Bangalore: If the sunset brings relief to many from the day’s work, for Lakshmi Devi (45), a resident of Kolar, who migrated to the city five years ago, its not the same.
For Lakshmi, it has been a nightmare, ever since her husband died a year back. The 45-year old who collects plastic bottles as scrap for livelihood the whole day, can not enjoy a good sleep as she is forced to take shelter below the open sky, among strangers, mostly men.
She is one among the many women who have no house of their own, rejected by their own families, with the sky being their only roof.
Lakshmi has cut her hair short (trying a manly look) and wears a shirt after sunset, after she faced several unwelcome advances and attempts at sexual abuse. She says, “I am scared to have a good sleep. Sometimes, the drunkards do not fear to do anything. I am therefore forced to keep vigil”.
Lakshmi is one among the several women who face constant trouble by strangers as they live among the strangers, all alone. They have to accommodate themselves in the bus stands, on the footpaths and in the streets, irrespective of their gender or age. But, what stood out with Lakshmi is her determination to earn her livelihood rather than beg.
Jeevana, another woman who sleeps on the footpath close to Shivajinagar says she turned alcoholic after she could not accept the reality of sleeping on the streets. “After my husband died, I was thrown out of the house from Bagalkot. I collect scrap and earn about Rs 100 each day”, she says.
NULM scheme to help
Dr. Manjula N., Director, Municpal Administration (Welfare) said, “There are no such provision to rehabilitate women destitute seperetely. However, under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) scheme, the central government has directed to set up a shelter for as many as 50 destitutes in every one lakh population. It is in the formulation stage in the city. We have instructed all the urban local bodies and city corporation to make a survey of destitutes and identify place to accomodate them”.
According to the government website, the NULM scheme aims at providing shelter with essential services to the urban homeless in addition to reducing poverty of urban poor households by offering them avenues for self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. Besides, it is designed to address the livelihood concerns of urban street vendors by earmarking suitable spaces, institutional credit, social security and skills to them.
