Notes - Alternative Realities was started by Abhishek Bharadwaj in Mumbai to address issues of identity, health, livelihood and shelter for the homeless people in Mumbai. Using diverse methodologies such as street theatre, studies, survey and research, Abhishek and his volunteers sensitize the civil society towards the issue, negotiate with other organizations and institutions to use their existing infrastructure as night shelters, and arrange access to medical facilities for the homeless.
Abhishek Bharadwaj did not look for a job after he graduated from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in 2004. Instead, he spent time with homeless people living on the streets, under bridges, and in makeshift shelters in Mumbai, India. According to him, Mumbai has at least 100,000 homeless people.
“I imagined that the money capital of India is like New York or Shanghai, but that is not so,” says Bharadwaj. “There is not a single night shelter in all of Mumbai for the homeless.”
He has started a society called Alternative Realities to fight for the rights of those without shelter. Bharadwaj works with the police, the administration and companies. His goal is to create night shelters for 10,000 people in the next one year. These shelters would be carpeted and equipped with bedding, sanitation facilities, drinking water and first aid. He wants to make sure that state policies provide for low cost living places within working distances. The homeless should also get healthcare and ration cards.
|
|
