India News

The news of 49 disabled children using a single tooth brush at a government aided home, has created stir in the country. 

The notable thing is, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice H L Dattu has seen the pitiable sight over two years ago, as a judge of the Supreme Court, who is still disturbed with the incident.

Speaking about it, Justice Dattu said, “It is not important to say in which state I saw 49 children using one toothbrush as that is the condition in most government-aided or government-run homes housing disabled children, who are the most neglected lot.”

Mr. Dattu used to visit the old age homes regularly and spend time with the inmates, giving them confidence and hope to lead a happy life. 

“There is no dearth of government grant for upkeep of facilities at the homes for disabled and senior citizens. What we need to stop is pilferage of the money, and (instead) use it to improve the basic facilities for senior citizens and disabled persons,” he said.

In his gap of retiring as Chief Justice of India in December and getting appointed as NHRC chairperson in February, he mostly spent his time with the old age homes near Bengaluru.

“An inmate of one of the old-age homes told me that his two sons were very well placed and earning a lot, but neither was keen on keeping him with their family. This is the story in many well-to-do families. What that person needed in old age was a confidence-booster given daily by an expert counsellor. We need to have such experts in every old-age home, who will listen to them and give them hope and confidence to live the sunset years of their life with equal vigour,” NHRC Chief said.

After taking charge at NHRC, Mr Dattu has activated the core group of experts attached to human rights body, to improve the conditions of these homes.

“It will be one of the happiest moments in my life if the NHRC makes a difference to the living conditions in old-age homes and the homes for disabled children,” he said. 

Under Deendayal Rehabilitation Scheme, the Central government provides aid to 421 NGOs, which run 502 projects, including the schools for physically challenged children.

From 269 old age homes in 2012-13, the number drastically came down to 137 in 2014-15, for several unknown reasons.