders of Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi on 1st July 2010.

2 Homelessness is also distinguished into two types: sheltered and unsheltered. Ospina & Roser defines it as: “Sheltered Homelessness” refers to people who are staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens. “Unsheltered Homelessness,” on the other hand, refers to people whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for people – for example, the streets, vehicles, or parks (Ospina & Roser, 2019).

3 The study uses the term homeless and shelterless interchangeably. Also, the word occupier, shelter seeker, residents, and inmates mean the same in the study. According to section 2m (iii) of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board Act, 2010 “occupier” includes- a rent-free tenant of any land or building.

4 The duration of respondents living in the night shelter only means the time period spent in the present night shelter and not includes the time spent by the inmate incase living before in the different night shelters.

5 It has to be noted that Delhi between the second half of January and late February experienced frequent rainfall and hailstorms.

6 This Basera was visited initially, but due to absence of inmates, a telephonic interphone was conducted later.

7 A universal proof of identity and address, issued by Unique Identification Authority of India, Government of India.

8 As on 24 March 2019.