Child & Social Welfare Society (CSWS) completed its glorious 53 years of journey in social and promotional services initiating from a remote village Markandachak in Sabang Block of PaschimMedinipur district and expanding in different blocks of Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal in the field of education, health, livelihood generation and welfare of children &elderly people.
Livelihood generation activities of CSWS promotes new concept using advance tools & technology in natural fibres based handicrafts and finds its products well fit in export & domestic markets. It emphasizes constant effort in developing product design, market and artisan base. Buyers come from in country and overseas. Designers deputed from NIFTs / NIDs and train local artisans on mix and match using mat, bamboo, wood, waste cloth, babui grass, jute etc.
Common Facility Centre (CFC) and Craft Based Resource Centre (CBRC) have brought a bright scope to the craft persons, researchers, promoters and buyers all. CSWS mat craft clusterproject has been started under SFURTI project supported by Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India. Various soft and hard interventions have been implemented for socio-economic benefits of rural artisans.
Poor and rural people with health problems suffer miserably. Considering the felt need of community people CSWS came forward with its centralized and decentralized health supports organizing medical clinics, diagnostic services and medical camps on eye screening, cataract surgery, blood donation etc.
CSWS is widening its wings for covering old people under its Age Care Scheme. It helps them in two ways: for those who prefer to live with their family members, CSWS gives them protection under the “Astitva Project ” for elderly people and others who have no one immediately, CSWS brings them in its Old Age Home at its central campus and provides everything required for maintaining a healthy life.
CSWS extended its service through running cottages home (destitute home for girls) for 170 destitute girls children (aged 6 to 18 years) in its central campus. They have been provided education, nutrition, health, hygiene, recreation, cultural care and handicraft training with a homely atmosphere and affectionate care.
CSWS is also running formal school education, coaching centre in its central campus with qualified & trained teachers. Bankim Behari Teachers’ Training Institute promoted by CSWS and recognized by NCTE, is running where 400 trainee teachers have been trained in B.Ed. and D.El.Ed courses each year. Besides these teacher's training programme, different types of camps, seminar, workshops etc. on various issues also organized throughout the year.
It promoted a Producer Company Vidyasagar Mat craftsproducer Company for expanding of its handicrafts production, quality control, applications of advanced technologies, marketing as well as raw materials production in this region which will function independently in the long run. Medini Handicrafts Cluster & REH Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd. has also been promoted as an SPV to sustain the livelihood generation activities with self-identity in the long run.
In spite of COVID-19 and long-time lock downs, CSWS executed all activities to grow steadily with innovative ideas, resources and concepts. We hope that all our well-wishers may bless us to flourish with aims and objectives for achieving a healthy society.
I am also indebted to our members, staffs, volunteers, donors, various Ministries, visitors, evaluators and all partner organizations for their kind supports, suggestions and advice also which encouraged us to serve the community in better way.
Nikhil Kumar Barman
General Secretary