File Photo: Urban Development and Housing Minister Venkaiah Naidu
New Delhi:
Urban Development and Housing Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday promised more night shelters in the national capital saying nobody should be forced to sleep in the open at night.
Addressing a function to hand over 'Vivekanand Shelter' to Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Mr Naidu noted that state government is running more than 150 permanent and semi-permanent type night shelters across the city.
However, this number is not enough to take care of homeless and destitute people in Delhi. "More night shelters will be provided in Delhi so that nobody is forced to sleep in open area at night," he said.
Commending the Ramakrishna Mission, which had constructed the shelter at Avantika Market in Rohini, Mr Naidu said the shelter would be noted as a 'model' and night shelters across Delhi shall be built on similar lines.
He also complimented the Mission for naming the shelter after Swami Vivekananda and said his thoughts and ideals are eternal and are more applicable today than any other time.
"Indian youths are getting influenced by western culture and moral values are degenerating day by day. In this scenario, the teachings of Swami Vivekanand should be taught in schools and colleges," he said.
Mr Naidu further said that government will be partnering with Ramakrishana Mission in various social initiatives including Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.