Corpn to launch app to rescue homeless persons

As per the plan, the application would be released for the public soon after its development. People could take pictures of homeless persons if they come across such persons in any part of the city and send them to the Chennai Corporation officials.

“We will get the exact location of the homeless persons once the photographs are sent, as the application would work on GIS (Geographic Information System) platform. We will go to the place and rescue them,” a Chennai Corporation official said.

Meanwhile, the civic body also has taken measures to procure three ambulances (one to each of the three regions in the civic body) exclusively to rescue the homeless persons. The ambulances would have a counsellor, who would talk to the homeless persons about the benefits of staying in the shelters run by the civic body, apart from a driver.

“Sanctions are given by the higher officials and the ambulances will be procured soon. Meanwhile, the app will be developed by the electrical department and the in-house app development will not cost much,” the official added.

Presently, the Chennai Corporation has phone numbers such as 1913, 94451 90472 and 044 25303849 to help the residents report homeless persons. “Mobile application will help us get the exact location of the homeless persons.”

There are as many as 50 shelters for homeless persons in the city and they are run by NGOs under the purview of the civic body. Of the 50 shelters 13 are at major government hospitals to provide shelter for the relatives of the patients.

According to a recent study conducted by the civic body, there are more than 9,000 homeless persons in the city, including children, who still live on roads. As of now, nearly 1,900 homeless persons have been rescued and are given assistance at the shelters.