Kejriwal Announces Porta Cabins For Homeless In Delhi

Delhi government today announced a series of measures to provide roof to the homeless in biting cold sweeping the city and decided to replace all the night shelters being run from plastic tents with porta cabins within three days.

“An order has been passed to replace all night shelters with porta cabins within three days,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a statement released here.

He also directed SDMs to conduct inspections in their respective areas during night hours and ensure night shelters are being run properly. SDMs have also been asked to prepare a list of areas, where night shelters are required, by 4 January morning.

“During night-time inspections by our ministers Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Birla and AAP leader Sanjay Singh, it came to our knowledge that many people are sleeping under flyovers and other such places and not willing to move to night shelters. The government has decided to provide porta cabin- based shelter to them on the spot,” Kejriwal said.

The chief minister said the government is also seeking the assistance of all MLAs in ensuring better facilities at the night shelters.

“We are writing to MLAs saying their help is also needed in this matter and sending them a list of night shelters in their respective areas. We are appealing them to visit night shelters,” he said, adding, that the ministers and AAP volunteers will also assist them in this initiative.

Slamming the previous government over its failure to provide relief to the homeless, Kejriwal said a case has been going on in the Delhi High Court since 2010 but no actions were taken by the government for the welfare of the destitute.

Kejriwal said AAP volunteers, along with members of NGO Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan, would conduct a survey to locate places where porta cabins are required.

“Members of the NGO today met us and gave a list of 45 locations where the homeless are living. Tonight AAP volunteers and NGO members will visit those 45 locations and by tomorrow they would prepare a list of spots where porta cabins are required,” said Kejriwal.

Arvind Kejriwal Decides Not To Move Into House Allotted To Him

Kejriwal said that he will be requesting the government to look for a smaller house for him.

“My wells-wishers, friends and supporters called me up and asked me not to shift to that place. I even received SMS from the people in this regard. So I am not going to shift in those flats. I will request the government to look for a smaller house for me. Till then, I will work from my house in Ghaziabad,” he told reporters ahead of a crucial party meeting here.

Kejriwal has been allotted two five-bedroom duplex flats on Bhagwan Das Road one of which is to be used as his office.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs came down heavily on the Chief Minister in the Delhi Assembly on the issue saying his decision to accept two flats was in ‘total contradiction’ of AAP’s claim that it will practice austerity.

Delhi Chief Secretary DM Sapolia had earlier proposed a bungalow for Kejriwal as the Chief Minister. Kejriwal had refused his proposal.

Kejriwal and his six ministers had decided not to stay in any government bungalows but instead live in modest flats. Kejriwal has been living in a society flat in Kaushambi and had refused to shift to a ‘Type-Seven bungalow’ which he is entitled to after taking oath as the Chief Minister on December 28.