Legal Assistance Forum - MEETING WITH THE INMATES OF LGBR INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, TEZPUR, ASSAM

MEETING WITH THE INMATES OF LGBR INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, TEZPUR, ASSAM
Date : 19-06-2006

Members of the Legal Assistance Forum visited the LGBR institute of Mental Health, Tezpur and interacted with mentally ill patients. It was found that 51 inmates have been staying in the Institute even after they have been virtually cured of their ailments as nobody has come forward to take them back. One such case is of Kanailal Chakraborty who is in the Institute for more than 51 years. It was observed that request by the Institute to various police stations to locate the relatives of the patients are not taken with due seriousness by the police. It is the responsibility of the State, as a social welfare country, to take care of such persons who have been abandoned by their own kith and kin and left at the mercy of the Institute in utter disregard to their social and legal obligations.

There are 32 Government Mental Hospitals in the country in which a total number of more than 3600 persons are lodged for more than one year. Out of which 1123 number of persons are staying for more than 15 years. The reason for large number of persons staying for long periods in such hospitals is primarily due to their abandonment by the family members.

The Forum has made representation to the National Human Rights Commission and Assam Human Rights Commission to take up the matter and issue appropriate directions to the Central Government as well as the State Governments in the following regards:

Care cum Rehabilitation Centers be set up by the Government for mentally ill patients who have been cured and have been abandoned by their families instead of keeping them in the Mental Hospitals. Such Centers may be set up by the Government itself or in association with some Non Government Organisation, so that such persons are not confined within the walls of the mental hospital and they can integrate with the society.

Independent Care cum Rehabilitation Centers must be set up by the Government for mentally retarded persons. Such Centers may be set up by the Government itself or in association with some Non Government Organisation.

Appropriate direction may be issued to the police authorities to locate the relatives of the patients. In case local police is not able to locate the relatives of the patients, a report must be sent to the Director General of Police and also to the Human Rights Commission regarding the efforts made by the police in this regard.

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