NHRC orders Odisha probe into ₹20-crore rehab centre lying shut for a year
Synopsis
A ₹20-crore state-funded rehabilitation centre at Bhubaneswar's Capital Hospital — equipped with robotic machines and prosthetic services — has been locked for over a year, leaving disabled and tribal patients without care. The NHRC has now stepped in, directing Odisha's SSEPD Department to explain within two weeks.
Key Takeaways
The NHRC directed the Odisha SSEPD Department to probe the non-functioning of the Advanced Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar .
The ARC was built in March 2019 at a cost of ₹20 crore and was equipped with robotic rehabilitation machines, prosthetics, and assistive technologies.
The facility has reportedly been locked for more than a year , leaving costly equipment unused.
Patients from poor, rural, and tribal communities have been denied access to specialised rehabilitation and free artificial limb services.
The Principal Secretary, SSEPD Department , has been asked to submit an inquiry report within two weeks .
The NHRC stated that the allegations, if true, constitute serious human rights violations .
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department to probe allegations that an ₹20-crore Advanced Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, has remained shut for over a year. The apex rights body issued the directions on 28 September, acting on a petition filed by Advocate Akhand of the Orissa High Court.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to the complaint, the Advanced Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) was inaugurated in March 2019 at a cost of ₹20 crore, funded by the state's SSEPD Department. The facility was equipped with advanced robotic rehabilitation machines, prosthetic services, and assistive technologies designed to treat patients with stroke, neuromuscular disorders, brain injuries, polio, and limb disabilities. It also reportedly provided free artificial limbs and therapy to underprivileged patients.
Advocate Akhand alleged that the premises have been locked for more than a year, leaving costly machines and publicly-funded infrastructure unused. He argued that the closure raises serious questions about the utilisation of the ₹20 crore public investment.
Who Is Most Affected
The complainant specifically flagged the impact on patients from poor, rural, and tribal communities, who are said to have lost access to essential rehabilitation and assistive services. For many such individuals, the ARC was reportedly the only accessible point for specialised care, including prosthetics and robotic therapy, within a government facility.
NHRC's Stand and Directions
The Commission remarked that, if the allegations are found to be true, they would constitute serious violations of the human rights of the affected individuals. It has directed the Principal Secretary of the SSEPD Department to submit a detailed inquiry report within two weeks. The NHRC's intervention signals that the rights body views the prolonged non-functioning of a state-funded public health facility as a matter of constitutional concern, not merely administrative failure.
Context and Wider Significance
This comes amid broader concerns about post-construction neglect of government-built health infrastructure across several states. Notably, the ARC's closure is not an isolated case — similar instances of advanced medical equipment lying idle in public hospitals have drawn criticism from audit bodies and civil society groups in recent years. The NHRC's two-week deadline for a report indicates an urgent expectation of accountability from the Odisha government.
The Odisha government's response to the NHRC notice, and the outcome of the inquiry, will determine whether the facility is restored to operational status or whether further action — including a possible show-cause — follows.
Point of View
But two weeks is a short window for a department to produce a credible inquiry into what is, at minimum, a year-long failure. The deeper question is whether this is an isolated case of post-inauguration neglect or reflects a systemic pattern in how Odisha — and indeed many states — commission specialised health infrastructure and then fail to staff, maintain, or even open it. If the machines have degraded over a year of disuse, the public cost may already exceed the original ₹20 crore.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Advanced Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar?
The ARC is a state-funded specialised facility established in March 2019 at a cost of ₹20 crore by the Odisha SSEPD Department. It was designed to provide robotic rehabilitation, prosthetic services, and assistive technology to patients with stroke, brain injuries, polio, and limb disabilities, including free treatment for underprivileged individuals.
Why has the NHRC intervened in the closure of the Bhubaneswar rehab centre?
The NHRC acted on a petition by Advocate Akhand of the Orissa High Court, who alleged that the ARC has been locked for over a year despite being a ₹20-crore public asset. The Commission noted that if the allegations are true, they amount to serious human rights violations against disabled patients denied essential care.
What has the NHRC directed the Odisha government to do?
The NHRC has directed the Principal Secretary of the Odisha SSEPD Department to conduct an inquiry and submit a detailed report within two weeks of the order issued on 28 September.
Who is most affected by the closure of the Bhubaneswar rehabilitation centre?
According to the complaint, patients from poor, rural, and tribal communities are the worst affected, as the ARC was a key source of specialised rehabilitation services — including free artificial limbs and therapy — that are otherwise largely inaccessible to them.
What happens if the Odisha government fails to respond to the NHRC notice?
The complaint does not specify a consequence, but under standard NHRC procedure, non-compliance with a notice or an unsatisfactory inquiry report can lead the Commission to issue a show-cause notice or recommend remedial action, including compensation or departmental proceedings.
