GHMC extends warmth to homeless this winter
Hyderabad: Even while steaming ahead with infrastructure development on a major scale, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is not forgetting the scores of homeless people who live on the streets of the State capital. With temperatures dipping as winter closes in, the GHMC has initiated a series of measures, which include renovation of existing night […]
Hyderabad: Even while steaming ahead with infrastructure development on a major scale, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is not forgetting the scores of homeless people who live on the streets of the State capital.
With temperatures dipping as winter closes in, the GHMC has initiated a series of measures, which include renovation of existing night shelters and providing more facilities at these homes that are a blessing for the homeless.
As per GHMC records, 685 persons are currently residing in the 21 shelters located in different parts of the city. Civic body officials said the number either slightly decreases or increases every week.
At these facilities, some of the measures taken this December to ensure that the homeless tide over the chill in the night include renovating the structures, ensuring health facilities, providing additional beds, serving warm food and arranging recreational games.
“We are constantly monitoring the condition in the night shelters keeping in mind the weather conditions. Our staffers randomly visit the shelters and enquire about the amenities being provided and the quality of food served by speaking to inmates,” GHMC Additional Commissioner (Urban Community Development) Vijaya Laxmi said.
GHMC officials said priority was given to sanitation and fogging too at these shelters.
“Anti-Larval activities and measures to control vector borne diseases at night shelters is on our priority list. In addition to deploying fogging machines, our staffers also explain to the inmates about the healthy practices that need to be followed to prevent Dengue and Malaria,” GHMC Chief Entomologist Ram Babu said.
Among the 21 night shelters in the GHMC limits, seven are located inside the premises of government hospitals.
“To ensure the families and attendants of patients do not face hardships, the GHMC has built these seven facilities,” the GHMC said in a press release.
The Osmania General Hospital, ENT Hospital, Niloufer Hospital, Mahavir Hospital & Research Centre, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Koti Maternity Hospital and Nampally Government Hospital are the hospitals where the family of the patient can get accommodation for free. These seven facilities were built at an estimated cost of Rs.10.68 crore and can accommodate 862 patients.
The civic body has also decided to identify the homeless and shift them to the night shelters in the coming weeks. This will be done with the help of Self Help Group women, slum-level federations and other social organisations, officials said.
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.
Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .
