My name is Ganga. I have been living in New Delhi for the last 22 years. Currently, I live in a shelter. I have a disability and earn a living by operating a battery rickshaw.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, I had no work. It was very difficult to find food. Though the government provided free meals in the shelter, the food was of poor quality; it just helped us survive. It was only after the community kitchen started in Mori Gate that my fear of hunger ended.
The greatest challenge of not having a home during the pandemic is that I cannot ensure any physical distancing. If I had a home, I could have stored food supplies safely. During the entire lockdown, I lived in great fear and insecurity.
These days, the government is asking everyone to ‘stay home.’ But since I don’t have a house, this means that the government must fulfill my right to housing.
To the Government of India, I say: Housing
— Ganga [New Delhi, India]
The Global Homelessness Action is an international digital initiative that provides people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to collectively claim their right to housing and demand urgent action from governments through video, audio, and written testimonies. Learn more at maketheshift.org/homelessnessaction.
