Lamka, January 01: Gamnuam Home, one of the most prominent rehabilitation home here again appears under the radar of National Human Rights Commission following the issuance of suomotu to Chief Secretary of Manipur.

Taking cognizance of the article carried on 'India Today' in its December 9, 2002 edition, the law division of National Human Rights Commission has directed the Chief Secretary of Manipur for the second times to inform as to how many of the inmates of Gamnuam Home have been found HIV positive, and what steps have been taken for their medication, treatment and rehabilitation.

The Commission also inquires what steps have been taken up by the state authorities to ensure the release of those inmates who were found chained.

On Tuesday official have visited the home to have a first hand account of the scenario, where in atleast thirty nine of the fifty-five inmates were still chained flouting the basic right of an individual, as was asserted by rights commission, although the home guardians claimed it was done with complete consent of their parents.

With the NHRC re-directing the Chief Secretary to file its report on the steps it had taken before fifteenth of January, Gamnuam Home, already taken to task by the Manipur Human Rights Commission in 1991, appears to be heading for a serious altercation as the State Level Committee on Law Ethics and Human Rights of Manipur State Aids Control Society in its report in 20 Jan 2003 has recommended the complete closure of the rehabilitation home.

'No trained manpower is available.

No recognized de-addiction and detoxification system is followed' �..

It lacks scientific norms it said, in addition to terming the Home as 'Private Jail.' Rooted on divine faith, the home has accumulated criticism as well as appreciation ever since its inception in 1987.Its critics, mostly rights body including NHRC claimed that no detoxification initiatives were undertaken for the inmates and that the ethics of human rights were flouted in chaining them.

Its patrons, which include top ranking officials from Manipur and Mizoram however were of the idea that such extreme steps, with the consent of their parents, were needed to contain the rowdy addicts.

Comment