Renovated IMH outlet opens after two years

Store’s new stock includes vegetables cultivated by patients

Home grown: Vegetables on sale at the Industrial Therapy Centre outlet at IMH, Chennai on Monday.

At quarter past twelve on Monday, Louis (name changed) kept getting queries about the rates of the fresh and green vegetables stocked up for sale.

It was the first day after the outlet of the Industrial Therapy Centre (ITC) of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) was relaunched after renovation. Though the ITC was inaugurated on Republic Day, Monday saw the opening of its latest addition — vegetables from IMH’s own backyard.

Cultivated organically by patients of the IMH, the vegetables are up of sale at the outlet facing the Medavakkam Tank Road in the hospital premises. On sale were lady’s fingers, two varieties of snake gourds, raw banana and banana stem.

Water logging during Cyclone Vardah damaged the electrical system and the outlet operated out of a room in the out patient wing during the interim period, the staff said. The outlet has gotten a facelift after two years.

“We were keen on renovating the outlet. This is because it faces the main road, and we can display the products and reach the public,” P. Poorna Chandrika, director, IMH, said.

For nearly two years, patients have been cultivating various vegetables and fruits on the IMH premises. This included three varieties of snake gourd, tapioca, sweet potato, and lemon, papaya, and banana plantation. Earlier, the vegetables were sold on IMH campus, with staff being the clientèle.

Managing the outlet is Louis, a patient who has improved after treatment. “Earlier, cardboard files and notebooks were mainly sold at the outlet. We made sales for ₹300 to ₹750 per day. Later, handicrafts made by the female patients were introduced. From today, we have vegetables too,” he said.

Wire and bamboo baskets, jute purses, files, flower vases and paintings made by the patients are among the products on display at the outlet.