The Karnataka Association for Psychiatric Disability (KAPD) in coordination with Medico-Pastoral Association and other organisations on Friday organised a candlelight vigil to pay homage to 26 mentally ill people who were killed at Yerwadi of Ramananthpuram district in Tamil Nadu in 2001.
The members, led by KAPD president R. Lakshman, staged the vigil in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue. “The vigil has been organised to ensure that the Yerwadi horror does not happen again. We want to highlight the state of affairs in mental health and the needs of those afflicted,” Mr. Lakshman said.
He narrated how 26 mentally ill people were burnt alive on August 6 in 2001 in Yerwadi when the hut where they had been incarcerated for the night accidentally caught fire.
“Through our organisation we request society to admit mentally challenged people to rehabilitation centres,” he added.
