What Caused 14 Deaths In Less Than A Month At Delhi's Shelter Home?

New Delhi: The suspicious death of 14 inmates at the Asha Kiran shelter home in Delhi in less than a month has brought another concern regarding deteriorating governance in the national capital after the Old Rajinder Nagar IAS coaching centre’s basement tragedy. It is being claimed that of the 14 deceased, 10 were women who died in the second half of July at the shelter home, located in Delhi’s Rohini. According to the reports, all the deceased exhibited symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting and body ache. The reported incidents have drawn a massive outrage in the national capital, with people demanding a probe into the matter.

The shelter home in Rohini, which was established to provide shelter to mentally challenged people, has hit the headlines, with a significant number of deaths in less than a month. The deceased also consists of a minor. After the reports of the death at the shelter home surfaced, an inquiry panel was constituted to probe the matter and the investigation report is being awaited.

Following the incident, Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi stated that of the 14 inmates who died at the Asha Kiran shelter home last month, some had comorbidities, which may have resulted in their deaths. However, she added that the guilty will not be spared if any negligence is found.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also sent a fact-finding team to the shelter home. NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said that the commission was also carrying out an audit of night shelters run by the Delhi government.  

On the reported deaths, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma has slammed the Delhi government, saying, “Asha Kiran has 450 people staying without proper food, water and medication. Atishi should be made responsible for contaminated water they have been provided.”

What Is ‘Asha Kiran’

The government-run Asha Kiran shelter home facility is situated in Delhi’s Rohini. Established in 1989, it was designed to house up to 350 people, especially specially-abled people. Managed by the Social Welfare Department of the Delhi government, the shelter has faced several controversies over the years, primarily related to the deaths of its residents.

The Delhi government-run facility for ‘mentally challenged’ comes under the Social Welfare Department, which former-Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand was earlier heading.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Delhi Minister Atishi said that Asha Kiran has 980 inmates and 450 caretakers. "It is a shelter home for the intellectually disabled. There are different kinds of intellectual disability. Those suffering from profound or serious disability have other comorbidities also. The deaths of the 14 inmates in July is a serious matter," Atishi noted.

Cause Of Deaths Is Not Known

The Delhi minister stated that the autopsy of the bodies was conducted and the autopsy report of the inmates is being awaited to ascertain the exact cause of death. She added that some of the inmates had comorbidities. "Some of those who succumbed were hospitalised in June. What I am saying is that their deaths need to be medically examined also," Atishi said.

"It is a shelter home for the intellectually disabled. There are different kinds of intellectual disability. Those suffering from profound or serious disability have other comorbidities also. The deaths of the 14 inmates in July is a serious matter," she noted. The capacity in Asha Kiran is for 600 inmates,” the Delhi minister added.

Magisterial Probe Ordered

Following the suspicious death reports came to fore, Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi stated that a magisterial probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of deaths of the people adding that if there is any negligence found at the Asha Kiran shelter home where 14 inmates died in July, they will not be spared. The preliminary report of the magisterial probe will come in 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor Secretariat has taken cognisance of the deaths at Asha Kiran. Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has ordered the Chief Secretary to undertake a comprehensive inquiry into the matter. The Chief Secretary has been asked by the LG to compensate the parents of the victims. He also asked for a white paper on such shelter houses within three weeks.

AAP MP Lashes Kejriwal Govt

Aam Aadmi Party MP in the Rajya Sabha, Swati Maliwal lashed out at the Delhi government over the deaths of 14 inmates and accused the Kejriwal-led government over lack of action regarding the recent deaths at the shelter home, which is a mental health facility run by the Delhi government. It was being alleged that the inmates allegedly died due to “health issues and malnutrition”.

Maliwal said that when she visited the shelter home during her tenure as the DCW chairperson, the situation there was very bad. She claimed that there was a lack of proper staff and no proper doctors were present there. She also alleged that they had filed a report earlier which was submitted to the Delhi government but there was no action.

Inmates Suffering From TB

Questions are being raised on the government-run Ash Kiran shelter home after the suspicious death of as many as 14 inmates, mostly women. Meanwhile, one of the workers at the shelter home located in Delhi’s Rohini, reportedly revealed that the condition of inmates living there is not well and claimed that at least 25 inmates are suffering from Tuberculosis.

Calling the situation at the shelter home “terrible”, the shelter home worker also claimed that most of them, who are residing there, don’t have clothes to wear and are not provided with a balanced diet.

Further, it has been claimed that the food quality and quantity has been significantly reduced for the inmates at the shelter home. As per revelations made by a worker, about four years ago, those living at the shelter home used to get a complete diet, which included fruits, rice, roti, dal, vegetables and milk. However, later, the diet was significantly reduced.