CP appoints nodal officer for street kids *Vaibhav Ganjapure* *28 October 2011*
*NAGPUR *: Albeit late, the commissioner of police, Nagpur, has finally appointed a nodal officer for proper care and rehabilitation of mentally challenged children wandering on city streets. CP Ankush Dhanvijay appointed assistant commissioner of police ( ACP) crime branch NV Sawant as the nodal officer to set up a special cell, take the custody of, and admit such children, Raghvendra Joshi, who had petitioned the high court in this regard, told TOI. According to him, the decision to appoint the officer came after the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court directed the CP and the state government to frame a scheme for rehabilitation of street children. Joshi, who is also a lawyer, lamented that the no effort was made to publicise Sawant's appointment or his mobile number even after assurance to that effect by police that it would be flashed across the print and electronic media. Joshi informed that though HC directives were given on September 7, respondents including Dhanvijay convened the meeting on September 30 for appointing a nodal officer. The meeting was attended by Nagpur University's National Social Service (NSS) coordinator Bhau Dayedar, psychiatrist Dr Salim Mujawar, medical superintendent of city-based mental hospital NS Gulhane, DCP traffic Jeevraj Dabhade, CP and others. Though the report was submitted in the HC, Joshi lamented that the police failed to mention any concrete steps on removing the problem of such kids. Joshi in his plea had prayed for directions to government to take care of and treat such children. According to him, hundreds of such kids went unnoticed by the government and the citizens and were living under pitiable circumstances. The petitioner contended that fundamental rights of life and equality available under Constitution should be extended to such mentally-challenged persons who were incapable of taking their own care. Pointing out the provisions under the Mental Health Act of 1987, he said the police were empowered to take such persons into protection and produce them before the nearest judicial magistrate, who will then examine them and give further directions for their detention at psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric nursing homes. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-28/nagpur/30332221_1_nodal-officer-hc-directives-hundreds-of-such-kids -- 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
