Lok Sabha Question No. 975 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Shelters for Urban Homeless in Himachal Pradesh
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 975

TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 05, 2025

## SHELTERS FOR URBAN HOMELESS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

NO. 975.   MS KANGNA RANAUT:

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

- (a)   the  number  of  night  shelters  (rain  baseras)  sanctioned  and  operated under Central schemes including the Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) in Himachal Pradesh, during the last three years;
- (b)   the details of the funds released and utilised under these schemes for rain baseras during the said period;
- (c)   the guidelines and monitoring mechanisms prescribed by the Government to ensure proper functioning, maintenance and accessibility of night shelters for vulnerable groups; and
- (d)   whether  any  Central  assessment  or  review  has  been  conducted  to identify  gaps  in  shelter  coverage  in  small  and  hilly  towns  of  Himachal Pradesh  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  corrective  measures taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a): As per seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Land & Colonization are State subjects. Accordingly, primary responsibility rests with  the  States  /  Union  Territories  (UTs)  for  rehabilitation  of  homeless persons. Government of India supplements the efforts of State Governments/UTs through various programs and schematic interventions. As reported by Government of Himachal Pradesh, a total of 20 Shelters for Urban Homeless (SUHs) (from FY 2015-16 to 2025-26) were  sanctioned  and  operated  under  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana -National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY -NULM).  During the last 3 years, no new SUHs were sanctioned.
- (b):  Under  DAY-NULM,  Rs.  7  Crore  had  been  released  to  Government  of Himachal Pradesh (from FY 2022-23 to 2024-25 till 30 September, 2024), in a consolidated manner for all components of the Mission. Out of which around Rs. 16.70 lakhs had been utilised under SUH component.

- (c):  The implementation of SUH component is the responsibility of States/UTs. The Ministry supported State/UT by providing O&M Fund for shelters  for  the  initial  first  5  years  of  their  operation.  Further,  as  per Orders of Hon'ble Supreme  Court, State Level Shelter Monitoring Committees (SLSMC) under the chairmanship of Secretary (Retd.) have been set up in the States/UTs including in Himachal Pradesh to review and monitor the progress of shelters. Moreover, the Ministry from timeto-time  issued  advisories  to  States  /  UTs  to  make  action  plans  for necessary arrangement in the shelters during the severe cold and heat conditions.
- (d):      NITI  Aayog  in  its  report  published  in  September,  2025  titled  as 'Evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Package 4-Urban Transformation and Skill Development' has found that SUH has improved access to dignified  living  conditions,  with  90%  of  residents  confirming adequate services.

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