TN: Association for Differently-Abled ask Govt. to Find 16 People Missing from Anbu Jothi Home

Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) has raised concern regarding the 16 missing people from Anbu Jothi Illam, an unregistered shelter in Villupuram district.

After a habeas corpus petition filed at the Madras high court on February 12, the Tamil Nadu police unravelled a web of crimes inside this institute. The police rescued 140 people from the shelter for the mentally challenged, disabled and destitute women.

The case was handed over to the CB-CID on February 18, and a probe into the allegations of human rights violations and sexual harassment of residents began three days later.

TARATDAC appreciated the speed at which the case is progressing but demanded an immediate probe into finding the missing persons.

"The case is going at a good pace. The CB-CID visited the shelter and found blood stains in the chains used to tie up the inmates," said Krishnamurthy, the President of TARATDAC, Villupuram district, to NewsClick.

"But what about the 16 missing persons? The person whose habeas corpus was ordered by the court is still not found," he said.

TARATDAC, Villupuram, has given a call for protest on February 25 to find the missing persons.

'GOVT WAS AWARE OF VIOLATIONS'

TARATDAC accused the differently-abled welfare department of being hand-in-glove with these atrocities and demanded the officials be brought to book.

For nearly 18 years, the home operated without a licence from the state mental health authority, social welfare department or the commissionerate for the welfare of the differently abled, which is under the direct purview of the chief minister.

Illegal detention, torture, sexual assault, and suspected interstate human trafficking resulting in several inmates vanishing from rehabilitation homes are the charges against those who ran the shelter.

Condemning the state government's alleged lack of knowledge of the atrocities within shelter homes in Tamil Nadu, TARATDAC staged a protest in front of the office of the state commissionerate for the Differently Abled in Chennai on February 16.

TARATDAC condemned the lackadaisical attitude of the government.

"How is it possible for the Anbu Jothi home to function without the knowledge of the state? It was not running silently. The place existed as an institute with a name board and building. It had funding from different sources," said Jhansi Rani, general secretary, TARATDAC at the site of the protest.

"What is the work of district administration and commissioners for the disabled in the districts and the state but to look into these matters?" asked Rani.

"The Villupuram administration is acting guilt-free, and the district Welfare officer Thangavelu turned up looking innocent. But he used to get people supplied from home for Republic day and Independence day celebrations," said Krishnamurthy.

'WE WANT GOVT RUN SHELTERS'

TARATDAC is demanding the government to run rehabilitation shelters for differently-abled persons directly.

These atrocities are "the result of governments washing their hands of their responsibility and entrusting all mental and physical rehabilitation work to the private sector," read the TARATDAC statement dated February 16.

"It is pathetic for women who suffer from mental health problems who are looking for relief to be subjected to sexual harassment," it read.

TARATDAC members visited the rescued people, and Rani reported, "They were pleading "please send us to our relatives. We are fed porridge without salt; we don't get quality food there. We do not get medical facilities. There are no security facilities. We are sexually harassed. We were chained. If we raise our concerns, we are attacked by monkeys."

The association demanded the government intervene immediately and stop the functioning of such homes running with the intention of profits.

"The government runs only one rehabilitation home in the entire state. Why can't the state run one in each district?" asked Rani.