No more Erawadis
Let us bow our heads in apology and shame that it has been ten more years of neglect
and humiliation of persons living with mental illness. On August 6th 2000, twenty-
eight persons living with mental illness died in a fire while they slept chained
to pillars in Erawadi. This year it will be ten years.
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Why we are opposing the mental health act amendments
In our opinion, the proposed amendments in the Mental Health Act are contrary to
the spirit of UNCRPD and ignore the three basic principles of the convention - Equality,
Justice and Freedom. The process of amendments is non-participatory and discriminatory.
Moreover there is no attempt to inform and include people living with mental illness
in the amendment process. The amendments do not address the civil political rights,
which are being overlooked. More
Justice Ajit Prakash Shah: “Current provisions not in alignment with the UN mandates”
Letter From Justice Ajit Prakash Shah to the Minister of Health
and Family Welfare, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, dated May 07, 2010 stating the discrepancies
and concers with the present draft of amendments.
Read the letter
Mental health improvements are central to India’s development
Remember as many as 25 per cent people in India live with mental
illness. They live
in families. Each family has at least three to four members. It means that lives
of most people in India are touched by mental health problems.
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How would a sincere adoption of UNCRPD benefit people with mental illness?
The amendment in Mental Health Act, if done with a sincere intent
and an all inclusive vision, can create opportunities and bring a positive change
in the lives of people suffering from mental illness and their families.
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What do the experts say about the amendments
People with mental illness are people with disabilities. The ‘nodal’ Ministry for
disabled people is MSJE. They have taken on a task and for sure, their Committee
has representation of all disabled people, including people with mental illness...
We request the Health Minister to (a) halt the so- called amendment process immediately;
(b) allow MSJE the time they’ll take to draft the new, comprehensive disability
law; (c) meet some genuine mental health sector people, especially self advocates;
and (d) if at all there is any need, to revisit the whole issue AFTER the new disability
law is in place and then see as to what role if any, the Health Ministry may need
to play.
- Javed Abidi, Convener, Disability Rights Group
We believe that the current process of Mental Health Act Amendments is a knee jerk
reaction and is leading to reinforcement of stereotypes about mental illness. The
rights of persons living with mental illness are again being ignored and only the
processes of institutionalizing them against their will are being described. The
society that continues to see persons living with mental illness as incapable and
dangerous sanctions ‘civil death’ for the most vulnerable amongst its citizenry.
- Achal Bhagat, Mental Health Rights Group