Chandigarh Residents Oppose Merging Senior Home with Mental Care Facility
Residents of Chandigarh have formally opposed a Union Territory administration plan to merge a Senior Citizens’ Home with the existing Group Home in Sector 31, which serves individuals with mental illnesses lacking family support. Critics, including Kanchan Malhotra and Swarleen Kaur, argue the decision was made without consulting the UTTHAAN Group Home Society’s governing body. They contend that combining these distinct groups ignores the specific needs of mentally disabled individuals and violates the dignity ensured by the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Residents also highlighted existing shortcomings in the facility, such as rigid admission terms and untrained staff, suggesting the merger is an attempt to mask administrative failures. Conversely, Radhika Singh, Director of Social Welfare, defended the move, citing low application rates for the group home and claiming that integrating senior citizens would create a warmer, familial environment. However, opponents note that several other senior homes already operate in the region, making the diversion of this specialized facility illogical. The controversy highlights tensions between administrative efficiency and the rights of vulnerable populations, with residents urging Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to intervene and preserve the facility’s original purpose.
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Chandigarh Residents Oppose Merging Senior Home with Mental Care Facility
Residents of Chandigarh have formally opposed a Union Territory administration plan to merge a Senior Citizens’ Home with the existing Group Home in Sector 31, which serves individuals with mental illnesses lacking family support. Critics, including Kanchan Malhotra and Swarleen Kaur, argue the decision was made without consulting the UTTHAAN Group Home Society’s governing body. They contend that combining these distinct groups ignores the specific needs of mentally disabled individuals and violates the dignity ensured by the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Residents also highlighted existing shortcomings in the facility, such as rigid admission terms and untrained staff, suggesting the merger is an attempt to mask administrative failures. Conversely, Radhika Singh, Director of Social Welfare, defended the move, citing low application rates for the group home and claiming that integrating senior citizens would create a warmer, familial environment. However, opponents note that several other senior homes already operate in the region, making the diversion of this specialized facility illogical. The controversy highlights tensions between administrative efficiency and the rights of vulnerable populations, with residents urging Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to intervene and preserve the facility’s original purpose.
The Indian Express