Project Anjali

Campaign Story

About the project

People living with mental illness are among the most marginalized and underserved in India. State mental hospitals in West Bengal can accommodate only 2000 patients, against an estimated 125,000 people with mental health issues. Institutional overcrowding and a severe shortfall of psychiatric professionals result in poor-quality care that is inconsiderate of important intersections, and deplorable living conditions for residents. These individuals suffer violations of human rights regularly, including: physical violence, forced institutionalization, abandonment, disinheritance, incarceration, lack of medical care, lack of employment opportunities, limited access to justice, restricted mobility, and pervasive social stigma.

This Project is fully funded by the Oak foundation.

Making a difference

Anjali works in one of the most neglected areas of health. Anjali’s thrust is twofold: To establish Mental Illness within the mainstream health paradigm of India, and to speak for a large population of marginalized people with mental illness vis-à-vis their right to a professional and inclusive system of care and treatment.

Anjali’s “Voices” program counters stagnant and regressive systems to bring about systemic changes in the care framework. “Voices” promotes social inclusion for people living in four mental hospitals in West Bengal. The project seeks to re-integrate former patients into society by providing livelihood training and job placement services, and to reduce institutionalization by promoting community-level, prevention-based care alternatives. The organization advocates for progressive policies and institutional practices that place patients’ dignity at the forefront, and works to end the stigma associated with mental health disabilities.

The Way Forward

● Deliver capacity-building sessions to 240 hospital and halfway home residents, toward the goal of empowering at least 30% with choice over residence and treatment, and ability to access civic entitlements.

● Train and employ at least 25 residents in Anjali’s livelihood units or through external livelihood opportunities.

● Assist state welfare mechanisms in reintegrating 10 residents of halfway home into their respective families.

● Conduct interactive sessions with hospital staff on mental health and mental health policy.

● Engage lawyers, judicial bodies, civil society, NGOs, and other stakeholders who deal with legal cases pertaining to mental health.

Project Impact

100

Inaugurated “Pratayay”, public/private 100-capacity assisted-living home for men and women who have recovered from institutionalization

30%

Of residents across four hospitals employed in security, laundry services, hand-block printing and caregiving.

1592

Capacity-building/life skills sessions conducted toward the social inclusion

50

Residents received vocational training sessions

30

Residents participated in group sessions on job readiness and self-development.

Last Year’s Grant Disbursed: $80,775

Current Year’s Approved Grant: $138,522

Project Story

Sourab Mukherjee, a 29 year old man, started facing problems at an early age when his parents’ relationship deteriorated beyond reconciliation. Moving into a single-parent household troubled the boy greatly, even more so when his father passed away.

Though his emotions had been set on a path of chronic disarray, Sourab’s intellect and ability landed him in an engineering program at a reputed college in Kolkata. But financial difficulties in his third year again taxed his faculties. He found work as a tutor, but as his mental and emotional state declined, so too did his students’ attendance.

Now again without income, he took employment at a gaming parlor in a city mall. This was short-lived, as the parlor closed. Sourab continued to spiral into distress: He dropped out of college and his relationship with his mother became strained. In 2021, he was admitted to Calcutta Pavlov Hospital, one of the four facilities where Anjali works. Sourab has been enthusiastically attending Anjali’s capacity-building sessions. He started as a trainee in the block printing unit, eventually joining as a full-time employee. Having worked in the unit for over a year, Sourab has found that his job offers much more than just a paycheck and newfound skills in block-printing. It’s a fundamental element of his recovery. He is once again productive; his contributions are valued by his peers, and with that his agency and sense of responsibility continue to improve.

Project Photo Gallery