The National Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the State Government on a mentally challenged man who has been chained in Jagatsinghpur district for the last 20 years.
Terming it as a “violation of human rights of the mentally ill person,” the Commission asked the State Chief Secretary and the District Magistrate of Jagatsinghpur to submit a report in four weeks.
A report on the plight of the mentally challenged man, Sanjaya Gudiya (27) of Kiyada village here, was published in these columns recently.
NHRC special rapporteur Damodar Sarangi had forwarded the media report to the Commission.
Sanjay has been in chains for the last 20 years as his parents and family members believe he would harm people, if freed.
“He becomes violent in the presence of outsiders and does all his daily chores inside the room,” said his mother Sundari, a daily wager.
Sundari’s husband Ratan has been suffering from paralysis for the last two years and she has been finding it difficult to manage the family with her meagre earnings.