Those who have found work at the laundry obhi Ghar say they want to be independent.
Highlights
- 'Dhobi Ghar' laundry service launched at Kolkata's Pavlov Hospital
- It is run by people suffering from mental illnesses
- Many of them have been abandoned by their families
A laundry service launched at Kolkata's Pavlov Hospital, 'Dhobi Ghar' is being called a laundry with a difference.
The service will be run by people who have suffered stigma and often been abandoned by their families due to mental illness and aims to provide them an opportunity to a live a life of dignity.
Health and Family Welfare Minister of West Bengal Shashi Panja told NDTV, "This is the first of its kind project taking off in West Bengal. This laundry project empowers these individuals who are going to work here who have been through mental illness and recovered. It is about empowerment, self-respect and hygiene."
The West Bengal government says it wants to improve conditions at hospitals for persons with mental illness. The government says they will work with NGOs and private players to create more such opportunities to integrate them into the work force.
The laundry project was set up by Anjali in collaboration with state government's health and family welfare department. It has Sparsh Foundation as a technical partner and is enabled by The Hans Foundation.
Executive Director of The Hans Foundation Dr G V Rao told NDTV, "We are going to continue to see how we can replicate this and take it to the next level in order to increase the numbers."
Those who have found work at the laundry say they want to be independent. Gita Kundu, who is undergoing treatment at Pavlov Hospital, told NDTV, "We feel nice doing this work. I am ironing these days. I feel better."
"If we can do what we have been told to do here, then I can call myself successful as being able to earn and live independently is a man's first responsibility," added Ratan Nandi.