Foothpath sleepers In the cities there is no alternative, They are running a permanent risk of death and damage. It does not happen often, but when it does, the feeling for the less unfortunate is a fleeting sympathy and life goes on as usual. Even the new roads are not planned for elevated footpaths, leave alone necessity to safeguard people using them. The rights of hawkers who invade pavements receive sympathetic considerations. In Mumbai people live on pavements as ahome. The Salman case and those of Alister Pereira and Sajiv Nanda has not made any dent into the plight of the poor without shelter. It is high time that responsive, sensitive Govts and those rich exhibiting over concern instead of shedding crocodile’s tears, at least make arrangement for token shelter at least for nights, Nothing is ever heard about it for the past 13 years or more since independence or even after the above tragic incidents The night shelter for homeless is neither a priority or necessity in the schemes of Govt, More such incidents are likely to happen may be not only due to rash, drunken driving, but mechanical failures, tyre busts etc
In Parliament the BJP MP`s are ensconced in five star hotel comfort for over a year costing 25 crores of public money, while on the street of Delhi, innumerable deaths on pavements have occurred due to biting cold and scorching heat, but neither reported or highlighted and which are statistics of much greater magnitude. In far away Harayana MLA are demanding dole of 60 lakhs for a house wake up and open night shelters , so that homeless need a place and not a pity Two personalities that raised and oblique questions are being hauled unreasonably Hit the issue right on the head and immediately provide shelters for night , it is not bombastic demand in all major cities of India, where the poorest of poor try to eke out a mere substandard living, but humanitarian need to prevent recurrence of such deaths are paramount Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
