ActionAid UK
Buddhi Lal ragpicking before dawn
Buddhi Lal, 30 works before dawn collecting refuse to recycle and resell. Known as 'rag-picking' he can make perhaps Rs150-200 a day. New Delhi, India.
Until a few years ago, urban poverty, whilst being starkly visible to the policy makers in India, received far less attention from the Indian government than rural poverty, both in terms of range of intervention and the scale of financial outlay. Despite evidence of burgeoning urban population, fuelled by distress migration that followed the new economic policies during early Nineties, it remained an area of significant and persistent neglect from public policy.
In March of the year 2000, a group of young people and committed social workers, with support from ActionAid India, came together under the banner of ‘Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan (AAA)’ . The initiative is set to stop exploitation and marginalization of the homeless people in Delhi, with the aim to empower, mobilise and strengthen the capacity of the homeless so that they can assert their rights and live with honour and dignity.
Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan runs 12 regular shelters in buildings provided by the Delhi government. 7 of these shelters are run on ‘pay to use’ basis while 5 are being run without any user fee.
Other work done by AAA during 2010:
A free legal aid mechanism at Delhi Beggars Court was set up to provide legal aid to the inmates arrested under Bombay Prevention of Begging Act.
Education for homeless children:
Twelve homeless children completed their 6 years of formal education from MCD Schools (state supported school). This group of children is based at Fatehpuri shelter where they are supported with 24 hour shelter, food, tuition, counselling and recreation etc. The direct cost of education (e.g text books etc.) was covered by the State but the other expenses of education like school uniforms, clothing, food, and, healthcare etc. are being covered by donors recruited by AAA.
The Health Intervention Group for Homeless (HIGH)
This clinic has been providing health care to the homeless on every Monday and Thursday evening in Jama Masjid area. Through this clinic, more than 3000 homeless patients got free treatment, and 12 severely mentally ill homeless patients were referred to the exclusive Jama Masjijd clinic. Homeless people are also trained as health support workers to provide their services as care workers to patients at various hospitals.
The Chemical Dependents meeting.
This drug users meeting is organised at Urdu Park and Jama Masjid on every Wednesday evening, and at Fountain Chowk shelter on every Friday evening. From these sessions the patients get referred to the Health Intervention Group for Homeless clinic (HIGH). Continued attendance to these meetings is mandatory for those patients referred and treated at the HIGH clinic.
Photo: Stuart Freedman/ActionAid
©2011 Stuart Freedman
Buddhi Lal ragpicking before dawn
Buddhi Lal, 30 works before dawn collecting refuse to recycle and resell. Known as 'rag-picking' he can make perhaps Rs150-200 a day. New Delhi, India.
Until a few years ago, urban poverty, whilst being starkly visible to the policy makers in India, received far less attention from the Indian government than rural poverty, both in terms of range of intervention and the scale of financial outlay. Despite evidence of burgeoning urban population, fuelled by distress migration that followed the new economic policies during early Nineties, it remained an area of significant and persistent neglect from public policy.
In March of the year 2000, a group of young people and committed social workers, with support from ActionAid India, came together under the banner of ‘Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan (AAA)’ . The initiative is set to stop exploitation and marginalization of the homeless people in Delhi, with the aim to empower, mobilise and strengthen the capacity of the homeless so that they can assert their rights and live with honour and dignity.
Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan runs 12 regular shelters in buildings provided by the Delhi government. 7 of these shelters are run on ‘pay to use’ basis while 5 are being run without any user fee.
Other work done by AAA during 2010:
A free legal aid mechanism at Delhi Beggars Court was set up to provide legal aid to the inmates arrested under Bombay Prevention of Begging Act.
Education for homeless children:
Twelve homeless children completed their 6 years of formal education from MCD Schools (state supported school). This group of children is based at Fatehpuri shelter where they are supported with 24 hour shelter, food, tuition, counselling and recreation etc. The direct cost of education (e.g text books etc.) was covered by the State but the other expenses of education like school uniforms, clothing, food, and, healthcare etc. are being covered by donors recruited by AAA.
The Health Intervention Group for Homeless (HIGH)
This clinic has been providing health care to the homeless on every Monday and Thursday evening in Jama Masjid area. Through this clinic, more than 3000 homeless patients got free treatment, and 12 severely mentally ill homeless patients were referred to the exclusive Jama Masjijd clinic. Homeless people are also trained as health support workers to provide their services as care workers to patients at various hospitals.
The Chemical Dependents meeting.
This drug users meeting is organised at Urdu Park and Jama Masjid on every Wednesday evening, and at Fountain Chowk shelter on every Friday evening. From these sessions the patients get referred to the Health Intervention Group for Homeless clinic (HIGH). Continued attendance to these meetings is mandatory for those patients referred and treated at the HIGH clinic.
Photo: Stuart Freedman/ActionAid
©2011 Stuart Freedman