Goa govt is yet to notify Rules to implement The Mental Health Act

Prakash Kamat

Panaji,Janyary 24-- The mental health of children,adolescents, persons with disability, LGBTQs,senior citizens and women,all these marginalised sections of society, is a concern, especially with COVID-19 pandemic around. The pandemic has worsened existing uncertainties and distress. It has isolated children and adolescents from their social networks, resulting in anxiety and sleep problems. In addition, specific stressors linked to quarantine, health fears, financial loss and stigma pose as risk factors for negative and long-lasting psychological effects.  

Recognizing the difficulties for children in returning to school, there is need for mental health and psychosocial support services and child protection tips for teachers, school management and students, as well as referral pathways between schools and relevant authorities. 

In Goa the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) 2017 was gazetted on April 7, 2017 and came into force on May 29, 2018, with the objectives of providing mental health care and services for persons with mental illness and to protect, promote, and fulfil the rights of such persons during delivery of services.

It repeals the Mental Health Act, 1987, and it can be implemented only after the state rules are formedframed. The Centre has already made Central Mental Health Rules which had come into force on May 29, 2018. They are named Mental Healthcare (Central Mental Health Authority and Mental Health Review Boards) Rules, 2018, Mental Healthcare (State Mental Health Authority) Rules, 2018, and Mental Healthcare (Rights of Persons with Mental Illness) Rules, 2018

According to Section 121 of MHCA 2017, the State government may, with the previous approval of the Central government, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this act, provided that the first rules shall be made by the Central government, by notification.

As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, the conversation on meeting the mental health needs of children and adolescents needs to be accelerated, so that we can reimagine better services in a world where mental health is recognized as fundamental to overall health and well-being, and where it is integrated into universal health care.

On this background,it is indeed a big concern that the State has not notified, or even discussed the State Rules for Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) 2017 even after three years of the Act coming into force. 

The Goa government and its Health authorities would do well to realise that the looming mental health crisis calls for better commitment and investment in system and with priority look into the matter and initiate a consultation process with all stakeholders to frame the Rules and then get the Rules notified at the earliest.(eom)

“I was determined to bring out the innocence and boldness of the Dombari community”:Director Pratik Gupta

 Prakash Kamat

Panaji, January 22-- "Our film 'Shantabai' explores the journey of street artist Shantabai Pawar, who continues to perform even at 85 years of age and thus helps keep the legacy of Dombari community in Maharashtra alive. It is a documentary film on a dying art form, from which the lead actor Shantabai makes a living in her real life as well”,Director of the documentary,Pratiik Gupta said while addressing a press conference at the ongoing 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI),on Thursday. 

The eponymous film, produced by Film and Television Institute of India, has been featured in the Indian Panorama Non Feature Film section of IFFI 51.

The Dombari community is known for its street circus acts such as juggling acts on street like walking on ropes and risky somersaults. The Dombaris are distributed across India. They are referred to as Bhorpi in Konkan, Gopals in districts like Satara and Sangli, and Dombari in western Maharashtra.

Director Gupta threw light on the real-life struggles of Shantabai, from whose own perspective the story is told: “To take care of her family, Shantabai performs juggling acts on the streets, and does rope-walking as well, activities which are sometimes dangerous and risky.”

Gupta wanted to bring out the innocence and boldness of the Dombari community. “Though they live on streets and are nomadic, they are innocent and bold. I had an amazing team. At first no one was confident, but I was determined to make an emphasis on the innocence and boldness of this community.”

The Director added that the crew took special care to ensure that the scenes are captured naturally. 

C“While shooting the movie, we took efforts to make the Dombari community comfortable, I had to spend time to remove their camera shyness. Actors often got nervous in front of the camera; hence, we had to keep the camera outside and zoom in. But on the whole, I enjoyed the process. And we made all the effort to capture scenes naturally,” he said.(eom)

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Indian Panorama is an excellent platform to promote regional cinema and new talented filmmakers

Prakash Kamat

Panaji,January 17- The Indian Panorama section of the 51st International film festival of India was inaugurated in Panaji on Sunday in the presence of the Jury members and directors of both the non-feature and feature films.

The Jury, along with the cast and crew of both the feature and non-feature films were felicitated for their participation in the Festival.

The Director of the opening non-feature film “Paanchika”, Ankit Kothari, introduced his film as a story of friendship. It is about two seven year old girls in the salt mountains of Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and how their friendship battles the phantoms of casteism.

Director of the opening feature film ‘Saand ki Aankh’, Tushar Hiranandani said, “The film is a story of a grand-mother duo Chandro and Prakashi Tomar from a village in Uttar Pradesh who join a local shooting range to encourage their daughters and end up winning 352 medals each as sharp shooters.” 

A total of 23 feature and 20 non feature films have been selected for the flagship Indian Panorama Section of the 51st of International Film Festival of India. 

The selected films will be showcased on the big screen for all the registered delegates and representatives from the selected films, during the nine days film festival in Goa, from 16th-24th January 2021.

Indian Panorama which represents the finest films from across the country is considered to be an excellent platform for promoting regional and talented film makers.(eom)

Tushar Hirandani & his film that opened Indian  Panorama at 51st IFFI in Goa on Sunday 

 

Gujarat Information Commission supersedes RTI Act to order Public Authority not to accept any RTI applications by a citizen for 5 yrs:RTI Activist

 Prakash Kamat

Panaji, January 15- The Gujarat Chief Information Commissioner supersedes the Right to Information Act to order Public Authority not to accept any RTI applications by a citizen for 5 yrs when Information Commission should ensure effective implementation of RTI,say RTI activists.

Chief Information Commissioner, of Gujarat, Shir D.P. Thakar, has issued an order on January5, 2021, in the hearing scheduled regarding complaint filed by citizens Chintanbhai, Bharatiben and Dilhariben, to put ban on use of RTI by them for five years. The order cites that this ban is because of repeated use of RTI to pressurize the system. The Order has asked, PHC Jesar (PIO) and CDHO Bhavnagar (Applet Authority) not to accept and entertain any RTI  and appeals for these three citizens from the date of the order till next 5 years.

This is for the first time in RTI’s history where a Information Commission has banned any citizen from seeking information from Public Authority. As per RTI Act, a Information Commissioner has power to make penalty order, to recommend for departmental inquiries against PIO, to ask PIO to  furnish information. But there is no provision in the Act which empowers a Commission to ban a citizen from using RTI to seek information. This order is,thus, completely un-constitutional as RTI Act has been passed by the Parliament and under the law there is no power with the State or Central Commission to prevent aany citizensfrom filing RTI, or to ask any public authority NOT to implement the law passed by the Parliament. Moreover, a High Court order has been  mis-interpreted to deny citizen’s lawful right of seeking information quoted in the order.

The RTI activists apprehend that this order will give free hand to public authorities to deny information to public.

RTI helpline, run by Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, has been receiving calls since last few months, where citizens complain that they are being threatened by Information Commission, not to make repeated RTI or appeals or else they will be stopped from using RTI itself.

RTI helpline states that, RTI Act has no provisions to prevent citizen from filing RTI or appeal with public authorities. This order of the Chief Information Commissioner is un-constitutiona and thus RTI groups, civil society members and activists of RTI have appealed to the Gujarat State Information Commission to immediately withdraw the same. This order betrays incompetency of  the Information Commission to interpret RTI Act, also their ignorance about RTI Act. It will send message that the Commission is incompetent to fulfill the responsibility given by the Act. 

Such approach of the Commission will not only mislead public authorities for denying information but will make RTI ineffective. 

If citizen has violated any law, State is competent to take actions against such citizen under appropriate law. But Commission cannot prevent implementation of RTI passed by Parliament,by merely citing such incidents. 

Parliament of this country has passed a very important legislation to protect and enhance citizen’s right to seek information and enhance transparency. It is expected that Information Commission needs to be pro-active and well prepared to fulfill responsibility put on it,said  Ms. Pankti Jog, Executive Secretary, Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel(MAGP) in a press release.(eom)

Ph: 09909006791; 09824048842.