SHILLONG, May 24: Conceived in 1990, SANKER was a project that did not have many takers, said an emotionally charged Dr Sandi Syiem as he reminisced on the 32-year journey. “When I thought of starting SANKER — a refuge for people with mental health problems who have been sick for a long time, many of my friends thought I was crazy. But I stuck to my guns and am thankful to my family for standing by me,” Dr Sandi said as he narrated the difficult journey of SANKER.
Finding a location was difficult but when he finally zeroed in on the present location, Dr Sandi said that the landowner was ready to sell the plot to him and although he could not pay a single rupee upfront, the landowner gave him occupational rights.
The first psychiatrist in Meghalaya, Dr Sandi started this project for rehabilitating substance abusers and to provide healing to those with a different mind, with assistance from the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Although the MIDC never gave loans for private projects the MD then understood Dr Sandi’s vision and extended a loan of Rs 17 lakh as a start-up. It took a while to construct the facility.
SANKER first started in a cowshed divided into two parts — one for male and another for female patients. The building was formally inaugurated on June 9, 1990, by then Chief Minister, BB Lyngdoh. The approach road had been washed away by the rains then so the CM and his entourage had to rough it out on foot from the Police Training Centre down to SANKER.
“It took us 17 years to repay the loan and successive governments were helpful in that they waived the interest. The loan was finally liquidated in 2017,” Dr Sandi informed the gathering on Tuesday where the male ward constructed with the assistance of the North Eastern Council (NEC) at a cost of Rs 3.2 crore was inaugurated by NEC Secretary, K Moses Chalai.
Dr Sandi informed that he had tried to apply for the MP Scheme and also approached the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) but it was only in 2017 that the NEC sanctioned the amount for which 10 per cent had to come from the state government. That was what caused the delay in the project execution. Today, SANKER has about 400 patients a year, some of them having to stay for extended periods because of the nature of their ailment. A few who are homeless have also found a home in SANKER.
Today, SANKER is uniquely placed to train scholars of Social Work, Psychiatry, Counselling Psychology and it runs a PG Diploma Course in Psychiatric Nursing.
Dr Sandi gave credit to Aiban Mawkhroh the architect for the design of the building which blended well with the greenery surrounding it.
Additional DHS Dr Phira lauded the efforts of Dr Sandi who she said had a vision and mission to serve those most in need of physical and mental healthcare. She rued the fact that Meghalaya has only five psychiatrists when there is a growing need for more.
Addressing the audience, Secretary NEC, K Moses Chalai said, “We live in an imperfect world and in a situation where many need special attention and care. What Dr Sandi Syiem is doing is a calling that few have. Only those with a special calling can do what he does. I express my genuine appreciation to Dr Sandi and his family members and the SANKER Trust for the wonderful work.”
Chalai said that India and the Northeast are now more open to the needs of society and more sensitive, sensible and compassionate in understanding people needing special care. He said Rs 3.2 crore is a small project for NEC but it is not the amount but the purpose of the project which is important.
He assured Dr Sandi of assistance in the future and informed that now the 10 per cent grant from the State Government has been exempted and NEC can fund a project 100 per cent.a
