Mentally ill charged as offenders: Study
The TISS study articulates that there is a need to repeal Anti-Beggary Legislation urgently.
Mumbai: A study conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on the implications of Supreme Court directions on rehabilitation of special persons revealed that 10,000 people, who need to be rehabilitated, are rather homeless despite facing problems such as depression and undergoing suicidal tendencies. According to Muhammad Tariq, director of Koshish project, TISS, most of these special persons are booked under the Beggary Law.
Mr Tariq added that people with mental illness are left unattended and are sometimes abandoned on the streets and imprisoned as offenders in case of unintended mishaps in their presence.Talking to The Asian Age, Mr Tariq said, “Mental health is always neglected by the society out of fear. Depression is also a type of mental illness. Similarly, there are many types of mental disorders, which need to be identified according to symptoms and categorised to treat them accordingly.”
“Mostly people with severe mental disorders are abandoned on the streets, especially old women, children and young girls who are left unattended on road. Police usually tends to book them under the Beggary Act and labels them as offenders rather than treating them,” added Mr Tariq.
The TISS study articulates that there is a need to repeal Anti-Beggary Legislation urgently. This law provides for facilities for the mentally ill arrested person.
Since the person is taken into custody as an offender and not as a patient, there is very little possibility of his/her getting the treatment. Such people will never feature in any status report or the assessment of the hospitals. Court must look into institutions established under these laws and ascertain if our priority is the welfare and well being of the person who is ill or the place where that person is. Mental illness can no more be allowed to be criminalised.
Signs of depression
- Nervousness, restlessness, or tension
- Feeling hazard, panic, or dreading
- Rapid heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Increased or heavy sweating
- Trembling or muscle twitching
- Trouble focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than the thing you're
- worried about.