Imphal, October 16: Legal assistance are at hand free of cost for people suffering from mental diseases in Manipur, if they need any.

Manipur State Legal Services Authority would be extending legal assistance at free of cost to any people suffering from mental diseases, if they required such assistances, Executive Chairman of the Authority MBK Singh has assured .

Speaking to media-persons on the sideline of distributing sweets and other eatables to the patients who are undergoing treatment at the Psychiatric Ward of RIMS Hospital here today in connection with the observance of National Legal Aid Awareness Week, MBK Singh said mentally deranged people have the equal rights to live in society like other normal people.

He said Manipur State Legal Services Authority has been extending every possible legal assistance freely to people suffering from various mental illness since 1995.After enactment of The Mental Health Act, 1987, the same has been implemented since April 1993, he added.

According to the provisions of the Act, if any person suffering from mental illness has been denied his/her rights, the Manipur State Legal Services Authority can intervene and provide every possible legal assistance to fight for the rights of such persons in a law court, MKB Singh, , who is also the judge of the Gauhati High Court, explained.

Expressing concern over lack of hospital where mentally ill persons can get proper treatment in Manipur presently, the High Court judge further pointed out that apart from safeguarding the properties belonging to the mental ill persons, the provisions of The Mental Health Act guaranteed their treatment in a Psychiatric Hospital or a Psychiatric Nursing Home.

So there is the need to set up a hospital where mentally ill persons could get proper treatment in Manipur, he remarked.

Member secretaries of the District Authorities under the Manipur State Legal Services Authority and doctors of the Psychiatric Dept, RIMS were also among those who accompanied the Executive Chairman during his visit.

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