India
Updated : Jul 31, 2014, 05:37 PM IST
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Thursday directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to set up separate night shelters for homeless women before the onset of winter.
Jung directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to carry out a survey in their respective districts and identify locations for establishment of such night shelters. "These night shelters for women shall be located independent of the existing night shelters primarily occupied by men. The Lt Governor also directed that the general upkeep of existing night shelters be improved," said an L-G house official.
On Wednesday, a review meeting with all DCs revealed low or no occupancy of night shelters by women and raised concerns about the safety and security of homeless women. Apart from that, the safety audit carried out by DCs to assess safe and unsafe areas for women in their districts suggested that attention be paid to street lighting in certain areas, L-G house officials said.
Jung also directed that gram sabha and other government lands, made free from encroachments, should be used for establishing dispensaries and schools, and that it requires close coordination between health and education departments. For instance, in the south-west district, 15 locations have been identified where dispensaries running in rented accommodation can be shifted, he said.
Jung instructed the DCs to send to the Education department a list of locations, identified by them in their districts, for setting up of one new girls' school. He also directed that land identified for establishing a working women's hostel be handed over to the Women and Child department for necessary action. In the North district, Jung said that sports facilities should be developed in five villages.