Uttar Dinajpur District - NGOs

NGOs

Whereas there are many NGOs working the district, the most prominent are Child In Need Institute (CINI)the Lions Club of Raiganj, the Social Welfare Institute and St. John's Ambulance Association and Jalpaiguri HRIDAY, Incredible North Bengal Society and Multimedia World in Islampur. It was during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, the Diocese of Dumka, feeling the need of relief operations, specially for the immigrants, began the Social Welfare Institute in the heart of the town. People began to call this as "Caritas". Following the massive relief operations, SWI began to focus its attention on strengthening of the people of West Dinajpur district as it was then known. Fr. Yvo La Ferla, S.J., who was the founder-director of the organization, mobilized the young and the volunteers of Raiganj town to form the Lions Club and St. John's Ambulance, later also the Young Men Association. This is the beginning of the story of NGOs in one of the backward districts of West Bengal. Child In Need Institute (CINI),national level non-profit organization has been facilitating few project in Uttar Dinajpur with its aim " Sustainable Development in Health, Education, Nutrition and Protection for Child, Adolescent and Woman in Need". Woman & child friendly community is CINI's Dream."Peoples health in peoples hand" is the main motto. Link workers Scheme is Addressing Rural High Risk group to halt the HIV infection and creating health society for positive people. it is supported By WBSAPCS and NACO. Community Health Care Management Infinitive (CHCMI) is another intervention to create urge among the people to take responsibility and make good health for all and raise voice our health is our hand. Capacity building of PRI,GUS and SHG is major thrust of this programme, supported By Panchayat & rural Develoment,West Bengal.

Shripur Mahila-O-Khadi Unnayan Samity (SMOKUS) developed as a women’s organization in 1990. It has provided health protection to the disabled people, support to rural women of SC, ST & Minority groups and increased mother and child health service. It focuses on rights of women and children, sustainable environment, literacy, youth affairs and natural calamities. Some of the activities are: • Anti-trafficking of women and young girls in 75 Villages and has rescued 52 women besides forming District level Anti Trafficking forum of women along with some CSOs. • Village and Panchayat level women groups’ alliances in 55 Villages to raise voice of marginalized community and to demand rights • Strengthened women SHGs on income generation, leadership, and disaster preparedness • Capacity building of 20 adolescent girls groups to prevent early marriage, create awareness on reproductive and sexual health and raise gender rights. • Established two schools for child laborers

SMOKUS has partnered with Center for Knowledge and Skills for development programs and networking towards eradication of extreme poverty from the masses.

The "Bharat Sevashram Sangha", a prominent charitable, philanthropic organisation founded by the illustrious patriot saint of modern India Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj (1896–1941) in 1917 at Bajitpur (Now in Bangladesh, Madaripur District), has a big regional centre in Raigunj and a functional one in Islampur. They are very active in flood relief work.

Jalpaiguri HRIDAY established a Ten Bedded Community Care Centre for HIV positive people i.e. PLWHA from CBCI with the partnership of the National AIDS Control Organisation, a ministry of Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of India & PFI for the care & support of PLHAs.