Their tragic lives have been only made worse by the apathy of their near and dear ones. Forty-year-old Soni Devi (name changed) and 44-year-old Ratna Singh are two such people who despite having been “cured” of their mental illness have been denied support by their families. They continue to live at RINPAS, a state Government-run mental hospital.

“My husband has got married again and both my sons live with him. Will you help me go home? I long to see my sons,” pleaded Soni, a resident of Deoghar. She has been living in RINPAS for the past 18 years. Her doctors said that Soni had recovered from a ‘mild’ attack of schizophrenia soon after she was admitted in August 1989. But her parents and family never bothered to find out about her in the last 18 years.

In January 1979, Ratna Singh was brought to the mental hospital by her father and husband. Unfortunately, even after she was “cured” within six months of her coming here, none of her relatives cared to take her home. Despite repeated reminders for the past 28 years, her family has not responded.

Under the Indian Lunacy Act, amended as Mental Health Act 1981, patients admitted in a hospital can’t be discharged or relieved unless someone from the Government or bonafide and registered parents come to claim them. This works against people like Soni and Ratna.

Ashok Singh, a social activist, said:“The problem can be solved provided the Government launches a nation-wide campaign to educate people on the issue and bring about an amendment to the Act allowing the civil society to rehabilitate them.”

... contd.