The bustling streets of Old Delhi, once thriving hubs of trade, now double as makeshift homes for thousands of homeless labourers and rickshaw pullers.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – In the heart of the national capital, Old Delhi stands as a testament to centuries of culture and commerce. Yet, beneath the grandeur of its ancient walls lies a modern-day crisis: an overwhelming population surge has made the authorities struggle to provide shelter and other amenities to its hundreds of thousands of have-nots.
With an area spanning 932 sq. km. and a population exceeding 1.1 million, Old Delhi grapples with the weight of its own history and the burden of its present reality. The bustling streets, once thriving hubs of trade, now double as makeshift homes for thousands of homeless labourers and rickshaw pullers.
As dusk dawns, the city streets transform into makeshift shelters, where the destitute lay their heads upon pavements worn by time. For some, this existence is not a temporary plight but a lifelong sentence, as documented by the Indian Census of 2011.
The vulnerability of the homeless population is exacerbated by a lack of access to basic necessities such as food, healthcare, and sanitation. In the face of a changing climate, the plight of the marginalised becomes even more dire, underscoring the urgent need for government intervention.
Despite efforts to provide temporary shelters, the government’s response has been inadequate. Rising population and inflation-induced poverty have only exacerbated the crisis, pushing more individuals onto the streets.
Mohammad Sadiq, a councilor from Old Delhi, acknowledges the challenges facing the area. “The streets of Chandni Chowk, frequented by the poor, pose numerous problems,” he told Clarion India. While night shelters have been set up, they fail to adequately meet the needs of the needy, often becoming sanctuaries for substance abuse rather than safe havens for those in need.
Marufa, a mother of three who resides on the roadside, echoes these sentiments. “The shelters meant for the homeless serve little purpose,” she laments. “Instead of providing refuge to those genuinely seeking help, they are overrun by individuals struggling with drug addiction.”
The plight of Old Delhi’s homeless underscores not only a failure of governance but also a moral imperative to provide for the most vulnerable members of society. As the city grapples with its past and present, the path forward lies in concerted efforts to address the root causes of homelessness and provide sustainable solutions for those in need. Until then, the ancient streets of Old Delhi will continue to be a witness to the struggles of its forsaken inhabitants.
