Unjust to call homeless persons ‘parasites’ seeking freebies: Ex-bureaucrats to Justice Gavai

It is utterly unjust to stigmatise homeless persons as “parasites” who are in the quest for freebies, a group of retired civil servants and diplomats said in an open letter to Supreme Court Justice BR Gavai.

The Constitutional Conduct Group was referring to remarks made by Gavai on February 12 while hearing a petition demanding that homeless persons be provided adequate shelter facilities.

“Sorry to say, but by not making these people part of mainstream society, are we not creating a class of parasites?” Gavai had reportedly said.

He added: “Because of freebies, when elections are declared… people are not willing to work. They are getting free rations without doing any work! Would it not be better to make them part of mainstream society so that they can contribute to the nation?”

“Freebies” is a term frequently used by critics of certain welfare benefits such as subsidised or free foodgrains, public transport and concessions in electricity bills.

The group said in its letter that homeless persons “are people who have been pushed into destitution because the state has failed in its duties [elaborated in the Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution] to secure a life with dignity for every citizen”.

“These duties include affordable housing, decent work, protection from domestic and sexual violence, social…

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