State takes steps to accommodate homeless people

SHILLONG: The state government is taking steps to provide shelter to the homeless people.
This was informed to the division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice H S Thangkhiew by the government during the hearing of the case on Thursday.
The affidavit filed by the Director of Urban Affairs Department on April 22 revealed that Meghalaya is implementing the component of shelter for urban homeless under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) of Government of India in six Municipal Boards, Shillong, Tura, Jowai, Baghmara and Resubelpara.
The affidavit also said the ground floor of shelter home at Kenche’s Trace, in the city is almost complete and approval for construction of the first floor has also been accorded.
While the shelter home at Jowai is 100% complete, electricity supply connection is still pending.
In Tura, though the shelter home is 100% complete, retaining wall, compound wall and approach road will have to be taken up after shelter home becomes functional.
Regarding detailed project report of Williamnagar shelter home, after deliberations, the Deputy Commissioner, Williamnagar has been requested to spare some government accommodations for shelter home and the response is awaited.
Shelter homes have been surveyed in Resubelpara and Baghmara and the Deputy Commissioners concerned have been requested to identity government buildings and quarters for shelter to the homeless as and when such homeless are identified.
The counsel for the petitioner submits that if steps taken by the government are translated into action, the same would advance the cause of the homeless.
The additional senior government advocate will file the latest status, about the follow up, before the next date.
The matter will come up for hearing after three weeks.