The District and Sessions Judge Ashok Bhardwaj stressed the need to provide proper medical care, educational facilities to the mentally challenged and handicapped people. Bhardwaj said it was the moral duty of the society to ensure that such persons were taken care of. He appealed to people to come forward for the cause. He was addressing a seminar organised by the MP Anusuchit Jati Vikas Evam Kalyan Samiti in collaboration with the District legal Services Authority Bhopal at Neuro Psychiatric Centre, staff Colony Koh e Fiza Bhopal on Saturday.
He apprised the audience about the “legal rights” of mentally challenged persons. Bhardwaj said any such person was entitled for free legal services. In case, the legal rights of any such persons were infringed upon or there was necessity of filing any case to protect their rights, the guardian of such person could submit an application to the District legal Services Authority or directly to him.
Counselor and Secretary of the MPAJVEKS Samar Khan elaborating reasons of mental stress, said that a large number of people get stressed due to financial and social reasons. She said that a person facing mental stress should be dealt with utmost care and sympathy to avoid further stress and in legal matters he should be given free legal aid without any delay.
Director of Psychiatric Center staff Colony Bhopal Dr RN Sahu said that a large number of people are suffering from depression but very few go for its treatment because of misconceptions and lack of awareness. Senior Spokesperson Prashant Pathak from District legal Services Authority Bhopal said that the District legal Services Authority, which was providing free legal service to a large number of categories of needy people, was also providing free legal service to depressed people in the Courts.
Among others who were present included MPAJVEKS Chairman Sher Afzal Khan , Dr Maya Sahu, Vikas Mishra , and others.