They are seen daily in pitiable conditions in different parts of the town, but neither the authorities nor NGOs seem to be bothered about the mentally disturbed people left to lead a life on the streets.
Facilitating their treatment and rehabilitation seems to be far off at a time when the Government is unable to ensure such facilities for citizens not suffering from mental afflictions. Society may have made much progress in material technologies and medical science apart from becoming more aware with information revolution. However, the destitute mentally affected people spend their days exposed to the elements with little more than their shredded clothes and temporary shelters to shield themselves from scorching sun, downpours and the winter chill.
The mentally afflicted comprise women, men and aged persons, many of whom are abused by passers by. There are many cases wherein such people were abandoned by their families and left to face their lot without any support. Facing harsh conditions and insensitive society has exacerbated the afflictions of many of these people who have undergone traumatic experiences. One such person is the son of a mentally challenged woman who was raped about 15 years ago. The woman left her new born child on the road before dying. The child who grew up crawling on the footpaths now pastes posters for cinema halls to eke out his living.
A similar story was repeated in town when a mentally affected woman roamed the town for many months with her baby in her arms. At present the woman does not have the child with her. No one knows about the fate of the child of the woman who lives on the road divider in front of the Kotwali.
There was a time when mentally affected persons used to be sent on the Kumaon Express train, which used to ply from here to Agra, to the Institute of Mental Health and Hospital. However, with this train ceasing to operate, the number of affected persons left destitute in the city has increased considerably. There are some like a woman who roam the streets with her possessions in a polythene bag and an old man who roams around with a cannabis plant in hand.
Mental health expert from Haldwani Dr Manoj Trivedi States that mental afflictions can hit a person even without stress if there are genetic factors involved. Substance abuse and superstition can also contribute to such situations which can be cured considerably if the person affected receives proper treatment without delay.