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Paripurnata Halfway Home was formed in 1991 by Dr. Joyce Siromonil in Kolkata, West Bengal. The NGO serves mentally challenged women from the weaker sections of society with the objective to make them independent. It envisages championing the cause of marginalized mentally ill women, and strives for their mainstreaming in society, and restoring their rights and dignity.

Paripurnata follows a detailed ‘Rehab Module’ to select and rehabilitate patients as under:

• Preliminary selection of patients at mental hospitals
• Interview by the Screening Committee
• Two months provisional stay at Paripurnata Halfway Home for willing patients
• Discharge from mental hospital to Paripurnata
• In-depth residential rehabilitation process

Some of their activities are:

• Psycho-social Rehabilitation: It is a residential programme for marginalised and mentally ill women to provide them with – (i) cost free rehabilitation of 9-12 months (7 beneficiaries in FY16), (ii) cost free treatment of 2-4 months to relapsed ex-residents (7 beneficiaries in FY16), and (iii) short stay of 4-6 months for various treatments (26 beneficiaries in FY16).
• Pharmaco Therapy & Psychological Therapy: Psychiatric treatment, psychological counselling, group therapy sessions, mental state examinations, regular medical check-ups and treatment are conducted periodically for residents and ex-residents.
• Occupational Therapy: Training in basic domestic skills like sewing & weaving, bandhni (tie and dye) work, block printing skills, house cleaning, washing clothes, personal hygiene and grooming are imparted on a daily basis.
• Social - Cultural Therapy: Therapies in the form of music, dancing, painting, yoga, and social skills like receiving visitors, social interaction and grooming are imparted to the beneficiaries.
• Cognitive Therapy: This includes classes on general knowledge, current affairs, storytelling, and basic human rights.

Post Rehabilitation activities consist of follow-up of ex-residents for three years, ex-residents meet, group meetings for the families of ex-residents.

The NGO also visits and trains families on counselling, runs community awareness programmes and organises outings and picnics. Paripurnata needs assistance in both, fund raising, and voluntary support to help patients.