Bidding farewell to the Principal Secretary
With the transfer of Shri Anand Kishore as Principal Secretary Urban Housing and Development Department we were wondering who would take up the reins of this department. It was with great eagerness we awaited the new Principal Secretary. Being on the committee for the Shelter for the urban homeless, there is an access and also information how the government works.
Mr. Arunish Chawla who took over as the Principal Secretary was a very simple efficient man. He had put in a system in place so that people could meet him after 5.00 pm. On my very first meeting with him he was so interested in what we were doing and somehow knew about our work. He shared his plans of what he envisaged to do for our homeless communities and how he was trying to get funds. This raised our hopes and the next meeting was when the representatives of the people went to meet him.
On the 30, September his last official day we met him and was sensitive to the three settlements who have been living under the open sky and have been affected by developmental projects. Before leaving the department on a transfer to Delhi, he has ensured that shelters will be set up for families as well. Some apartments will be built and those who are living in the shelters will be shifted there. So, now there is a huge task before us to ensure and get our people to move to these shelters so that they can get some relief.
We pray that the Author of our lives will listen to this prayer of and that they will get relief from the challenges of changing weather.