Govt. opens psychiatric clinic at Erwadi

By P. S. Suresh Kumar

RAMANATHAPURAM, AUG. 9. The toll in the Erwadi mental asylum fire rose to 28 with the death of Negeswari, wife of Solai Mani of Virudunagar, who was admitted to the Ramanathapuram Government headquarters hospital with burns on Monday.

Meanwhile, as it is not possible to maintain violent patients in the homes for the mentally ill following the ban on use of chains to fetter them, the Government has opened a psychiatric clinic at Erwadi. The durgha management has also come forward to hand over a building to the health department to run this clinic and also assured other facilities for the patients.

The medical team headed by Mr. Balagurunathan, Joint Director for Health (in-charge), visited all 15 mental asylums in and around Erwadi and identified 10 violent patients. Steps have been taken to give them treatment.

Moreover, the department has arranged to set up a separate ward for violent patients in the Ramanathapuram headquarters hospital. The ward consisting of 20 beds, which had already been constructed to give treatment to the employees of the Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation, Valinokkam, would be allotted exclusively for giving medical treatment to mentally violent patients, said Mr. S. Vijaya Kumar, Collector.

The district administration had sent proposals for regulation of the operation of mental asylums in and around Erwadi. They included proper psychiatric treatment, adequate and wholesome food, distribution of washed clothes, toilet and bathroom facilities for the patients.

Judicial probe sought

The district unit of the CPI(M) has urged the Government to order judicial enquiry into the death of 28 mentally retarded persons.

Speaking to presspersons today, Mr. Venkatesh, district secretary, said that the mystery behind the fire would be brought to light only by the judicial enquiry.

He also blamed the durgha management for the gruesome tragedy.

A patient being examined at a psychiatric clinic opened by

the Government at Erwadi to treat the mentally ill.

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