Kolkata: It's good news for 16 inmates of Calcutta Pavlov Hospital whose names have featured in the voters' list this time. They are completely cured and have now, got a chance to cast their votes during the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Several more will get their names featured in the voters' list soon. During the election, a separate polling station will be opened inside the hospital premises to help them exercise their franchise.
Hospital sources informed that several inmates of Pavlov Hospital are completely cured. But their family members are not willing to take them back. As a result of this, despite being cured, the inmates have not been able to join the mainstream.
Several inmates' families have provided fictitious addresses while admitting them.
According to Ganesh Prasad, Superintendent of Calcutta Pavlov Hospital, due to social stigma, family members of inmates refuse to take them back despite being cured as they have no importance in families. To recreate it, Prasad has taken the initiative to
feature their names in the voters' list.
For the past several months, Prasad has relentlessly tried to approve his ideas from his superiors and the Election Commission of India (ECI). Recently, the ECI responded to his requests and allowed 16 inmates to cast vote.
On Tuesday, the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) has been issued to the 16 inmates.
Prasad said: "At present, there are 200 inmates who are completely cured. But they are refused by their families as they do not have any importance anymore. This kind of attitude is nothing but a social stigma. Any mental patient is being categorised as a lunatic. But this is not true. We want to create a way for the cured inmates to lead a normal life and thus, this step was proposed."
Prasad further informed that his target is to get all the cured inmates' names feature in the voters' list step by step. Apart from the 16 inmates, 40 more names have been proposed to be featured in the voters' list which will be done by next month.
"I hope by next month, 40 more names will be added to the list. Our target is to create a chance for them to get jobs or do something to earn a living. This will recreate their importance in their families and enable them to lead a good life on their own," added Prasad.