The Homeless People of Kolkata

The Homeless

People of

Kolkata

A Study conducted by Sabuj Sangha

June 2014

The Study about Homeless People of Kolkata 2

Table of Contents

Serial

Titles

Page

1. Background 05

2. The Homeless People 06

3. The Study 08

3.1 The Area and Selection Criterion 08

3.2 The Findings 10

3.3 The Shelters for Homeless People 21

4. Rein Basera in Gujarat 22

5. References 29

6. The Organizations 30

6.1 Sabuj Sangha 30

6.2 Indo-Global Social Service Society 31

7. The Study Team 32

8. Contact Information 33


List of Acronyms

GUSDF

Gujarat United Slum Dwellers Federation

IGSSS Indo-Global Social Service Society

KMA Kolkata Metropolitan Area

KMC Kolkata Municipal Corporation

ULB Urban Local Body


Acknowledgements

Sabuj Sangha acknowledges the support and collaborations of these institutions:

The Kolkata Police

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation

Gujarat United Slum Dwellers Federation

SWAMAN TRUST, Bharuch, Gujarat

Without their support the study couldn’t have been possible.


1. Background

The growing problem of homeless people in India is becoming worse by the day;

and, in the big cities (the Municipal / Metropolitan authorities) are facing this as

one of the main up-coming problems.

Every big Indian city’s population can be divided according to their residence in 3

major residential areas / types of habitations: planned / Government approved

houses and housing complexes, authorized / unauthorized slums and, makeshift

shanty-dwellers and homeless people.

Like all the major metropolitan cities of India Kolkata also has its own share of

homeless people living in very difficult situations. As part of the SHELTER

project in association with Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), a study

was conducted by Sabuj Sangha in November and December 2013, to assess the

present situation of the homeless people of Kolkata.


2. The Homeless People

Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People

who are homeless are most often unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe,

secure, and adequate housing, or they lack fixed, regular, and adequate night-time

residence.

The legal definition of the "homeless" varies from country to country, or among

different entities or institutions in the same country or region. The

term homeless may also include people that are mostly night-time residents in

a homeless shelter, a warming center, a domestic violence shelter, a vehicle

(including recreational vehicles and campers), cardboard boxes, a tent, tarpaulins,

or other ad hoc housing situations. The “homeless” may also include persons who

sleep in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping

accommodation for human beings.

There are up to 100 million people in the world who are homeless, of which 20

million to 40 million are adrift in major urban centers. The largest numbers live in

the developing countries. http://www.hic-net.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwelling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeless_shelter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warming_center

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardboard_boxes

http://www.hic-net.org/


In India too it’s a big problem. Now almost 300 million people are residents of the

country’s cities. Our three major cities are, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, and these

cities are home to about 17% of the world’s slum dwellers1. These cities also have

large number of people who are homeless.

According to the 2011 Census of India our most populated States / Union

Territories are: -

Serial State / Union Territory Population

1 Uttar Pradesh 19,95,81,477

2 Maharashtra 11,23,72,972

3 Bihar 10,38,04,637

4 West Bengal 9,13,47,736

5 Andhra Pradesh 8,46,65,533

The present study is been conducted at Kolkata the capital of the state of West

Bengal, to know about the situation of the homeless people of Kolkata.

1 UN-HABITAT, 2006: http://www.unhabitat.org/

According to the 2011 Census, there are 70,000 homeless people living in Kolkata, up from 55,000 in 2001. <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Kolkatas-poor-poorer-than-the-rest/articleshow/16367595.cms>

http://www.unhabitat.org/

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Kolkatas-poor-poorer-than-the-rest/articleshow/16367595.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Kolkatas-poor-poorer-than-the-rest/articleshow/16367595.cms


3. The Study

3.1 The Areas and Selection Criterion

To know about the

situation of the

homeless people of

this city in

November and

December 2013; a

rapid assessment

study was

conducted at all of

the 141 KMC

(Kolkata Municipal

Corporation)

wards2. The

process of

questionnaire

making, data

collection (all the

primary data about homeless people were collected through night visits), data

compilation and report writing all is done by the members of Sabuj Sangha.

For the present study the city of Kolkata has been divided into 5 areas consisting of

141 KMC wards: North 28, South 30, East 27, West 28 and, Central 28.

This division was made by the study team for the reasons of conducting this study

and it’s not an official distribution of the 141 wards of Kolkata by the KMC or the

Government of West Bengal.

North: Ward Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,

18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 41: total – 28 wards

2 The Commissioner, Kolkata Police and the Commissioner, Kolkata Municipal Corporation

were informed officially about the visit and, permission was obtained from the Kolkata Police

Head Quarters, at Lalbazar.


South: Ward Numbers 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96,

97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 110, 111, 112, 113,114, 115, 117 and

122: total – 30 wards

East: Ward Numbers 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 54, 55, 56, 57,

58, 59, 60, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 103, 106, 107, 108 and 109: total – 27 wards

West: Ward Numbers 79, 80, 81, 82, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124,

125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139,

140 and 141; total – 28 wards

Central: Ward Numbers 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,

52, 53, 61, 62, 63, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78: total – 28 wards

One simple format was developed for counting homeless people in 2 categories,

with breakups of male female and children: -

Sleeps under the open sky

Sleeps under plastic cover / in makeshifts homes

Note: - majority of the night visits were conducted in November 2013, and at that

time the weather was cold and dry; that is why many people could sleep under the

open sky with a cover of a blanket, and during the monsoon the number of people

sleeping under the open sky will change.


3.2 The Findings

The issue of shelter and slum development is a subject of decision and action for a

long time and many efforts have been made for development of slums and shelters

for the people living in the open and in risky places.

For our understanding we have divided the urban poor into 3 categories: -

Slums dwellers (both authorized and unauthorized)

Makeshift dwellers

Homeless

The first finding is that out 141 KMC wards homeless people were found in 118

wards, and in 23 KMC wards no homeless people were found during the night

visits.

In rapidly urbanizing India, urban homelessness is a growing concern. Over 286 million people are now inhabitants of the country’s cities; three of them, namely, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, are home to 17 percent of the world’s slum dwellers. – Courtesy “India: Urban Poverty Report 2009” and “UN-HABITAT, 2006”.


It shows that the population of homeless people is scattered all-over the city of

Kolkata. Some basic findings about them are: -

Rain, Cold and Heat makes life very difficult

No safety: belongings can get lost / stolen

Living conditions are very unhygienic

No legal right of staying / residing: eviction, harassment and torture come

from various sources: hooligans, Police, etc.

The 118 wards where the homeless people are living are Ward Numbers: -

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 20, 21, 22, 23,

24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44,

45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,

67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88,

90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107, 108, 109, 110,

111, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128,

130, 131 and 141.

The 23 KMC wards with no homeless people are Ward Numbers: -

35, 56, 58, 78, 80, 89, 91, 98, 105, 106, 112, 114, 122, 129, 132, 133, 134,

135, 136, 137, 138, 139 and 140.

At least 78 million people are homeless in India despite the country growing in global economic stature. There was a reported shortage of 18.78 million houses in the country around the census year of 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_India>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_India


The definition of homeless – the Census of India defines houseless people as the persons who are not living in census houses. The latter refers to a structure with roof, hence the enumerators are instructed by Census officials to take note of the possible places where the houseless population is likely to live, such as on the roadside, pavements, drainage pipes, under staircases, or in the open, temple-mandaps, platforms and the like (Census of India, 1991: 64). This part of the population includes those sleeping without shelter, in constructions not meant for habitation and in welfare institutions (United Nations 1999).


The total number of homeless people found sleeping on the streets of Kolkata

during the study is 39,431 persons and among them about 55% (21,759) sleep

under the open sky and about 45% (17672) sleep under plastic cover / makeshifts

homes. The Gender breakups: -

The total number of homeless people.


The total number of people who sleep under the open sky.


The total number of people who sleep under plastic cover / in makeshifts homes.


Kolkata is a very

populated city, in

way it’s over

populated:

Kolkata

Metropolitan

Area3 (KMA)

was projected at

17 million in

2011, 20 million

in 2021 and 21.1

million in 2025.

The map of

KMA: -

3 Kolkata Metropolitan Area should not be confused with Kolkata District as Kolkata

Metropolitan Area is larger than Kolkata district or Kolkata City. Kolkata District and Kolkata

City are same. The Kolkata Metropolitan Area consists of Kolkata District along with some of

the Sub-urban areas. Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) extended due North up to Kalyani

(Nadia district) and Bansberia (Hooghly district), in the South up to Budge Budge (South 24

Parganas district), due East up to Baruipur (South 24 Parganas), and in the West up to Uluberia

(Howrah district). Kolkata Metropolitan Area consists of 3 Municipal Corporations (including

Kolkata Municipal Corporation) and 38 Municipalities and 22 rural Panchayat Samities.


As per the report published by the Census of India on March 31, 2011, the state of

West Bengal has got a total population of 91, 347, 736, and it’s approximately 7.55

% of the country's total population4. It is the fourth most populous state in India,

with a population density of 1029 persons per square kilometer. In the cities the

density is higher. Around 8000 persons live within a square kilometer in the

Kolkata Metropolitan Area.

Out of 141 KMC wards 24 wards are considered as wards with high concentration

of people (these 24 wards are within the 118 wards where homeless people are

living), and the areas are: -

In these 24 wards the total numbers of homeless people are 26,825 and it’s 68.03%

of the total number of homeless people (39,431) that we have found during this

study.

It follows that the interventions for the development of urban poor will mostly

concentrate within these 24 KMC wards, and that’s approximately more than 20%

of the city’s geographical area.

4 The population of India according to the Census of 2011 is 1,210,193,422, and 7.55% of that is

91,369,603.36.


The area wise breakups: -

North: Ward Nos. 8 – 6, 7, 12, 15, 16, 20, 22 and 27

Ward No. 6

7 12 15 16 20 22 27

Homeless

People

835

592

925

945

470

1,167

727

332

South: Ward Nos. 1 – 83

Ward No. 83

Homeless People 382

East: Ward Nos. 7 - 29, 33, 34, 36, 55, 59 and 65

Ward No.

29 33 34 36 55 59 65

Homeless

People

3,428

388

303

7,703

1,246

1,127

407

West: 0

Central: Ward Nos. 8 – 38, 43, 44, 45, 48, 61, 72 and 75

Ward No.

38 43 44 45 48 61 72 75

Homeless

People

330

715

1,701

463

304

1,010

362

963


The location of the 24 KMC wards where the maximum numbers of homeless

people are found: the areas are marked in Purple.


To understand the

social side of the

story of these

underprivileged

people the

interviews with

homeless and

makeshift dwellers

were conducted in a

very informal

manner: -

The outline of

questions

“How long you have been living here?”

“Where is your original home?”

“Why you have come to this city?”

“Have you been able to fulfill you aim of coming to this

city?”

“What are the main problems of living on the street?”

The major finding from this study is that the in-migration of poor people (mostly

from the rural areas) towards the city of Kolkata is the primary reason behind the

increase of population of homeless people, living on the streets of Kolkata.


3.3 The Shelters for Homeless People in Kolkata

Shelters in Kolkata:

presently there are 18 Night

Shelters in Kolkata to

support the needs of the

homeless people, out of

which 11 are operational.

Even if all 18 Night

Shelters are open and

running still it’s too little to

match the need of this city

and its homeless people.

The Supreme Court order dated 10.02.2010 mandated the following for all state governments and ULBs (Urban Local Bodies) for having population more than 5 lakhs.

All cities covered under JNNURM and above 5 lakhs, to have one 24hrs, 365 days a year, homeless shelter with a capacity of 100 persons for every one lakh population.

Basic amenities to include mattress, bed roll, blanket, potable drinking water, functional latrines, first aid, primary health facilities, deaddiction and recreation facilities etc.

30% of these to be special shelters (for women,

old and infirm, recovery shelters).


4. Rein Basera in Gujarat

The study conducted by Sabuj Sangha was about homeless people of Kolkata. We

didn’t have the opportunity to study the Shelters in Kolkata. A report is being

shared with us by a likeminded organization and some key information from that

report is included in this study.

Portions of the report by Gujarat United Slum Dwellers Federation (GUSDF)

The joint inspections of the shelters were carried out by Senior Government

officials from the State Urban Department, Municipal commissioners / Engineers

of the cities along with the Office of the Adviser for Gujarat to the Supreme

Court Commissioner and other civil society organizations especially Gujarat

United Slum Dwellers Federation / Slum Women’s Federation India (Zupadpatti

Mahila Sangthan) of Aahmedabad, Baroda and Surat, headquarters in Surat.

Along with the cities of Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat inspections were also

conducted in the cities of Vadodara, Bhavnagar, and Rajkot from the 4th

to the 18th

February 2012. The teams inspected all the shelters in the city of Ahmedabad,

Bhavnagar and Rajkot, and a representative sample in the cities of Vadodara and

Surat. Jamnagar which has a population of over 5 lacs (2011) was not on the list

and hence no inspection was carried out in the city and status of shelters in

Jamanagar is not known.

In particular the joint inspection team examined the following issues: the

presence of shelter, the stage of construction of the new shelters, location and

suitability of each structure, physical infrastructure and maintenance, facilities

and amenities available at the shelter, occupancy, management and

transparency arrangements in the shelters. In the operational shelters the teams

also had brief discussion with the staff managing the shelters and users regarding

the facilities, and security in the shelters.


Table – 1) Shelters in Cities of Gujarat

Name of

the city

No. of

Shelters

required

in cities

over 5

lac pop

@ per 1

lac pop

as per

2011

census

No. of

Shelters

required in

cities over 5

lac pop @

per 1 lac

pop as per

2011

provisional

census

Total No of

Shelters as

per ground

verification

by joint

inspection

team

Number of

shelters under

construction

as per report

of joint

inspection

Total

estimated

Shelter

capacity

Required

capacity

@ 100 per

persons

shelter

Ahmedabad 45 56 45 44 1960 4500

Vadodara 14 17 16 10 295 of 5

operational

500

Surat 28 45 28 3 1021 2800

Rajkot 9 13 8 7 259 900

Bhavnagar 5 6 5 1 1021 500

Total 101 143 102 65 4556 9200

The city of Jamnagar along with 22 other urban cities in Gujarat having

populations over one 100,000:-

Kalol, Gandhinagar, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Palanpur, Deesa, Patan, Mehsana,

Surendranagar, Morvi, Gondal, Jetpur, Veralval, Junagadh, Amreli, Botad,

Anand, Nadiad, Godhra, Bharuch, Navsari and Valsad.

Table – 2) Amenities in Shelters and Observations

Name of the

city

Basic amenities in shelters- toilets, water

beds, mattresses

Observations

Ahmedabad Water, Drainage and Electricity connections

have been put in place by the corporation.

Mattresses sets will be ordered shortly.

All the shelters in Ahmedabad

are new permanent

constructions (largely under

flyovers, three buildings on


The Municipal corporation plans to send its

Urban Health Service mobile vans to make at

least one visit per day to each of the shelters

apart from equipping the shelters with first

aid kits.

plots) are at the final stages of

construction. The Municipal

corporation plans to hand over

the shelters to NGO’s to be

operational from April 2012.

Toilet Access for differently

abled people needs to be

ensured in the shelters.

Shelters needed for migrant

worker families at locations

indicated in the previous joint

inspection report. Some

shelters should also be

earmarked for especially

vulnerable ill, destitute and

street children after mapping

of the homeless in the city.

Vadodara Basic amenities of toilets, water and electric

connections, dhurries are available in the

renovated community centres.

The existing five shelters

renovated from old

community centres have been

made operational recently,

hence occupancy is poor.

The shelters for families,

single men and women need

to be earmarked after a

mapping of the homeless. The

new shelters under

construction have reached

plinth level and must

incorporate access for persons

with disability.

Surat 25 of the 28 shelters are constructed over pay

and use toilets. Electric connections are in

place along with dhurries and sheets.

The shelters look like

temporary structures, having

tin roofs and grills for walls.

There is inadequate protection

from elements. The

corporation has started to put

in sheets to cover the sides

after the inspections by the

State Government. The

shelters are only open for use

at night as per their rules.


All these shelters are difficult

to access by the old and

people with disabilities.

These are also unsafe for

women due to their location.

The total estimated capacity of

the shelters is very low

especially in the light of the

fact that it is one of the largest

growing urban centres in the

state. Hence there is a need to

construct new shelters with

adequate facilities after

mapping of the homeless

population for suitable

location.

Rajkot The existing shelters have drainage, water

and electric connections except the one on Aji

Dam. There are raised platforms being

constructed in the shelters as beds, providing

storage space below.

Six of the eight shelters are in

East Zone of the city only.

There is a need to locate the

shelters in different parts of

the city where there is

concentration of homeless

such as Gondal Rd&

Chowkdi, Bhaktinagar Rly

Station, Jamnagar Road. The

shelters need to be converging

services of health, nutrition

and care of the most

vulnerable populations like

children, old persons, people

with illness& addiction.

Bhavnagar Basic facilities like beds, mattresses, toilets

drinking water available.

Recreational facilities, food, post box

facilities are not yet done.

The shelter at the Railway

station is well utilized by men,

not used by women currently

at all. Restrictions to the

destitute and ill are keeping

them out of reach. Currently

adequate infrastructure to

cover estimated homeless

population in phase 1 as per

the courts orders.


The first round of survey in August 2013

An assessment of Rein Baseras of Surat city is done by representatives of Gujarat

United Slum Dwellers Federation (GUSDF) along with Municipal Commissioner

of Surat city. The survey in Vadodara city was done by GUSDF members only.

During August 3,4, and 5, 2013, a night assessment or inspection visits have been

done to 26 Rein Basera (Night Shelter) out of 28 existed (93 %) in Surat city as

well 4 Rein Basera out of 6 ( 67 %), in Vadodara City. The Rein Basera or Night

Shelters have been constructed in the city after the order of honorable Supreme

Court of India. The serious note have been taken that, the Supreme Court’s order

to provide basic facilities in Night Shelters have been largely taken for a granted in

the city of Surat as well Vadodara. There seems no sincerity and administrative or

political will of the State or city administration in the context of Night Shelters for

the homeless in the cities of Surat and Vadodara particularly. It proves merely a

mockery.

Findings of Surat City: -

The findings from Surat are given below: -

There exists 28 Night Shelters in Surat city, and it is notable that NONE of the

Rein Basera is FIT and FINE to stay for girls and women!! In every Night Shelter

(constructed on the first floor of existing PAY & USE Sauchalaya), the latrines and

bathing facilities are common at the ground floor, maintained by Care Takers. At

44 % Night Shelters, the Care Taker found Drunk at night! Other illegal male

occupants like relatives of Care Taker also found in the night shelters.

Further No particular Register found well maintained in any of Surat’s NS. There

is NIL entry by Women user!

In our 3 day night inspection to the Rein Basera and find out homeless people of

Surat city, we found 1894 homeless men, women and children sleeping under the

bridges, railway station, foot paths, bus stands, carts, auto rickshaws and so on.

The number can be increased hugely, if the whole city to be inspected.

The found homeless are the people from demolished slums, other state’s workers

in various works, sick and destitute people, and so on.


9 Night Shelters (32 %) found used by the same regular gents users as RENTAL

Shelters, with cooking and other homely arrangements by known once, relative, or

migrants unaffordable to pay rental home in the city.

Large numbers of Homeless found nearby Night Shelters, where they are not

allowed to stay with various reasons. Higher charges demanded by Care Takers to

use Rein Basera.

We were denied a chance to stay in 11 -Rein Basera by caretakers, without any

reasons.

Total 67 % Night Shelters found CLOSED in pathetic, dirty, unhygienic and

unused conditions.

Surprisingly, during inspection we found that every there is a garbage container

full with fouling stuffs near Rein Basera (Pay & Use Sauchalaya)

We did find any sleeping mats, clean drinking water, First Aid Box, Medical

referrals information, Post Box, News Paper availability in any Night Shelter

during inspection.

Most of the Care Takers found Hindi Speaking from UP and Bihar having contacts

with other Rein Basera’s Care Takers, and allowing the people from UP and Bihar

and not local Gujarati speaking homeless.

In every Night Shelter, the name of Care Taking organization has been written, but

the Rein Basera is being run by the Third Party, another than Care Taking

organization directly.

Only at 2 Night Shelters (7 %) had wretched Register to regular entry of Night

Shelter users. Most of the users are found same, using Rein Basera for the months.

No Regular Record or Other Information available to any Rein Basera.

There exist no mechanisms or management system of Surat Municipal Corporation

to make effective and optimum use of Rein Basera by the city homeless.


There is NIL availability of Model Rein Basera envisaged by the Supreme Court

found in Surat, which is the highest revenue earning city of Gujarat, to have

highest migration flow to the city for the employment.

There exists great need to sensitize Surat Municipal Corporation to be sensitized

on urban homelessness.

Findings of the Vadodara City: -

The findings are very short in nature, but very significant to show us the present

situation of Rein Basera’s: out of 6 Rein Basera in Vadodara city, the following

were visited by the GUSDF members at midnight of August 10, Saturday 2013.

1. Atladara Pani Ni Tanki

2. Nava Yard Chani Amarnagar

3. Nava Yard Under Chani Bridge

4. Under Vishwamitry Bridege

All of them are out of use for the homeless: nonfunctional. No body was found in

Rein Baseras who provide any information to the team which can become part of

this report: in way this a very good finding about the Rein Baseras in Vadodara

city.

The second round of survey in March 2014

To see the present situation of Rein Baseras of Surat city again another round of

visits were conducted along with an external resource person on March 31, 2014,

on a random basis we visited 3 Rein Baseras to see what is situation in comparison

with the last visit in August 2013.

The findings are same there is no change in the situations of the Rein Baseras in

last 8 months.

Courtesy: SWAMAN TRUST, Bharuch, Gujarat: partner organization of GUSDF


5. References

For making of this report beside the findings by Sabuj Sangha from the survey and

main 3 documents that are used for this report are: -

The national report on homelessness December 2011, 2012

A report on the urban homeless in India, 2011

The Report about the Slums of Kolkata, 2013

The Report of Gujarat United Slum Dwellers Federation / Slum Women’s

Federation India (Zupadpatti Mahila Sangthan) about Shelters / Rein Baseras

in Aahmedabad-Baroda-Surat, Gujarat


6. The Organizations

6.1 Sabuj Sangha

Sabuj Sangha is a non-profit, non-government development organization

committed to improving the lives of people less fortunate in West Bengal, India,

through participation and empowerment. Registered in 1975 under the West

Bengal Societies Registration Act 1961, Sabuj Sangha was originally established in

1954 in the Sundarban region of South 24 Parganas district of the State. The

organization has grown significantly into a vibrant organization since, spreading

north throughout South 24 Parganas, Kolkata and into Jalpaiguri district of West

Bengal.

The organization works for the development of marginalized people living in un-

served and under-served areas to improve their quality of life holistically through

its intervention in multiple sectors catering to the needs of vulnerable communities.

Sabuj Sangha believes that there is no simple solution to poverty. In order to

overcome poverty, it is necessary to address the range of issues that poor people

face on a daily basis. For this reason, Sabuj Sangha adopts an Integrated

Sustainable Development Model. It addresses burning issues of the communities in

five major thematic areas;

Health and Nutrition

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Education and Protection

Livelihood and Women’s Empowerment

Environment and Disaster Response


6.2 Indo-Global Social Service Society

Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) is a non-profit organization working

with the mandate for a humane social order based on truth, justice, freedom and

equity. Established in 1960, IGSSS works for development, capacity building and

enlightenment of the vulnerable communities across the country for their effective

participation in development.


7. The Study Team

The Principal Investigator: Mr. Ansuman Das, Director

Total 8 persons were involved with data collection, and they were divided into 2

groups to cover 141 KMC wards: -

Group – A)

1. Mrs. Soma Maity

2. Mr. Soumitra Jana

3. Mr. Biplab Das

4. Mr. Sanat Kr. Paul

Group – B)

1. Mr. Manas Kr. Chakrabarty

2. Mr. Arunabha Das

3. Mr. Prasenjit Singh Roy

4. Mr. Sanjib Mistry

Data compilation is been done by Mr. Manas Kr. Chakrabarty and Mr. Biplab Das.

Report writing is been done by Mr. Manas Kr. Chakrabarty and Mr. Shanto Baksi.


8. Contact Information

Sabuj Sangha: -

Address Registered Office: Village and Post Office: Nandakumarpur,

Police Station: Raidighi, District: South 24 Parganas, Pin:

743349

Central Office: 30/9, Rajdanga Main Road (East), Kolkata –

7000107

Contact Details Phone +91 33 2441 4357, +91 9831001655

Fax +91 33 2441 4357,

Email [email protected]

Website www.sabujsangha.org

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sabujsangha.org/

The Homeless People of Kolkata

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Transcript of The Homeless People of Kolkata