Asha Kiran - A ray of hope for the mentally retarded, But ..... ( Part 1 )

Please go through the two reports, being reproduced below, to understand the truth behind the New Home for the Mentally retarded persons, at Narela. The New home was to be built to de-congest the existing Asha Kiran, where the inmates had risen to thrice of its capacity. Both the reports tell about a New home for 2000 inmates at Narela.

1. Residential Care Programme for Mentally Challenged: Annual Plan Outlay 2013-14 : ₹ 210 Lakh :

The aim of the scheme is to provide residential care to the mentally challenged for their education, training guidance, medical care and rehabilitation. A piece of land measuring 7.69 acres is available at Narela and construction of a home for mentally challenged persons (children & adults) is likely to be started in year 2013-14. The new home will be a capacity of 2000 inmates. During the financial year 2012-13 an anticipated expenditure of  182.21 lakh has been incurred.

2. Construction of Home for Mentally Challenged Persons: Annual Plan Outlay 2013-14 : ₹ 10 Lakh :

The Asha Kiran Home is presently overcrowded here more than 800 inmates against the capacity of 350 are accommodated hence a decision was taken in the meeting held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare , to shift the mentally challenged inmates of Asha Kiran Homes to a new home for mentally challenged to be constructed at Narela.

In another meeting held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare ,the issue of shifting of Home for Mentally Retarded persons from Asha Kiran, Avantia to Lampur complex was discussed. Secretary (SW) opined that the possibility of shifting of mentally retarded home from Avantika to Narela / Dwarka may also be explored where some vacant land is available for construction of a full fledged mentally retarded Home at Narela/ Dwarka instead of Lampur because in Lampur, there is problem in easy accessibilities of transport facilities/ medical facilities and even from the security point of view in day to day watch and ward, especially to females during night, odd hours and holidays. Hon’ble Minister quite appreciated the suggestion and felt that Narela will be better as it was close to a hospital. She also suggested a site visit may be done at the earliest to finalize the location.

Accordingly, the officers of the Department after making site visit of the vacant plot of land at Narela observed that the plot under reference was about one kilometer from Raja Harish Chandra Hospital of Delhi Government and about 500 meters from the main road on which DTC buses ply. Further, it is not too far away from the main road leading to Singhu Border. Thus, it was considered suitable for the Home for mentally challenged persons where a new Home of 2000 capacity can be established. It is conveniently accessible to the staff also. Subsequently, a team of officers alongwith Hon’ble Minister (SW) with her Secretary visited the site of vacant plot and agreed to the proposal and directed to go ahead with the proposal.

Consequently, PWD the present custodian of the land was asked to survey the total land falls within the boundary marked `A’ & `B’. Accordingly, the PWD engaged a survey agency and got re-measured the land in possession with PWD. The area of land in possession of PWD which is bounded by boundary wall and is litigation free and is in actual possession  of PWD as on date comes out to be 40080.30 sq mtr whereas the area of land as per award should have been 40216 sqm. The minor difference of 0.33% may be due to some area being under road, foot path or front road settings. The PWD has stated that practically there is no difference between the land allotted and land in possession of PWD and where boundary wall exists. It has again been confirmed that land as per drawing and in possession with PWD and is litigation free. As per details given by the PWD’s, there is a minor difference of 0.33% which is ignorable. Now, it does not seem any hindrances to take over the existing land for the proposed Home for Mentally Challenged Persons. The building will consists of an administrative block, an auditorium, a library, 20 rooms to accommodate 2000 inmates, besides toilets and other facilities. The above mentioned work will commence during the year 2013-14 and will be completed in the year 2015-16.

My questions are :

1. If the New Home was completed, why the inmates of the Asha Kiran were not shifted to the new home ?

2. If the new Home is not yet complete, what is the status of its construction ?

3. If the New Home is not yet constructed, where the money spent has gone ?

4. Who will be responsible for the deaths of 11 kids at Asha Kiran, in the last 60 days ?

Expecting answer from no where.

Thanks,

B S Vohra

Social Activist

Reports used with thanks to Delhi Govt Links.

contd.