DCW FINDS SERIOUS VIOLATIONS AT ASHA JYOTI HOME
NEW DELHI: After visiting the Asha Jyoti Home for mentally challenged persons on a surprise inspection on Wednesday, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) observed that the women inmates were being forced to cook meals for both the Asha Jyoti Home and the nearby beggar home, which share a kitchen.
The issue first came into light when DCW officials had earlier paid a visit to the beggar home and issued a notice to the Secretary of Social Welfare of the Delhi government to stop the practice. However, the DCW was shocked to see that the practice was still continued.
Earlier, Social Welfare Secretary Dilraj Kaur in her reply to the DCW notice had defended the practice of making mentally challenged inmates cook meals. She stated that the inmates may sometimes be made to participate in daily activities, like cooking food, so as to give them a sense of belongingness. She added that the practice is carried out more due to the inmates’ self-involvement, rather than compulsion. The reply further stated reasons defending the absence of cooks and helpers.
The Commission stated that the stand of the Social Welfare Department to the above notice is “merely a misrepresentation of facts” and that the department has severely compromised with the health and security of the inmates and residents of the beggar home.
After the visit to Asha Jyoti Home, DCW chief Swati Maliwal issued another notice to the Secretary, saying that the practice still prevails and inmates of the home are facing serious issues. Asha Jyoti Home houses 59 mentally challenged women and girls between the mild to moderate category.
The Commission, in its latest notice to the department mentioned that due to lack of sweepers, the toilet area was extremely dirty and severe lack of hygiene could cause serious diseases. No warm water was provided to the inmates, in spite of it being the winter season and no CCTV cameras were installed in the house either.
Gross violation of human rights was witnessed at Asha Jyoti Home as women were made to walk without clothes to their rooms after bath. The area, where the women would be lined up, was partially uncovered which could result in the women catching cold and falling ill.
Shortage of potable water was also reported and the water available for bath was said to be hard, causing allergies to the residents. Furthermore, apart from yoga classes, no other recreational activities were organised for the inmates.
“We were informed that many women were no longer on medication. These women should be shifted to Nari Niketan to allow them to interact with people with no mental disabilities,” said Maliwal. Meanwhile, the Commission also noticed improper salary being paid to the house maid. The house keeper, who works in the house full-time, was only being paid around Rs 9,000 per month.
Keeping in mind the poor condition of the house and discomfort of the inmates, the Commission has asked for an action-taken report on these issues, along with specific timelines for rectification of each issue latest by February 15.