In Visakhapatnam, GVMC Commissioner CM Saikanth Varma has initiated plans to establish more night shelters to accommodate homeless individuals who are currently sleeping on roads, footpaths, flyovers, and road center medians across the city.

During a review meeting held at the GVMC office with night shelter operators, Varma emphasized the importance of providing safe accommodation for homeless individuals, who are vulnerable to various dangers and incidents while sleeping on the streets at night.

Varma instructed night shelter operators to ensure that homeless individuals brought in for the night are returned to their respective areas the following day.

Additionally, he directed that women involved in police cases should be referred to women shelter centers managed by ICDS, rather than night shelters.

Furthermore, Varma tasked the additional commissioner and UCD project director with developing plans to relocate elderly individuals, orphans, and mentally ill individuals from the streets to old age homes and shelter centers operating with a service-oriented approach in the city.

Varma also mandated monthly meetings with night shelter operators to ensure coordination and effective management of homeless services.