Author Topic: guru nanak asharam .... home for homeless (Read 307 times)

Nek Singh · « **on:** February 20, 2012, 12:54:59 PM »

Although deemed to be unlawful, mentally challenged people kept in chains is hardly anything new in India, or in many parts of the world. Yet, the sight of half-a-dozen people, both adults and teenagers, kept in chains comes as a shock.

On the outskirts of Jalandhar, on the road to Adampur, is the Guru Nanak Ashram, where nobody is turned away.

Though the Ashram came up in 2005, its reputation has resulted in as many as 150 people, over one hundred of whom are said to be mentally challenged, finding shelter in this home for the homeless.

But while the Mental Health Act requires the mentally challenged to be treated with dignity, and international covenants highlight the human rights of the mentally challenged, the Ashram is clearly in no position to take care of the inmates. It simply does not have the resources. Yet, other NGOs and even the Child Helpline operating from government organisations, give no second thoughts before dumping the mentally challenged here.

The beds are in short supply and the ones which are there are mostly broken. The inmates move around barefoot and most of them sleep in the open on the floor. There are two rooms, one of which doubles up as the office and at night is used by the inmates to huddle together.

Many of them are not even dressed to cope with the chill. The Ashram, admits the caretaker Surinder Singh, is run on donations and there is never enough to take care of everything. Curiously, the Home does not receive any ‘regular’ help from the government.

Three doctors visit the Ashram, claimed the caretaker. But none of them is apparently a psychiatrist. In other words, the mentally challenged are neither receiving any treatment nor are they being administered any medicine. Even food is meagre; one of the meals is arranged by the community kitchen or langar.

There are 30 beds for the 150 inmates, admits Surinder Singh. Some of them are placed in a courtyard, part of which is used as a garbage dump. Water from the sewer has collected in another part.

High profile visitors to the ashram include politicians. A few visitors give some donations too. But donations , though trickling in, are simply not enough.

Some of the inmates were in chains because they tried to run away, explained the caretaker.

“Some of the inmates try to run away when we are not around or they try to scale the wall at night,” he said and added, “Usually, such attempts are made during the initial few days, when they are new at the ashram ... But later, when they stop making such attempts, we release them.”

Neither officials nor social workers seem to have visited the ashram to ascertain the situation yet.

[Courtesy: Tribune]

February 14, 2012

Author Topic: guru nanak asharam .... home for homeless (Read 307 times)

Nek Singh

guru nanak asharam .... home for homeless

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