THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting and appointed an expert committee to analyze the current status of the three Mental Health Centers (MHCs) in the state and submit a detailed report. The move comes after the TNIE, through a series of reports, brought to light human rights abuses and violations of the Mental Health Act 2017 at the MHC in Thiruvananthapuram. He also promised better treatment and infrastructure at the MHCs.
The minister said steps will be taken to speed up modernization projects at the MHCs. The state government has sanctioned Rs 400 crore, Rs 98 crore and Rs 100 crore to develop the MHCs in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram in that order, he said.
Veena said that the government will rehabilitate thousands of people who are forced to live in rehabilitation centers and MHCs after recovering from the disease. The meeting also decided to strengthen security at the MHCs and deploy more staff to ensure proper patient care.
The district judge is asked to present a report on the steps to be taken
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ordered the Thiruvananthapuram district judge, who is also the chairman of the monitoring committee of the mental health center (MHC) in the state capital, to carry out a detailed investigation into his unfortunate condition.
The High Court also ordered the judge to present a detailed report on the measures that must be taken to guarantee better living conditions for the inmates at the MHC. The court issued the order while considering a memorandum submitted by amicus curiae V Ramkumar Nambiar citing a series of reports published by TNIE about the pathetic and inhumane condition of the MHC in Thiruvananthapuram.
The memorandum states that the state has a duty to care for its subjects and to ensure that adequate treatment is provided to them as soon as possible, even more so in the case of mentally ill patients who cannot fend for themselves without the help and care of others. The district judge had visited the center last week.
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