NHRC issues notice to Delhi govt over stoppage of food to shelter home

About 500 people are living in the Delhi government shelter home. Some inmates stay with their young children and cannot arrange a square meal for them. Looking at the deteriorating condition of the poor inmates, including the sick and elderly, the caretaker of the shelter home is trying to feed them from his pocket, the NHRC said.

New Delhi:The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, on Monday has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report on the plight of inmates of a Delhi government shelter home in the Nizamuddin area. Reportedly, they have been starving for food as the supply of the same by the government has been stopped. The Commission said that it has observed the contents of a media report, if true, amount to a serious issue of violation of human rights of the helpless inmates and a matter of concern.

"The state must ensure that no one is left without food even for a day in the shelter home. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, calling for a detailed report on the matter within one week regarding the present status of the food supply in the Nizamuddin Shelter Home of Delhi and the health condition of the inmates, particularly children, sick and old age persons residing in the Shelter Home", the NHRC said in a statement.

The Commission has also asked its Director General (Investigation) to depute a team headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police to conduct an on-the-spot fact-finding investigation into the matter and submit a report to the Commission. According to sources, about 500 people are living in the Delhi government shelter home. Some inmates stay with their young children and cannot arrange a square meal for them. Looking at the deteriorating condition of the poor inmates, including the sick and elderly, the caretaker of the shelter home is trying to feed them from his pocket, the NHRC said.