Meant to house the homeless of the State capital, Raen Baseras in the city exude an aura of mismanagement. Broken window panes, no one to look after the sanitation and hygiene of structure, bedding and lighting still a luxury – this is the prevalent picture in most of the doss houses of Ranchi.

To turn this scenario on its head, Urban Development Department has empanelled a roster of non-government organisations (NGO) to take over the operation and management of shelters homes for urban homeless across the State presently catering to the needs of numerous without a place to rest their heads.

A total of 22 NGOs have been selected to supervise the maintenance and functioning of night shelters in Jharkhand, informed Ameet Kumar, Director (Municipal Administration). Six NGOs have been empanelled to handle eight rain baseras in Ranchi.

Previously managed by Sulabh International, a social service organisation, RMC was named the managing authority for the Raen Baseras before the onset of winter last year. Considering the shortage of hands to take the responsibility of maintaining these shelter houses, it was decided to hand over the task to private agencies.

Sahyogini and Sbeng Red have been nominated to take care of two shelter homes each – the former will look after ones in Madhukam and near Pahari Mandir, whereas the latter has been given the responsibility of those in Bakri Bazaar and premises of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.

Samarpan Charitable Trust, Sunrise, Citizen Foundation and Active Social Development Foundation have been named to see to doss houses in Seva Sadan Road, Jagannathpur, Doranda and Dhurwa respectively.

“The basic job profile for the empanelled NGOs will be operation and management of shelters for urban homeless. We are in the process of assigning tasks to the selected organisations,” stated Jitendra Jha, State Mission Manager of Urban Development Department.

The NGOs will be given `48,000 in form of guarantees for maintenance of each rain basera assigned to them.