11 Inmates Died In 2 Months, Women Crawl Around Naked In Corridors, And 6 Other Shocking Findings From Asha Kiran Home

In a damning report, against the city government's social welfare department, Delhi Commission for Women has said 11 patients died at the Asha Kiran home for the mentally challenged in the past two months.

A sudden midnight inspection of the home by DCW Chairman Swati Maliwal revealed many instances of gross negligence.

1. Nudity

During an inspection, DCW said it found women inmates walking about naked in the corridors.

Women were being made to remove their clothes in the open while lining up to take a bath," Maliwal added. Nudity, even amidst CCTV cameras being monitored by male staff, was rampant. "Shockingly, nude women were roaming around in the corridors even as there are CCTV cameras installed there which are being monitored by male staff," she said.

2. Overcrowding

"Among other things, we found the home was overcrowded, with up to four persons occupying one bed", Maliwal said.?

BCCL

3. Patients used as labour

Patients were being used as labour, and staffers here had forced them to do their personal work. The mentally challenged residents were sweeping, cleaning clothes, and helping in daily chores. Maliwal even saw a staffer getting her legs pressed by a mentally challenged resident.

4. Lack of clean toilets

Toilets were found to be stinking, filthy, and it seems patients had taken to relieve themselves in the corridors and even their own rooms.??

BCCL

5. Lack of staff

These conditions could not only be attributed to callousness, but also to lack of staff.? One 'house aunty' was deputed to look after 153 residents in one dormitory.

6. No wheelchairs

"We saw no wheelchairs were being used", Maliwal reported. Instead, women and children inmates were crawling on the floor, unattended, while going to the toilets.7. "We saw no wheelchairs were being used", Maliwal reported. Instead, women and children inmates were crawling on the floor, unattended, while going to the toilets.

7. No trained doctors on the premises
Despite severe need for psychological support, the home did not have a clinical psychologist on staff. Instead, a psychiatrist would visit the place twice a week for a few hours. Doctors were also missing.

Metrovaartha.com/Representational image

8. No security

"There was also no guard stationed at the entrance of the women's wing and we were able to walk inside unchecked," she added.

The BJP held the AAP government responsible for the death of the inmates at the home. Delhi BJP chief, Manoj Tiwari, alleged that the Delhi government evading responsibility, and hadn’t even appointed a social welfare minister after Sandeep Kumar was sacked in 2016.?