Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 884 regarding the protection of urban homeless individuals under the Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) scheme. It addresses the recorded deaths of homeless individuals, the steps taken to protect them, alternative ID mechanisms, and the number and support facilities in shelter homes for women with disabilities. The information provided pertains to the period up to September 30, 2024, for the DAYNULM mission.
Key Points / Main Content:
Deaths of Homeless Individuals:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs does not maintain data on deaths due to cold waves.
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) reported no deaths in its shelters.
Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) Scheme:
The primary responsibility for providing shelters lies with State Governments/Union Territories.
The Ministry supplemented these efforts through the SUH scheme under DAYNULM until September 2024.
The Ministry issued advisories to select States/UTs regarding winter action plans, including temporary shelters and mobilization drives.
A total of 1,995 shelters were operational across the country under DAYNULM until September 30, 2024.
Alternative Identity Documentation:
There is no proposal under consideration to introduce alternative identity documentation mechanisms for urban homeless individuals.
Shelter Homes for Women with Disabilities:
SUH guidelines provisioned shelters to cater to vulnerable groups, including single women with children, the aged, infirm, disabled, and mentally challenged.
States/ULBs may set up separate shelters to cater to special needs (men, women, families, special needs).
Tamil Nadu has 19 operational special shelters exclusively for women.
Facilities Provided at Shelters:
Well-ventilated rooms.
Potable drinking water, sanitation, and adequate bathing/toilet facilities.
Standard lighting.
Adequate fire protection measures.
First aid kit.
Pest and vector mosquito control.
Regular cleaning of blankets, mattresses, and sheets.
Common kitchen/cooking space with utensils and cooking gas connections.
Childcare facilities via Anganwadi Centres.
Facilitation for convergence with other services/entitlements.
Personal lockers for storage.
Common recreation space.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/Union Territories:
Impact: Responsible for providing shelters for the urban homeless and implementing winter action plans.
Action Required: Continue providing and maintaining shelters, especially during winter, and consider establishing specialized shelters for vulnerable groups.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Tamil Nadu:
Impact: Responsible for operating and maintaining the 19 special shelters exclusively for women.
Action Required: Ensure shelters adhere to the outlined facility standards and cater to the specific needs of women, including those with disabilities.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:
Impact: Previously supplemented State/UT efforts through the SUH scheme under DAYNULM until September 2024.
Action Required: Continue issuing advisories regarding winter action plans, although the SUH scheme has ended.
Urban Homeless Individuals:
Impact: Beneficiaries of shelter homes and winter action plans aimed at providing safe accommodation and protection from cold-related hazards.
Action Required: Utilize available shelter facilities and cooperate with mobilization efforts to access necessary services and support.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for housing and urban development.
Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH): A component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAYNULM) focused on providing shelters for the urban homeless.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAYNULM): A Government of India program aimed at improving the livelihoods of the urban poor.
New Delhi: The capital city of India, mentioned in the context of homeless individuals and cold waves.
Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB): An organization functioning under the Government of NCT of Delhi, responsible for urban shelters.
Government of NCT of Delhi: The governing body of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India, mentioned in the context of shelter homes for women with disabilities.
SHRI TOKHAN SAHU: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 884
TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 24, 2025
PROTECTION OF URBAN HOMELESS UNDER SHELTER FOR
URBAN HOMELESS SCHEME
NO. 884. SASIKANTH SENTHIL:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:-
(a) whether the Government has recorded any deaths of homeless
individuals due to cold waves during the last five years across the
country including New Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the steps taken under the Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH)
component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban
Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to protect urban homeless
individuals from cold-related hazards including hypothermia and the
number of shelters currently operational across various States;
(c) whether the Government is considering introducing alternative
identity documentation mechanisms for urban homeless individuals
to address challenges arising from their transient and undocumented
status and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the total number of shelter homes equipped to cater to the needs of
women with disabilities across the country, particularly in Tamil
Nadu; and
(e) the nature of support facilities available in such shelters for women
with disabilities?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a): The data on deaths due to cold waves is not maintained by the
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. As informed by Delhi Urban
Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), which functions under the
control of Government of NCT of Delhi, no deaths have been recorded
in any shelter of DUSIB.
…2/--2-
(b): It is the primary responsibility of Government of the States/ Union
Territories to provide shelters for the urban homeless. However, in
order to supplement their efforts, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
administered Scheme for Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) under
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Urban Livelihoods Mission
(DAY-NULM), through respective States/UTs. It focused on providing
permanent shelters equipped with basic facilities to the urban
homeless. The mission was in existence till September 2024. Also,
this Ministry issues advisory to select States / UTs regarding winter
action plan to accommodate urban homeless before harsh conditions
of winter set in. It includes arrangement of temporary shelters,
conduct of mobilization drives to mobilize homeless persons to the
shelters etc.
A total of 1,995 shelters for urban homeless were made operational
across the country under DAY-NULM till 30.09.2024.
(c): No such proposal is under consideration.
(d)&(e): SUH operational guidelines provisioned shelters to cater the most
vulnerable groups within the homeless population such as (a) single
women and their dependent minor children, (b) aged, (c) infirm, (d)
disabled, (e) mentally challenged etc. States (including Tamil Nadu) /
ULBs may consider setting up separate shelters to cater the special
needs such as men shelter, women shelter, family shelter and special
shelter. As reported by Government of Tamil Nadu, 19 special
shelters are operational exclusively for women. Details regarding
facilities provided at the shelters are at ‘Annexure’.
*****ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d)&(e) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 884 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED AT THE SHELTERS
a) Well-ventilated rooms.
b) Water arrangements (Potable drinking water and other needs)
and sanitation.
c) Adequate bathing & toilet facilities.
d) Standard lighting for shelter.
e) Adequate fire protection measures, as per the norms.
f) First aid kit.
g) Pest and vector (mosquito) control.
h) Regular cleaning of blankets, mattresses and sheets, and
maintenance of other services.
i) Common kitchen/cooking space, necessary utensils for cooking
and serving, cooking gas connections etc.
j) Child care facilities for children by linking the shelter to the
nearest Anganwadi Centres.
k) Facilitation for convergence with other services/entitlements.
l) Personal lockers for personal storage space.
m) Common recreation space.