Annual Report 2008-2009 to the Ministries of Health and Labour to provide all necessary assistance to NHRC for any action with regard to the issue of silicosis. Looking at the gravity of the problem, the Commission has recently constituted an Expert Group on the problem of silicosis. B. Mental Health 6.12 The NHRC, right from its inception, has been giving special attention to the human rights of mentally-ill persons in view of their vulnerability and need for special protection. As part of the mandate given to it by the Supreme Court in 1997, the Commission has been monitoring the functioning of three mental health hospitals at Agra, Gwalior and Ranchi. In 1999, in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, it brought out a monograph titled “Quality Assurance in Mental Health”. All this has generated considerable awareness among people about the right of mentallyill persons in our country. During the year 2008-2009, the NHRC continued with its efforts of creating a better understanding and awareness about the rights of mentally ill persons by organizing conferences and undertaking visits to mental hospitals across the country. 6.13 A National Conference on Mental Health and Human Rights was organized at the National Institute of Human Rights, National Law School of India University in collaboration with NIMHANS at Bangalore from 29 to 30 April 2008. 6.14 It also organized a meeting of the Health Secretaries and State Mental Health authorities at NIMHANS, Bangalore on 8 and 9 May 2008. The main objective of the meeting was to review the status of implementation of Commission’s recommendations on ‘quality assurance in mental health’ and simultaneously update the publication on “Quality Assurance in Mental Health”. The suggestions received during the meeting were subsequently incorporated in the NHRC publication entitled “Mental Health Care and Human Rights”. The latter publication was released by the Commission on 11 October 2008 and sent to the concerned Union Ministry, all States/Union Territories as well as to all mental hospitals in the country. 6.15 During the meeting convened with the Health Secretaries and Mental Health authorities, the issue of shortage of psychiatrists was also discussed. The Commission requested the Medical Council of India (MCI) to increase the intake of number of psychiatrists in the country. It was informed by the MCI to the Commission that it had granted permission for the commencement of MD degree course in Psychiatry in 18 institutes by 2008 as well as launch DPM course in 7 institutes. In addition, it had granted permission for increasing the number of seats in 4 institutes by 2008 which would result in additional 25 seats in MD (Psychiatry) and 28 seats in DPM. The Commission, however, is of the firm view that it is nowhere near meeting the demand and that the resultant treatment gap is a serious human rights violation. The NHRC, therefore, once again urges the MCI and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to intensify its efforts in order to meet the demand for adequate manpower in the field of mental health. 82