Stranded Souls: Nepali Nationals Reunited After Years in India

Four Nepali nationals have been repatriated to their homes after spending years in Indian mental health institutions. These individuals were admitted to facilities like Lumbini Park Mental Hospital through police and court orders. Despite clinical stability, they remained institutionalized for extended periods due to a lack of identity verification and effective repatriation mechanisms.

The city-based mental health NGO, Anjali, collaborated with hospital authorities and communities in Nepal to facilitate these returns. Two individuals were escorted by social workers across the border and reunited with families in remote districts. The NGO's efforts included intensive home tracing to locate and verify identities.

For the remaining two nationals, their families were able to trace them and retrieve them from the hospitals. Anjali addressed initial suspicion from communities and families through sustained engagement and local mediation, ensuring successful reintegration. The NGO also provides post-return follow-up to monitor well-being.

These repatriations demonstrate that systemic complexities do not have to lead to indefinite institutionalization. Coordinated action involving hospitals, NGOs, and communities can ensure individuals are safely and promptly returned home, offering a replicable pathway for similar situations.