Harsh winter leaves homeless struggling as night shelters remain ineffective in Bhubaneswar

As winter intensifies in Odisha, with low-pressure-induced rainfall affecting several regions, many underprivileged individuals in Bhubaneswar are forced to spend freezing nights under the open sky, with footpaths as their only refuge. Despite the city's night shelters, their non-functionality and lack of accessible information render them ineffective.

Daily wage labourers and migrant workers move to Bhubaneswar with the hopes of finding better employment opportunities and can be seen enduring harsh conditions of the city life in areas such as near the Rajmahal flyover, Master Canteen area, Ram Mandir traffic junction, and AG Square. After toiling throughout the day, they return to the streets, relying on thin sheets or tattered blankets to shield themselves from the cold.

Manoj Behera, who has been living on the streets, shared his struggles, “Living on the streets is extremely difficult and painful. The intense cold weather has made our lives unbearable, and we don’t even have a roof over our heads during the rain. If the government could provide proper arrangements, we could focus on finding jobs or starting small businesses to earn a livelihood.”

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While Bhubaneswar has several night shelters, including one in Unit 3, these facilities often go unused due to a lack of public information about their locations and operating hours. Many residents are unaware of where to seek assistance or whom to approach for guidance. Additionally, these shelters lack attending staff, and the helpline number provided for the Unit 3 shelter remains unanswered.

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials claim to have made necessary arrangements to address the issue. Sulochana Das, the Mayor of Bhubaneswar, stated, “The BMC is committed to providing shelter to people living on the streets, especially during rain and winter. We have made efforts to convince them and, in some cases, even had to relocate them forcibly, as no one should live in such conditions. Everyone deserves a dignified standard of living, regardless of their financial situation.”

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However, despite these assurances, the lack of effective communication and operational management continues to leave the city’s most vulnerable struggling to survive in the cold. The footpaths remain their only option, highlighting the urgent need for a more proactive approach to address this crisis.