quot;Internal problemsquot; forces NGO to shut crisis centre

NEW DELHI, November 1: A non-government organisation NGO running a successful day-care centre for the emotionally disturbed for over two d...

NEW DELHI, November 1: A non-government organisation NGO running a successful day-care centre for the emotionally disturbed for over two decades has 8220;closed8221; its crisis intervention programme for two weeks following internal problems. 8220;We are a self-motivated organisation and have the responsibility to maintain programmes started by us decades ago,8221; representatives of the NGO Sanjivini said today.

Meanwhile, parents of those affected by the closure have said in a letter that this abrupt decision has left the programme8217;s schizophrenic dependents 8220;emotionally high and dry8221;.

The letter states: 8220;The professional staff has either been axed or has resigned in disgust following the negative stand taken by the management towards the day-care centre.8221; It adds that it is ironical that the incident has taken place while the country is observing the Mental Health Week.

The letter further states that the executive committee of volunteers decided to terminate the services of the head of department Dr Rajat Mitra, who had been with the centre for the past 14 years and was the architect of the unique psychotherapy and rehabilitation programme, on October 13 giving him just an hour8217;s notice.

It also mentions that within two days the staff and volunteers of the day-centre resigned expressing their 8220;disgust8221; at the way the centre was being run.

Representatives of Sanjivini, however, say that the problem is an internal matter and will be solved at the organisational level soon. 8220;Ours is a staff problem which can be true for any organisation, and it is not the first time that volunteers have changed,8221; they said. 8220;A sub-committee has been appointed to look into the matter and the centre will start functioning again soon8221;.

The parents of the dependents are, however, doubtful about whether the centre will start functioning again and whether the programme developed for over 16 years by competent professionals will be restored. They say that for the dependents the closure has been a 8220;traumatic experience8221;.

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Meanwhile, some experts have warned that the closure could lead to a breakdown or some extreme reaction in the dependents who have been undergoing treatment in the centre for several years.