At a time when the pandemic and other crisis have rendered people homeless and broke, a statement by Bombay High Court has stirred discussions. The High Court says that Homeless or beggars should also work for the country and the state cannot provide them with everything.
A PIL filed by Brijesh Arya, Founder president of NGO Pehchan had sought relief, including nutritious meal thrice a day, free shelters, clean public toilets and bathrooms, free, potable water, soaps and sanitary napkins for the homeless and urban poor. Dismissing the PIL, HC said that the state government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have taken steps in the right directions for the provision of food, water and sanitary napkins ‘within limits of their capacity’ and that no direction was required to be given for augmenting the distribution.
“They (the homeless) should also work for the country. Before they are provided shelters, where is a position that they will also work? There is employment or livelihood provided for them under government schemes. Everyone is working. Everything cannot be provided by the government, otherwise it will increase their numbers. You (petitioner) are just encouraging the increasing of such a population of society,” the Bench said in an oral observation.
