Kohima, July 24 (MExN): Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) organised a legal awareness programme with the doctors and staffs of State Mental Health Institute (SMHI), Kohima at the Institute on July 22.
The main objective of the programme was to sensitize on the legal rights of the mentally ill persons and to come together as stakeholders to discuss various issues and challenges, said Wapanginla Kichu, Panel Lawyer, who chaired the programme.
Dr. Wapang, Medical Superintendent, SMHI highlighted some of the issues and challenges faced by the institute in taking care of the mentally ill persons. He said that the most neglected group are the mental patients, which is emerging as a growing concern and urged all to work together and provide quality care to them, according to a press release from KDLSA.
Retainer & Panel Lawyer Kekhriengulie Thenuo spoke on the topic ‘NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Mentally Disabled Persons) Scheme, 2015.’ The main principle of Legal Aid Services, he said, is access to justice for all. However, persons with disabilities, especially those suffering from mental illness and other barriers like mental retardation, are usually sidelined and neglected by the society, he pointed out. Hence, the National Legal Services Authority Act 2015 had drawn up a scheme to provide effective legal services to the mentally ill and mentally disabled. He said the mentally ill and mentally disabled persons are entitled to all human rights and fundamental freedom, as such; it shall be the prime concern of the institution as well as the legal services authority to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of these persons. He also reflected the important legal provisions and Acts provided for the well being of the mentally ill and mentally disabled persons.
Meanwhile, Mezivolu T Therieh, Chief Judicial Magistrate & Secretary, KDLSA, stated the mentally ill persons should not be stigmatized, rather it should be ensured the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disability (including mentally ill persons and persons with mental disabilities) are enjoyed on equal recognition before the law and that they are given equal protection of the law. She appealed to all for collective effort in ensuring a friendlier and secure environment for the mentally ill and mentally disabled persons. She spoke on the NLSA Act 1987 which has been enacted with a vision of legal services to all. She mentioned that there are two basic purposes of the legal system – one is that legal system must be accessible to all, and secondly it must lead to results that provide justice. People who are marginalised like the mental patients must be provided with legal services, she asserted. She also mentioned that legal literacy and legal awareness become a principle means to ensure equality before the law, especially for the marginalised poor, downtrodden and illiterate persons. The Chief Judicial Magistrate also mentioned about recent cases of two mentally ill patients who had been referred to Antara Psychiatric Centre, Kolkata for further treatment with the assistance and coordination of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority, and all stakeholder departments. Applauding the yeomen services of the State Mental Health Institute in catering to the mental patients of not only Kohima but all the districts in Nagaland with the basic minimum facilities, she impressed upon the officials of SMHI to continue to work together so that benefits will reach the ones in need.
During the interactive session, the need of a separate cell where uncontrollable and violent patients need to be kept and segregated was discussed. Keeping such patients in chain, it was affirmed, is a violation of their human rights. Also, security issues, refusal of supply of diet for the patients and essential medicine and drugs were discussed. The need of a permanent Rehabilitation Centre to keep the patients who have recovered but have none to take care of their custody also came up.
