*4 Dec 2011* * * *Sukhbir Siwach* *CHANDIGARH *: A high level jail reforms committee has slammed jail authorities in Haryana for not utilizing the treatment facilities available for mentally ill prisoners properly. There are 99 mentally ill prisoners in 18 jails of the state.
"The concerned authorities are taking care of the mentally ill prisoners in the jails itself... which is unsatisfactory," observed the committee comprising retired justice Jai Singh Sekhon, retired IAS and IPS officers RR Banswal and VK Kapoor. According to the committee, the mentally ill prisoners, other than those getting treatment at PGI, Rohtak, should be got treated by psychiatrists in licensed private psychiatric homes as their confinement in jail hospital is not conducive to their recovery and may also have adverse effect on other inmates. "The committee is unaware of the extent of malady prevailing among general population in the state. But there is a large number of people suffering from minor and major ailments in jails," observed the committee. There are no psychiatrists available in jails and prisoners are shifted for specialized treatment to PGI, Rohtak. Of the 99 mentally ill prisoners, one is getting treatment at mental hospital, Amritsar, 32 prisoners are getting treatment from PGI, Rohtak and 66 prisoners are getting treatment from respective jail hospitals or general hospitals in Narnaul, Gurgaon, Hisar, Karnal, Rewari and Sirsa. But jail authorities concerned are not availing this facility from specialized psychiatric homes for authentic treatment from licensed institutes, the committee found. Apart from two government mental institutions, the jail department was also provided a list of 19 licensed psychiatric homes. "It is strange that no mentally ill prisoner has been sent to licensed psychiatric homes for treatment, but they were being treated in jail hospitals and civil hospitals," observed the committee, adding that it has defeated the very purpose of issuing license to these psychiatric homes. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10981545.cms -- 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
