Improve facilities at Asha Kiran, SC tells state govt
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has already handed the newly-formed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government its first task — to improve facilities at a home for the mentally challenged.
A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra on Tuesday directed the Delhi government to augment facilities at Asha Kiran, a home for mentally challenged persons, within a month to help inmates with their integration with the mainstream.
Taking note of a committee’s report pointing to the pathetic living conditions for the residents of the home, the court gave four specific directions to the state authority and asked them not to administer drugs without a medical prescription.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves submitted the report to the court on behalf of petitioner, Reena Banerjee, who had moved the court seeking improvement of the home.
The court said the government must introduce at least 10 more vocational training programs for the inmates. At present there are only two organic colour making and tailoring. The bench said such facilities must be in place within four weeks. Since government procedure takes time to hire officials, the court said trainers can be outsourced for the same.
To ensure inmates receive proper education, the court told the government to depute at least three special educators, who would identify those capable of getting admitted to normal school for inclusive integration. At present, there is just one special educator at Asha Kiran.
The court ordered the government to depute neuro-physician and psychiatrist to carry out case study of inmates and prescribe medicines. It gave a month to the social welfare department to provide facilities to impart vocal and instrumental training to inmates.
The court deputed senior advocate Vivek Tankha to inspect the home and prepare an independent report on its condition. It fixed March 26 to hear the matter further.
“There are a range of problems. The biggest problem is that the institution has more inmates than it has capacity for. The government has, for years, been promising expansion of this facility in Narela but this hasn’t happened till date. The overcrowding has been a long running problem and despite the government’s reassurances to decongest it...the government needs to take initiative to restore this institute to its former glory,” said Anant Asthana, an advocate with Human Rights Law Network who is also associated with Asha Kiran.