AS of July 2016, more than 280,000 homeless people were staying in Dhaka and the number is going up at present. Numerous people from Bangladesh's rural countryside left their homes due to rising unemployment and natural calamities such as monsoon floods and river-erosions - rendering them homeless without any food, education or healthcare. Besides, majority of the homeless population lacks any permanent source of income.
Despite 45 years of independence, these marginalised people are deprived of life's basic necessities. The government undertook futile efforts to help Dhaka's homeless people, although some NGOs being able to improve their living conditions. However, such solutions are not permanent.
The government must adopt programmes with long-term goals. City corporations can offer them low-cost housing projects through the vertical construction of slums at different points - India is a good example. Furthermore, the government should create training programmes to turn these people into useful and effective human resources in the factories and other business enterprises. Finding the reasons for an increasing number of people being annually rendered homeless - is also a priority. Despite a difficulty in achieving sustainable development, Dhaka's homeless people must be included in the development process.
Maidul Islam
East West University, Dhaka
[email protected]
- Saturday, 23 November 2024 |
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