Mental Healthcare Bill: Here's why JP Nadda said thanks to Shashi Tharoor

New Delhi: Union Health Minister J P Nadda thanked Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his 'valuable' suggestions made during an earlier discussion on the legislation of Mental Healthcare Bill 2016, in the Lok Sabha.

During the discussion on the Bill in Lok Sabha on March 24, Tharoor made an emotional speech revealing his experiences of living with a victim of mental illness while giving a host of suggestions.

"Thank you for valuable suggestions @ShashiTharoor Ji. As I said in Parliament budget will never be a issue. #MentalHealthcareBill," Nadda tweeted.

Thank you for valuable suggestions @ShashiTharoor Ji. As I said in parliament budget will never be a issue. #MentalHealthcareBill .

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) March 27, 2017

The Bill that seeks to decriminalise suicide attempts by mentally ill people and provides for the right to better healthcare for people suffering from mental illness was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, March 27, 2017.

The Bill, which was passed by the House by a voice vote also has a provision to protect and restore property rights of mentally ill people.

Tharoor during his emotional speech had said that he knows from his personal experience that there is nothing sadder than witnessing a close and loved person with mental illness at close quarters.

Participating in the discussion on the bill, Tharoor had said if India wants a modern and progressive society, there is a need for this law while adding that people suffering from any mental disorder carry the stigma that "yeh toh pagal hai (he/she is mad)".

Explaining the grave situation, the Congress leader had said many people who are suffering from these problems live in a denial mode and "they are unwilling to seek help".

"Suicide is an issue," he had said, adding "there are so many things attached to this and one is unemployment. There is a need to make it mandatory for every educational institution to have counsellors and "this is the need of the hour," he had said.

"There are number of good things in the bill but there are also number of things out....Psychotherapists, psychoanalysts are not included in the bill. I request you to add these categories," he had said.

Under the Bill, every adult shall have the right to decide how he/she wants to be cared for and treated for a mental illness.

(With PTI inputs)