death audit revealed that all possible efforts were made to save human lives but
lives could not be saved due to the poor condition in which the patients were
admitted and they could not recover.
Akhil Bharatiya Samajik Swasthya Sangh (M.P. branch) a registered NGO of
standing had been running a halfway home with 12 female inmates within the
premises of GMA for psycho-social rehabilitation of treated and controlled
mentally ill persons. GMA had provided the necessary accommodation and had
also been bearing the cost of food, drugs and dresses of the inmates of halfway
home run by the NGO. The halfway homes run by NGOs are normally funded by
the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. However, since the inception of
the activity of managing the halfway home by the NGO in question, protracted
correspondence had been going on with the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment but Ministry had not given any grant - in - aid except the solitary
grant of Rs. 1.86 lakh provided in 2006-07. In accordance with the extant
instructions and procedure a joint Director of the Department of Panchayatiraj,
Government of M.P. is required to inspect the NGO before making recommendation
for sanction and release of grant-in-aid in favour of the NGO. Despite repeated
requests such an inspection had not taken place due to bureaucratic hassles.
The NGO managing the halfway home has appointed a number of functionaries
on a full time basis and their salary and allowances are paid. NGO is also
meeting some other incidental expenses like cost of raw materials for the
vocational skill training programme. Keeping all these points in view the Divisional,
Commissioner may impress upon the Secretary, Department of Panchayatiraj for
deputing the Joint Director of the department on urgent basis for carrying out an
inspection, assessing the genuine requirements of the institution for managing
the halfway home and formulate a proposal for recommending to Government of
India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for sanction and release of
required grant-in-aid in favour of the NGO.
Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Cuttack (4th and 5th July, 2011)
IMH Cuttack with bed strength 60 patients had two open wards one each for
male and female patients. The bed occupancy was of 27 patients in male and 29
patients in female wards. The patients admitted in excess of the bed strength had
to sleep on the floor. The beds had been placed close to each other contrary to
the norm of keeping a gap 1 metre between 2 beds and the patient toilet ratio
was far less than the required ratio of 5:1.
There is a need to construct additional toilet block adjacent to male/female ward
to bring patient toilet ratio to the desired level.
The bed strength 60 had been raised 100 per cent 120 and extra 60 beds
sanctioned recently with the concurrence of Finance Department were meant for
Geriatric; Paediatric; Emergency; Forensic; Rehabilitation.
The family members/relatives staying with the patients were not provided even
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National Human Rights Commission