Beating the heat, beautifying city: Top cop tells officers to move homeless to shelters

New Delhi: Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora has asked senior cops to initiate a special drive to shift homeless individuals residing on streets to shelters run by DUSIB. The move aims to prevent heatstroke-related deaths and support the city's beautification efforts, sources said.
An order issued by the commissioner read, "In spite of sustained efforts, the problem of homeless squatters on medians of major arterial roads and under various flyovers and underpasses still persists. A special drive should be initiated to ensure that the maximum possible number of homeless squatters are shifted to the nearest Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board shelters with due dignity."
Details of all such homeless squatters will be verified and documented. Police will also assist them in getting registered for accommodation at the shelters. Police sources said the beat staff concerned shall be provided with a list of such shifted and registered homeless squatter persons, with the direction to check their availability and continuation at the shelter every alternate day. "The result of this exercise is to be submitted by April 30," the sources added.
Also, there is a plan for availing the services of Delhi Home Guards to augment the manning of PCR vehicles. Discussions over the strength required, proposed shift timings, and the nature of duties that will be entrusted to them are underway. "To improve resource allocation, Delhi Police may deploy Home Guards as PCR vehicle drivers. However, the proposal is at a very initial stage," a senior officer said.
Meanwhile, senior cops have also been instructed to form ‘Boys Clubs' by identifying 20 local youths vulnerable to delinquency. "Police will promote positive engagement among the club members. The youths will be encouraged to take part in sports and other recreation activities through different events," the sources said. Each territorial police station will provide a list of potential candidates for enrolment. The club members will be in the age group of 14-18 years.
Senior officers have been directed to survey their areas to identify poorly lit spots and inform Delhi govt about streetlight installation. "Govt is in the process of installing new streetlights, so police will carry out a survey of places where streetlights do not exist.
Meanwhile, the traffic police have been asked to report on the status of decongestion work at 233 traffic bottlenecks. A list of such locations was earlier shared with Delhi govt.