Verus Advocates and five other Delhi lawyers managed to mobilise Delhi citizens’ money to fund around 160 blankets to the city’s homeless population, this month. The initiative was led by advocate Sahil Bhalaik in collaboration with two friends from the social sector.
“Several homeless people in Delhi, living under flyovers, underpasses, railway stations and bus stands live a difficult life. The winter chill takes several lives in the NCR region each year. Over-crowded night shelters run by the government and NGOs are just not enough to accommodate the thousands of homeless people and migrants in Delhi,” commented Bhalaik.
Verus raised money between colleagues, friends and families to help Bhalaik, Ankita Dubey and Abhishek Sengupta distribute blankets under flyovers. At the cost of Rs 150 per blanket they were able to buy around 160 “decent” pieces to cover Delhi’s Nehru Place and adjoining areas, said Bhalaik.
“We are asking the donors for [potential target] areas [where blankets can be distributed]. We would also cover outside hospitals and construction sites. We are looking at any number above 5000 [blankets to be distributed this season],” he explained adding that the blanket drive will continue through the holidays and until the end of February 2016.
Bhalaik’s collaboraor Dubey is a project manager with education-NGO Ark, and Sengupta is the executive director of children’s correctional surgery NGO Operation Smile Inc.
Lawyers can contribute to the drive by donating money or joining in as a volunteer, by getting in touch with Abhishek Sengupta at 9930355527 or Ankita Dubey at 9717162621, or by writing in at or .
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