homeless women demand protection
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

India's poor suffer abuse

Homeless women demand protection

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Homeless women demand protection

Homeless women, children are subject to violence
New Delhi - Arab Today

Homeless women, children are subject to violence New Delhi - Arab Today Homeless women and children are most vulnerable on the streets of the Indian capital, where many of them are subjected to severe abuse and violence. Authorities have done little to alleviate their suffering. It has been a grueling fight for survival almost everyday for Shardha Sharma, a destitute homeless woman in her mid-30s. Shardha, who has made the unfriendly streets of Delhi her home for nearly 16 years, claims she is lucky to be alive. "I have been kicked, abused, tortured, all possible humiliation has been heaped on me and nobody has come to my help. All responsible authorities turn a blind eye," Shardha tells DW. She points to an eight-inch scar on her stomach that she sustained while battling a mugger who knifed her while trying to steal her meager possessions a couple of years ago. Like Shardha, Kusum, another homeless woman who has four children, has faced all forms of abuse from the police and hoodlums who don't allow to her to live in peace. She came to Delhi almost a decade ago from the northeastern state of Assam in search of a job. "It has been a living hell. Every night I sleep in fear, not knowing who will trample my body and dignity. I fear for my children even more," Kusum tells DW. Many of the horrendous stories told by the homeless women are strikingly similar. Thousands of women in Delhi who are homeless, anonymous and face humiliation on a daily basis, have come together to present their testimonies in a singular platform provided by the Shahri Adhikar Manch Begharon ke Saath, an organiSation fighting for the homeless this week. Statistics provided by the Delhi government reveal that there around 150,000 homeless people. Shelters in the city can only house a maximum of 9,000. Of this, 10,000 homeless women on Delhi's streets have only five shelters to rely on across the city. They battle not only the elements of the weather but also with repeated sexual and social abuse. Vulnerability to gender-based violence is compounded when there is a severe lack of public toilets and safe and secure spaces for them to bathe. Women thrown to the streets by violent spouses and female children who escape abuse are subjected to even more insecurities and violence on the streets. "The phenomenon of homelessness is one of the worst forms of urban poverty and social vulnerability, a glaring indicator of the failure of governance and the state's commitment to a welfare state," Amita Joseph told DW. She has been working in the legal and development sectors over two decades. Besides the indignities of violence they face, many homeless women and their families also suffer malnourishment and hunger. In certain localities of the city, some pointed out that local police only allow them to cook at night, which has significantly limited their food intake. According to the many testimonies, all homeless women suffer numerous forms of abuse, gender-based violence and discrimination. But there are also certain groups among homeless women who are even more vulnerable. These include women with disabilities and mental health problems, single women and women living with HIV/AIDS. "We have been constantly highlighting their plight. But the government seems unmoved and not willing to step in. After all, they are our city's home makers. They do all kinds of jobs to service the capital and homes here," Indu Prakash Singh of the Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), a voluntary organiSation, which works for the homeless people, said. in its part, the Delhi government said it was doing its best to rehabilitate the homeless. "We are doing our best to help them. But the problem of migration to Delhi is increasing every month," a senior government official told DW on conditions of anonymity. Figures indicate that urban India now has over 940,000 homeless people, a significant increase from 2001 census figures. The increase has caused urban homeless numbers to exceed that of rural homeless populations. But activists feel that the predicament in the capital is turning from bad to worse. Source: Deutsche Welle

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

homeless women demand protection homeless women demand protection

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

homeless women demand protection homeless women demand protection

 



GMT 10:52 2017 Wednesday ,18 January

Clocks 'failed' onboard Europe's navigation satellites

GMT 23:15 2017 Sunday ,17 December

Mohamed bin Zayed receives President of Montenegro

GMT 11:54 2017 Sunday ,12 November

Nawaz Sharif holds meeting at Jati Umra

GMT 04:54 2017 Saturday ,14 October

Syrians should decide Assad's fate: UN envoy

GMT 00:13 2017 Thursday ,23 November

President expresses grief over martyrdom of Maj. Ishaq

GMT 10:11 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

Venezuela poll results a 'strong message' to US, allies

GMT 13:20 2017 Sunday ,19 February

Actor Bassam Ali rejects works violating ethics

GMT 13:06 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Super Rugby has plenty to tackle in 2017

GMT 15:03 2017 Saturday ,11 March

Iraqi forces storm Old Mosul from 3 axis

GMT 15:55 2017 Tuesday ,25 July

Morocco’s coach underlines difficulty

GMT 10:49 2016 Saturday ,03 December

Australia's Maxwell fined for 'disrespectful' teammate

GMT 12:58 2017 Sunday ,27 August

Consumers warned against random abattoirs
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday