After he was allocated the Social Welfare portfolio in the wake of the deathsd at the Beggars' Rehabilitation Centre in the city, Govind M. Karjol has his task cut out.
The Government will have to bring an end to the horrendous living conditions of the beggars at the centre.
Soon after he was handed over charge of the new Ministry last week, Mr. Kargol introduced a slew of measures to stem the rot at the centre. The improved quality of food, new pair of clothes, clean environs and revival of song and dance programme for the inmates have brought about enough change at the centre. But, Mr. Karjol promised much more for the centre's inmates in an exclusive interview with The Hindu .
Q. Can society, which has been shocked by the utter neglect of beggars at the centre, hope for better living conditions for them after you took charge?
A. We will definitely be more humanitarian in dealing with the inmates. I was pained to find them herded like cattle into dormitories. Seeing them scratch themselves all over their body used to make a pathetic sight. For, they were not in the habit of bathing.
Neither were they given any personal care items like soap, toothpaste, etc.
All this will change now. I have instructed the officials to provide them hot water for bathing every day, besides soap and toothpaste. Instead of the only pair of uniform they had to wear for a whole year, I have ordered that they be given four pairs. There is no dearth of funds. We will soon purchase more washing machines so that the inmates can keep their clothes clean. I have given instructions for construction of 32 additional toilets and 16 bathrooms in the eight dormitories of the centre. But first, we will be outsourcing catering services. We are in talks with NGOs and voluntary organisations to provide good quality food — two meals and one breakfast everyday — to the inmates, besides egg thrice a week. Preference will be given to service-minded organisations.
What went wrong in the earlier catering system?
We are spending about Rs. 45 a day on the food of each inmate. I can't say what went wrong. But, there were complaints about the quality of food. An inquiry being conducted by senior IAS officer and Administrator of Karnataka Health Services Development Project S. Selva Kumar will look at the entire gamut of issues, including charges of corruption levelled at officials of the centre.
What about the need for improving medical facilities at the centre?
We will send all the mentally ill inmates at the centre to NIMHANS for treatment. We will bear the cost of their treatment. We do not have the expertise to treat them, who account for a large percentage of the inmates. The health centre on the premises does not have sufficient medical and paramedical personnel to cater to such a large number of inmates. Hence, I have instructed them to immediately outsource the services of three more doctors, including lady doctors, besides at least 10 paramedical staff.
