GUWAHATI: The Kamrup (Metro) District Administration is ensuring a sustainable and effective approach to rehabilitating the street dwellers of Guwahati. To achieve this goal, an extensive study is being conducted to develop a long-lasting and efficient plan for addressing the needs of the city's urban poor and homeless population.
The rescued people are categorised into various groups such as males who are struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, single males who are living on the streets due to poverty, individuals with mental illness, women and children in need of assistance, and families that have migrated from other areas to the city in search of employment opportunities.
Speaking to G Plus, District Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha said, “The Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has provided approval to the District Administration for securing funding aimed at ensuring a safe environment for street dwellers, especially women and children. These individuals often spend their nights in vulnerable conditions on the streets, under flyovers, outside temples, and in similar locations.”
“Our thrust area at this point is to rescue people from the accident-prone zones first. People living under the flyovers of Ulubari, Bhangagarh, and Ganeshguri have been rescued. We are particularly looking for women and children living on the street in vulnerable conditions. The drive will continue,” Jha added.
Based on media reports, a total of 22 street dwellers have been successfully rescued from the streets and subsequently and are sent to shelter homes like Eastern People Community Participation, Nowapara, Satgaon, Nirmal Ashray, ICCW Geetanagar (under NULM), and the One Stop Centre in Guwahati.
Jha further stated that they have been instructed the shelter homes to ensure that adequate living conditions and nutritious meals are provided for these individuals. Additionally, we are conducting studies on employment opportunities, as well as other forms of rehabilitation, with the aim of improving their living standards. It is worth noting that some of the street dwellers are also dealing with mental illnesses, necessitating specialized interventions.
“At present, we believe the number of street dwellers is not huge and our existing institutions have the capacity to accommodate them. we are aware of the strong tendency among a portion of those rescued to return to the streets, which demands deeper attention and further investigation," he stated.
The initiative in Guwahati was launched under the guidance of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who instructed the district administration to identify a sustainable solution to address this issue effectively.
The Kamrup (Metro) District Commissioner, along with magistrates, police officials, representatives from the Social Welfare Department, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is actively conducting operations to rescue and rehabilitate destitute individuals. Following thorough screenings, necessary medical attention is provided, and the individuals are relocated to suitable shelter homes.
