The Delhi beautification drive uprooted many pavement dwellers and those residing under the flyovers, railway bridges and any other place where one or two persons can sleep, and drove them to places like Bawana where there was no civic amnesty. These places were far away from their work places. Chetanalaya took up comprehensive community development activities through mobilizing these people.

In Bawana, Chetanalaya has a basti vikas Kendra- Community Development Centre- from where the people were organized to fight for their basic rights like drinking water, electricity and transportation facilities.

Safe housing was the biggest challenge for them and Chetanalaya with the help of three other agencies arranged housing loans to the poor through the self help groups. 450 houses were built in Bawana. Replicating the success of the Bawana Housing Programme, another such scheme is started in Bhaleswa were 500 houses are the target.