The Delhi Government has launched an extensive Winter Action Plan to provide safe shelter to homeless and underprivileged citizens during the cold months.
The Government has set up 250 new temporary shelters across the city in addition to the existing 197 permanent ones, aiming to ensure that no one is forced to sleep under the open sky.
The plan will be implemented from November 15 to March 15. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government was determined to protect the city’s most vulnerable residents.
“The Delhi Government is sensitive towards the needs of the poor, as they are often the hardest to reach,” she said while announcing the initiative. “We will ensure that no citizen sleeps under the open sky this winter. These shelters are not merely roofs over one’s head but symbols of dignity and safety. Our government is committed to giving every homeless individual an equal opportunity to live with respect,” she added.
Under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), the city currently operates 197-night shelters. Of these, 153 are for men, 17 for women, 19 for families and children and eight for special categories such as people affected by HIV, tuberculosis, or drug addiction.
Each shelter has been equipped with beds, mattresses, sheets, pillows, blankets, lighting, mosquito-control devices, and clean drinking water. Women’s shelters are fitted with CCTV cameras for additional safety.
To expand capacity for the winter season, 250 temporary shelters have been prepared across 120 locations. These can collectively accommodate around 2,500 people, with the possibility of adding more if needed.
The shelters will be open around the clock and will offer warm bedding and hot water. The Chief Minister said rescue teams will operate every night to bring homeless persons from the streets to these shelters. GPS-enabled vans will patrol the city between 10 pm and 4 am, coordinating through a central control room. “Rescue teams will ensure that no one remains on the streets during harsh winter nights,” she said.
The Government has also introduced several technology-based systems to improve coordination and oversight. DUSIB uses the Rain Basera mobile application to help citizens report homeless people in distress.
The Night Shelter Inspection App (NSIA) is used by officials to monitor each shelter through GPS tracking and real-time data updates. The Chief Minister said digital tools will make rescue operations faster and more transparent. “We are using technology to ensure comfort and safety for the homeless and to keep the system efficient,” she said.
The Chief Minister said her government has also launched a new policy to raise the quality of services in the shelters. Agencies operating the facilities will now be selected through a quality- and cost-based evaluation process. They will be responsible for maintaining cleanliness, providing basic services, ensuring fire safety, and handling electrical and security systems. Attendance of shelter staff will be tracked through Aadhaar-based biometric systems to prevent negligence or absenteeism. Women’s and children’s shelters will also be linked with nearby Anganwadi centres so that residents can access health, nutrition and education services.
The Chief Minister said that monitoring and accountability were central to the plan. Shelter operations are regularly reviewed under the supervision of the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee, the Joint Apex Advisory Committee (JAAC), and DUSIB’s Chief Engineer.
