During Community Mental Health Campaign we came across some shocking inhumane incidents of mentally ill patients being kept in chains for years by their family members/carers who seem to have adopted this method as a last resort after trying various options within their means. Initially we helped some of these patients under the Campaign. However soon we realized that there are many more similar unfortunate patients in this area and we need to make sincere, systematic and dedicated attempts to identify and reach out to these patients and provide necessary treatment and care to reintegrate them in the mainstream of the society.
The programme 'Nishkam Mukti' comprises of such attempts, with a dedication to liberate all the chained mentally ill persons. Following an approach of treating these patients at their homes within the community, the programme involves intensive community level mobilization and activities carried out by Nishkam Mukti Smitis at block level and many local organizations in the area. Every patient registered under the programme is looked after by a 6-8 members Mukti Care Team. Currently in the programme is covering five districts viz. Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner and Churu in Rajasthan, and District Sirsa in Haryana, . In all these districts community volunteers, local organizations, and local psychiatrists have joined hands together to release and rehabilitate every chained patient back into the society. the programme has reached out to 169 mentally ill chained patients till February 2018. Fifty eight patients have been released from the chains and have been reintegrated into the society while others are on the path of recovery. Many of the patients have even started working. We are planning to expand the programme to the whole of Rajasthan and some districts in the adjoining states. by the end of 2018. An Advisory Committee comprising of experienced and accomplished professionals from all fields of the life guides the programme.
Mukti Campaign initiated by Nishkam Foundation to liberate the chained mentally ill people has constantly been expanding into new areas. It started with district Hanumangarh on 26th February 2014 when the honorable Health Minister of Rajasthan, Sh Rajender Singh Rathore inaugurated it at Sangaria. It now covers all the four districts of division Bikaner. The campaign was launched in district Churu on 12th June 2015, in district Sri Ganganagar on 11th October 2015 and in Bikaner on 14th November 2015.
Click for programme brochureTo liberate the chained mentally ill persons and reintegrate them into the Society.
Mukti programme was inaugurated by Sh. Rajendra Singh Rathore, Hon’ble Minister of Health, Government of Rajasthan, on 26th February 2014 at Sangaria in district Hanumangarh (Raj.). A number of community leaders, MLAs and other public representatives, and health officials were also present. A gathering of about 600 people of public from various parts of district attended the Inauguration Ceremony.
Programme is managed by Nishkam Volunteers (Sewaks) and members of collaborating organizations at village, block and district level. After getting information about a chained patient from any source, our volunteers verify the information and motivate family to agree for the treatment of the patient. Then Block level team along with district level coordination team members visit patient at his/her home and make preliminary assessment. Subsequently a psychiatrist accompanies the team and start treatment after assessing the patient. Regular monitoring of progress is carried out by making periodic home visits and patient’s chains are opened after patient improves and there is no risk of absconding or violence. Some of the patients, who show poor response to treatment or have complex health and social issues, are admitted to psychiatric in-patient facilities, including involuntary hospitalization under the Mental Health Act if required. Once patients are released from the chains, they continue to receive treatment and the Nishkam Mukti teams continue to provide psycho-social intervention to improvement their functioning with aim to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the society. A strategic thrust of the programme is to involve families in providing treatment and care to their mentally ill members. Our field teams ensure adequate support and help to enable families to do so successfully.
Mukti Care Teams: A Mukti Care Team (MCT) comprising of 6-8 persons is formed to take care of each of the chained patients registered under the programme. MCT members include family members, Nishkam volunteers, village community leader and doctors.
Nishkam Mukti Prerak: One of the MCT member is designated as Nishkam Mukti Prerak. He is a Nishkam Volunteer from village or block who monitors and coordinates overall care and treatment of the patient. His main role is to constantly motivate and engage the family members in the treatment process.
Nishkam Mukti Sanrakshak:
We try to ensure maximum participation by families of chained patients in their treatment, including buying medicines. In case, the family is unable to afford medicines, we look for somebody in the community who is willing to pay for the medicines of the patient for the treatment period which in some cases would last life-long. We call these philanthropists as Nishkam Mukti Sarankshak.
Mukti Advisory Team: A Mukti Advisory Team guides the activities of the programme and advises the Mukti Progamme Committee and Mukti Core Coordination Committee from time to time. The Advisory Committee comprises of experienced and accomplished professionals from various fields of life such as medicine, psychiatry, administration, law and media.
Intervention under the Mukit programme for each of the patient is individualized and is implemented in four stages named as ‘Four Steps of Mukti’ (Mukti Ke Chaar Kadam). These stages are:
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