Uttarakhand BJP today demanded CBI probe into the alleged rape of a deaf and mute Nari Niketan inmate and death of two women due to "ill-health" even as Chief Minister Harish Rawat stressed on the need to improve the condition of state-run women shelter homes immediately.
CBI probe into the incidents is required since only a few lower rung staff have been arrested while their patrons are roaming free, state BJP chief Tirath Singh Rawat said.
Even though the state government was alerted about the poor condition of shelter homes for women by a BJP probe panel the government did nothing, he alleged.
BJP would submit a memorandum to the Governor over their demand for CBI probe into the issues, the party's state chief added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said that there is an urgent need to improve the conditions of shelter homes.
A survey of Nari Niketan, orphanages, juvenile homes in the state should be conducted to detect and rectify the problems, he was quoted as saying by an official release here.
Nari Niketan, had been in media glare after reports of a deaf and mute inmate's rape and abortion last month. Last week, two inmates died of "ill-health" and doctors of Doon hospital said the patients were "weak and anaemic".
Five more inmates were admitted to the hospital with "similar" complaints.
During a meeting with officials yesterday, the Chief Minister directed them to build separate shelter homes for those who despite recovering from mental illness are abandoned by their family.
The mentally ill inmates should be lodged separately from the normal occupants at the shelter homes, he said.
The current monthly allowance of Rs 1,600 for meals of each Nari Niketan inmates should be increased to Rs 80 to Rs 100 per day, Rawat said, adding every inmate should undergo medical check-up daily and diet charts should be prepared for every one of them.
