National   

Minister: Jobs for mentally challenged also

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The one lakh jobs for the disabled people announced by the Centre in the Union budget will benefit the mentally challenged also, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar has said.

The private sector would also be given incentives for employing people with disabilities as announced by the Union Finance Minister in his budget speech.

Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day seminar on "Mentally ill women: is destitution the only answer'' organised by the National Commission for Women, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences and Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan, here on Friday, Ms. Kumar said mentally ill people were entitled to all basic rights, including the right to live with dignity, treatment, physical protection, property and gainful employment. "However, while the problem of mental illness is far more complicated than physical illness, women also need more protection and destitution cannot be an answer in a civilised society,'' the Minister said.

She called upon non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to set up rehabilitation and shelter homes for the mentally ill and abandoned women. Her Ministry supported 10 Halfway Homes for such people and "we want the NGOs to come forward to setting up and running similar homes, for which the Centre will provide financial assistance.''

Earlier, NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said the Mental Health Act, 1987 and the guidelines issued in 1982 must be reviewed to provide for rehabilitation after treatment of the mentally ill. Besides stringent legislative measures, sensitisation of the official mechanism and creating awareness among the people were equally important to overcome this huge problem which affected nationally 11 lakh people, of whom 3.5 lakh are women.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Victims' kin stage protest at Nithari
I respect court but won't cooperate with CBI: Mulayam
Preserve Left Front unity, Buddhadeb tells partners
Land lease deal signed for Singur car project
Coalition partners back Rymbai
``Border dispute can be solved through consensus''
Blank forms for questions scandal in Gujarat
Speaker hopes Women's Bill will be passed in his tenure
Steps to lower milk prices?
Parliament nod for bill on sharing signals
BJP to write to Speaker on Subba's nationality
Concern over neglect of children under six in budget
J.K.Mittal appointed CARA Chairperson
Minister: Jobs for mentally challenged also
Statement sought on Pune raids
Move to get lockers opened

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu