Govt initiates new measures to improve beggars home

Karnataka government has initiated a slew of measures to improve living conditions of those lodged in Beggars Relief Centre after a spate of deaths during last month, a state minister said today.

Complaints of poor quality of food served to inmates had prompted the government to procure food supplies from ISKCON on an experimental basis, Social Welfare minister Govind Karjol told reporters after visiting the centre here.

He said required doctors and para medical staff have been posted at the centre, besides five doctors on night duty to render medical assistance.

The government has released Rs 5.90 lakh for purchase of drugs, Rs 32 lakh for undertaking repair of dormitories and Rs 9.91 lakh for sinking five new borewells for water supply.
Ninety mentally challenged were being treated by doctors from NIMHANS, he said.
Around 200 inmates who were found to be in good health have been released from the centre, the minister said.

The centre had witnessed more than 20 deaths since August 21, bringing to fore appalling conditions and ill-treatment of the inmates there.

Close on the heels of two deaths at the Beggars Relief Centre in Mysore, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S Suresh Kumar visited there today.
The deaths were due to old age, he said, adding about 19 healthy persons were discharged today.