demand of adequate manpower in the field of mental health. ● During 2008-09, NHRC in collaboration with NLSIU and NIMHANS, Banglore organized a National Conference on Mental Health and Human Rights. Thereafter, five Regional Review Meetings on Mental Health were organized by the Commission during 2009-11 and a series of recommendations were made, such as, there is need to delegate powers to the Directors of Mental Health Institutions by their respective State Governments and there is also a need to ensure availability of free medicines to the patients. These recommendations were sent to all stake holders and its compliance is being monitored by the Commission. It also needs to be understood and appreciated that many of the mental health hospitals are hangovers of the colonial era and are 100 to 150 years old (some even 200 years). Their problems and constraints remained unattended to for years. Their resources-both human, material and financial are extremely limited in relation to the long ‘list of deficiencies and shortcomings. Mental health in the overall scheme of development in the Departments of Health of the State Governments does not receive the same priority attention as general health. In such a scenario, the NHRC can only play the role of a promoter, facilitator and catalytic agent as also a watch dog. It cannot, however, substitute the primary role or mandate of State Governments to ensure mental health as a matter of human right to every individual. Besides, it is not one department but a host of departments and agencies who are stakeholders in the process. Hence, there is a need for a coordinated and concerted effort on the part of all stakeholders to ensure a dignified care and treatment system for the mentally ill persons in the country. Care and Treatment in Mental Health Institutions– Some Glimpses in the Recent Period 17