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Economic Times
4 days ago
- General
- Economic Times
No roof, no rest for over 3 lakh people: Why Delhi still can't house its homeless
Despite years of state and central schemes, Delhi's homeless population remains dangerously underserved. Over 3 lakh people are estimated to be without permanent shelter, with many relying on footpaths and flyovers to survive. Experts cite deep flaws in implementation, manpower shortages, and a lack of long-term planning. Official surveys and testimonies reveal that shelters fall short by nearly 90% of need. Voices from the ground urge urgent policy reform, better housing plans and job creation to address the root causes of homelessness. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A city's count, a city's gap Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Life on the pavement Shelters that empty by morning Supreme Court steps in Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Gaps in policy and politics What locals see, what they want Under Delhi's bridges, on its pavements, and near its markets, thousands sleep in the open every night. They sell balloons and trinkets at crossings by day. By night, they huddle beneath tarpaulin sheets, battling hunger, dust, noise and weather, as reported by arrived in the capital hoping for work. They stay back after dreams collapse, left with no roof over their heads. Some are alone. Others are with families. All try to carve out a life on efforts like the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) and the National Urban Livelihood Mission 's Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) promised change. Yet the numbers sleeping rough say otherwise.A major count conducted in August 2024 revealed that 1,56,369 people were sleeping on the streets between 11pm and 5.30am. The city's estimated homeless population is over 3,00,000, according to Dr Indu Prakash Singh, member of the State Level Shelter Monitoring Committee (SLSMC).'The current shelters are not enough,' said Dr Singh told TOI. 'Delhi has more shelters than many cities in the world. Govt also provides food and medicines at the shelters. But, there are not enough of them, and many people still sleep outside.'Dr Singh noted that despite a decade since the launch of the SUH scheme, shelter provision is still 90% below the requirement set by the Master Plan for Delhi city's footpaths double up as kitchens. Boundary grills become clotheslines. The underside of flyovers serve as bedrooms. Entire families survive this way—elderly people, disabled individuals, pregnant women and children alike.'Remove poverty, bring jobs everywhere, and homelessness will disappear,' said Dr Singh. 'The tragedy of this country is that the poor are persecuted and not supported. If poverty schemes truly worked, we wouldn't be here discussing this.'He added, 'Homelessness isn't the issue. The lack of work is. The real problem is a govt deficit — not of money, but of care and commitment.'Despite government funding and court directives, shelters often stand underused or overwhelmed. A senior Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) official explained, 'The court has assigned us responsibility, but the challenge remains. Many homeless people return to the streets despite food and shelter. Some families stay for decades, others never come. We rescue at least 40–50 people daily. They use the night shelters but leave by morning. We urge donors to give to shelters.... We've proposed skill-based programmes for employment.'He said the issue was not just infrastructure. 'The lack of manpower (at the shelters) is a big issue. The key is creating jobs in home states to reduce migration to Delhi.'In February 2025, during a hearing on urban homelessness, the Supreme Court posed a pointed question: should jobs take precedence over handouts?While recognising the urgency of shelter, the court asked for a balance in welfare policies. It challenged whether one-time benefits were sustainable, especially when structural gaps in employment and housing BJP, ahead of its election promises, had pledged to remove homelessness entirely if it formed the government. Yet realities on the ground suggest long-term plans remain to Dr Singh, DUSIB—primarily an engineering body—has been burdened with social responsibilities that should fall under welfare departments. 'Govt must come up with a holistic policy on this — at central and state levels,' he Centre for Holistic Development (CHD) also believes that short-term schemes aren't Kumar Aledia, executive director of CHD, said: 'The cityscape may be important, but addressing the problem of homelessness is also crucial.' He stressed the need for structured efforts: 'Long-term planning, like the five-year plans we had earlier. There were discussions about housing rights for the homeless then.... We need at least five years of dedicated effort, especially for housing policies. Marginalised sections can contribute to the Smart City projects too.'He added, 'Homeless people would have to be brought to the mainstream.'Suchita Kacker Meena, a Delhi resident, offered a citizen's perspective. 'Sustainable solutions to homelessness lie in building more shelters, creating job opportunities and ensuring effective implementation of rehabilitation programmes.'This sentiment is echoed in many neighbourhoods where the homeless have become part of the local landscape—visible but largely there are schemes, food vans, medicines, and occasional rescue drives, the core issue remains unaddressed—how does a city care for those it sees every day but rarely notices?With half the required shelters missing and few clear roadmaps ahead, Delhi's homeless continue to survive in fragments—half-visible in crowded streets and half-forgotten in public plans.(With inputs from TOI)
Associated Press
11-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
CGTN: Hainan's Message to the World: CGTN's Exclusive Interview with Governor Liu Xiaoming
BEIJING, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ -- A Historic Milestone for Hainan The Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) is approaching a historic milestone with the implementation of independent customs operations, a key objective outlined in the Master Plan for Building the Hainan Free Trade Port. This achievement marks a fundamental and symbolic step in Hainan's ongoing development, as the initiative has been written into the provincial government work report for seven consecutive years. Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of this initiative, stressing the need for a smooth, orderly, and risk-free transition. In an exclusive interview with CGTN's Liu Xin, Mr. Liu Xiaoming, Governor of the Hainan Province, confirmed that preparations are well underway to ensure a smooth and successful transition before the end of the year. Contrary to misconceptions about isolation, the customs framework follows a 'front line open, second line controlled, and free movement within' model. This structure facilitates international trade while maintaining necessary regulatory oversight between Hainan and the mainland. 'Progress has been smooth, with five major systems – policy, infrastructure, risk control, industry, and organizational support – gradually taking shape,' said Mr. Liu. 'We are ready.' A Business Environment Open to the World Beyond customs operations, Hainan is committed to enhancing its business environment, recognizing it as a 'golden ticket' to success. Efforts have been made to develop a market-oriented, law-based, and globalized business environment. Hainan has taken a national lead in streamlining government services, introducing a one-stop enterprise service platform with smart policy matching, credit repair, and regulatory support. Foreign enterprises registered in Hainan enjoy equal access to these services. Addressing concerns about foreign investors' experiences in Hainan, Liu Xiaoming emphasized the importance of improving internet access and payment convenience. Policies have been implemented to facilitate smoother transactions and daily life for foreign businesses and residents. Strategic Industries Driving Growth The province has focused on four key industries: tourism, modern services, high-tech industries, and tropical agriculture. The combined share of these sectors in Hainan's economy has increased from 52.4% in 2018 to 67% in 2023. Additionally, Hainan has embraced five strategic directions: agriculture, maritime, aerospace, green development, and the digital economy. Maritime development, in particular, stands out as a priority. 'Harnessing the power of the ocean' is a key initiative for Hainan, which oversees about 2 million square kilometers of ocean, mostly deep sea. With nearly 1,000 enterprises and research institutions already engaged in deep-sea technology and marine industries, Hainan's maritime economy has maintained double-digit growth, contributing to over one-third of the province's GDP. Plans are underway to further expand deep-sea energy, high-end equipment manufacturing, offshore aquaculture, marine biomedicine, and maritime tourism. 'Our goal is to create a 'new Hainan on the sea' within the next decade,' Liu Xiaoming stated. Leading the Way in Green Development In addition to economic development, environmental sustainability remains a top priority. Hainan is recognized as having the best ecological environment in China. A prime example of Hainan's green initiatives is the Bo'ao near-zero carbon demonstration zone. Through energy-efficient building renovations, renewable energy replacements, and agro-photovoltaic systems, carbon emissions on Dongyu Island, a permanent site for the Bo'ao Forum for Asia, have been reduced by 96.2%. The German Energy Agency has certified this as China's first regional near-zero carbon demonstration zone. With independent customs operations on the horizon, ever-improving business environment, strategic industrial development, and firm ecological commitments, Hainan is poised to become a global leader in trade, innovation, and sustainability. The Free Trade Port's future promises dynamic growth and increased international engagement, ensuring that its development aligns with both national goals and global economic trends.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CGTN: Hainan's Message to the World: CGTN's Exclusive Interview with Governor Liu Xiaoming
BEIJING, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ -- A Historic Milestone for Hainan The Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) is approaching a historic milestone with the implementation of independent customs operations, a key objective outlined in the Master Plan for Building the Hainan Free Trade Port. This achievement marks a fundamental and symbolic step in Hainan's ongoing development, as the initiative has been written into the provincial government work report for seven consecutive years. Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of this initiative, stressing the need for a smooth, orderly, and risk-free transition. In an exclusive interview with CGTN's Liu Xin, Mr. Liu Xiaoming, Governor of the Hainan Province, confirmed that preparations are well underway to ensure a smooth and successful transition before the end of the year. Contrary to misconceptions about isolation, the customs framework follows a "front line open, second line controlled, and free movement within" model. This structure facilitates international trade while maintaining necessary regulatory oversight between Hainan and the mainland. "Progress has been smooth, with five major systems – policy, infrastructure, risk control, industry, and organizational support – gradually taking shape," said Mr. Liu. "We are ready." A Business Environment Open to the World Beyond customs operations, Hainan is committed to enhancing its business environment, recognizing it as a "golden ticket" to success. Efforts have been made to develop a market-oriented, law-based, and globalized business environment. Hainan has taken a national lead in streamlining government services, introducing a one-stop enterprise service platform with smart policy matching, credit repair, and regulatory support. Foreign enterprises registered in Hainan enjoy equal access to these services. Addressing concerns about foreign investors' experiences in Hainan, Liu Xiaoming emphasized the importance of improving internet access and payment convenience. Policies have been implemented to facilitate smoother transactions and daily life for foreign businesses and residents. Strategic Industries Driving Growth The province has focused on four key industries: tourism, modern services, high-tech industries, and tropical agriculture. The combined share of these sectors in Hainan's economy has increased from 52.4% in 2018 to 67% in 2023. Additionally, Hainan has embraced five strategic directions: agriculture, maritime, aerospace, green development, and the digital economy. Maritime development, in particular, stands out as a priority. "Harnessing the power of the ocean" is a key initiative for Hainan, which oversees about 2 million square kilometers of ocean, mostly deep sea. With nearly 1,000 enterprises and research institutions already engaged in deep-sea technology and marine industries, Hainan's maritime economy has maintained double-digit growth, contributing to over one-third of the province's GDP. Plans are underway to further expand deep-sea energy, high-end equipment manufacturing, offshore aquaculture, marine biomedicine, and maritime tourism. "Our goal is to create a 'new Hainan on the sea' within the next decade," Liu Xiaoming stated. Leading the Way in Green Development In addition to economic development, environmental sustainability remains a top priority. Hainan is recognized as having the best ecological environment in China. A prime example of Hainan's green initiatives is the Bo'ao near-zero carbon demonstration zone. Through energy-efficient building renovations, renewable energy replacements, and agro-photovoltaic systems, carbon emissions on Dongyu Island, a permanent site for the Bo'ao Forum for Asia, have been reduced by 96.2%. The German Energy Agency has certified this as China's first regional near-zero carbon demonstration zone. With independent customs operations on the horizon, ever-improving business environment, strategic industrial development, and firm ecological commitments, Hainan is poised to become a global leader in trade, innovation, and sustainability. The Free Trade Port's future promises dynamic growth and increased international engagement, ensuring that its development aligns with both national goals and global economic trends. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CGTN View original content to download multimedia:
Reuters
20-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
New York seeks to lead in advanced reactor deployment
Summary New York has taken steps to become a hub for small modular reactor (SMR) development by releasing a nuclear strategy and requesting federal funding amid rising electricity demand. February 20 - New York Governor Kathy Hochul launched a Master Plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development on January 14, which will be guided by a blueprint by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) published on the same day. The announcements follow a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge market interest in developing advanced nuclear energy technologies that New York issued in November. The blueprint lists large (AP1000s) and small light-water reactors, liquid and solid-fueled molten salt reactors, sodium fast reactors and high temperature gas reactors as potential technologies that could be deployed to meet the state's energy needs. NYSERDA also included fusion energy as an option. 'New York has been working on this plan for quite a while, but they accelerated it and created a blueprint to intentionally try to not miss the moment of extreme demand growth,' Adam Stein, director of nuclear energy innovation at the Breakthrough Institute, told Reuters Events. Driven by strong demand from data centers and other large load customers, U.S. electricity demand is expected to increase by 3% annually for the rest of the decade – a rate of growth not seen since the 1990s. According to NYSERDA, New York's power generation must at least triple, from 37 GW in 2022, as demand is forecast to surge by between 50% and 90% over the next two decades. CHART: Forecast US data center electricity demand Also in January, NYSERDA and Constellation Energy requested funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to attain an early site permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build one or more advanced nuclear reactors at Constellation's Nine Mile Point Clean Energy Center on the shore of Lake Ontario. 'There is a lot of speculation on which technology they plan to use, but it isn't necessary to identify one at this stage of site planning," Stein said. Constellation holds a minority interest in Rolls Royce SMR development in Europe but that may not be an indicator on their technology preference in the U.S., he said. 'NYSERDA might prefer to be second or third in building a design that already has first-mover commitments,' Stein added. Through the blueprint, New York is telling developers of advanced nuclear reactors and investors that it wants to engage and cooperate with them, while the partnership with Constellation signals that there will be proactive support for the sector, according to Judi Greenwald, executive director of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance. 'All of the above' approach Deep-pocketed tech companies are investing billions in SMR companies such as X-Energy, Oklo and Kairos Power as they race to secure more generation capacity for their power-hungry data centers. Join us at Reuters Events SMR & Advanced Reactor 2025 and network with over 600 utilities, developers, financiers, technology suppliers and regulators. Advanced nuclear technologies are still in the exploratory stage, so it's too early to know to what the extent they will be deployed in New York, Doreen Harris, NYSERDA president and CEO, told Reuters Events. Zach Koshgarian, an analyst at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, said that New York 'is looking at an all of the above nuclear approach — considering a lot of different types of technologies,' including large nuclear reactors. 'The point of putting out the blueprint and the RFI is to gauge interest within New York State, and to see how advanced nuclear energy could be applied to help meet climate and clean energy commitments,' Koshgarian told Reuters Events. The plans of Micron, a microchip fabricator, to build a manufacturing campus to make dynamic random-access memory chips in central New York, which will use 100% renewable electricity, underline the state's need for increasing generating capacity. The Micron facility is expected to use 16 gigawatt-hours per year when completed, according to the Sierra Club environmental group, which is nearly equivalent to the total generated by the two nuclear reactors at Constellation's nearby Nine Mile Point nuclear generating station. For exclusive nuclear insights, sign up to our newsletter. Microsoft and Amazon Web Services signed agreements with nuclear power plant owners to supply electricity to data centers in neighboring Pennsylvania in 2024. If New York wants to attract large data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities, there needs to be an increase in emissions-free generating capacity, according to Stein and Koshgarian. Bolstering nuclear capacity will also help New York meet its aggressive climate goals. The state has pledged to have a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040. 'We know that we are going to need tens of gigawatts of these types of projects that we describe as dispatchable, emissions free resources that can be very complementary to renewable resources that we are deploying also at a large scale,' Harris said. CHART: New York power generation by technology (October 2024) With 3.3 GW of capacity, nuclear power accounted for roughly 22% of New York's utility-scale net generation in 2023, which is down from 34% in 2019 before the Indian Point nuclear power plant was shut down, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. 'A few years ago, New York was thinking more about closing [nuclear] plants than building new plants, and I would now say that has really turned around, and people are realizing the value of these existing plants,' Greenwald said. 'I think most of these will be relicensed, not closed, because they provide so much clean, firm power.' Nuclear renaissance President Donald Trump is expected to continue with the ambitious goals to expand nuclear capacity set out by the Biden administration. Last November, the Biden administration pledged to more than triple U.S. nuclear capacity by deploying 200 GW of net new nuclear capacity by 2050. Strategies to overcome cost hurdles for new nuclear - download our webinar. Trump's Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, a former Oklo board member, has pledged to promote next-generation nuclear technology to help unleash a 'long-awaited American nuclear renaissance.' Other states have also announced plans to support advanced nuclear power developers. In November, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Public Utility Commission of Texas released a report stating that additional funding and regulatory changes could make the state a global leader in advanced nuclear energy. Wyoming, Michigan and Virginia are also trying to attract nuclear investments. And New York is working with other states to promote the development of advanced nuclear projects. The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) launched the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative on February 5. As part of this effort, New York and nine other states pledged to develop policies that will cut the cost of building advanced nuclear plants. 'If states are aligned and agree on a standardized advanced reactor design, this could make the idea of orderbooks of nuclear reactors come to fruition. The state collaboration will also be critical to achieving a learning-by-doing model and creating economies of scale, which will all help drive down the cost of new nuclear,' Koshgarian said.
