NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA native place. Further, it was also emphasized by the Commission that long stay patients are mostly the ones who are abandoned by their families, therefore, they need to be trained in some skills in order to earn and live independently after recovery. This helps as an effective way of rehabilitation of the inmate after discharge. 6.17 The Registrar (Law), NHRC visited Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS), Jharkhand on 8th June 2019 for an on the spot review to evaluate the functioning of the institution. In this regard, the Commission recommended the State Government of Jharkhand that there is a need for more trained staff to understand the specific problems of some of the inmates and to act as a caregiver and endeavours must be made for eradicating the stigma associated with the illness. In the case of homeless persons, RINPAS should take more affirmative steps regularly with the help of NGOs and social workers, in order to trace the inmates’ families and send them to their respective homes, who have been recovered from mental illness. 6.18 Special Rapporteur for Central Zone, Dr. Vinod Aggarwal, visited Rajasthan from 21st to 24th June 2019, to review the implementation status of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 by the State and also to review the functioning of the Mental Health Hospital, Jaipur and Mental Health Hospital, Jodhpur. The visits were made with the intent to review the functioning of these institutions. The Commission recommended the State Government of Rajasthan that it is more than 2 years since the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 was enacted and the State Governments were expected to establish the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) within nine months but Rajasthan Government has not fully formed the SMHA. The Chief Executive Officer is not full time and an Officer has been given additional charge. It is required to fill these positions at the earliest. Subsequently, the constitution of Mental Health Review Boards should be initiated and digital registers of mental health establishments must be maintained. The Commission has also recommended that all the district hospitals need to have an in-patient treatment department with a minimum 10 beds and treatment of mental disease must be initiated from the district nodal officer. Further, it is required to establish a proper referral system and link between Medical College’s Psychiatry department, mental health hospitals and district nodal officers. This initiative would be quite relieving for patients coming for follow ups travelling several kilometers. Adequate training programs must be conducted from time to time in order to train mental health professionals. It was also observed that no rehabilitation home has been set up by the State Government to shift long stay patients from Jaipur Mental Hospital. About 25% of beds are occupied by the long stay patients in this hospital. Therefore, it was recommended that the Rehabilitation homes for long stay patients, as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, must be built in the vicinity for at least 75 persons at the earliest. This would help to reduce the load on mental hospitals and needy patients would get admissions with much more ease. 6.19 Special Rapporteur, NHRC, Dr. Vinod Aggarwal, visited Maharashtra on 10th July 2019 to review the implementation status of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 by the State and also to review the functioning of Regional Mental health Hospital, Yerwada, Pune on 13th July 2019. The 94 ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20