Sole state-run Nari Niketan cries for attention

rveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, June 16

Nari Niketan in Karnal, the only state-run shelter home in Haryana, is crying for attention. It has the capacity to cater to 65 inmates, but 72 women are putting up here. This includes 12 mentally disabled inmates and a juvenile-accused.

Maybe the Nari Niketan authorities are unaware of a Women and Child Development Department’s notification that states that inmates suffering from a mental disorder or contagious disease will not be permitted to stay in a women’s shelter home.

All this came to the fore in a reply to an RTI query filed by local resident Rajesh Sharma. The reply suggests sorry state of affairs in Nari Nikeatan as only one doctor has been appointed for the inmates. He either visits once a week or as per the need of the inmates. Nari Nikeatan also faces the shortage of a guard.

Nari Niketan is spread over 25,735 sq ft, including 1,750 sq yard open area. It has 10 rooms and two halls, Sharma said.

He said the reply to his RTI query stated there was no provision of a regular skill training programme for inmates. A voluntary effort by Punjab National Bank is what inmates look up to. It organises courses related to stitching, weaving and art.

“The juvenile-accused inmate should be kept in an observation home instead of Nari Niketan. As for mentally disabled inmates, there should be a provision of a separate institution for them,” Sharma said. When contacted, Nari Niketan in charge Sandhya admitted that mentally disabled inmates were living on the premises, but said their room was separate. “A guard will soon be appointed,” she added.