17-year-old teen was given food by her mother twice a day; She slept on a broken bed in the garbage-filled house and her cries were often heard by neighbours
Highlighting once again the sorry state of mental health awareness in the country, a 17-year-old girl, reportedly suffering from depression, was confined to a filthy flat by her family for months. The incident was reported from east Delhi's Pandav Nagar area. After the matter came to light, the girl was rescued and sent to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
According to the police, a neighbour, Sushil Sarkar, informed them about the girl's plight on Saturday. A police officer was then sent to the stated residence, but the house was locked. Later in the evening, the girl's mother came to give her food. That is when the cops gained entry into the house.
"The condition of the girl was pathetic. It seemed she had not taken a bath in a long time. The flat was filled with garbage and a foul smell was emanating from there," a senior police officer said.
"We heard the girl crying many times. Her mother would come once in the morning and once in the evening. She slept on a broken bed and the entire house was filled with garbage. Any person would fall sick in such conditions," Sarkar said.
The girl was immediately taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where her condition was reported to be stable. She later told the police that she had locked herself in the flat three months ago, as she did not want to go outside on her own. Cops said she seemed to be under depression.
Her mother Krishna Ghosh lived in a separate flat in the adjacent block, along with her 22-year-old daughter. In 2011, Krishna had filed a case for maintenance against her husband Dhananjay Ghosh, which is pending in the Karkardooma court.
"I was unaware of all this. I was not allowed to meet her or talk to her from the time me and my wife started living separately," Dhananjay said.
The girl will now be counselled and produced before the CWC. Further action in the case will be taken as per the directions of CWC.
...& ANALYSIS
- The issue of mental health in India has been complicated by the lack of awareness, proper infrastructure, and the unnecessary stigma attached to it
- Often, instead of seeking treatment, family members of a patient attempt to hide the fact for fear of social repercussions. It is high time that the country woke up to the impending epidemic, particularly in cities, where the lifestyle can be stress
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