Monika Naik has newfound energy and enthusiasm. The social worker who has spent the better part of her life looking after tuberculosis patients at Bantra St Thomas Home Welfare Society in Howrah, now has a feather in her cap after the German consul general, Rainer Schemieden, handed over the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, bestowed upon her for social service, on July 10. The honour has come from the German president, Joachim Gauck, for Naik’s long service and dedication towards the home. 

Bantra St Thomas Home Welfare Society, run by the Calcutta Diocese of the Church of North India (CNI), was founded by social worker Joan Evans in 1976, specially for tuberculosis patients suffering in slum areas.  Monika had joined the NGO as a medical assistant. “I grew up in an orphanage and after completing school, I had done a course in paramedicine. I worked in another NGO where I met Joan Evans. She asked me to join her home and that was how I came here,” said Monika. 

However, she had left the home after marriage in 1986, only to be recalled in 1996 by the managing committee. “They wanted me to join as in-charge and secretary of the home. Both my husband and I joined back,” said Monika. The home has a ward for female tuberculosis patients with 42 beds and a daily outpatient ward where doctors treat patients free of cost. A lab for testing has also been started at the home. 

Since 2004, a collaboration with German Doctors for Developing Countries, has helped in getting funds for the NGO. “A steady fund comes from the donors and that helps to pay the salaries of the staff,” said Naik. The honour given to Monika on July 10 was also an appreciation of her effort in making the Indo-German project partnership a success. 

Since 1996, Naik and her husband have become permanent residents at Bantra St Thomas Home Welfare Society. “We stay here and look into the needs of the patients all the time. Many young girls from the slums suffering from TB and malnutrition are kept here and treated. Food, lodging and medicines are given free of cost to all patients. We get the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS) doses from the government at our NGO,” said Naik. In addition to treatment, there is also a training cell for TB patients at the home. There is a tailoring unit which helps the girls to be self-sufficient once they are cured and can return home. “We provide the sewing machines and other materials for the girls,” said Monika.