Guwahati resettlement drive: People living under flyover being shifted to shelter homes

NEW DELHI, INDIA - AUGUST 10: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma address a press conference at Assam Bhawan on August 10, 2021 in New Delhi, India. Assam Chief Minister said that the Assam government is working on practical solutions and have identified four core issues to solve the border disputes with neighbouring states. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

In Assam, on the instructions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a drive began late on Tuesday night to rehabilitate homeless people living under a flyover in Guwahati’s Ulubari to safe shelters.

Following the CM’s instructions, Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha visited the area on Tuesday night and launched a campaign to remove beggars from the flyover. “The CM keeps visiting the city at night and looks into the issues of the city.

Since last 3-4 months a new problem is developing in Guwahati, the number of beggars and street dwellers has increased tremendously. This presents a variety of challenges. We are running a campaign to send them to government shelter homes and NGOs. We are trying to understand why they are out on the streets.”

Earlier in the day, the CM had asked Deputy Commissioner Jha to rehabilitate the family living under the flyover in Ulubari, which he sees during his night visits to the city. He asked the police officer to provide immediate housing and income opportunities to such families. The CM warned that living on the street would be fatal for the children of these families.

Jha said that the Prime Minister makes such night visits to Guwahati to see the problems of the city.