Kalyani: A row erupted on Monday over a door-to-door mental health survey being conducted by AIIMS Kalyani after CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that personal details were being collected from families in the name of a mental health survey indirectly for NRC.
Speaking to reporters, CM Banerjee said, "It (AIIMS) is under Centre, but we have provided all the land. We have helped them a lot. But they do not inform us during any inauguration. We do not even need it. It is our duty to work, and we have done that. But what are they doing in the name of mental health? They are conducting a survey for NRC indirectly.
"Banerjee claimed this data would be shared with a political party, without mentioning any names.
"In the name of a mental health survey, work is being done on behalf of one party. If they have the courage, why do they not work directly for the party? Is it because they do not have sufficient people? And I will tell AIIMS to work properly and treat patients with care. We have helped you and we will do so in the future, but do not play these games," the CM said.
AIIMS Kalyani, in a press release on Monday, said: "AIIMS Kalyani is participating in the second phase of the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) as a partner institute of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.
""This survey is being conducted in seven districts of Bengal under the guidance and liaison of the additional director of health services (mental health) department of health and family welfare, govt of West Bengal. The questionnaires used in the survey have been duly validated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and NIMHANS, Bengaluru, ensuring high standards of scientific and ethical rigour," it added.