New Delhi: Delhi’s Asha Kiran shelter home, a government-run facility for the mentally challenged, has witnessed a huge number of inmate deaths this year, with 28 reported since January. The death toll includes a child and 14 people who passed away in July alone. The alarming trend has prompted the Delhi government to launch an investigation into the matter.
The opposition BJP has vowed to raise this issue in the Lok Sabha, while the ruling AAP has accused the BJP of adopting a “dual model” of politics. The deaths occurred at an alarming rate, with three inmates dying in January, followed by two in February, three in March, two in April, one in May, three in June and a staggering 14 in July.
In response to the crisis, Delhi minister Atishi has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the deaths, instructing the revenue department to submit a report within 48 hours. The Social Welfare Department, which oversees Asha Kiran, has been without a minister since Raaj Kumar Anand’s resignation in April and subsequent joining of the BJP last month.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in jail, has not reassigned the Social Welfare portfolio. Atishi has ordered magisterial inquiry into the deaths, seeking correlation with medical data, identification of lapses and recommendations for action and preventive measures to avoid future incidents.
National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma, who also went to Asha Kiran, said the centre was overcrowded and lacked facilities.
“Most of the deaths have been because of diarrhoea. Prima facie, it appears the water is contaminated. I checked the kitchen, where there are no water filters. Overcrowding is also a reason. In this heat, 495 people have been crammed into a place meant for 250. Toilets have not been working for two months and they have a capacity of only 100,” she said Who is responsible for these deaths @AtishiAAP?” she added.