The Government Mental Health Centre at Kuthiravattam here will soon get a new look if the comprehensive renovation plans charted with the help of the Social Justice Department materialise.
A detailed project report (DPR) for a Rs.20-crore renovation project has been prepared, Minister for Panchayats and Social Justice M.K. Muneer said. “What we are planning is a comprehensive renovation project modelled after the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore,” Dr. Muneer said.
He said the State government would make available half the total estimated cost, while Rs.10 crore would be raised from the public and various agencies. The overhaul of the centre, the sole mental health hospital under the government sector in the State, has always been among the key promises made by different political parties during elections. “We have taken up that challenge, and we will realise it,” Dr. Muneer said.
Similar plan
He said he had a similar renovation plan for the Juvenile Home under the Department of Social Justice at Vellimadukunnu here.
Dr. Muneer said the second edition of Janasabha , conceived by him for the comprehensive development of his Assembly constituency (Kozhikode South), would begin on Saturday.
He said that it would be an important forum to listen to people’s needs and grievances and find solutions to them. “Janasabha aims at finding proper solutions to people’s problems through multiple interventions,” he said.
Special medical camps for senior citizens, distribution of welfare scheme benefits under different departments, inauguration of Shetoilets, training programme for women in dress-making, and distribution of aids and identity cards for the differently abled will be some of the programmes to be held as part of the event.
“Nearly Rs.2.5 crore will be distributed to the people as benefits under different schemes during the Janasabha,” Dr. Muneer said.
