TEZPUR, Oct 28 ? Inspite of the Apex Court order to upgrade the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Institute of Mental Health (LGBIMH), one of the oldest institution for the psychiatric patients into an international standard institution, the future of the institution seems to be bleak due to irregular release of funds by the Government, alleged Dr SK Deuri, Director, LGBIMH.
Talking to the media persons, Dr Deuri said that shortage of manpower including doctors and psychiatrists is slowly crippling the institution which was established in 1876 following the administrative reorganization of the Assam Province in 1874 and later handed over to the North Eastern Council (NEC) by the Assam Government on February 17, 1999.
Although a project of Rs 100 crore for development and other infrastructure was submitted to the Government a year ago but so far nothing has been effective, he alleged and added that the old building where the psychiatric patients are kept has become unsafe for accommodation. Construction works for the new buildings is yet to started nor funds has been sanctioned by the Government, he said adding that if the status of the institution is not ascertained soon, employees of the institution will not devote fully to their duties.
The institution even does not have a professor and assistant professor despite repeated advertisements in newspapers, alleged the director. On an average daily more than 150 patients are treated in the OPD, Dr Deuri said adding that the institution presently has only four psychiatrists for 336 beds.
It may be mentioned that a Judge has been appointed by the Apex Court for properly monitoring the activities of the institution. Official sources seeking anonymity said that the institution needs Rs seven crore annually for maintenance. So far the NEC has only sanctioned Rs 1.40 crore while the Assam Government is yet to allot its share. Last year there was an annual demand of Rs six crore and the NEC sanctioned only Rs 1.78 crore and the Assam Government Rs 1.8 crore following which the institution is facing hardship, the official said adding that in this way the institution cannot run properly.
However, Dr Deuri added that with NEC taking over the institution there have been lot of changes and improvement including in the treatment and welfare of the patients. Inmates are now provided with nutritious meals and better care is now provided, he added.
Being one of the oldest mental institutions in the country and set up by the British Government it started functioning in a temporary ekora structure with 21 transferred patients from the Dhaka Lunatic Asylum and 43 fresh cases. However, in 1898 the old structure was gutted in a devastating fire and in 1926 Zardine and Menizes Company started building the present structure, sprawling over 152 acres which was completed in 1932.
The Tezpur Lunatic Asylum was christened Tezpur Mental Hospital in 1922 and LGBIMH in 1990 and caters to the needs of North Bengal, Bhutan, Nepal besides Assam and North Eastern States.