Appalled at the poor management and upkeep of an old age home in Bindapur, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to the secretary of Social Welfare Department on Sunday. The move came after a visit by DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal to the old age home on the occasion of Mother’s Day.
A senior DCW official said the facility housed a total of 72 inmates, out of which 54 were females and 18 males. “There is an acute shortage of staff and the chairperson was “appalled” to note that mentally ill women were being kept in one hall with minimal facilities,” the official said.
“The DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal and two other members were “appalled” to discover several shortcomings in the operation and management of the government-run old age home and a notice was issued to secretary Social Welfare regarding it,” he said.
The security system of the old age home was also without any CCTV camera. The official added that it was also evident that the mentally ill were not being cared for properly. Sanitation too was found to be “extremely poor” as a nauseating odor was felt during the visit.
The elderly women living there told the chairperson and other members about the need for employment generation activities so that they could use their time fruitfully.
Inmates of the old age home also complained about poor food quality and lack of cold water for drinking. There is no water connection and the water need is being met through a single tanker.
Besides issuing the notice, the Commission will also make detailed recommendations to the Delhi Government for improving conditions of old age homes, the official added.