Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 29: All activities in the city have come to a grinding halt, thanks to the lockdown-type curfew. Unlike last time, this time, temporary rehabilitation has not been arranged. But the two urban shelter centres for the homeless are available for temporary shelter.

One of these two shelters being run by an NGO, 'Suvarna Karnataka Janasnehi Vedike' under the city corporation administration, is located at Bunder and the other at Urwa. The shelter located at Urwa Women's Community Hall has been reserved for ladies. In the shelter located near the dock at Bunder, 16 destitute reside currently. This centre is big enough to accommodate 75 people. Those who are unable to go to their native places during the curfew period can stay here. At the Urwa facility, only four women are currently residing. The managers of these centres say that this centre can accommodate 15 women.

These centres have been set up with the aim of providing shelter to those who work in the city but have no places to stay, for a maximum period of 90 days. If those who stay here need food, that too is provided. Because of the prevailing coronavirus situation, they are kept separately and subjected to periodical health checks, said N P Shenoy, president of the Vedike.

The city does not have exclusive shelters for the homeless. They can stay temporarily in the urban shelters for the homeless. However, accommodating very sick people and mentally deranged ones in these facilities is a difficult proposition.