Inspite of the recent inspection conducted by the Chief Development Officer (CDO), Jyoti Neeraj Khairwal, following the order of the District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam to check all the irregularities existing at the Nari Niketan, the condition of the inmates residing over there is yet to improve.
It appears that the inspection was more of an official formality as no concrete measures have been adopted yet to address the problems of the inmates of whom about a dozen have been admitted to the Doon Hospital with health problems. At least two inmates have died from health complications in recent months. After the inspection of the CDO last month, she had instructed that the willing inmates should be sent homes after a short inquiry, but this has not been done yet.
Recently, six more mentally unstable inmates have been admitted to the Doon Hospital increasing the number of inmates admitted in this hospital to 12, informed District Social Welfare Officer, Ram Avatar. He maintained that the Nari Niketan is not meant for the mentally affected people, but they comprise more than half of the inmates here. Due to shortage of staff and wardens at Nari Niketan, it becomes tough to take proper care of these inmates. He informed that currently there are total 92 female inmates residing in Nari Niketan of whom 71 are mentally affected whereas 21 inmates are mentally stable.
Avatar said all the mentally affected inmates should be sent to the mental hospital at Selaqui and they should not be kept at Nari Niketan. “We have raised the need for seprate arrangement for the mentally affected in front of the Chief Minister many times in vain as the issue is still pending and no step has been taken against the irregularities,” he said.
When asked about the deteriorating condition of the Nari Niketan and staff shortage, the DM said that soon around four new employees would be recruited here on temporary basis. He said that he has also instructed the Chief Medical Officer Dr Gurpal Singh and Chief Medical Superintendent of Dehradun to issue instructions to the doctors to take proper care of the inmates of Nari Niketan admitted to Doon Hospital. Those who have been mentally affected since childhood cannot be admitted to the mental hospital, said Purushottam.
There is acute shortage of caretakers and wardens at Nari Niketan. The shelter has neither a doctor nor medical facilities to treat inmates during emergency condition. The number of inmates is presently 30 more than capacity and there is no vehicle available for emergency situations.