New Delhi: Alleging poor infrastructure in
observation homes for mentally challenged persons in the city,
the BJP today demanded immediate steps to ensure proper
facilities for the inmates.
Expressing concern over deaths of three mentally
challenged persons at an observation home here, Leader of
Opposition in the Delhi Assembly V K Malhotra, accused the
Social Welfare Department of showing "total insensitivity" to
the plight of the inmates in these homes.
He requested Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for a judicial
enquiry into the spate of deaths taking place in Asha Kiran
Home.
Malhotra said as per official data 30 to 40 inmates die in
these homes every year and in the last four years 138 mentally
challenged inmates died in these homes.
Three mentally challenged persons, including a woman and a
teenager, died at an observation home in the national capital
on Wednesday. The city Government had already ordered an
enquiry into the incident.
Quoting official figures, Malhotra said over 700 children
have been staying at Asha Kiran Home in Rohini against its
approved capacity of 350.
There was acute shortage of blankets, heaters and geysers
for the inmates, he said and demanded a comprehensive health
check up of all inmates staying in such homes.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 22, 2010, 21:42