Page 36 - SHELTER

POLICY REVIEW

ASSESSMENT AND MAPPING OF HOMELESSNESS

–A Comparative Study between India and Bihar

MR. BAIKUNTH ROY Access to food, clothes and shelter are could be facilitating shelters with
the fundamental human needs. While
affordable
necessary
amenities,
MS. VIDYA YADAV the government aims to ensure every housing, community housing, creating
citizen has a home by 2022, the number employment opportunities (more
of families that live on the streets of urban at the village level) and abolishing
The study found that India has grown. The findings of the discrimination.
the highest share present Study suggest that only about INTRODUCTION
11.86% urban homeless in India have
of homelessness is access to a shelter house. The Study also
observed in the state of compares and quantifies homelessness Everyone has the right to a standard
Uttar Pradesh, followed in India and Bihar. It found that the of living, adequate for the health
by Maharashtra, decadal growth among the homeless and well-being of himself and
of his family, including food,
Rajasthan, Madhya household of Bihar is much higher than clothing, housing and medical
Pradesh, and Andhra the national average. Interestingly, care and necessary social services;
Pradesh. The primary the maximum increase among both and the right to security in the
prevention from homeless households and the population event of unemployment, sickness,
homelessness could is in the rural areas of Bihar; however, disability, widowhood, old age, lack
the findings are opposite in the context
be affordable housing, of India. Further, the average household of livelihood or other circumstances
social housing, size of the homeless population has beyond his control.
creating employment fallen. Also, gender composition shows -Universal Declaration of
opportunities that homelessness is more among men Human Rights, article 25,
and demolishing than women. The state-level analysis para 1.
discrimination. shows that the five states of India, The shelter is an essential human
namely, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, requirement. Homelessness
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and perhaps is the most visible
Key Words: Homelessness; livelihood; Andhra Pradesh are home to more violation of the right to adequate
labour; destitution, DAY-NULM, than half of the homeless population of housing. A home provides roots,
Bihar the country. Further, the employment identity, and a sense of belonging
outcomes of homeless people are higher and a place of emotional
Mr. Baikunth Roy (baikunthroy@ than that of the total population of wellbeing. Homelessness is
gmail.com) is Assistant Professor, PG the country, which reflects distress
Department of Economics, College of participation. Moreover, due to the about the loss of all of these
Commerce, Arts and Science, Patliputra (Sattar 2014). Homeless
University, Patna. Ms. Vidya Yadav lack of reliable numbers of the homeless individuals are considered to be
(vidyayadav1821@gmail.com) is and abdication of accountability an ‘invisible burden’ to society.
Assistant Professor, Department of towards them, the homeless appear to Although widely considered to
Geography, Sardar Patel Memorial be neglected in public policies. Thus,
College, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda, Patliputra primary prevention from homelessness be a ‘social evil’, homelessness
University, Bihar. is more prevalent and neglected

34 HUDCO-HSMI Publication