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Tinka
Mondol, was once a sufferer of schizophrenia. "I didn't
understand what was happening to me. I had sudden emotional
outbursts, I felt unduly upset, I cried and screamed and lost
appetite. Often, I tried to escape from home." she
recalls. Tinka's husband admitted her to Pavlov Mental
Hospital. She felt lonely and insecure at the mental
hospital, her family never paid her a visit. She repeatedly
requested the hospital authorities to contact her husband. She
was told that they had written to her husband - he had not
responded, they could do no further. After having spent four
years in the mental hospital, she decided to shift to Paripurnata -
a half way home in Sealdah, Kolkata, India for the psychosocial
rehabilitation of the mentally ill, founded by Joyce Siromoni.
"Paripurnata was a refreshing change from the hospital which
was unclean and unorganized. Mrs.Joyce Siromoni gave me love
and mental support, instilled in me a sense of self esteem and
confidence. I still missed my husband and requested
Mrs.Siromoni to contact him." Joyce immediately traced
Tinka's husband who was an ayurvedic doctor. Initially, he had
been reluctant to meet his wife,"She's a lunatic, no one can
control her." Joyce assured him that his impressions
would change once she would meet Tinka. In Paripurnata she had
undergone intensive training which had made her independent and
mentally stable. Her husband met her and truly found his wife
a changed woman and agreed to take responsibility of her. Now,
he pays for Tinka's food and lodging (house rent) and visits her
every week in her Palta home. Tinka earns her own living by
working as a domestic help. Paripurnata still keeps track of
her well being and provides her free medication. "If it
had not been for Mrs.Siromoni I would never have got better."
Sumitra Gayen had chronic epilepsy with behavirioul disorder ( she
often became violent). Her child died at eight months, which upset
her further. Her husband took away her gold ornaments
and deserted her. People of her locality usurped her room and
imprisoned her in Presidency Jail, under the category "non
criminal lunatic". She spent one and a half years of her life
behind the bars, during which she received no treatment for her
ailments. She was however lucky to be chosen by Paripurnata for
rehabilitation, where she was treated for her illness.
During fits of rage, she would prick herself with needles.
Moreover, she had the notion that she had epiliptic fits, because
God had put a curse on her. Paripurnata helped her to bring
her epilepsy and rage under control. Unlike others, Sumitra
didn't want to reunite with her husband, she wanted to lead an
independent life. Presently, Sumitra earns her own living by
working as a domestic help, she has her own bank account,
Paripurnata helps her with her investments. Sumitra's husband
passed away five years ago. "I owe a lot to Paripurnata
and Mrs.Siromoni," she says.
Sumitra and Tinka aren't the only ones whose lives have been
transformed by Paripurnata. Till date, 62 women have been
rehabilitated, 6 have joined their husbands, 3 are partially
supported by their husbands, 4 have got married and the rest have
been accepted by their parental families or are staying at hostels.
Joyce Kalamani Siromoni, though 71 years old, visits and supervises
Paripurnata regularly. She is a medical doctor by profession,
a graduate from Christian Medical College in Vellore in 1954 and
D(Obst)RCOG from London in 1960. She has been into community
service for a very long time. Later she shifted her focus to
those with mental illness. In 1967 she initiated, organized
and helped to establish the Medico Pastoral Association (MPA) in
Bangalore as its Hony Secretary. This institute dealt with
suicide prevention, drug abuse, psychosomatic disorders and the
rehabilitation of the mentally ill. The MPA received the
active support of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro
Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore and also a grant of land from the
Karnataka government.
Joyce relocated in Kolkata in 1985. It was in 1990 that she
came across an article in a leading daily with the bold caption,
"800 mentally ill patients languish in WB jails."
She visited the jails immediately, and witnessed for herself the
appalling conditions where the women Non-Criminal Lunatics (NCLs)
were kept. They were imprisoned behind three padlocked doors.
There weren't enough beds to accommodate every one, a drain used as
the toilet stank of urine, those who were violent were chained or
put in tiny 6' by 3' cells and when food was served they fought and
grabbed each others bread. Joyce resolved to establish a
half-way-home similar to MPA in Bangalore, but the road was far from
easy. Help was first sought from the Additional Director of
Health Service and Social Welfare Development of West Bengal, Joyce
was told that the State Government had no funds for the NCLs and it
would take another 7-8 years to give priority to the issue. So
Joyce approached "Bread for the World" the German funding
agency which had previously funded the Medico-Pastoral Association
in Bangalore and they cooperated willingly. A portion of
an old dilapidated building, belonging to the "Probation and
Aftercare Association", left unused for 25 years, was
renovated. Juthica Stangl, a resident of the USA and the
Bank of Baroda contributed Rs 1 lakh each.
It took Joyce six months to form a team of 14 to run Paripurnata.
The team included a judge, police officers, doctors and social
workers. An ex-convict of the jail who had a good report of her
prison term, became the first house mother of Paripurnata.
Paripurnata was inaugurated on 21st March 1992 with six residents, 4
from Presidency Jail and two from Pavlov Mental Hospital. The
initial years had many hurdles but Joyce faced them with courage.
Many had warned her that the Paripurnata scheme might just fall
through. If residents did not recover during the stipulated
time and their families refused to accept them, they would be
dependents on Paripurnata for life. Joyce, was however
optimistic about her venture. There were times when residents became
violent and aggressive But Paripurnata's team never lost
patience.
On 6th April 1993 it was held by a division bench of the
Honorable Supreme Court of India, presided by the Honorable Chief
Justice in the matter of a public interest litigation (W.P. No 237
of 1989, Sheila Barse Vs Union of India) to the state of West Bengal
that the practice of committing non-criminal mentally ill persons to
prisons should be stopped forthwith, instead they should be admitted
to the nearest mental health care centres. Since then Paripurnata
started selecting those for rehabilitation from the mental hospital.
The organization takes in women of all religious back grounds from
the lower socio-economic strata.
Mental hospitals are better than jails, but there are drawbacks.
There are too many patients, which gives little scope for intensive
treatment. There aren't facilities for occupational therapy or
adequate recreational facilities, [though the ex-superintendent of
Pavlov Dr.R.S.Choudhury (now the administrator of Paripurnata) tried
his best to have the same facilities, the State Government was
apathetic]. The treatment available there isn't adequate
to re-integrate them into the society. These are the areas
where Paripurnata has an upper hand. Eight women are selected at a
time from Pavlov Hospital. The patients are explained the
workings of Paripurnata, and those patients who are motivated to
earn their own livelihood and return to the society, are chosen.
To motivate the patients, the psychologist alongwith two of the
residents directly interact with the patients. Patients with
chronic illness or major physical disabilities are not chosen, since
they won't be able to adjust to the environment of Paripurnata.
Paripurnata's residents are assured that they will recover soon and
go home. They are identified as residents and not as mental
patients. First and foremost, they are educated of their
illness and how to recognize their symptoms and seek help.
Various mental illnesses are treated at Paripurnata but cases of
schizophrenia and manic depression are most common.
Paripurnata's team includes doctors, an advocate, the former
superintendent of Pavlov Mental Hospital, social workers, chartered
accountants and HRD consultants. The residents are regularly
provided psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy. They are
taught basic household chores like cooking, washing, cleaning,
sewing, marketing and gardening. They are also made
self-reliant through occupational therapy. The Paripurnata
team identifies the skills and talents of the individual residents,
and works towards developing their potentials. All
residents are taught embroidery, block printing, weaving, making
incense sticks. Under the self employment "Pragati" scheme
launched in 1996 with the financial support from the Mennonite
Central Committee training equipments like sewing machines, weaving
looms and raw materials are loaned, which they begin to pay back
after six months. This scheme has been undertaken by 22 women
so far, of whom six have completed training and are working in
weaving and block printing. Non formal educational classes are
conducted on women's rights and current affairs, so that they can
prevent themselves from being exploited in future. Creative
pursuits like dance, music, painting are encouraged. Yoga
therapy is also a part of the recovery process. Visits to
places of historical and cultural interest, and film shows are
arranged.
Paripurnata keeps no stone unturned to track down the families, even
from the vaguest of details. Joyce has been able to track down
families in far flung provinces Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka and even in Bangladesh. (On being abandoned by
families or fleeing from home, they had got on trains at random,
and in the process have traveled far away from home.) Families
are invited to visit their ward at Paripurnata. The family's
fears and inhibitions preventing them from taking back their ward is
noted, and the families and residents are counselled specifically in
those areas. The Paripurnata team accompany the residents to
their homes, on their release from the half way home. The
follow up of residents have been intensive, specially of those who
are settled in Kolkata and its adjoining districts. House
visits are carried on regularly, to ensure that the resident has
been able to adjust to the family and has her medicines regularly.
If families cannot be traced or refuse to take back their ward,
Paripurnata makes necessary arrangements to place the resident in a
hostel or government run home. If relapses occur, Paripurnata
re-admits the residences, but finally all of the residents have been
able to live on their own. Ex-resident's meetings are held
twice a year - this gives them the opportunity of sharing their
experiences and how their lives have changed for the better.
Paripurnata also works on educating the society regarding mental
health issues. Campaigns and workshops are organized in the
resident's community, schools and rural areas. Mental Health
Week is observed every year through a sponsored walk in which other
NGOs, schools, scouts and guides and mental patients of other
psychiatric centres take part. Besides the initial fund
contributors of Paripurnata, funds are also raised from individuals,
corporate bodies and charitable trusts.
Mrs.Siromoni has been granted 13 cottahs of land near Baghajatin,
Kolkata, by the West Bengal government for the expansion of
Paripurnata. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment of
the Central Government is funding the project. The boundary
wall of the new building had already been laid and the organization
plans to relocate with the aim to accommodate 30 residents at a
time.
Joyce visits Paripurnata regularly and oversees all its activities.
Her husband, Paul Siromoni, a consultant in the Indian Society of
Applied Behavarioul Science is very supportive of her work.
Says Jhuma Bhatta, psychologist of Paripurnata,"There are very
few people like Mrs.Siromoni in this world. She really cares
for people in distress. Taking up the cause of mental illness is a
challenge, but Mrs.Siromoni has coped with all the hurdles
successfully."
PS : The names of the mentally ill patients have been changed on
request.
Our thanks to Pallavi
in India for this article.
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