NEW DELHI: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Monday directed chief secretary MM Kutty to review conditions and deaths at the Asha Kiran, home for the mentally challenged and file a report in a week.
Expressing distress, Kejriwal also hit out the Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, that runs the home, and sought to know the reason behind her silence on the "11 deaths", that reportedly took place over the last two months. "I am extremely disturbed by the prevailing conditions reported by DCW and in the media on the home. Chief Secretary should personally ensure that all these deficiencies are removed within a week to the satisfaction of DCW," Kejriwal wrote in a note to Chief Secretary M M Kutty.
He further asked Kutty to fix responsibility and present a report by February 13 morning. Yesterday, DCW (Delhi Commission for Women) chief Swati Maliwal slapped notices on the department's Secretary Dilraj Kaur over the issue after spending a night at the home with her team. The women's panel has also set up an inquiry committee in this regard.
In a statement, Maliwal said she was shocked to find gross violation of human rights at the home "where women were roaming naked in unhygienic surroundings". "Women were being made to remove their clothes in the open while being lined up for taking a bath. Shockingly, completely nude women were roaming around in the corridors. "Moreover, the corridors of the dormitory had CCTV cameras installed which are being monitored by male staffers. The Commission saw the CCTV footage which captured mentally challenged women roaming around nude," she said.