Officials sealed an unauthorized mental health facility in Kinathukadavu near Pollachi, relocating 39 residents to an approved center. The facility operated without proper permits for three years.
Coimbatore: In a startling discovery, authorities have sealed an unauthorized mental health facility operating in Senraam Palayam near Kinathukadavu, Pollachi. The facility, which had been functioning without proper permits for the past three years, housed 39 individuals, including those with mental health issues, elderly, and destitute persons.
Acting on the orders of Coimbatore District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, a team of officials conducted an inspection of the private facility. The team comprised Dr. Rajasekharan, Joint Director of Medicine and Rural Health Services for Coimbatore district, Chandramohan, District Differently Abled Welfare Officer, and Dr. Krithika, a mental health professional.
The inspection revealed shocking conditions within the facility. Multiple individuals were found confined in a single room, and some were even shackled with iron chains on their legs. The officials were appalled by the unhygienic state of the toilets, which posed a serious risk of spreading infectious diseases.
Upon further investigation, it came to light that the facility had been operating without any valid authorization for the past three years. The officials immediately reported their findings to the District Collector via phone.
Following the Collector's orders, all 39 residents, including 30 men and 9 women, were safely transferred to a government-approved mental health care center. The unauthorized facility was then sealed in the presence of police and revenue department officials.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the monitoring and regulation of mental health facilities in the region. Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations to prevent such unauthorized operations in the future and ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals.