As per Census-2011, the number of homeless persons in the country is 17,73,040 comprised in 4,49,787 households. As per this Census, a total number of 47,076 houseless persons, comprised in 23,175 households are in NCT of Delhi.

As per information provided by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, ‘Land’ and ‘Colonization’ are State subject, therefore, it is the primary responsibility of State Governments to implement appropriate scheme for the houseless. However, they are administering a Scheme of Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) as a component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), through respective States/UTs.

Objective of the scheme is to ensure availability and access of the urban homeless population to permanent shelters including the basic infrastructure facilities like water supply, sanitation, safety and security. Under SUH, the shelters will be a space for convergence and provisions of various entitlement of social security, food, education and health care systems. All homeless persons, in  shelters should be given priority under various schemes, and government programme. The Shelter Management Agencies and Committee would be responsible to ensure the availability of various entitlements and benefits to the homeless.

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Rattan Lal Kataria in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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NB/SK/jk/SJ&E-2/09-07-2019