Thursday, 27 March 2014


"One Human Family, Food for All"

"One Human Family, Food for all". Seva Kendra Calcutta has joined this international 

campaign along with Caritas India to end hunger by 2025. There is enough food to feed the

planet. We believe that with your help, we can end hunger by 2025. "We cannot look the 

other way. The food available in the world is enough to feed everyone" (Pope Francis).






Shishumela- A Celebration of Childhood

Seva Kendra Calcutta Extension, Kharagpur and Namasole Pally Mangal Samity, West Midnapore organised a three-day children’s fete at Baligeria Haat Ground, Nayagram from February 18 to February 20, 2014.   This event was generously supported by our sponsor.  This three-day event meant exclusively for the children was packed with cultural dance, drama, songs, magic show and panel discussion. The different programmes on each of these three days highlighted different themes and messages on their Tribal and Bengali culture, importance of attending school regularly, science and environmental concerns. At the end of the three-day Shishumela, a small rally was held on the ground.  The children joined this rally singing, holding placards and shouting slogans on children’s rights. There were five informative stalls on Education, Nutrition, Health and dignity on all the three days.  The stalls were manned by the government and our project staff.  This year’s Shishumela event saw a footfall of 1000 visitors every day. The event also received full support from the government authorities.

Shishumela article published in The Statesman on March 09, 2014
A tribal dance by the High School students
Inaugural song by students on Day 1





Children performing a dance recital




Panel Discussion
Children at one of the Stalls


Children's Rally


Wednesday, 26 March 2014


A small step towards Rooftop farming in

Seva Kendra Calcutta

We are presently growing organic vegetables like Okra, Eggplants and Tomatoes










Tuesday, 25 March 2014


World Tuberculosis Day 2014

Seva Kendra Calcutta observed World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2014 in the slums of Calcutta. There were 125 participants (110 women and 15 men) in this consultation programme. A brief introduction about the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was followed by a discussion led by Dr. Prodip Kumar Mondal. There were powerful testimonies from two people (one who had fully recovered and the other who is in the process of recovering). This showed the sociological impact of people suffering from TB and living secluded social lives. This was followed by a short skit focusing on the hope and belief in the effectiveness of the DOTS programme available through RNTCP.








Monday, 24 March 2014


The State Review Meeting of CBCI-CARD Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme

The State Review Meeting of Catholic Bishops Conferene of India-Coalition of Aids and Related Diseases (CBCI-CARD) Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) for West Bengal was held on March 19, 2014 at Loyola Pastoral Centre, Siliguri, Darjeeling.  The meeting was attended by all the representatives of Catholic Health Facilities including Seva Kendra Calcutta.  The representatives presented their performances, challenges and concerns.  The bishops of the region in their signed response showed their concerns related to tuberculosis and its impact on social and individual life.  They also suggested certain action plans for treatment and cure.  The Medical Officer from Jalpaiguri explained various schemes of the Government where NGOs can partner under the Public Private Partnership model.  The President of West Bengal Catholic Health Association of India (WB CHAI) shared the activities and initiatives taken by them during January to December 2013.  Bishop Stephen Lepcha, Bishop of Darjeeling thanked CBCI-CARD and the diocesan organizations for their selfless service and requested the Church based health careinstitutions to collaborate with WB CHAI and CBCI to respond to the need of the poor. 



Sunday, 23 March 2014


Antar Jaatik Naari Diwas in the Tangra Slum

On March 08, 2014, Seva Kendra Calcutta organized a cultural programme in the Tangra Slum.  The programme was conducted by youth and women of four different areas, namely, Kilkhana site, Kulia Tangra, Lane Dhar, Bethbagan and Muslim Camp.  The youth put up a dance programme on women’s rights and a drama on women’s status in the slum.  The women and youth also sang “Hum honge Kaamyaab” (We will overcome...) with confidence and enthusiasm that brought the entire congregation to life.  Mr. Prajapati, the teacher of Sastriji Harijan Vidya Mandir gave a speech on women’s empowerment.  Ms. Baby Mondal, a very active member of the women’s group also spoke on ‘International Women’s Day’.  Mr. Md Alam, the president of Mullah Jan Welfare Society at Muslim Camp in his speech made the audience aware of the women’s rights in our Constitution and the role of women in our political structure.  He said, “Aurat se hai samaj aur aurat se hai ghar apna” (One’s society is nurtured by women and one’s home is also nurtured by women).  The Youth then danced beautifully on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s song, “Megher kole rowd hesheche”.  Women enjoyed the programme and learnt about their rights, capacity and ability in the society.  They promised the community to educate their children and cultivate and develop their skills.







Installation of Solar Rooftop Panels at the Convent of the Sisters Adorers at Kharaghpur

Seva Kendra Calcutta provided its technical expertise to the Sisters Adorers at Kharaghpur to install Solar Rooftop Panels with the capacity of 2 KwP stand alone. 






Saturday, 22 March 2014


Water Conservation and Management at Seva Kendra Calcutta Campus

Today is World Water Day! Seva Kendra Calcutta has been actively engaged as a leader in promoting clean energy and conservation of natural resources. There have been several advocacy programmes and projects to promote clean energy namely, solar energy.  This has brought light into the lives of many people in West Bengal.  Seva Kendra Calcutta has now stepped into Water Conservation and Management programme.  In order to create a model and an advocacy point, Seva Kendra Calcutta in its Administrative cum Training Centre has constructed a Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting system.  The former open space in the centre has been converted into a concealed underground reservoir with a filtration system in order to collect upto 1,25,000 litres of rain water from the rooftops of the buildings of Seva Kendra Calcutta.  The open space above the underground reservoir has been converted into a dining space surrounded by greenery.  The roof shed of the dining space is designed like an open umbrella and the centre of the dining space has a small fountain.  The dining space can comfortably seat 100 persons.  Seva Kendra thanks all the donors for their contribution.  It is hoped that this rainwater harvesting system in Seva Kendra Calcutta will become an example to conserve and manage the most precious resource for life, i.e. Water.

Demolishing the old water tank




Constructing the underground Water Reservoir






















Prayer before the underground water reservoir is sealed




Sealing and constructing an enclosed dining space over the tank


























Completed pics of the dining hall built on the underground water reservoir