Ballari: Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) Chairperson T Shyam Bhat and Judicial Member SK Vantigodi conducted inspections of various institutions including the District Hospital, Central Jail, Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), a government home for intellectually disabled children, and a shelter for the homeless on Thursday.
During their visit to the District Hospital, the team assessed the 100-bed Mother and Neonatal Care Unit, interacted with pregnant women and new mothers, and directed officials to prioritize cleanliness and ensure the availability of essential medicines.
They inquired about the timeliness of doctors' visits and emphasized maintaining cleanliness in maternity wards. Officials were instructed to ensure the availability of essential medicines and avoid distributing expired ones.
At VIMS, they reviewed healthcare services by speaking with patients and checking for any irregularities. The maternity and other wards were inspected to verify proper service delivery.
In their visit to the District Central Jail, the officials examined facilities for undertrial prisoners.
The team inspected the prison kitchen and several other areas, providing necessary instructions to the authorities. They discussed the quality of meals, snacks, and drinking water provided to undertrial prisoners and inquired whether food was distributed as per the prescribed schedule.
Chairperson Bhat emphasized enhancing prison security and recommended increasing the number of CCTV cameras. He also instructed that medications for inmates suffering from illnesses should always be administered under staff supervision. He suggested conducting regular meditation programs for inmates and giving top priority to their safety and well-being.
Jail Superintendent Latha was present during the visit and provided a comprehensive briefing about the prison's operations.
The team also interacted with inmates involved in various cases to understand their access to legal assistance, the quality of food, and other prison arrangements. They recommended measures to control mosquitoes through fogging and installing screens on windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering prison cells.
The government home for intellectually disabled children was assessed for hygiene and basic amenities, while the shelter for the homeless was reviewed for food and accommodation standards.
The inspections aimed to ensure human rights compliance and improve public services. District officials, including Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Zubair and District Health Officer Dr. Yalla Ramesh Babu, accompanied the Commission during the inspections.
