Last Updated on September 27, 2023 by Neelam Singh
National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2015-16 says that 150 million Indians live with mental health issues. Wherein, 83% of them do not have access to necessary care. In fact, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has found that all the 46 government-run mental healthcare institutions across the country are in ‘deplorable’ conditions where there is an acute shortage of doctors.
An NGO called Inclusive Education Initiative published a report in 2021, supported by the World Bank, says, 90% of parents and caregivers in India faced obstacles to learning, especially during the pandemic. Because of the stigma associated with mentally-challenged people, lack of knowledge on how to deal with them and lack of support from the government, many families abandon people with intellectual disabilities.
In such a dire situation, Dr. Pullara Bhanumathi based in Kerala is doing her bit to help the people with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities in Kerala.
Meet the person who brings hope
Dr. Bhanumathi, 65, had three three brothers and all were autistic. She would often be concerned about who will take care of them once there is no one around them. “While thinking about my siblings’ future, I began to think of the future of others like my brothers. There are many who are left behind and no one is there to look after them. They can’t live their own life independently,” says Dr. Bhanumathi.
She finished her education and became professor of Zoology at Sree Kerala Varma College in Thrissur, Kerala. Although she was busy in making her own career, the thought of doing something for the mentally challenged never faded. Her achievement in academics is remarkable. She has done a doctorate in Cancer Biochemistry and a post doctoral fellowship in Radiation Biochemistry.
However, an incident made her take action over her concern. It was 1997 when Dr. Bhanumathi lost one of her brothers. “He died in my lap. He was 52 and was an autistic person. He needed to have adequate medical help and I took him to the nearest Hospital. But the Doctor illtreated and ignored her brother, just because he is intellectually-challenged. The same day he died. This made me determined to take action to help mentally-challenged people,” tells Dr. Bhanumathi.
The beginning
In 1997 Dr. Bhanumathi started a center for mentally challenged people from a room in a school. She started with about 4-5 mentally challenged individuals. There also she faced a lot of problems from the parents of ‘normal’ students and some of the students. None of them could accept these Intellectually Challenged persons in a normal school! “The idea was to help them indulge in a routine. Involve them in activities like music, yoga and a few such activities so that they remain busy and feel confident in life,” says Dr. Bhanumathi. It was a rehabilitation center for these individuals. She registered a non-profit in 1997 with the name Association for Mentally Handicapped Adults (AMHA).
Initially, Dr. Bhanumathi had no one to support financially. “I would use my income for expenses like food and medicines to support my cause,” adds Dr. Bhanumathi. Moreover, people had negative feelings about her work. “It took time for people to trust me and understand my purpose and work. It was hard for many to leave their mentally-challenged loved ones at my rehab center,” shares Dr. Bhanumathi.
Gradually, her work got noticed and Dr. Bhanumathi began receiving financial and other support. In 2000, she bought a plot and built a rehab center for intellectually-challenged adults in Thrissur away from the city’s hustle and bustle. Today, AMHA is a registered organization, Registered under Charitable Societies Act, RPWD Act and under Orphanage Control Board.
Now, the NGO has two functioning units – a special school cum rehabilitation Centre for adults at Karyattukara, and an early intervention cum sensory integration therapy center for children (2–10-year age group) at Ambadikulam ground, Olarikkara, Thrissur.
Spreading wings
The special school is one of a very few special schools exclusively for Mentally Challenged Adults with residential care, in the state. Mentally challenged adults above 18 are admitted here. The NGO provides free special education and vocational training to such persons.
“At our sensory integration therapy center, we provide occupational therapy, sensory therapy, behavioral therapy, I E P, ADL and speech therapy for autistic children (2-10 years) and parent counseling. All these are free of cost,” says Dr. Bhanumathi.
At the NGOs adult center, there are 60 mentally-challenged individuals. Out of this, 30 are residents. About 95% of them hail from economically backward families and the rest are from middle class families. 12 of them are orphans. Out of these 60 people, only 5% are under the mild category. Others are moderate and severely mentally challenged suffering from Down syndrome, Microcephaly, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Fragile X syndrome and Marfan Syndrome. “We provide them free education, food, accommodation, medical facilities, etc. We also have our own bus for the transportation,” informs Dr. Bhanumathi.
“At our Autism center 70 Children with Autism (from age 2 to 10) are availing occupational, sensory, behavioral modification therapy, ADL and speech therapy. There we are providing the service of Occupational Therapist, Clinical psychologist, special educators, physiotherapist and speech therapist,” tells Dr. Bhanumathi.
Training for life
The non-profit Organization trains these adults with behavior modification through Occupational Therapy, Speech therapy, Yoga therapy and special education techniques by a team of efficient teachers and experts. “We train them in drama, music, drawing and painting. We use yoga, music and Theater as therapeutic tools. Yoga and music reduce hyperactivity and behavioral problems in our students, especially in Autistic people. Theater increases their communication skills, language skills, Group sense and self-confidence,” tells Dr. Bhanumathi.
The Intellectually Challenged adults are also trained in vocational training such as making umbrellas, paper covers, paper carry bags, writing chalk, agarbatti, phenoil, detergent powder, bathing soap, door mats, handicrafts in coconut shell, Screen printing, LED Bulbs, jute bag, cloth bag, etc. “When they make such products, they feel confident that they can do something in life which is a huge encouragement for them. The income we earn through selling these products are shared among them and deposited in their Bank account. This increases their self-confidence and changes their status in the family and the society – from ‘a good for nothing fellow’ to an earning member. AMHA is trying to remove this social stigma towards these people.” says Dr. Bhanumathi. She further informs that because of these daily activities, a huge impact can be seen in the behaviour of these children and adults.
Making others aware
As a part of a public awareness program, every year the NGO conducts public seminars. Psychiatrists and experts in the field take classes for parents, caregivers of mentally challenged persons, students and youngsters.
Because of her work, parents and guardians of mentally challenged individuals feel a sense of security that there are people around them to look after. Dr. Bhanumathi has been so dedicated to her cause that she chose not to have her own child. “I knew that once I have my own child my love for these individuals would be divided. I did not want this at all. I love them all as my children,” says Dr. Bhanumathi. Even her husband, E. B. Saleesh, supported her in the noble cause. Dr. Bhanumathi with her husband and her 2 Autistic brothers stay in the same hostel, where others stay.
Dr. Bhanumathi’s work is so remarkable that she won an award called Best Institution of The State in 2015 from Social Justice Department of Kerala Government. She also received more than 40 Awards, including the ‘STHREE SAKTHI PURASKAR’ from Govt. of India and ‘VANITHA RATHNAM’ from the Kerala State Govt.
The way forward
Dr. Bhanumathi has a huge plan. She wants to build a sensory park which can be used by all types of Intellectually challenged persons and Autistic people of any age. Moreover, an old age home with all facilities, exclusively for the Intellectually challenged persons is also on her wish list. “Since we are not getting financial Aid from the Govt, AMHA needs financial support from the public and kind hearted persons to make this dream possible,” says Dr. Bhanumathi.
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