BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Schizophrenia Awareness Association - ECPv6.17.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Schizophrenia Awareness Association
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://schizophrenia.org.in
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Schizophrenia Awareness Association
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Asia/Singapore
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0800
TZOFFSETTO:+0800
TZNAME:+08
DTSTART:20250101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Singapore:20260806T100000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Singapore:20260806T123000
DTSTAMP:20260806T090314Z
CREATED:20260805T141436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T090314Z
UID:7412-1786010400-1786019400@schizophrenia.org.in
SUMMARY:Erwadi Human Rights Day 2026
DESCRIPTION:Annual Observance • 6th August\nErwadi Day & Mental Health Human Rights\n\n        Observing the Human Rights Day of Persons Living with Mental Illness to honor lost lives\, challenge institutional neglect\, and fight for community dignity.\n       \n \n\n   \n\n\n\n        28\n        Lives lost in the 2001 Erwadi inferno\n      \n\n        Trapped by metal chains binding them to their beds\, 26 inmates perished in a night fire at Moideen Badusha Mental Home in Erwadi\, Tamil Nadu. Two more succumbed to severe burn injuries shortly after.\n       \n \n\nThe Circumstances\n\n        Erwadi village was widely known for the dargah of Quthbus Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Valiyullah. Families brought mentally ill relatives believing holy water and lamp oil could cure them. Treatments often included flogging and beatings to drive away perceived “evil spirits.”\n       \n\n        Patients were tied to trees with thick ropes during the day and chained to beds at night\, awaiting a “divine command” to return home—a wait that could stretch from months to several years.\n       \n\n        “The news of the tragedy caused a worldwide uproar\, forcing an urgent reckoning across India’s mental health sector.”\n       \n\n   \n\nInstitutional Responses & Reforms\n\n       \n\n\nSteps Taken by Tamil Nadu Government\n \n\nClosed all 16 thatched roof shelters operating in Erwadi.\nOrdered an immediate judicial probe into the fire mishap.\nShut down all mental asylums functioning in thatched sheds statewide.\nMandated strict licensing for care homes with a 1-month compliance deadline.\nTransferred mentally ill inmates to state institutions and reunited others with their families.\n\n\n       \n\n\nSupreme Court Directives (Suo Motu)\n \n\nHouse recovered destitute patients in appropriate government or NGO facilities.\nPost qualified psychiatrists in every district across the country.\nLaunch nationwide rural awareness campaigns against chaining and superstition.\nEstablish at least one specialized mental health hospital per state.\n\n\n          Historical Reality: Neither state nor central governments complied with these orders at the time.\n        \n\n\n   \n\n\nHow SAA Marks Erwadi Day\nTransforming remembrance into active advocacy through four core initiatives. \n \n\n\n01\n\n28 Candles Lit\nLighting 28 candles in solemn remembrance of the 28 individuals who lost their lives while chained in the inferno. \n \n \n\n02\n\nKeynote & Guest Address\nInviting distinguished contributors in mental health to address key issues regarding the human rights of persons with mental illness. \n \n \n\n03\n\nHuman Rights Pledge\nA collective pledge read by all participants\, committing to uphold and protect the dignity of mentally ill persons. \n \n \n\n04\n\nYouth Outreach & Competitions\nOrganizing essay and drawing competitions in partnership with local colleges to engage students in advocacy. \n \n \n \n\n   \n\n\n      All of us should strive to protect the human rights of persons with mental illness so they receive equal rights\, dignity\, and acceptance within the community.
URL:https://schizophrenia.org.in/upcoming-event/erwadi-day-2026/
LOCATION:Schizophrenia Awareness Association (Pune)\, Kamalini Kruti Bhavan\, 14\, Ganesh Nagar\, Lane No. B 30-31\, Road\, Dhayari.\, Pune\, Maharashtra\, 411041\, India
CATEGORIES:Awareness Program
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://schizophrenia.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-06-at-1.04.25-PM.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Schizophrenia Awareness Association":MAILTO:saapune@schizophrenia.org.in
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR