Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (RINPAS) will come up with a ‘Halfway Home’ for the recovered patients by March. This includes those whose health has not improved completely and are not in immediate position to gel with the society.
“The inmates will be allowed to perform all the physical activities like cooking and washing clothes themselves. A Psychiatrist and a Psychiatrist Social Worker would monitor their activities. There are 50 beds for females and 50 beds for males. We are aiming to start with the female bedded unit by March,” RINPAS Director Dr Amool Ranjan told The Pioneer.
Years back, National Human Rights Commission had directed RINPAS to construct the ‘Halfway Home’. The construction of this Home near the Female Hostel of the Institute has been done with a budget of Rs 8 crore. Dr Ranjan said the plan was being delayed for last nine years as they were searching for an NGO for the set up. “When no NGO came forward for the establishment, we decided to work on our own,” he mentioned.
As of now, kitchen and recreation room in the Home is being constructed. A faculty member of the Institute Dr Bhuvan informed, there are plans of sending the patients to the nearby vegetable market as well so that they can develop the confidence of interacting directly with the people of the society.
“As per the directions of Supreme Court, we cannot keep a patient for more than 90 days in a mental hospital. In such circumstances, if a patient, who has not recovered completely, has to be shifted to a special rehabilitation centre outside the asylum. Presently, we have a small centre attached to our wards, which does not fulfill all the desired needs. like the food is supplied from outside and patients are accompanied by us round the clock,” Dr Bhuvan said.
Meanwhile, patients who are to be kept in the ‘Halfway Home’ are free to return to their native place at any point of time. Ranjan said whenever these patients are confident that they can adjust in the society, they will be allowed to go. Moreover, these inmates would be kept in the ‘Halfway Home’ for free. “Our main purpose is to evaluate them step by step and help in transforming them to a responsible person,” mentioned the Director.