Chennai: In order to adhere to norms of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission, Chennai corporation commenced a survey on Saturday to count the platform dwellers.
Based on the numbers, the corporation would accentuate the number of shelters in all the 15 zones of the city. The two-day survey, by the corporation, in collaboration with the NGOs would also study the parameters resulting in the increase of shelter-less residents in the city.
It may be noted that the city already has 47 shelter homes, accommodating the platform dwellers, differently-abled, mentally challenged and transgenders. Of the 47 shelter homes, ten are special homes located in the five major government hospitals in the city.
Speaking to DC, Dr T.G. Srinivasan, health education officer, Chennai corporation, said: “Each shelter can accommodate around 50 dwellers, who are mostly migrants. It is a temporary option for most of the residents who move out when they get a residence. However, as the population of migrants and below poverty line people is increasing every year, there is a need for a survey to find out the right numbers.”
The survey would take into consideration the dweller’s views on preferred places, facilities in the existing shelters and factors prompting them to choose the pavements.
Aasha is sensitising the public about the presence of these shelters through pamphlets. “We would be pasting 50,000 pamphlets with contact numbers of the corporation officials, in various places of the city. Sociologists from the NGOs would also study the circumstances drawing dwellers to be on roads. Job opportunities would also be provided to the residents in the shelters,” added a corporation official.
