Born in a small town in Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh, Roop Chand moved to Delhi at the young age of 20. A victim of inter-generational homelessness, Roop Chand spent the next 15 years of his life living on the streets of Delhi.  By 2012, the 35 year old Roop Chand, along with his wife and 3 daughters lived in the makeshift shanties under Mansarovar Park Metro track in New Delhi, East and earned his living by collecting used clothes from the locality and selling them in the local market.

A chance meeting with members from Humana People to People India’s (HPPI) Homeless Resource Centre (HRC) in Mansarovar Park changed his life’s trajectory. Understanding the working of HRC, Roop Chand participated in the homeless survey conducted by HPPI for Government of India. This helped him avail the benefits of government schemes for homeless people like procurement of Homeless card, Aadhar card and Bank account.

Through awareness building exercises conducted by HRC, he learnt the benefits of basic education and joined the adult literacy programme managed by HPPI, in 2012. After completing the course, he enrolled himself in National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in 2014. Upon receiving his certificate for basic literacy, he is now able to read and write. To help his daughters reap the benefits of quality education, he enrolled them in the Non-formal Education Program (NFE) run by HPPI in Mansarovar Park. After completing their duration at the NFE program, two of his daughters are now studying in the Government schools at age appropriate levels while one continues her education at the NFE program.

To increase his employability, Roop Chand also underwent vocational skills training on Electronic goods, organized in collaboration with Indo Global Service Society in 2015. Participating in these interventions that aim to promote sustainable development of the homeless community, helped Roop Chand gradually increase his earnings. Currently he earns approximately INR 2 lakhs per annum with an additional income of nearly INR 2500 per month by working as an electrician to fix house wiring, repairing AC’s & refrigerators etc.

Together with four other friends, he has also bought a small piece of land to construct a house, on the outer skirts (near Railway track) of Loni, Ghaziabad district, UP.  From a homeless existence to a self sustained individual, caring for his family and leading them towards a secure life, Roop Chand has a stirring journey that serves as an inspiration to his community and his family.