Mamata Banerjee claims Kalyani AIIMS is conducting NRC survey under the guise of mental health assessment

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday alleged that Kalyani AIIMS is doing a survey for NRC indirectly in the name of mental health survey.

“Kalyani AIIMS is conducting a survey for NRC indirectly. I will urge the citizens, if any agency comes for any survey at your doorsteps, then you please fetch information about the same from the Government by raising a query. If the State is doing something then that will be informed but we will not take responsibility for any of these surveys,” Banerjee said at state secretariat Nabanna.

“Kalyani AIIMS is under the Central government but when it was set up, the state had provided the land. We have helped them. However, they did not inform us during any inauguration. What are they doing in the name of mental health?” the CM questioned


She claimed that “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,” Banerjee said and warned the premier institute not to “play these games”.

“The Bengal government has its own Mental Health Department. It is not your duty. There are many such agencies which they [BJP] are using to remove names from the voter list. Be cautious and remain alert,” Banerjee warned, urging people not share information with anyone except state officials.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Kalyani AIIMS authority said, “ This is to kindly inform you that AIIMS Kalyani is participating in the second phase of the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) as a partner institution of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.”

“The survey is being conducted in seven districts of West Bengal under the guidance and liaison of the Additional Director of Health Services (Mental Health), Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal. The questionnaires used in this survey have been duly validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and NIMHANS, Bengaluru, ensuring high standards of scientific and ethical rigour,” it said.

This survey is part of a nationwide initiative and is being conducted across all states and union territories of India to assess the mental health status and needs of the population, the statement pointed out.