“46 women kept in single room…” Swati Maliwal blames ‘criminal negligence’ for deaths at Asha Kiran shelter home

New Delhi [India], August 2 (ANI): Exposing severe lapses in administration and care over the deaths of women at Asha Kiran shelter home, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has said that it is a clear case of “criminal negligence”.

This stand came after an official report mentioned that the shelter home has recorded the most number of deaths (14) in July. It is being run in Delhi’s Rohini area.

The official report stated that a total of 25 deaths were recorded from February 2024, out of which 14 deaths occurred (male-6, female-8) in the shelter home in the month of July only.

Former DCW Chief Swati Maliwal criticized the administration over the deaths of women at Asha Kiran shelter home, highlighting the unhygienic conditions and inadequate food that have contributed to the fatalities among the inmates.

“According to me, this is a clear case of criminal negligence. Doctors have repeatedly written in the reports of the girls that they were victims of malnutrition. Doctors have said that out of the thousand people living here, 30 per cent are victims of malnutrition, and 20 per cent have different types of extreme diseases. 46 women are kept in each small room where there are no beds. Due to whose negligence is this happening?… It is so hot inside that it is difficult to even stand there… There are 200-300 women but not a single AC has been installed for them,” Swati Maliwal told media after visiting the Asha shelter home.

Maliwal said that the deaths in the Asha shelter home have happened due to overcrowding, malnutrition, heat and dehydration.

Seeking accountability from the administration, she said, “The minister has not come here yet… Will they keep sitting in his air-conditioned rooms and people will keep dying here?… I am preparing a report and I will raise this issue in the House”.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the NCW Rekha Sharma led a fact-finding team to Asha Kiran, a Delhi government-run “home for the intellectually retarded” in Rohini.

“The preliminary inquiry has uncovered numerous administrative lapses, including inadequate medical care, poor hygiene and sanitation, overcrowding, lack of safe drinking water, contaminated food, and lack of staff training,” said NCW in an official statement.

“The final report with recommendations will be shared by the commission with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi after the complete inquiry,” NCW said.

Launching scathing attacks on Delhi Government over deaths in Asha Kiran Shelter Home, Congress leader Abhishek Dutt said on Friday that people are kept double the capacity of the place and Arvind Kejriwal used to talk about the health model, all the government hospitals are only for publicity.

“This is a very sad incident. It is sad to see that on one side in a shelter home, double the capacity people are kept there and on the other side Arvind Kejriwal is living in his 170 cr ‘sheesh mahal’. He used to talk about the health model. He should be immediately removed from his post. No action is being taken against the corrupt ministers and, sadly, no one is resigning. The government hospitals here are only for publicity. People remember Delhi built by Sheila Dikshit,” Dutt said.

Voicing concern over the death of the inmates at Asha Kiran shelter home, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said that the Aam Aadmi Party has brought Delhi to a very bad situation.

“It is difficult to breathe in Delhi. It is difficult to read the news. Mentally challenged people are kept in Asha Kiran. Information has been received that children are not given proper food there; if children fall ill, they are not given treatment. The Aam Aadmi Party has no moral right to stay in its position. Such news comes every day… Where does Aam Aadmi Party do what it says? The Aam Aadmi Party government has brought Delhi to a very sad situation. To save Delhi, it is very important to remove such people from the post,” he said.

Most number of deaths (14) have been recorded in the month of July in Asha Kiran Shelter Home being run in Delhi’s Rohini area, an official report said.

The official report stated that a total of 25 deaths were recorded from February 2024, out of which 14 deaths occurred (Male-6, Female-8) in the shelter home in the month of July only.

The report from Asha Kiran Shelter Home to the Delhi Government mentioned loose motion and unconsciousness as being the reason behind deaths. Other reasons included- mild fever, loose stools and vomiting.

Reacting to the incident, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said, “Asha Kiran shelter home is being run in Delhi…Those who live here are abandoned people rescued by the police. A report is coming that 14 deaths have occurred here in July, among 14 one is a child. This is a serious matter and to investigate this a magisterial enquiry has been ordered. The preliminary report will be submitted within 24 hrs. If there is any negligence seen in the report by any official, strict action will be taken against them.”

“I assure the people of Delhi that if any death has occurred due to any negligence, here, the person involved will not be spared. We are waiting for the postmortem report and after 24 hrs the preliminary report of the magisterial enquiry will come out, we will take action as per that,” she added.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has desired that a comprehensive inquiry on the state of affairs of all Shelter Homes being run by the GNCTD, including into the deaths at Asha Kiran Home, is undertaken and a report, inter alia, fixing responsibility is presented within one week. Action be initiated against the administrator of the facility immediately. LG has also desired that the parents/guardians of the individuals, whose death has taken place are contacted and compensated suitably.