New Delhi- A recent parliamentary statement has shed light on the urban homeless population in India, revealing significant challenges in providing adequate shelter for city dwellers. According to data from the 2011 Census, approximately 9.38 lakh individuals in urban areas across the country lack permanent housing.

The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, provided a detailed breakdown of homelessness in a written response to the Lok Sabha. Uttar Pradesh stands out with the highest number of urban homeless, recording 1,80,929 individuals without shelter. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh follow, with 1,11,373 and 1,04,967 homeless people respectively.

Delhi, the national capital, accounts for 46,724 shelterless citizens. The government's current infrastructure includes 1,994 shelters under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), with a total capacity to accommodate 1.16 lakh people. An additional 722 non-NULM shelters can house 24,757 individuals.

The ministry acknowledges several challenges in addressing urban homelessness. These include difficulties in acquiring suitable land for new shelters, securing resources for long-term maintenance, and the complex social dynamics of homeless populations. Many homeless individuals are reluctant to leave their established living areas, and frequent migration further complicates rehabilitation efforts.

While the primary responsibility for providing shelters lies with individual states and union territories, the central government supports these efforts through the Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) component of DAY-NULM. The program aims to identify and rescue urban homeless people, with a goal of ensuring no individual is forced to spend nights in the open.

The Census data, collected on a decadal basis, provides crucial insights into the scale of urban homelessness, highlighting the ongoing need for comprehensive social welfare strategies.