TNN | Oct 9, 2014, 01.44AM IST
PUNE: About 350 inmates of the regional mental hospital in Yerawada will get an identify and will be trained in skills that will help them earn a living.
The hospital authorities have decided to issue Aadhaar cards and open bank accounts for the inmates, some of whom have been living here for more than 50 years. The effort is part of a comprehensive rehabilitation initiative of the hospital to restore patients' identities and make them productive human beings by involving them in business activities.
"All the 350 inmates have been living a stable life for more than a year. Five to six of them have been here for more than 50 years now. And 210 of them have been living here for the last 20 years. They have been either disowned by their relatives or they don't have any. We want them to learn some skills, be self sufficient and act as productive human beings. Hence they are being issued Aadhaar cards and given bank accounts. NGOs working in the field will help rehabilitate them," said psychiatrist Vilas Bhailume, medical superintendent of the regional mental hospital in Yerawada.
The inmates are being trained in business-oriented activities like screen printing, making greeting cards and diyas (earthen lamps). "They are mentally fit to carry out daily chores on their own. So they can learn basic skills as well. The money earned through the sale of their craft will be deposited in their bank accounts. The district administration is even helping us get Aadhaar cards for them. Around 150 of them have already received the cards," Bhailume said.
As many as 1,665 people are being treated at the hospital for various mental ailments. Of them, 977 are men and 688 are women. "About 350 patients are stable and require only symptomatic treatment. We contact their relatives regularly requesting them to take their kin home. But nobody turns up," Bhailume said.
Patients who have recovered cannot be rehabilitated in the society due to other reasons like death of close relatives, untraceable addresses, to name a few. Besides destitutes are also difficult to rehabilitate as their addresses are untraceable.
Psychiatrist Kaustubh Jog said, "Helping inmates of the hospital find an identity of their own and make them productive human being will also restore their self confidence and self esteem. This is a commendable step."
Health activist and medical practitioner Sanjay Dabhade of the Jan Arogya Manch said, "The hospital authorities should see to it that the rehabilitation programme does not falter mid way. It is important to make the programme sustainable and all inclusive."
Launch of rehab ward on Oct 18
The Yerawada mental hospital will open a rehabilitation ward for stable inmates on October 18. "The ward is big enough to accommodate around 80 people who will be engaged in business-oriented activities by providing them skill training. Some of them have been making Diwali diyas and lanterns. Now, we have decided to make them do more such activities on a larger scale and make it profitable," said Vilas Bhailume, medical superintendent of the hospital.
