Chandigarh Group Home staffed but not yet operational

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that staff for a new Group Home in Chandigarh have been hired. This facility is meant to help rehabilitate mentally and intellectually disabled individuals. It was built as part of the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017. However, the Group Home, located in Sector 31, is still not operational. The Group Home has a capacity of 80 people. It features spacious rooms and activity areas, making it the largest government-run facility of its kind in India. This project was pushed for by parents of potential residents. Despite its completion, the facility has not opened due to concerns over high costs. Parents have expressed worries about the steep security deposit of ₹20 lakh and monthly fees ranging from ₹16,000 to ₹35,000. In response to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament Manish Tewari, the ministry confirmed that staff recruitment is complete. Tewari emphasized that the costs are too high for many families, especially those from poorer backgrounds. He has urged the Chandigarh administrator to reconsider the prices to make the facility more accessible. The advertisement for admission was issued on February 17, but without operational services, many families are still waiting for a solution.