Delhi’s Claim of 20,000 Night Shelter Beds for Homeless Stretches Reality

New Delhi: As the severe cold wave grips Delhi-NCR, the plight of the city’s homeless has come under the spotlight. While the Delhi government claims to have 322 night shelters with a total capacity of 19,724 beds, an on-ground inspection reveals a starkly different reality.

Field visits to major shelters, including the Moti Khan commercial building shelter, show that only a fraction of the reported beds are actually available. Though officially listed with a capacity of 540, inspectors found just 15 functional beds—less than 3% of the claimed number. Even if fully occupied, each bed would have to accommodate 36 people, which is practically impossible.

Similar discrepancies were observed elsewhere: Chhabi Ganj Ward-I Community Hall, with a listed capacity of 100, had only 38 beds; the adjacent hall, claimed for 280, had just 18 beds. At Yamuna Bazaar and Mori Gate shelters, only 38% and 36% of reported beds were usable, respectively. Majnu Ka Tila shelters also showed the same pattern, with actual beds falling far short of claimed capacity.

DUSIB officials acknowledged the mismatch between theoretical capacity and actual availability and assured that an investigation would be conducted to verify the discrepancies. Officials noted that while empty spaces without beds can accommodate more people, functional beds remain limited, especially during extreme winter conditions.

This gap between reported figures and reality highlights the ongoing challenges in providing adequate facilities for Delhi’s homeless during harsh winters.