Delhi’s official records list 322 night shelters with a total capacity of nearly 20,000 beds. Yet the ground reality is starkly different. Many shelters are
severely under-equipped; for instance, the Commercial Building in Motia Khan, meant to house 540 people, has just 15 beds available. Similar discrepancies exist across other shelters, highlighting the city’s struggle to provide adequate accommodation for its homeless population despite official figures suggesting otherwise.
Discrepancies in Shelter Capacity
Many facilities, such as the Chabi Ganj community hall, are listed for 100 beds yet only have 38 available. The Chabi Ganj Community Centre claims a capacity of 280 but operates at a mere 6 per cent, housing only 18 individuals.
This mismatch continues at locations like Yamuna Bazar and Mori Gate, where shelters are far from their claimed capacities. This situation has persisted for the past two to three years, particularly during the winter months, highlighting ongoing neglect and misreporting by authorities.
Activists Call for Accountability
Activists like Sunil Kumar Aledia have pointed out that the reported capacity of shelters is grossly inflated, with actual availability estimated to be around 6,500 to 7,000 beds.
"The alarming mismatch between the declared capacity and the actual beds available on the ground points to systemic misreporting and serious neglect of basic infrastructure," Aledia said. Indu Prakash Singh, a member of the state-level shelter monitoring committee, echoed these sentiments, demanding accurate figures and improved conditions for the homeless.
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Government Response and Future Actions
Government officials responded to these concerns, promising audits and corrective measures. However, there has been no clear explanation for why the reported capacity is so much higher than what is actually available.
With thousands of homeless individuals still sleeping on the streets, the need for transparency and accountability in shelter management has never been more urgent. As Delhi grapples with its homeless crisis, it is evident that the numbers on paper do not reflect the reality faced by many in the city.
The internationally accepted standard for homelessness suggests that around 1% of a city's population should be accommodated. With Delhi's population exceeding 20 million, the current shelter situation remains starkly inadequate.
