| Exploitation of mentally challenged girls exposes Govt.'s insensitivity | | SHRC directions, recommendations evoke no response | | Akshay Azad
Jammu, Sept 6: The shocking incident of rape of mentally challenged girls of Channi Rama rehabilitation centre that shook the conscience of Jammu the previous day has exposed Government's lackadaisical approach towards the challenged population of the state, especially those challenged with metal disabilities.
Sources informed Early Times that State Government has been criminally insensitive towards the plight of this unfortunate section of society which needs social protection and guarantee.
According to statistics, 5 % of total population of the country was that of mentally challenged people and state of Jammu and Kashmir was no exception.
Miffed over silence of State Government, a Human Right activist Om Parkash Khajuria castigated that neither Government agencies, nor NGOs have come forward to rehabilitate people with mental ailments who have been abandoned by their families under open sky.
"It is the duty of state to take care of such persons by keeping them in licensed Psychiatric hospitals/ Nursing homes as these persons are leading their life like animals in open without shelter from rain, wind, sun bearing all adverse climate conditions", he said, adding that he has filed an application before State Human Right Commission (SHRC) some months back, following which a number of letters have been forwarded to State Government by SHRC, it has failed to respond to the issue of vital human relevance.
An advocate M.S Hussain maintained that according to the provisions of Mental Health Act 1987, this wonton neglect tantamounted to abuse of process of law and violation of Human Rights.
He further said that the declaration on the rights of mentally retarded persons proclaimed by the General Assembly of United Nation of December, 20, 1971 asserts formally that mentally retarded/ challenged are entitled to the same right as other human beings, but State Government has been totally insensitive over the issue.
"Every insane/mentally challenged person has a right to protection from exploitation abuse and degrading treatment but these rights are being violated time and again, for the sole reason that victims are helpless who are neither aware of their rights nor in a position to complain, protest or fight against injustice being done to them", he said.
Castigating the approach of State Government he said, "In a welfare state, the primary duty of the Government is to secure the welfare of its people. The directive Principles of Constitution of India provide safeguards for the protection of rights of the weaker section of the society and such type of persons are physically and mentally weakest person of the society", he said.
He further said, "Our laws protect even animals against cruelty but these persons despite being human beings can be seen wandering here and there being treated like animals. Rehabilitation of such persons is an integral part of Article 21 of our constitution, which provides right to life and if this right is violated it amount to violation of Human Rights declared under the article 3 and Article 25 of Universal Declaration of HR and Article 06 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights", he said. |
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