 to help the poor face winter at much ease.){kind=link}
Rs 9.24 lakh handed over to three civic bodies
Jamshedpur : As the winter chill slowly sets in, and the minimum temperature hovering around 10 degree Celsius, the East Singhbhum district administration has initiated steps to set up ‘alao’ ( bonfires) to help the poor face winter at much ease.
The district administration has released funds of Rs 9.24 lakh to the three local civic bodies- Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Mango Notified Area Committee (MNAC) and Jugsalai municipality for purchasing fire-woods to light bonfires at near busy streets and pavements.
Acting on the directive of the East Singhbhum administration, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Ganesh Kumar said that the three local civic bodies would be lighting bonfires every evening at the identified locations in the city.
“We have received funds from State Disaster Management and we distributed it to the local urban bodies. They have been asked to take immediate steps to set up bonfire. Areas,” said Ganesh Kumar.
Under JNAC command area namely bonfires would come up at Ganesh Puja Maidan (Kadma), Bank of Baroda bus stand in Bistupur, Diagonal Road auto-rickshaw stand (Bistupur), Baridih auto-rickshaw stand, Bhuiyandih overbridge (Hume Pipe), Sitaramdera bus terminus, MGM Hospital roundabout, Sakchi roundabout, Sakchi private bus stand.
The street dwellers were seen huddled around bonfires made of wood and garbage collected from roadside.
JNAC special officer Dipak Sahay, adding that around six quintal woods would be used for bonfires daily. He said that the civic will cover those areas where the road dwellers frequent the most.
The local people also said that the dip in temperature is affecting their life. “The weather is extremely getting cold with every passing day. A bonfire is lit only in the evening and keeps you warm for a few hours. Soon afterwards, it’s cold again till the next evening,” said a rickshawpuller.
He said that if the government is really serious about providing shield to the strays in cold wave blankets will only keep us warm throughout the day.
A district official said that distribution of blankets can certainly be a better solution. But it is for the government to take a call on the matter.
The district administration is also planning to write to the state welfare department for distribution of blankets amongst homeless poor in the city.
As per the rulebook, 50 kg of wood should be provided for a single bonfire. As per apex court guidelines, states have to make arrangements for night shelters,