The basic needs of a human being are food, shelter and clothing irrespective of the status. It is not so difficult to get food and cloths but difficulty lies in acquiring proper shelter for oneself. For some unfortunate people getting shelter is beyond their reach. We have seen there are number of people who are homeless they had no shelter and are forced to lead their life in footpath, pavements etc. Many instances of struck down and killing of homeless people at night while sleeping in streets, pavements or footpaths being seen and heard by us. Homeless people are those who lives in open or roadside, pavements, flyovers or place of warship, railway platforms etc. or in other words who don’t have a roof above head. Right to get adequate shelter or home is one of the most important human needs and homelessness is the worst violation of Human Rights. Homelessness exposes them into great risk to their life. Specially the women, children are subjected to various kinds of exploitation because of the fact that they are homeless and forced to lead life in open place. According to the Government statistics in 2011, 1.7 million people in India are Homeless. In 2013 scheme of National Urban Livelihood Mission launched with the purpose of removing the poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households. The scheme expanded the beneficiaries of urban poor to include the homeless and street vendors. Shelter or housing is a indispensable part for ensuring the human dignity to an individual. Right to adequate housing is an essential component of Right to life and Personal liberty under Article-21 of the Constitution of India. Right to adequate housing is recognized as among one of the most important human right in International Declaration and Convention and treaties. Right to adequate housing is incorporated in article 25(1) of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 11 (1) of International Covenant of Economic Social and Cultural Rights provides that “ the state parties to the present Covenant recognizes the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate housing and to continuous improvement of living standard”. Convention on Elimination of All forms Racial Discrimination, Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Convention on Rights of Child and some other International Conventions do provide the provisions relating to Right to Adequate Housing.
