The less said about the early years the better. They were difficult years of begging, borrowing etc.The most anticipated visitor was the postman who brought us money orders of people who believed in our impossible dream after reading the first article on The Banyan in The Indian Express!
The first ray of hope came when our first resident Chellammal told us we didn't know anything. Heart in mouth we desperately tried to convince her that she was safest with us - we were so scared of what we assumed inevitable rejection from her family would do to her fragile recovered mental state. CHellammal proved The Banyan, experts and Indian society wrong by going back home to her joyous family in Ramanathapuram near Madurai. She had become a grandmother in her absence.
The hundreds of rehabs that so naturally followed Chellammal's over a decade, are what keep The Banyan spirit alive against all odds. Every mentally ill homeless woman who comes into The Banyan from the streets and emerges victorious against stigma, apathy, neglect and a devastating illness is our hero. We have no shortage of them!
The next time someone told us we didn't know anything with a dismissive laugh, we were defensive. We passionately defended our system of sending medicines by post to all the rehabilitated former residents of The Banyan across the country. Deep down however, we realised that The Banyan after care system was flawed in scalability and viability. That valuable realisation matured The Banyan overnight from a service provider to a solution finder. The Community Mental Health wing of The Banyan took root.
Till date we find it impossible to say No at The Banyan to people who have no other options. With The Banyan's population explosion came the realisation that growth didn't mean seeding more Banyans.The bigger picture that took shape with the various Outreach Programmes was missing the vital jigsaw bit - more people. More involvement. More responsibility. The Dial 100 Helpline - Asia's pioneering Public Private Partnership became the branch of The Banyan that showed the way ahead.
To keep all of this going and growing costs The Banyan Rs. 2.55 crore a year. Assured, regular, dependable funding counts for just 50% of this cost. The Banyan tries to fill this gap through its fundraising efforts like Basant Utsav & Netru Indru Naalai. Sponsorship schemes and random acts of kindness from individuals, concerned corporate bodies and socially inclined service club go a long way in relieving financial anxiety. As you can imagine and as our Bank Manager affirms, all said and done, it's never enough.
But when has anything held The Banyan back?!
The next month will see the 'official' inauguration of the Wholistic Health Centre ( a model PHC with psychiatric services added ) and a Protected Community for long stay residents in the tranquil rural surroundings of Kovalam village. Plus the launch of The Spice Route - the social enterprise Wing of The Banyan which promises long term financial sustainability with a Café, Organic Spa, Crafts & Clothes Boutique and village tourism by the enthusiastic Kovalam community. The Spice Route is backed by Socially conscious organisational supporters of The Banyan mission and run by spunky members of Vizhuthugal - The Banyan self-help group. Also on the cards are The Life School - a learning centre where all of us could pick up a tip or two is underway. "The Zero Inventors" - eco products made from recycled waste are going to be added to our vocational products unit. Research is finally coming into its own at The Banyan Resource Centre and this years conference will revolve around duplicating the Dial 100 model.
Daydream believers? Hopeless idealists? Modern day Don Quixotes?
We are quite simply just doers - learning while we grope along the way in uncharted territory.
Integrated services for persons with mental health issues...Options for their future... We are The Banyan
