As a child of middle-class society, I have never truly known what exactly it means to struggle.

A home, hot meals, a school to go to, family and friends to cherish…the essentials for a comfortable human existence.

And then, I realize, as I emerge from my safe bubble of comfort, that not everyone has it as good as I do.

Not everywhere do people feel a sense of security amongst their families.

Not everywhere, do people have hot meals that burn life into their very souls.

Not everywhere, do people come home to love and comfort.

Not everywhere, do children remain blissfully ignorant of the realities of human civilization.

Not everywhere, do people have a place of their own to call home.

And I wish it weren’t like this.

In India, which is on the fag end of the list of countries by homeless population, 1.77 million individuals are homeless, and often take up residence in roads and pavements irrigated with muddied water, grimy staircases, in open pipes, overflowing with human wastes, without a thing in the world to call their own.

Disrespected.

Disregarded.

Scorned.

Abused.

Starved.

I have hopes that one day, this can change.

I have hopes that one day, these people can get the respect they deserve.

I have hopes that one day, these people can be seen as contributors to human society, rather than those who drag it down.

I have hopes that one day, these people will be able to interact with fellow human beings and feel safe and contented.

I have hopes that one day, these people can smile as they walk into a place that they, for the first time, can call home.

Many shelters for the homeless are being closed due to lack of proper funding.

Any and all donations will be given to the WORK+SHELTER organization based in New Delhi, in order to fund their education and housing program for women and the Sambhali Trust based in Rajasthan, home to the Thar desert.