Ranchi: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) will set up a 50-bed shelter home for transgender people at the Birsa Munda Bus Terminal in Khadgarha area, officials said on Saturday.RMC is giving special focus on creating dedicated facilities for women and transgenders, ensuring privacy, safety and improved sanitation, and expanding capacity in high-need areas. “This will be done to further expand coverage and inclusivity,” RMC administrator Sushant Gaurav said.As part of its urban poverty alleviation and welfare initiatives, RMC operates shelter homes under the framework of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), an official said.As per the plan, two new shelter homes will be built — one for women at Khadgarha bus stand and the other for men at Booty More.“They too will have 50 beds each. The idea behind such facilities is to provide safe, secure and dignified temporary accommodation to urban homeless, migrant labourers, destitute, elderly and other vulnerable groups. Also, it will help protect them from extreme weather,” said another official.Plans are afoot to upgrade some existing shelter homes. Funds to the tune of Rs 1.25 crore each will be spent for building the new shelter homes and upgrading the existing ones.Assistant municipal commissioner Nikesh Kumar said the RMC is undertaking infrastructure improvement of the existing shelter homes at Dhurwa and ITI bus stands. Both are being upgraded to 50 beds from 16 and 14, respectively.“The target is to finish all the works within six months,” he said, adding that they will also deploy two caretakers each at the homes.“For security, CCTV cameras will be installed, and inverters will be provided,” said Manikant Sinha, city mission manager of RMC. “All the existing homes are equipped with beds, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, electricity and adequate ventilation,” he added.
