Non-occupation of Group Home: Tewari urges Administrator to rationalise rates

Over delay in starting the newly constructed Group Home in Sector 31, city Congress MP Manish Tewari has stated that high security charges and excessive monthly fee are making it unaffordable for the poor people.

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During the ongoing Parliament session, Tewari asked the Ministry of Home Affairs whether the Government was aware that the newly constructed Group Home in Sector 31, Chandigarh, remains non-operational despite being completed and furnished, if so, the reasons for the delay.

He further asked whether the government had set a timeline for recruiting staff and vocational instructors for the facility. If so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons thereof should be provided. He also asked, “Whether the government has received any representations from affected families regarding the delay. If so, actions taken thereon and steps being taken to ensure immediate operationalisation of the Group Home and the timely admission of eligible persons?”

In response, Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, stated that as per Section 19 of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, the Group Home had been constructed for stable mentally ill individuals to achieve success in their process of rehabilitation.

“This Group Home is also for individuals, who do not have conducive family to depend upon and to provide the supervision needed by them,” the minister said, while adding that an advertisement for admission to Group Home was issued on February 17, 2025, and the staff required at this stage had been recruited.

“It is unfortunate that once again the government has skirted the truth behind why the Group Home is not getting populated,” Tewari said, while adding that it was because of very high security charges and excessive monthly fee that people of poor, lower middle class and even middle class families, who are on the spectrum of mental health challenges, could not afford the facility. “I have separately written to the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator to rationalise Group Home rates,” he said.