The Thane Mental Hospital is setting up a special occupational therapy project where patients who complete treatment will be trained to make agarbattis to be sold under a special brand: Manas Agarbatti.
Hospital authorities feel such a move will keep those who have completed psychiatric treatment engaged throughout the year instead of making seasonal items like greeting cards and lamps. Apart from agarbattis, patients will also be trained to make eco-friendly Ganeshas, demand for which has risen since last year.
According to senior doctors, most patients who spend two-three months in treatment return home with no job prospects. To help them regain confidence, such vocational training becomes significant.
"For this project, we will set up a centre with 25 people. A bus will pick up and drop them from the hospital to railway stations and bus stops. An agarbatti brand is ready to offer training on making and marketing the agarbattis," said Dr Kumvat.
He added that the Annirudha Bapu Trust is ready to offer lessons on making eco-friendly Ganesh idols. Another firm is ready to award a contract to the hospital for making paper plates. The centre is expected to start operations during the Mental Health Week from October 3 to 10.
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