Sangthankima

Sangthankima is the founder and chairman of Thutak Nunpuitu Team (TNT), which runs the largest orphanage, mental health home and drug de-addiction centre in Mizoram. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2024 in the field of social work, from Mizoram ^[1].

Starting with nothing

He was born on 18 October 1958 and could study only up to Class 5 ^[2]. He began his work as a volunteer, with no money, to care for orphans, destitute people, people with addictions and people with mental illness ^[2]. To raise funds, he and his followers took on labouring jobs ^[2].

TNT

He founded TNT at Champhai in 1988 ^[2]. It now runs homes for children, a mental health home and de-addiction centres in Aizawl, Lunglei, Kolasib and Champhai, as well as across the border in Tahan, Myanmar, caring for some 3,535 people ^[2]. People come to it from across the North East and from abroad ^[2].

Honours

TNT received a National Children’s Award in 2013, and Sangthankima received the Mizo Award, Mizoram’s highest honour, in 2014 ^[2]. He has also received the Karmayogi award (2005) and an honorary doctorate in humane letters ^[2].