The Hindu 01.11.2010
Plan to construct shelter for platform-dwellers
Special Correspondent
|
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.
