A VIEW
A VIEW ( A Village for Independent and enterprising women) was started by Dr Suchandra Brahma in 2010, a psychiatrist that lives and works between the USA and Calcutta. Suchandra was inspired to create a positive and safe refuge for women suffering from mental illness. An alternative to the living conditions observed in the psychiatric wards of Calcutta’s SSKM hospital.
“I saw the extreme differences in treatment conditions between the two countries. The women’s Psychiatric ward was no different from jail. The laws pertaining to the release of recovered women is not just regressive but also biased. While men were released easily, women required to be claimed back by families. The paradox lay in the fact that 90% of the contact details provided were false; which meant, most women had been left there on purpose. I decided to do something about it. I had a view. Hence, the name.” (Brahma, 2010)
The residence is located in the Canning district, 45km from Calcutta. It is a self-sustained commune where electricity is generated by solar panels and food is grown and harvested on the property by the residents. Produce include vegetables, small fish and snails. Water lilies are used as both mulch and fertiliser. The women work together to prepare their meals, go for walks, learn basic numeracy and literacy, make tools and utensils from coconuts, draw, meditate, and work on the land. Mustard seed powder is used as a natural body wash and shampoo that does not pollute the washing pond when bathing.
A VIEW is a positive, encouraging and community orientated environment that encourages the residents to learn basic survival skills with the goal of earning an income, becoming independent and in some instances be reunited with their families. They are provided with free legal protection and medical and psychiatric treatment. A doctor resides at A VIEW 3 days a week to conduct health checks and teach the women and local community about hygiene.
