In a novel initiative, the capital’s large homeless population living in night shelters will be imparted education as the Delhi Urban Shelter Independent Board (DUSIB) has decided to start certificate vocational training courses in 10 night shelters of the capital. The move will benefit at least 240-250 people in the first round of courses.
The classes for the homeless will be conducted at the night shelters and the curriculum will be compiled by capital’s four ITIs. The faculty will belong to the NGOs responsible for the management of the respective night shelters.
Giving more details about the initiative, Shailendra Dani, director, night shelters, DUSIB, said, “ITIs will approve the NGOs’ teachers who will be responsible for proper execution of the course material. Separate arrangements will be made at the night shelters for these classes that will be conducted during the day. The NGOs who manage these night shelters have shortlisted 20-25 interested people and have sent their lists to us. The whole project is still in the planning stage, but we hope to start the classes by next month.”
The night shelters where these courses will start are at Geeta Ghat, Yamuna Pushta, Dandi Park, Chabi Ganj, Kashmere Gate, Raja Garden, Karol Bagh (only for women), Paharganj, Parda Bagh (only for women), Sarai Kale Khan and old Delhi railway station. Vocational training will be provided in carpeting, stitching, motor repairing, and in electrician, beautician courses. The NGOs who will be part of this initiative are Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), Prayas, Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan (AAA) and Centre for Equity Studies.
Nishu Prakash, manager at the Yamuna Pushta night shelter which is managed by the NGO Prayas, said, “The initiative is a much needed one. Most of the homeless people in night shelters came to Delhi to earn. They do all kinds of odd jobs in the capital. Here at this night shelter, a lot of people come from catering and event management companies who require cheap labour. They arrive in the afternoon, pick as many willing people they can find and take them to work for Rs 1,500-2,000 per shift. The sad part is that they spend most of this money on alcohol and drugs. What little money is left often gets stolen by their inmates. They don’t save money neither spend it judiciously.”
Amod Kant, founder, Prayas, said, “When I conducted a study back in 2002 on the homeless and marginalised people in the capital, we had drawn a conclusion that approximately 1% of the total population in Delhi is homeless i.e. 17 lakh. Contrary to prejudices, we found that a majority of these people were able to earn from their temporary jobs, but not enough to afford a roof over their head. The real problem of homelessness begins with acknowledging the ‘invisible’ homeless population — people living under flyovers and on footpaths. Those in night shelters at least get their identity cards made during voter ID drives, but the ‘invisibles’ go unaccounted.”