T’puram: State human rights commission (SHRC) chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas urged the state govt to take a sympathetic decision on a recommendation by social justice department to establish at least one institution in every district to care for abandoned and destitute patients in hospitals.The directive came in a case registered suo motu by SHRC based on media reports highlighting the plight of patients being abandoned in govt hospitals. The commission also called to expand the ‘Destitute Welfare Scheme’ to all districts by extending grants to more voluntary organizations. This, it said, would help provide care and protection to those wandering on the streets as well as patients who are not taken back by their families even after recovery. Directions in this regard have been issued to secretary and director of social justice department. SHRC sought and reviewed a report from social justice department director on the matter. According to the report, financial assistance is currently being provided to voluntary organizations under the scheme to support destitute individuals. Such institutions are presently functioning in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts, while a proposal has been submitted to the govt to establish a similar facility in Kannur. The report further noted that due to a shortage of human resources, services remain limited in 16 govt-run old-age homes and around 600 institutions under the orphanage control board, particularly in caring for bedridden patients. TNN
