A video of the poor state of the old-age home, which went viral, was also recently sent to the Social Welfare Department of Lucknow. The short clip showed an elderly woman kept in a room with her hands tied. Soon after, the State Women's Commission and the Noida police raided the home on Thursday and rescued 39 senior citizens.
When the officials reached the spot, they found many elderly people tied up in their clothes and locked in rooms. According to State Women Commission member Meenakshi Bharala, some old men were locked up in basement-like rooms. While most of the elderly men were not wearing clothes, the women were given partial clothing. Many of them were found with urine-stained or feces-stained clothes.
Ms Bharala described the situation as "worse than hell." She said that one elderly woman was found tied up at the time of the raid, while several elderly men were found confined without clothes or proper care.
Additionally, officials found there was no proper staff to take care of the senior citizens.
Speaking to NDTV, Anand Niketan trustee Nilemma Mishra said that the services of the helper involved in physically restraining the resident have been terminated. She added that the elderly resident was mentally challenged, and to avoid any instance of self-harm, the helper had tied her. Ms Mishra also alleged a personal vendetta against her behind the circulation of the viral video and surprise inspections.
One employee of the old-age home, who called herself a nurse, said that she had just passed the 12th standard.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the Ashram had taken a donation of Rs 2.5 lakh from the families of the elderly people. Additionally, they also took Rs 6,000 per month for their food and accommodation.
A case has been filed against the old-age home and the elderly are being shifted to a government old-age home in a couple of days.
(With inputs from Arvind Uttam)
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