Delhi's Homeless Brace for Displacement Ahead of High-Profile AI Summit
As Delhi readies itself to host an upcoming international AI summit, attracting high-profile dignitaries from around the globe, the city's most vulnerable residents—those living beneath flyovers, on footpaths, and along central verges—are bracing for their familiar, unwelcome ritual of being asked to temporarily "move aside" to present a polished urban facade. Authorities have directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to initiate the shifting of homeless individuals as part of broader measures to ensure smooth traffic flow, enhanced security, and general preparedness for the week-long event.
Daily Struggles Amidst Urban Glamour
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, visits to stretches near Lodhi Road, the Red Fort railway bridge, M G Road, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, and Bhairon Marg revealed a stark reality. Numerous people were seen resting, eating, playing cards, shaving, and changing clothes in the open. Most are migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Nepal, working as daily-wage labourers, ragpickers, or, in some instances, beggars. Many expressed reluctance to move into designated shelter homes, citing thefts and severe overcrowding as primary deterrents.
"The shelters are crammed. Also, money and personal belongings are often stolen from there," claimed a man residing on a footpath along M G Road. Others noted a preference for shelters over sleeping outdoors but are unable to access them due to a lack of identification documents. While no formal requests for displacement have been made specifically for the AI summit yet, these individuals report that temporary relocation during VVIP movements is a common occurrence.
Voices from the Streets: Cooperation and Concerns
Krishna, a 43-year-old who lives near the Red Fort railway bridge and works with a team pitching tents for weddings and events, shared his experience. "Whenever dignitaries pass from this stretch, police ask us to clear it for some time. We cooperate. After all, this is not our personal land," he said, reflecting a resigned acceptance of the situation.
Ashok Ram, a 40-year-old from Bihar who sleeps on an M G Road footpath, echoed this sentiment. "We stay here, so in a way it feels like home. We work here and there, and we sleep wherever we find space. However, when I was first asked to shift to another place ahead of the visit of a dignitary, it felt disturbing. Now, we are used to it. If they ask us to cooperate, we do," he explained, highlighting the emotional toll of repeated displacements.
An elderly couple near Hanuman Mandir, close to the Red Fort flyover, recounted how police typically ask them to vacate the area for hours or days during major nearby events. Pooja, 50, alleged a lack of space and safety in shelters, noting that her belongings had gone missing during previous stays. "Sometimes they drop us off at shelter homes, but we don't stay there for long," she said.
Specific Challenges: Disability and Documentation
Abdul, a 60-year-old originally from Kolkata, has been living intermittently near Bhairon Marg for nearly a year. Paralyzed in both legs after a stroke in 1981, he relies entirely on his wheelchair. "I have been staying outside a temple. If I am asked, I will shift somewhere else. We already live on the road without a roof. What more discomfort can there be?" he questioned. However, he expressed wariness about moving to a shelter, fearing theft of his wheelchair. "This wheelchair is my everything. If it is stolen, I can't even move around to get food. In shelters, there are so many people. I am scared I won't be able to keep it safe," he admitted. Despite his concerns, Abdul does not oppose potential relocation, acknowledging, "If guests visit the city, it must look good. We only want our things to be safe. Whatever little we have is everything for us."
Documentation issues further complicate access to shelters. Ram, a 37-year-old from Nepal who calls a space beneath the Lodhi Road flyover home and survives on daily labour and seasonal wedding work, stated, "I recently came from Nepal and don't have proper documents. Without proper papers, they don't let us in."
Government Response and Shelter Management
In response to these concerns, a senior government official involved in shelter management in Delhi emphasized that permanent shelter homes are equipped with locker facilities for safe storage of belongings. "There are caretakers at the centres. In large facilities, isolated incidents can happen, but security arrangements are in place," the official assured, aiming to address safety apprehensions among the homeless population.
As Delhi showcases its technological advancements at the AI summit, the plight of its homeless residents underscores ongoing challenges in urban governance and social welfare, calling for more inclusive and secure solutions for the city's most marginalized communities.
