23 Feb :The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the National Mental Health Programme for Manpower Development under 11th Plan with an outlay of Rs.474 crore (approx.). At least 11 Centres of Excellence of Mental Health & Neuro-Sciences are proposed to be established by upgrading existing Mental Health Institutes in addition to strengthening a number of Institutions for manpower production.
This would create an additional manpower of more than 100 Psychiatrists, 400 each of Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatric social Workers and 800 Psychiatric Nurses per year resulting in addressing acute shortage of manpower in these fields.