Darkness under the city lights: a qualitative study on the life of urban homelessness, evidence from Siliguri city of West Bengal, India

Urban homeless peoples are always invisible and neglected in public policy, and they are treated as non-citizens in our cities. The paper investigated the living experiences of urban homelessness in the rapidly expanding city of Siliguri- ‘the gateway of north-east India’. A case study method using qualitative in-depth interviews and observation techniques has been applied to understand their significant problems and issues. The findings suggest that they have been forced to live in deplorable conditions since they are marginalized and ignored in every fundamental aspect of life. Basic human rights and access to basic amenities are forbidden to them, even they are not permitted and struggle to survive in the vacant space of the city. Surviving on the streets generally entails surviving in a physically and mentally challenging environment, with denial of fundamental human rights, lack of employment, and even no guaranteed nutritious food; they are turning themselves into drug addicts, criminals, and lawbreakers. The study also reveals that some specific homeless groups, including women, children, and elders, are the most vulnerable, and their threats to various menaces are even cumulated during the night. Even though they have equal opportunity and “right to the city,” these marginalized individuals have no place to assert their fundamental rights.