Health care

Arogya Niketan,which when translated in English means a house which promises freedom from diseases,stands tall among a cluster of high-rises near Girish Park in north Kolkata. And Basak,the man instrumental in setting up the “people’s hospital”,stands even taller than most people we meet today.

“I always thought what it would be like to work on the ideals followed by the followers of the Ramakrishna Mission. And at one point I decided to start a clinic-cum-diagnostic centre where people would be treated for free or at a nominal rate,” says Basak.

Sacrificing the prime of his life in setting up his dream project,Basak gave a step-motherly attitude to both his business and his family. He refused to take up the opportunities that were offered to him. Content with the plastic materials shop that he owned,Basak focussed more on setting up Arogya Niketan than on expanding his business.

Naturally his business suffered. There were losses. Trouble cropped up at home and Basak found himself swimming against the tide of life. With meager income from a business which was incurring losses,Basak found it difficult to make both ends meet. Repeated requests from his wife to abandon the Arogya Niketan project and focus on his own business fell on deaf ears.

“There were several problems. But I was determined to ensure that the Arogya Niketan project came through,” he adds.

And accordingly,the Arogya Niketan project blossomed. Basak came in touch with a few like-minded people who welcomed his idea and together the dispensary-cum-clinic was formed. Almost a decade has passed since those years of struggle and Arogya Niketan has expanded itself. From a mere four-member organisation it has now grown to 100 members. Forty doctors ~ almost at par with any reputed private hospital in the city ~ render voluntary service and those who walk in to the centre are treated with care. The hospita provides state of the art instruments and machines. From ultra sonography to taking out x- ray plates,Arogya Niketan provides treatment to all people. And no “exorbitant” amount is charged from the patients. Payment ranges from a mere Rs 10 to a maximum of Rs 25 and that too in rare cases. On an average 70 patients are treated on a daily basis while around 2500 to 3000 patients are treated at Arogya Niketan on a monthly basis.

“We do not judge people by their clothes. And nowadays even some affluent people of the area also come to us for treatment,” says Basak.

But does he rue the opportunities he lost in setting up Arogya Niketan? “I have no regrets. Arogya Niketan is doing well and so are my two children. Both of them supplement the family income and I am happy looking after Arogya Niketan,” he maintains.