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A heartbreaking case has emerged from Jakhod village in the Surajgarh tehsil of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan. A man named Joker has been confined to iron shackles for the past nine years due to mental imbalance. His wife, Naresh Devi, says she was forced to do so because whenever she left him free, he would harm himself or others.
Lost Mental Balance While Digging Wells
Joker previously worked as a well digger, supporting his family. About nine years ago, he became mentally unstable while digging a well. His wife, Naresh Devi, sought treatment at several locations, but there was no improvement.
Gradually, his condition worsened. He suddenly began throwing stones at people and frequently disappeared from home. Once, he was found missing at the Mukundgarh police station. After this, the family was forced to keep him shackled to prevent any untoward incident.
Life confined to a makeshift hut, wife working as a laborer to support the household
Joker is currently chained to a makeshift hut, where he is provided with food and water. His wife, Naresh Devi, has been working as a laborer for the past nine years to support the household and the education of their two daughters. Their two daughters, Sonam and Sharmila, are married, while Neetu (10th grade) and Rishika (3rd grade) study in the village government school. The family’s plight is dire, crippled by poverty and helplessness.
Deprived of government assistance, pleads for help
Naresh Devi says she has visited the Surajgarh tehsil and Panchayat Samiti several times, but has yet to receive any government assistance. She has now appealed to the government and social workers for assistance so that her husband can receive treatment and support his livelihood. They say, “We are forced to keep Joker chained. If we let him go, he’ll hurt himself or someone else. Now we just hope someone helps us.”
A Symbol of Administrative Negligence
This case not only highlights the negligence of the government machinery, but also the lack of awareness in society about mental health. While the villagers express sympathy for the family, they have not received any concrete help.
