Shillong, December 23, 2024: Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh, a member of the State Level Monitoring Committee for Shelter for Urban Homeless, has expressed deep concern over the increasing prevalence of homelessness in Shillong, urging immediate intervention by the Urban Affairs Department and Shillong Municipality.
In a letter addressed to Bah K.W. Marbaniang, Chairman of the State Level Monitoring Committee, and copied to the Director of the Urban Affairs Department and the Chief Executive Officer of Shillong Municipality, Pyrtuh highlighted the plight of homeless individuals braving Shillong’s freezing temperatures.
Pyrtuh recounted observing two middle-aged men sleeping on the pavement outside Pantaloons, Assam Auto Petrol Pump, Jowai Road, between 8:10 PM and 8:30 PM on December 22. He noted that such incidents persist despite the Supreme Court of India’s directives to states and union territories to address homelessness effectively.
The letter also pointed out that while the Meghalaya government constituted a State Monitoring Committee for the Shelter of Urban Homeless, recent activity has been minimal. Pyrtuh criticized the infrequent meetings of the committee, stating that the last gathering on December 12, 2024, was called merely to formalize a report for submission to the Union Ministry. He described this as indicative of inaction by the Urban Affairs Department.
Pyrtuh stressed the urgency of the situation, citing Shillong’s current temperatures ranging between 8°C and 4°C, which could dip further to 2°C or even 0°C in January. He urged the Urban Affairs Department and Shillong Municipality to devise an immediate action plan within the next two days to address the issue of homelessness.
He further stated his commitment to personally survey the city every evening to assess the prevalence of homelessness and warned that failure by the authorities to act would compel him to submit a separate report to the Union Ministry and the Supreme Court of India.
“It pains me to see that there are homeless people sleeping on pavements, parking areas, and open spaces across the city. The freezing temperatures make it imperative for the authorities to act swiftly,” Pyrtuh said in his letter.
The letter underscores the urgent need for concrete measures to provide shelter to Shillong’s homeless population and ensure compliance with Supreme Court directives.
