By YS.Rana :
Chandigarh—At what point does eliminating a choice become a necessity. The answer lies in a corner of rural homeless communities where these are ignored by all sections of governments because of their invisibility but COVID 19 has provided eyes, nose and ears to various governments to exercerbate the vulnerabilities of urban homeless communities. Some 1.77 million are homeless but an analysis of States’ circulars regarding provision of lock down relief for poor issued between March 9-May 3 shows that 16 States with 40 per cent of the country’s homeless make no mention of them at all, reported India Spend in its report.
Due to pandemic these homeless have become the most vulnerable to the immediate impact and aftermath of the pandemic the analysis shows. The report further states that hundred of government circulars to the effect have been issued and 28 states and one union territory have been announcing orders almost every day and an analysis by the Indo Global Social Service Society (GSSS) focussed only on those relating to homeless.
The analysis found that 16 states have made no mention of homeless in their various circulars and the list included Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Of these 16 states, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat consisting 40 per cent of country’s homeless people. In the region Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have ensured food for ration card holders under two heads—Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) as per Centre’s criteria and priority household (PHH) scheme as per state guidelines.
It is also reported that coming six months would be crucial for homeless. The water crisis is acute for them. Fourteen states have released circulars given priority to pension funds, cash relief and social security measures, stating that all eligible below poverty line families would receive Rs 1000 pension cash relief or other forms of social security. But they could not avail this benefit because of lack of documents.
Around 80 per cent of the homeless belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBC. Over 41 per cent of homeless have no access to any sort of health services even though 45 per cent of homeless live within one km of a clinic/hospital as IGSSS survey. Only 18 per cent could avail of ration through PDS benefits and especially for women and children there exists a barrier in securing healthy and nutritional diet.
As of May 3, 2020, no state has mentioned either livelihood restoration or provision of any financial assistance for the homeless in the circulars analysed. Livelihood for the homeless is inextricably linked to the recovery of the informal sector, which forms a major chunk of the Indian economy.
The analysis really raises question—whether government’s reliefs are meant for them?
Pick,Courtesy:picture.alliance/AP