11 head nurses and one nursing superintendent). The shortfall of 36 staff nurses posed a major problem for scientific deployment of nursing personnel. Similar problem was faced in respect of attenders. For 15 wards and 300 patients the minimum requirement of attenders as per ICMR norms is 90 for three shifts but only 44 posts of class II attenders had been sanctioned and effective strength of attenders available was 29 as 13 sanctioned posts were vacant and 2 were deployed for electrical and plumbing work. GHMC Visakhapatnam had started P.G diploma in psychiatric medicines in 1978 with annual intake of 2 students and P.G. degree in psychiatric medicine in 1984 with annual intake of one student. The number of seats fixed initially had not increased. According to MCI norms the number of seats in diploma and P.G. course could be increased to 12 and 6 respectively. Government of Andhra Pradesh increased the number of seats in PG degree in psychiatry from one to six in 2002 but the sanctioned seats could not be filled as the MCI inspection had not taken place. Hospital had been providing Psychiatric orientation programme for one month to B.Sc. nursing students according to a prescribed curriculum but M.Sc. nursing course was not available. In-service training of one week was provided periodically to the nurses, ward boys and non-psychiatrist doctors with a view to improve their skills in mental health. However, none of the 54 authorised nurses including 12 head nurses and 42 staff nurses of the hospital had been trained in psychiatry. A proposal for deputing staff nurses for psychiatric orientation at NIMHANS, Bangalore was under consideration. There was no institutional arrangement for imparting training to Class III and class IV staff to make them more civil, courteous and considerate towards the patients. Similarly there were no programmes for imparting functional literacy to non-literate and non-numerate sanitary workers and patients. The Government may approve the proposal submitted for 5 posts of clinical psychologists and 5 posts of psychiatric social workers and issue orders. The vacancies of occupational therapist, social worker, bio-chemist, EEG technician, Dy. Overseer, carpenter instructor, plumber, electrician, bore well driver, librarian need to be filled up at the earliest. The Government may consider the revival of posts which are absolutely essential for the mental health hospital but discontinued due to ban orders and issue formal orders for their continuation. Considering the increase in the number of patients and increase in requirement of drugs there is an imperative need to sanction two additional posts of pharmacist. Government may consider filling up the post of an anaesthetist for administering ECT at the earliest. The Director, Medical Education, Government. of A.P. may sanction two posts of garners at the earliest as their services are required for developing new areas and also providing facilities for occupational therapy. State Government should implement its decision announced in January 2002 to increase the number of seats in Diploma and PG course in Psychiatry and vigorously pursue the matter with MCI and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The State Government should run regular orientation 112 National Human Rights Commission