Chandigarh, March 11 — The UT social welfare department has extended the admission deadline for the newly established Group Home for mentally and intellectually disabled persons in Sector 31 to March 25, following a poor response.
Admissions opened on February 17 with a March 10 deadline, but the department received only three applications. Officials attributed the low turnout to the ₹20-lakh security deposit and a complicated application process. Notably, there were no applicants from the economically weaker section (EWS), despite their exemption from the deposit and monthly charges.
Built with 80 seats in compliance with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, the Group Home ensures the right to community living and security. However, its launch has already been delayed by six months since the completion of construction in 2024.
A notice on the social welfare department’s website confirms the deadline extension. Interested guardians can download the admission form online and submit it, along with the required documents, at the department’s Sector 17 office.
Applications will undergo a 45-day screening process to assess eligibility. Initially, a batch of 10 residents—five each with mental and intellectual disabilities—will be admitted on a trial basis for three months before the facility becomes fully operational 24/7.
“We have received only three applications so far, so the department has extended the deadline to encourage more participation,” said UT Social Welfare Director Palika Arora.
Parents, however, have raised concerns over the admission process, citing the hefty deposit and the requirement to provide extensive documentation, including medical certificates and details of three guardians, one of whom must be a local resident.
