Mentally ill chains for 20 years in Odisha; NHRC issues notice to the State Government


New Delhi, October 15th, 2012
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha and the District Magistrate, Jagatsinghpur to submit a report within four weeks into allegations made in a media report that a mentally ill person was chained for 20 years.
The Commission has observed that the content of press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the mentally ill person.
Allegedly, one Sanjaya Gudiya, aged 27 of Village Kiyada, Block Ersama, District Jagatsinghpur, Odisha, a patient of mental illness had been fettered for the last 20 years in the house by his parents. The report further alleges that parents of Sanjaya are very poor and not in a position to arrange treatment for their son.
The news clipping was forwarded to the Commission by its Special Rapporteur, Mr. Damodar Sarangi for taking appropriate action.
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