The Hindu 01.11.2010
Plan to construct shelter for platform-dwellers
| In Deter Line at a cost of Rs.10 lakh as per Supreme Court guidelines |
VELLORE: The Vellore Corporation has decided to construct a night shelter for platform-dwellers in Deter Line here at a cost of Rs.10 lakh, as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court which has directed all local bodies in the country to ensure proper shelters including bathroom and toilet facilities, and food for such dwellers.
K.R. Selvaraj, Commissioner of the Corporation told TheHindu on Sunday that the work on the shelter would commence within a week. The Corporation would have a tie-up with a non-governmental organisation for the maintenance of the shelter and provision of food and vocational training to those in need of the same. As per the Supreme Court guidelines, the Corporation took a census of the platform-dwellers in the city. The census which was completed about four months ago, revealed that there about 110 platform-dwellers in Vellore.
In pursuance to the Supreme Court guidelines, the Tamil Nadu government has now asked the Vellore Corporation to conduct a fresh survey of the platform-dwellers. The questionnaire prepared by the government for the survey seeks to elicit information from the already covered platform-dwellers as well as new platform-dwellers on their physical and mental condition (whether they were physically or mentally challenged), their occupation if any, source of income for sustenance, whether they were living with family, whether they are in need of vocational training and whether they are capable of undergoing vocational training, their employability, and whether they required food. The staff of the Corporation have commenced the survey which would cover beggars, the physically and mentally challenged platform-dwellers as well as migrant and homeless workers and labourers.
