On November 10, 2020, the heritage cell of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation sanctioned the allotment of an old house in Shastri Nagar of the city for running a home for homeless women convalescing from illness. The work of running the home would be undertaken by the Centre for Equity Studies, which has been running a facility for homeless men recovering from illness since 2019.
The house allotted in Shastri Nagar was in a state of disrepair. The switchboard was not functional, the floor was in need of repair and water was not being supplied. There were no stairs connecting the ground floor to the terrace. To undertake repairs before women could be housed there, the corporation called for contractors, who were on strike. Work could only begin by April, and repairs were completed in June 2021.
Congress councilor Manoj Mudgal was among those opposed to the opening of a home to house homeless women. Shastri Nagar is a central location in the city, and residents of the area oppose the move to allot a house to the homeless as they fear that many such women are sex workers. Mudgal reportedly opposed the setting up of the home as he felt his voters would oppose it. The repairs were undertaken after the allotment was finalized. The functioning of the home was set to begin soon after repair was completed.
On July 7, when staff from the Centre for Equity Studies visited the building in hope of beginning their work from this building, they found several men already living in the premises. The councillor had, without seeking any permission, allowed men to stay in the premises. The watchman at the gate said all keys were with Mudgal.
On July 29, the team from CES visited again. This time, they were told that the house was under the control of Mudgal – the watchman and three other men were present in the premises. Contacted over the phone by NewsClick, Mudgal said he was busy at a press conference and could not speak.
In a press release in Hindi, CES said, “What is evident now is that once repairs were completed and the house became fit for inhabitation, councillor Mudgal has taken charge of it illegally.” It appeared as if the heritage cell of the corporation and other officials could not assert the law, in the face of this encroachment of the premises by the councillor.
The press release said: “We are shocked that elected representatives of the Congress can show so little concern for the plight of poor and homeless women, who would have stayed for a short while at the home while recovering from illnesses.”
Avdhesh Meena, commissioner, municipal corporation, Jaipur Heritage and Chief Executive Officer of Jaipur Smart City Limited, said, “Local people and their political representatives have opposed the homeless women shelter in this area. It is a densely populated area and we have recommended that the shelter be moved elsewhere; three options have been offered, for the purpose.”
In the time since they have been trying to get the house cleared so work can start, CES has written to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, MLA PS Khachariyawas, the state chief secretary and other officials. Besides writing letters and following up with phone calls and in some cases also with personal meetings, the house has evaded the CES. The CES is unwilling to consider the alternatives suggested; one structure proposed is located close to a drain and a very busy bus station, and would be unsuitable to women convalescing from illness.
Komal Srivastava, regional coordinator of CES in Rajasthan, recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s talisman: “Whenever you are in doubt or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest or weakest man (or woman) you may have seen, and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him (or her).” Srivastava regretted that political leaders do not set much store by that talisman anymore.
CES runs a home for homeless men recovering from illnesses in Jhalana, Jaipur. In the past three years, CES has treated over 2,000 women free of cost at different points in the city, using a mobile team that travels with an ambulance to different locations. The need for a home to allow the sick women to convalesce in peace was felt, and that was why the proposal was taken to the government. This building at Shastri Nagar had been allotted for the purpose, but it appears now that the work will have to remain confined to the roadside.
