**Policy Summary: Establishment of Night Shelters**
**Overview and Responsibility**
Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Land and Colonization are classified as State subjects. Consequently, the primary responsibility for the rehabilitation of homeless persons lies with State Governments and Union Territories (UTs). The Government of India, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, supplements these regional efforts via the Scheme for Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH), a component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
**Objectives and Infrastructure**
The SUH scheme aims to provide permanent, all-weather shelters for the urban homeless, ensuring dignified living conditions. As prescribed by SUH guidelines, these shelters are equipped with essential facilities, including:
* Water and sanitation
* Electricity
* Kitchen and cooking spaces
* Common recreation spaces
**Key Performance Metrics**
Throughout the mission period, the following results were achieved:
* **Total Shelters Established:** 1,995
* **Geographic Coverage:** 981 cities and towns
* **Mission Completion Date:** September 30, 2024
**Governance and Supervision**
The day-to-day supervision and immediate grievance redressal at the shelter level are the responsibilities of the Shelter Management Committee (SMC) within the respective State or UT.
**Official Source Information**
This information was provided by Shri Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
* **Posted Date:** March 30, 2026
* **Release ID:** 2246969
* **Origin:** PIB Delhi, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Key Entities Referenced
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM): The primary national mission aimed at reducing the poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households, which includes the establishment of night shelters.
Scheme for Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH): A specific component of DAY-NULM designed to provide permanent all-weather shelters equipped with basic essential facilities to the urban homeless.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs: The central ministry responsible for administering and supervising the implementation of urban development schemes including SUH and DAY-NULM.
Shelter Management Committee (SMC): The primary body at the State/UT level responsible for the day-to-day supervision and immediate grievance redressal of shelters for the urban homeless.
Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India: The constitutional provision that designates Land and Colonization as State subjects, defining the jurisdictional responsibility for the rehabilitation of homeless persons.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
ESTABLISHMENT OF NIGHT SHELTERS
Posted On: 30 MAR 2026 5:45PM by PIB Delhi
As per seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Land & Colonization are State subjects.
Accordingly, primary responsibility rests with the States / Union Territories (UTs) for rehabilitation of
homeless persons. Government of India supplements the efforts of State Governments/UTs through
various programs and schematic interventions. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs administered a
Scheme for Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) as a component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana –
National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), through respective State / UTs with an objective to
provide permanent all-weather shelters equipped with basic facilities to the urban homeless. During the
mission period, 1,995 shelters were made in 981 cities / towns. The basic common facilities/ amenities
such as water, sanitation, electricity, kitchen/ cooking space, common recreation space were provided at
the shelters for dignified human living as prescribed in SUH guidelines. The Mission ended on
30.09.2024.
As per the scheme for Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna -
National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), the Shelter Management Committee (SMC) of the
State / UT is the primary body responsible for day-to-day supervision and immediate grievance redressal
at the shelters level.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Tokhan Sahu in a
written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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