<p>Speaking with Deccan Herald after their visit to the Colony, Committee Chairman M P Kumarswamy, MLA from Mudigere, said the situation was much better now.<br /><br />The Committee had found the Colony in a state of apathy, when it had last visited the centre two months ago. <br /><br />“During our last visit, we had suggested to the authorities and Department of Social Welfare to have additional doctors at the premises apart from serving nutritious food to inmates. However, none of the suggestions made were implemented,” said Kumarswamy.<br /><br />However, in the wake of serial deaths at the Colony, the Committee found that the Department had incorporated a few measures suggested earlier. <br /><br />“At first, we are asking the officials to categorise inmates based on their medical history and the condition in which they were brought into the Colony. Further, we have also appealed to the authorities to digitise all information about inmates and put it on a website,” he said.<br /><br />The Committee after their visit to the Colony on Thursday observed that the Bangalore police were bringing in beggars on their death bed to the rehabilitation centre. <br /><br />“There is a lack of system to stem number of beggars who are brought into the Colony and are on the verge of death. The result is unhygienic conditions coupled with spread of diseases at a faster rate,” said Committee Chairman Kumarswamy.<br /><br />The police were rounding up beggars on death bed to save themselves of trouble, in case they were found dead on streets, he added.<br /><br />Barbed wire fence planned<br /><br />Reminiscent of concentration camps during the holocaust years, the Beggars’ Colony is all set to see barbed fencing around its dormitory area, to protect the inmates from the outside world.<br /><br />Explanation given by top officials of Social Welfare Department is that it would ensure that Beggars’ Colony staff, who stay within the premises, are monitored and do not pose a hindrance to inmates. “The quarters meant for the staff is scattered across the dormitories. We are trying to create a single entry point for all inmates and the staff to ensure that they are protected and monitored with adequate security,” said a staff on the campus.<br /><br />As many as 30 security guards will be posted at the Centre for round the clock surveillance.<br /></p>
<p>Speaking with Deccan Herald after their visit to the Colony, Committee Chairman M P Kumarswamy, MLA from Mudigere, said the situation was much better now.<br /><br />The Committee had found the Colony in a state of apathy, when it had last visited the centre two months ago. <br /><br />“During our last visit, we had suggested to the authorities and Department of Social Welfare to have additional doctors at the premises apart from serving nutritious food to inmates. However, none of the suggestions made were implemented,” said Kumarswamy.<br /><br />However, in the wake of serial deaths at the Colony, the Committee found that the Department had incorporated a few measures suggested earlier. <br /><br />“At first, we are asking the officials to categorise inmates based on their medical history and the condition in which they were brought into the Colony. Further, we have also appealed to the authorities to digitise all information about inmates and put it on a website,” he said.<br /><br />The Committee after their visit to the Colony on Thursday observed that the Bangalore police were bringing in beggars on their death bed to the rehabilitation centre. <br /><br />“There is a lack of system to stem number of beggars who are brought into the Colony and are on the verge of death. The result is unhygienic conditions coupled with spread of diseases at a faster rate,” said Committee Chairman Kumarswamy.<br /><br />The police were rounding up beggars on death bed to save themselves of trouble, in case they were found dead on streets, he added.<br /><br />Barbed wire fence planned<br /><br />Reminiscent of concentration camps during the holocaust years, the Beggars’ Colony is all set to see barbed fencing around its dormitory area, to protect the inmates from the outside world.<br /><br />Explanation given by top officials of Social Welfare Department is that it would ensure that Beggars’ Colony staff, who stay within the premises, are monitored and do not pose a hindrance to inmates. “The quarters meant for the staff is scattered across the dormitories. We are trying to create a single entry point for all inmates and the staff to ensure that they are protected and monitored with adequate security,” said a staff on the campus.<br /><br />As many as 30 security guards will be posted at the Centre for round the clock surveillance.<br /></p>
