NHRC Probes Alarming Deaths at Overcrowded Delhi Shelter Home for Mentally Impaired
Twelve Inmates Die Within Two Weeks at Asha Kiran; NHRC Demands Detailed Report on Neglect and Poor Conditions
Press Release / National Human Rights Commission – Image X
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report indicating that 12 inmates died between July 15 and July 31 at Asha Kiran, a Delhi government-run shelter home for people with mental impairments in Rohini. The deceased included 10 women and two men, all exhibiting symptoms like loose motion and vomiting. Several other inmates are currently undergoing treatment in the hospital. According to the shelter home’s medical care unit, 54 inmates were sent outside the facility for treatment in July alone. These alarming deaths have reignited allegations of neglect and poor living conditions at the shelter home.
The NHRC observed that if the news report is accurate, it raises serious human rights violations of the inmates at the reportedly overcrowded shelter home. The deaths of so many inmates within a short span point to significant negligence by the authorities. Consequently, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, demanding a detailed report on the matter within four weeks. The report is expected to include the status of the FIR, actions taken against responsible officials, and measures proposed to prevent such incidents in the future.
The media report, dated August 2, 2024, indicates that Asha Kiran has long been controversial. The shelter home, designed to accommodate 500 inmates, now houses over 1,000, leading to severe overcrowding. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had flagged issues at Asha Kiran in a 2015 report, citing overburdening, inadequate medical emergency facilities, and staff shortages. The report highlighted that 148 deaths had occurred between 2009 and 2014 and noted the department’s lax efforts toward decongesting the facility. Additionally, in 2017, the Delhi Commission for Women reported the shelter’s poor conditions. The recent deaths have underscored the urgent need for reform and better oversight at Asha Kiran to protect the rights and lives of its residents.
