Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan

Working for the empowerment of the Homeless in Delhi since 2000

Our Beginning and ApproachWe are working on the issue of Homelessness in Delhi since 2000. We work with the homeless people in and around Delhi motive of Empowering them and helping them the join the mainstream society.

Aim

Mobilize, Empower and strengthen homeless so that they can assert their rights and live with honor and dignity.

Make citizens and the State value inalienable rights of homeless and their responsibility towards dignity of homeless.

Beginning Work

We began by conducting a survey of the homeless people in the Delhi region. At that time we counted 52,276 homeless people in Delhi. Considering the rapid growth in population and urbanization we can estimate the magnitude of the problem we are dealing with.

In year 2000 itself we started our night out program for the assistance of the homeless people in Delhi during night

Our Organization

Our OperationsShelters

In running our shelter management operations our key mantra is sustainability. AAA runs shelters in the following kind of buildings:Permanent shelters in buildings provided by the DUSIB.Temporary shelters in buildings provided by the DUSIB during winters.Temporary shelters in the tents erected by the Government during winters

Facilities Provided 24 hours shelter Placements of music system and TV Better cleanliness Monthly Panchayat at Shelters Postal Service

Free for children and elderly Medical Facilities Canteen Identity Cards Capacity building of the homeless

AAA winter campaign has served 34 lakh homeless people in the biting winter of Delhi

Empowering Homeless by Collective Actions

• In Shelters

• Regular street meetings

• Formation of Collectives

• Panchayats

• Mahapanchayat

• Capacity building Progms

• Sharing Sessions

• Festival celebrations

• Skill based trainings

• Theater ,Cultural group

Citizenship Id-Voter Id ,ATM

• On Street

Our OperationsLaw Research and Advocacy

Law Research and Advocacy focuses on the facilities of the law which are adversely affecting the lives of the homeless. The following functions are performed:Providing legal aid to the homeless people of Delhi.Understanding various laws against homeless people and actively challenging themCoordinating with the government so that future laws are favorable to the homeless.

The intervention currently focuses on the Bombay prevention of Begging Act 1959 which criminalizes homelessness in the name of preventing begging

Each year our legal aid program reaches out to more than 2000 people.Intervention at beggar court: 2000+ casesAppellate court: 80 cases ( all released)

Research and Documentation

Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan has been undertaking primary research to find out the needs, aspirations and problems of homeless people using participatory research tools. AAA also brings out various types of publications for society as well as for homeless people like reports, updates, etc.

Our OperationsHealth Outreach

Homeless Mentally Ill

AAA also runs a program for the mentally ill people. Metropolitan Magistrate is present at our clinic providing the necessary orders for the treatment of the mentally ill.

AAA brings the mentally ill to the clinics for treatment and tries to maintain proper records for continued treatment.

AAA runs a mobile health outreach clinic at the following locations:Jama Masjid (Mon & Thurs 7-9 pm)Araambagh (Tuesday 7-8 pm)We provide street based medical counseling and also works on building cadres of volunteers to reach homeless people more effectively

Each year the Health Outreach program of AAA provides medical assistance to thousands. Here are a few figures:Medical Treatment -250000 peopleEmergency Hospitalization – 150+ casesSpecial treatment for mentally ill – 100 casesDe addiction clinic -2500 cases

Our OperationsSensitization

One of major goals of AAA is to make the general population aware of the plight of the homeless. This will help in achieving better support and empathy for the homeless in the general population. AAA has worked with the following institutes to generate better awareness and sensitization of general population for the plight of homeless

Indian Institute of foreign trade School of Planning and Architecture Colleges ,Schools, Police stations

Social work school /college Councilors ,Legislature ,M.Ps..

The Sensitization Process

Identity Issue

AAA believes that Identity is the major issue and will lead to massive empowerment of the homeless. Hence we are trying to solve this problem in the following way:AAA photo ID cards & Election Commission ID cards.Bank ATM Debit Card facilities for the homeless- in 2009-10 2000 ATM cards were issued

Milestones

Milestones

Milestones

Priorities for the Future Research ,Documentation and Publications of AAA work

Expansion of AAA work in central and north India .

Capacity building on the Homeless issue .

Road Show for awakening homeless by Beghar Adhikar Yatra .

Work together with State on comprehensive policy/legislation on homelessness

Challenges

Homeless is not a political constituency .. Yet

Mobile population therefore difficult to work with

Not many existing successful models of ground level intervention

Lack of identity is a problem in getting benefit of state schemes

Thank You