‘She died waiting for help’: Chandigarh’s Group Home remains idle, families demand reform

Despite an 80-bed capacity and a sanctioned staff of 37 employees drawing a monthly salary bill of over Rs 12 lakh, the facility presently houses only three residents.

The facility was created to support adults with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, Down syndrome, and intellectual disability, especially when their parents can no longer care for them. Yet, families say the UT Social Welfare Department’s stringent admission conditions have created barriers rather than solutions.

A major obstacle is the Rs 20 lakh security deposit, far higher than any similar facility in India. “The UT Administration runs a Senior Citizens’ Home in Sector 43 requiring only Rs 25,000. Why discriminate against persons with disabilities” questioned G K Jaggi, a parent of a person with schizophrenia.

Earlier this year, 37 applications were received when admissions briefly opened, but 24 were rejected because families could not meet the financial or procedural demands. Only eight candidates moved to assessment stages, six entered day-care, and three began trial stays.

Families allege the deposit equals nearly a decade’s advance fee, with monthly charges between Rs 16,000 and Rs 35,000 depending on room type — amounts unattainable for many households. Ram Kumar, another parent, emphasised, “No support exists for economically weaker sections. Families earning Rs 1.5 to Rs 6 lakh annually are excluded from subsidies.” He called on the UT to make the Group Home genuinely affordable to fulfill its purpose.

Officials concede internal disagreements on the operational model and admission criteria have stalled progress. The issue is now before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a pending Public Interest Litigation alleging violations of disability rights.

Meanwhile, families like Jaswinder Singh’s, an NRI coming to Chandigarh solely to secure his brother’s admission, face agonizing uncertainty.

“This facility is ready, staff are trained, meals are good, routines are structured, but it remains unused. Only the administration’s will is missing,” Aditya Vikram Rametra, who has campaigned for the Group Home for eight years, said.

Palak Arora, director, social welfare, when contacted, said the executive committee meeting fixed for Tuesday will thrash out many of the pending issues. “Decisions will be ultimately taken by the governing body whose meeting is fixed for Friday. So let’s hope for the best,” she said.

(The author is an intern with The Indian Express)

From the homepage

‘I will not call it a mishap’: Assam CM Himanta calls Zubeen Garg’s death a ‘murder’

Hoardings to keep out pastors in Chhattsigarh villages: Kerala-based church calls it ‘most divisive boundary since Partition’

Her grit, Her game, Her glory: From Harmanpreet Kaur to Shafali Verma, meet India’s 16 pioneering World Cup winners