An NHRC team led by Member, Shri S.C. Sinha, visited Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh from the 7th to 9th May, 2014 to take stock of mental healthcare and juvenile justice system. The other members of the team were Shri A.K. Parashar, Joint Registrar (Law) and Dr. Savita Bhakhry, Joint Director (Research). The aim of the visit was to look into the functioning of mental healthcare and juvenile justice system. Department of Geriatric Mental Health established in King George’s Medical College, a Children’s Home and Observation Home for juveniles in conflict with law were visited.
The team also interacted with the Chairperson and Members of the Child Welfare Committee. They highlighted the problems which included, among others, poor basic infrastructure for children in need of care and protection, lack of supportive staff in many Homes and need for separate Homes for physically and mentally challenged children.
During the course of interaction with the juveniles, it was observed that a large number of them were staying in the Home for more than two years as no decision had been taken on their cases. In the absence of an Observation Home in Rai Bareilly, Unnao and Barabanki districts, a large number of juveniles from these districts were found residing in the Observation Home at Lucknow.
The delegation also interacted with the Metropolitan Magistrate and the women social workers of the Juvenile Justice Board. The team also visited Ashalayam, a Shelter Home run by an NGO to provide residential facilities to children. It also visited Cheshire Home. The main objective of this Home is to enable, encourage and empower the persons with disabilities with the help of committed staff and volunteers.