It's a home for the mentally challenged. They return healed, skilled and equipped to face life.
Today, Antaragram sprawls over 13 acres of land with facilities for treating 200 patients. Says Dasgupta: "Antar suggests the mind in Bengali. Our centre, Antara, is an oasis for troubled minds. Far away from the city, nestled in greenery, Antaragram indeed has the sanctity of a village."
But it has the buzzing air of a beehive: social workers and psychiatrists working towards assisting, treating and rehabilitating the mentally challenged. Treatment is provided to anyone in need, even drug addicts or alcoholics. Approximately, 1,400 patients attend the outpatient clinics every week. Other facilities include work therapy projects, an infotech vocational training project, recreation centres, library and reading room, community mess and residential quarters for the staff. Antara depends mainly on donations from individuals, groups, organisations, development agencies, trusts, corporate houses and MNCs.
A day at Antara begins at 6 am with patients attending prayer, meditation and yoga. They are taught to be self-sufficient and therefore made to tidy their rooms, wash clothes and utensils.
In fact, as part of their treatment, patients are kept busy throughout the day at the various occupational therapy units. There is ample to choose from—poultry farm, horticultural nursery, fishery, plastic welding unit, art and craft centre, and tailoring, knitting and handicraft unit. Products made here are even exported. The revenue generated is used to extend free treatment to the poor. Occupational therapy can be availed by both indoor and outdoor patients. After occupational therapy, many patients also find full-time jobs.
Antara’s deaddiction ward treats patients alcohol and drug addicts. Since many are former users of hypodermic needles, they are tested for AIDS and the wives of the HIV positive patients are duly informed. Counselling facilities are available for both the patient and family.
The mental illness ward treats both men and women for psychological, emotional, behavioural, psychosomatic and psychosexual problems. Among the patients, cases of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder and personality disorders are the most common. Says 18-year-old Purnima Beda, "I was staying at a hostel where I was constantly ragged for being an orphan and jeered as a lunatic. My life, which was once full of darkness and despair, has improved miraculously after coming to Antara. The doctors are very understanding, I’ve made good friends and learnt singing, stitching and drawing."
Antara has outpatient treatment facilities. Facilities at the psychiatry, child psychiatry, chemical dependency, safe motherhood and child survival clinic can be availed of at nominal charges. Antara provides training in psychiatric nursing, psychiatric social work and has orientation programmes for professional and lay people.
Antara networks with other NGOs specialising in mental health. They recently inaugurated a psychiatric ward for children.
Contact: Antara, M. Thomas John (general administrator), P.O. Gobindapur (South), Calcutta 700145, Tel: (033)24371316, 24378484, Email: antaragram@satyam.net.in.