Lok Sabha Question No. 1672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Scheme for Homeless People
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1672

TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 01, 2024

## SCHEME FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE

NO. 1672.  SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- a) whether many  homeless people are living in public places like footpaths,  flyovers,  railway  stations  etc.  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- b) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for rehabilitation of  homeless  people  especially  children  and  to  impart  necessary  skill development  training  and  education  to  them  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- c) whether  the  Government  has  identified  the  native  place  of  these homeless people and if so, the details thereof and the manner in which
4. their identification has been ensured?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a): As  per  census  2011,  the  total  urban  houseless  population  in  the country is 9,38,348.
- (b): As per 7 th Schedule of the Constitution of India, Land & Colonisation are State subjects. Therefore, it is the primary responsibility of States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  to  take  steps  and  devise  schemes  to provide for rehabilitation of homeless persons. Central Government is supplementing the efforts of State Governments/UTs through programs and schematic interventions.

MoHUA  administers 'Shelters for Urban Homeless (SUH)' under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY -NULM),  through  respective  States / UTs . It  focuses  on  providing permanent  shelters equipped with basic facilities to the urban homeless . As per SUH guidelines, convergence of various entitlements of social security, food, education, health care systems, provision for admission  of  the homeless  children  to  government  school,  skill training, etc is provided.

In  addition,  MoHUA  also  implements  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana  Urban (PMAY-U) for providing assistance to States/UTs for addressing the housing requirement of eligible urban households. PMAY-U envisages  to  provide  all  weather  pucca  houses  with  basic  civic amenities to all eligible urban households.

- (c):  As  per  the  operational  guidelines  of  SUH,  the  agency  running  the shelter shall have the responsibility of identifying the homeless persons and  persuading  them  to  come  to  the  shelter.  Further,  the  guidelines prescribe active involvement of the local police in tracing the family of the homeless, whenever required.

In addition, the guidelines provides for collection of socio-demographic particulars of the individuals at the time of admission to the shelter. If required,  counseling  support  is  provided  to  the  residents,  seeking details of their native place. If the homeless individual is deserted from the  family,  the  concerned  state  authority  makes  enquiry/counseling session  with  the  family  to  explore  the  possibilities  of  immediate reintegration with the involvement of concerned Welfare departments / Police / NGOs / CBOs, etc.

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