Administration's apathy increases plight of homeless in Kolkata

Kolkata, Dec 13 (ANI): The plight of over one hundred thousand homeless people in the city remains invisible, as the state administration fails to trace their identification in the records.

The absence of identification papers and address proofs forces them to live on the pavements, beneath flyovers, along railway tracks and canal banks of the city.

According to the 2001 census, there were about 67,000 homeless people in the city but the figure has now risen to about one hundred thousand.

Most of these people are migrants and have been living in the city for about 30 to 35 years now, but they still don't possess any Identity card, ration card, Voter ID card or Below Poverty Line (BPL) card.

"We have been living here for about 30 to 35 years now. We work and earn money here only. We earn our livelihood by picking rags or working as domestic helps. We have no land or property back in our native place, which is why we have come here," said Ashra Bibi, a homeless woman.

According to Pramila Pavamani, Director of Kolkata Samaritans, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), which works for the cause of these homeless families, it is impossible to get hold of their identification papers and prove them as citizens of India.

She added that till now Kolkata Samaritans has only managed to get only Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards only for 15,000 homeless people in the city. (ANI)