Heat doesn’t sleep—and neither do the homeless in Madhya Pradesh

At midnight on May 7th, in Rajgarh, Bansi Bhilala, 50, lies awake in a homeless shelter with his two children, Sujal and Tilanjal. Metal cots line the shelter’s walls, each with a thin mattress draped in bright red-orange bedspreads. A few cots carry sunken pillows; others have neatly folded blankets. Peeling paint and damp stains mar the walls, but a single window spills soft light across the spotless tiled floor. Personal items are sparse—just a couple of belongings hanging from hooks and a small shelf of everyday essentials—yet the space feels ordered, offering a brief, secure refuge to those who need it most.

The concrete walls retained heat, and Bhilala remembered that the air was heavy, with no breeze, no relief, and no sleep. 

“I’ve been living in this shelter for 11 years. I don’t have a proper house. There are only fans inside, nothing else. When it gets too hot, we sit outside," says Bhilala. 

Homeless shelters are often large, functional buildings with shared rooms and open spaces with rows of cots or mats, each with basic bedding, as in the one Bhilal is living in. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, shelters focus on vulnerable groups like women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The ministry’s 2022–23 report stresses helping the urban poor, disabled people, and seniors.

Madhya Pradesh has 119 homeless shelters under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). These shelters are managed by local municipal bodies, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, and various NGOs. Most shelters are part of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).  

Madhya Pradesh has over 146,435 homeless people, based on the 2011 Census. India’s total homeless population stands at 1.77 million. The major cities and districts like Indore (16,810 homeless), Bhopal (9,281), and Gwalior (5,265) have higher counts, while smaller districts such as Dindori (546) and Sidhi (688) have fewer homeless individuals. 

According to the Operational Guidelines of the Scheme of Shelters for Urban Homeless under the NULM, shelters operate mainly at night, opening around 6 PM and closing by 8 or 9 AM. Some shelters do remain open during the day for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or sick. Services, including meals, medical assistance, and access to toilets, may also be available, but they depend on local resources.

To stay, people usually need an ID, such as a  Samagra ID—a unique identification system like Aadhar—or a ration card. However, urgent cases can be admitted without documentation. Strict rules are enforced: alcohol, drugs, weapons, and violence are not allowed. Residents must follow curfews, keep their area clean, and respect others.

Bhilala once worked as a driver. Back then, his family lived in a rented house. But after his wife’s death, he left the job to stay with his elder son, who is now 18 years old and lives in the same shelter. “I started working as a porter so they wouldn’t be left alone,” he says. But three months ago, he had an accident and broke his leg. Their domicile certificates haven’t been made, so they can’t apply for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. They also don’t have Aadhaar cards.

“No one comes to clean this shelter. I do it myself. I eat the Chief Minister's thali at Mangal Bhawan for 5 rupees.” The Madhya Pradesh government serves a full meal for ₹5 to poor and homeless people through the Chief Minister's Thali scheme.

His elder son works at a motor garage at the local bus stand to help their families. “Whenever we speak to officials about our problems, they tell us to come back later or after two days,” he says. But the real struggle begins after dark for people like Bansi, who live without permanent shelter. Nights that once brought some relief now trap the heat of the day. The shelters stay hot. 

Why are nights heating up?

Prof. Vinish Shaji from Barkatullah University in Bhopal, migration is one of the main reasons people end up homeless. As more people move to cities, rapid urban growth pushes many to the margins. This same urbanization also fuels the urban heat island effect, where cities stay hotter because materials like concrete and asphalt soak up heat during the day and slowly release it at night, making it hard for temperatures to cool down. 

Studies, including one by IIT Bhubaneswar, show that cities in Madhya Pradesh are warming 60% faster at night than rural areas. And unless pollution drops, a 2022 study warned heat exposure could double across the tropics and rise tenfold in other regions

As cities grow, trees, parks, and ponds often give way to concrete buildings and roads. These green spaces help cool the air by releasing moisture, a natural process called evapotranspiration. Without them, the heat absorbed during the day gets trapped, and nights stay warm, making it harder for the city to cool down.

“Most people don’t realize that hot nighttime temperatures have been outpacing daytime temperature increases,” said Kelton Minor from Columbia University, co-author of a study.

Minor’s research shows that people living in hotter areas tend to sleep less as temperatures rise. The impact is worse for older adults, women, and people in low-income countries. “If your body can’t recover at night, the risk of heat stroke rises,” Minor explained. Long-lasting heat waves make the situation even more dangerous.

Research also indicates that by the 2080s, the average minimum temperature in Madhya Pradesh could rise by up to 4.4°C, intensifying the impact on vulnerable populations like the homeless. The MP’s State Action Plan on Climate Change highlights this risk but fails to address the specific needs of marginalized groups like the homeless. Several people are often forced to sleep in parks, on footpaths, or in other public spaces. With limited access to basic needs like clean water, sanitation, or healthcare, they face severe health risks, including heatstroke and infections. The homeless shelters in cities are often overcrowded and insufficient.

Experts agree that more accurate data collection and a tailored approach to addressing regional disparities are necessary to tackle homelessness effectively in the state.

Why are homeless people vulnerable?

Prof. Vinish Shaji said, “Vulnerability increases due to the lack of social support networks. They don’t have consistent access to basic resources like food, sanitation, or healthcare. This often leads to chronic physical and mental health issues, and they struggle with a lack of social integration.”

In 2024, Madhya Pradesh reported over 5,000 heatstroke cases. Many patients were homeless migrants who arrived at hospitals too late, weak, dehydrated, and barely conscious. Homelessness is linked to various mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and trauma. “Without stable housing, these individuals have difficulty accessing mental health care, which worsens their condition,” Prof. Shaji added. 

When asked what the government is doing to keep homeless people safe during extreme heat, Sonali Ponkshe Vayangankar, Commissioner of the Department of Social Justice, Madhya Pradesh, said, “All the information is available on the department’s website.”

The Madhya Pradesh government has taken several steps to support homeless people and improve their living conditions. In October 2023, then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan promised to give land plots to homeless families so they could build houses. He made a similar promise in 2021 through the Mukhyamantri Bhu-Adhikar (Patta) Yojana. Under this scheme, poor families without homes would receive land. In crowded cities, the government planned to build multi-story buildings. Officials also decided to use land taken back from the mafia to build affordable housing.

The government is building sixteen model night shelters with 100 beds each in cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain. In Indore, a beggar-free campaign moved people off the streets and into shelters with food and basic care. Many former beggars started small businesses, and their children began attending school. Citizens can report beggar sightings through a helpline and receive ₹1,000 for verified tips. The police also file FIRs against organized begging networks, especially those coming from other states.

Cities like Ujjain and Bhopal have followed Indore’s model by relocating beggars near religious sites. The state’s "Housing for All" mission also works to provide low-cost housing for families in need. These combined efforts aim to ensure no one in Madhya Pradesh lives without shelter.

As monsoon has arrived, bringing some relief from the extreme heat. But it also creates new challenges. Humidity levels rise, making it hard to breathe and sleep. For the homeless, this means more discomfort. Wet shelters, damp clothes, and lack of dry places to rest worsen their situation. 

Once the monsoon ends, cold weather returns to Madhya Pradesh. That brings another struggle. Every year, the state sees deaths linked to cold exposure, especially among the homeless. Across India, cold waves have caused 7,622 deaths in the last 19 years. For people like Bansi, the cycle doesn’t end. From heatwaves to humidity to cold nights, they stay exposed, with no real protection.

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