No Central nod for funds use, patients suffer

DHENKANAL: The funds sanctioned under National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), meant for treatment of the mentally-ill patients, have been lying unutilised here for the last five years.  Sources said Rs 13.90 lakh was sanctioned under NMHP five years back following which, many new schemes were planned for helping the mentally-ill. However, sans a green signal from the Central Government for utilisation of the funds, none of these schemes has been taken up yet.  This year, 434 persons in the district were identified as mentally-ill by the district authorities. Of them, a majority is children belonging to the poor families for whom, affording medical treatment is a difficult proposition. Due to inordinate delay by the Central Government in granting permission for utilisation of NMPH funds, condition of these patients is worsening with each passing day. Though there is a psychiatrist at the district headquarters hospital, he is unable to address problems of all the mentally-ill patients due to funds crunch.

Following the direction of District Collector Girish SN, a medical team headed by psychiatrist Paresh Mohapatro last week visited Parjang, Joranda, Hindol, Bidharpur and Baniapada and found 10 mentally-ill and retarded persons who were tied up in their houses.  Some of them were identified as Budha Swain (48) of Birikhunti, Nirmal Biswal (35) of Khajuriakata, Sipun Samal (13), Sanjay Samal (32) and Sanatan Nayak of Hindol, Titu Pati of Nuakote (24), Rally Sahoo (17) of Bidharpur and Diptimayee Das of Baniapada village.  The team observed that though these patients took medicines, they needed extra care and regular check-ups for improvement in their condition. Most of them required immediate medical attention.  Meanwhile, the Collector said that steps were being taken to get permission from the Central Government for utilisation of the funds.