The Maharashtra Times, a Marathi Daily of Times of India Group, published a news item on page 11 of its 24th May 2011 Pune Edition. An English version of the news item is given below:
*Thane’s Mental Hospital gets a taste of ‘Bureaucratic Bungling’* *Reported by Sandip Shinde from Thane* For the first time in the Republic Day Parade at Shivaji Park (Mumbai), persons with mental illness were invited to participate. For this occasion, the inmates of Thane Mental Hospital had done extensive preparations. They were called for a rehearsal on Sunday the 23rd at Shivaji Park. But an IPS officer literally drove them away. This insulting treatment by a Government official with a ‘mental block’ was most upsetting for persons with mental illness who were subjected to it and also hospital officials escorting them. The Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Banthia had invited Mental Hospital Thane to send participants in the Republic Day Parade. Thereafter invitation was sent to take part in the rehearsals on 23 rd and 24th January at the Shivaji Park. The inmates of Mental Hospital Thane had decided to perform Ribbon Dance, Yoga and Fashion Show. It was also planned that at the parade ground, leaflets would be distributed to create awareness about the illness and end isolation of the patients. The Rotary Club had given a cheque of Rs. 30,000 for the purpose. After making all such preparations, 16 inmates, their doctors and support staff had gone on Sunday morning to Shivaji Park for rehearsal. But there they got the shocking experience of being told to virtually go back. Amrit -- Every passion in isolation is insane, therefore sanity is the synthesis of insanities. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
