Social Justice Ministry Presents Online Portal On Mental Health Centres In SC

MoSJE Presents Manoashraya Before The Supreme Court As An Online Portal Providing Information Regarding Mental Health Facalities

The Department of Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) prepared a dashboard called “Manoashraya” before the Supreme Court on Monday. It was presented by Rajesh Yadav, who is the Joint Secretary in MSJE.

The dashboard provides the following information-

1) The total number of States/ UTs having government run Rehabilitation Homes (RH)/ Halfway Homes (H/H)

2) The intake capacities of these RH/ HH (bifurcated between male and female inmates)

3) Occupancy in the RH/ HH and

4) Number of persons who are “languishing” in mental health institutions.

The dashboard also contained specific details of RH/HH such as contact details, number of male and female inmates and a map of the country with locations of these homes and facilities available. 

The Supreme Court had previously took the suggestions given by the Additional Solicitor General Madhavi Diwan into consideration and ordered the establishment of an online portal within four weeks containing information about mental healthcare institutes, facilities and other details.

On presentation the court observed that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) specifically deals with mental health institutions as a part of its broader remit to cover the area of medical health. The court further noted that MoHFW has its own helplines called tele- MANAS and e- MANAS. The court observed that tele- MANAS and e- MANAS have to be integrated with the dashboard “Manoshraya” which has been prepared by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The apex court further observed that the way forward would require collaboration between MoHFW and MSJE. The court asked the Additional Solicitor General to take up the matter at the Secretarial level in both the ministries and thereafter at the next hearing, the way ahead would be presented by the Joint Secretaries in both the ministries.

The court clarified that the proceedings are not intended to be adversarial and that it intends to utilize its position as a facilitator to ensure that the purpose of having RH and HH is duly fulfilled. This is particularly with regard to the large number of persons who are languishing in mental health institutions.

Next date of hearing: April 21, 2023

CASE: GAURAV KUMAR BANSAL V. MR. DINESH KUMAR & ORS.

CONMT. PET. (C) NO. 1653/ 2018