New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court has rapped the MCD for bringing down a night shelter in the thick of winter. While for the homeless in the capital who have been given no alternative shelter, the winter has become unbearable.
NDTV recently visited demolished slums in the capital and found the horrible condition of the homeless in the chilly weather.
Just born babies are out in the cold as there's no roof over their heads. The jute rugs are barely any protection against the biting winds.
Their house was among the 50 illegal hutments along the railway line in Sadar Bazaar of the capital demolished on Saturday afternoon.
"The problem is young children have been left out in the cold," said a slum dweller.
Another homeless recounted his ordeal: "They burnt everything, and left nothing. They burnt all my grandchildren's clothes."
"There was no notice given. Officials came and started demolitions right away," complained another homeless person.
At a time when the Delhi High Court has rapped the MCD for bringing down a night shelter in the thick of winter, demolitions continue. It's hard to reason why demolitions will happen at a time when the temperature is 9 degrees.
"Okay, it's winter, but we have to look at the safety of the train, all passengers and also the slum dwellers. What if because of the fog a slum dweller comes in the way of a train? said Yogender S Rajput, PRO, Northern Railways.
As the morning breaks, the families huddle around a fire. After a hurried and frugal breakfast the adults head out to work.
"We return at night," said a slum dweller.
Malti, a rag picker has just returned home. Her three grandchildren have gone to sleep. She braces up for another chilly night with just meagre bag of firewood.
Malti says: "The policeman asked us to move. I begged him to let us stay till the winter recedes."
An already hard winter has got harder for these people without roof.