Bhubaneswar: Taking suo motu cognisance of a case, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has made a series of recommendations to govt authorities for the mental well-being of prisoners across the state and the prevention of psychiatric disorders.The commission on Tuesday recommended regular and mandatory mental health examinations for all prisoners, filling all vacant psychiatrist posts within six months, a special protocol to prevent suicides, regular training for prison staff on mental health, strengthening free legal aid and the undertrial review committee, regular inspection of food, hygiene and general welfare, and open jails, rehabilitation and aftercare programmes.
OHRC also investigated the matter of prisoners’ mental health protection in cases filed by human rights activists Biswapriya Kanungo and Bijay Kumar Panda. It probed various aspects of issues like mental illness, suicidal tendencies, lack of medical facilities and delayed trial processes.The petitioners said the major causes of suicide and unnatural deaths in prisons were a lack of mental health specialists, overcrowding, delayed trials, and a lack of proper implementation of the Mental Health Act, 2017, and the Odisha Prison Rules.The commission asked the directorate of prisons and correctional services (DGPCS) to submit an implementation report within three months of receiving the order.It also ordered that copies of the order be provided to the principal secretary, home department, and member secretary, Odisha State Legal Services Authority.OHRC clarified that protecting the human rights, dignity and mental health of prisoners was the state’s responsibility. The order also stated that the jail department should submit a report to the commission every six months regarding regular measures being taken for the mental health of prisoners.
