Tuesday, 28 December 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
With the increasing cold, the number of destitute was expected to increase in the night shelters of Dehradun known as Rain Basera in the past two weeks but only a handful of people are staying there at present. There are four Rain Baseras under the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) but according to the official sources, there is no substantial increase in the number of people taking shelter during the chilling winter nights. The municipal official Vijay Negi informed that on average, five to seven people are staying in three Rain Baseras located near Lalpul, Transport Nagar and Chuna Bhatta on a daily basis. However, over 60 people including the homeless, beggars, laborers and vendors are currently staying in Rain Basera located near Chukkhu Mohalla on a regular basis as per Negi. He said, “The number of people in this night shelter always remains more than the others during winter. The numbers in the other three shelters always fluctuate but it never goes as high as the latter.” Taking about the arrangements in these shelter homes, the officials said that there are sufficient blankets and quilts for the people in all shelter homes and more are provided as per the requirement. They also informed that the corporation provides the weekly supply of about seven to 10 quintals of wood to each Rain Basera and more is provided as per the requirement. According to them, the corporation is also lighting bonfires at more than 30 places across the city during the night.
On the question of the cause of fewer people in most of the Rain Baseras, the Dehradun mayor Sunil Uniyal ‘Gama’ said that these numbers keep fluctuating every year at different locations every week but since the winter has started to become severe, more destitute will approach the Rain Baseras and the MCD will provide all the required facilities to them.
