NHRC wants Dharwad mental hospital upgraded

dharwad: deputy opposition leader in the legislative council basavaraj bommai said the national human rights commission had urged the state government to upgrade the mental hospital in dharwad. this should be on the lines of nimhans, bangalore, he added. he was speaking after the inauguration of a building constructed under the malanad development scheme and soumanasya rehabilitation centre here recently.bommai said according to the nhrc, there was a need to improve basic infrastructural facilities at the hospital and this should be taken on a priority basis by the government. he recalled that his father, former chief minister s r bommai, had released rs 5 lakh for welfare activities to soumanasya rehabilitation centre. water resources minister h.k. patil said the government had handed over rs 3 crore for the purpose to iskcon. he said he would take up the issue of providing additional funds for the rs 30 lakh project evolved by `soumanasya' for the rehabilitation centre in dharwad. patil assured that he and district incharge minister a.m. hindasgeri would take up with the government the need to provide additional funds for the hospital which would be included in the next state budget. he urged minister for women and child welfare motamma to concentrate on the matter. motamma said instead of spending huge amounts of money for religious activities, the funds must be diverted to the welfare of the mentally retarded and the sick. district incharge minister a.m. hindasgeri flagged off the vehicle donated to the hospital by the infosys foundation and the zilla panchayat. mla chandrakant bellad, zp president c.n. shyagoti, dy commissioner kapil mohan, zp ceo, p.s. vastrad were also present.