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About Us

OUR HISTORY

History of the Organization

Our Journey

The journey of Ujjiban Society began in 2001, born from the vision of a small group of passionate young individuals determined to bring about social change. What started as a dream soon took shape through creative expression. The group launched a little magazine titled Unmader Pathakram (translated as “Lunatic Syllabus of Young People”), which aimed to raise awareness and provoke thought on pressing social issues.

Encouraged by its impact, we launched another publication, Uttar Dakshin, symbolizing a grassroots connection between North Bengal and South Bengal. Through poetry, short stories, essays, and opinion columns in Bengali, we began to highlight vital contemporary issues such as human rights violations, forest conservation, and land rights movements. These literary efforts were our first steps toward community engagement and social advocacy.

In 2006, we reached a turning point. Ujjiban Society was entrusted with a significant survey on backward villages in Dakshin Dinajpur district, conducted under the supervision of North Bengal University and sponsored by SRD. This experience not only deepened our commitment but also gave us the confidence to formalize our work.

On 20th December 2007, our vision was officially recognized with the registration of Ujjiban Society for Social, Economic, Environmental and Rural Development under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act XXVI of 1961.

Rooted in truth and youth-led passion, Ujjiban Society emerged as a platform to promote research, community empowerment, and awareness on human and child rights. From our modest beginnings in publications to becoming a registered NGO, our journey has always been about empowering the marginalized and fostering inclusive development.

OUR INITIATIVES

Key Activities and Initiatives of Ujjiban Society

Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Development Initiatives

01

Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (Since 2010)

Ujjiban Society has been actively implementing Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) installation and conducting mass awareness campaigns through door-to-door outreach, follow-up visits, and para meetings under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.

02

Rogi Sahayata Kendra (Since 2016)

Since 3rd March 2016, Ujjiban Society has been managing the Rogi Sahayata Kendra at Hili Rural Hospital under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), an initiative of the Government of India.

03

SAG–Kanyashree Convergence Programme (2022–2023)

From 1st January 2022 to 31st March 2023, the organization collaborated with the SAG–Kanyashree Convergence Programme under the Hili ICDS Project, Government of West Bengal, to promote adolescent girls’ empowerment.

04

Legal Aid and Human Rights Advocacy (Since 2013)

Since 12th February 2013, Ujjiban Society has partnered with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Dakshin Dinajpur, to provide free legal advocacy and promote human rights, particularly for women and children across the district.

05

Disaster Management and Relief (Since 2017)

Ujjiban Society became a member of the Inter-Agency Group (IAG) on Disaster Management in Dakshin Dinajpur on 9th June 2017, working under the guidance of the District Disaster Management Section.

06

Support for Victims of Domestic Violence (Since 2011)

Since 2011, the Society has been conducting awareness programs on the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 in Hili Block. On 27th December 2023, Ujjiban Society was officially included as a Service Provider under the Act by the District Social Welfare Office, Dakshin Dinajpur.

07

Monitoring of Bio-Medical Waste (Since 2018)

From August 2018, Ujjiban Society has been serving as a member of the District Level Monitoring Committee for Bio-Medical Waste Management, under the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), Dakshin Dinajpur.

08

Right to Information (RTI) Awareness (Since 2008)

Awareness campaigns on the Right to Information Act, 2005 have been conducted across all eight blocks of Dakshin Dinajpur district since August 2008.

09

Right to Education (RTE) Awareness (Since 2013)

From 2013, the Society has carried out awareness programs on the Right to Education Act, 2009 in the Balurghat, Hili, Kumarganj, and Tapan blocks.

10

Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts (Since 2008)

Since 2008, Ujjiban Society has been actively involved in anti-human trafficking awareness and protection measures throughout all eight blocks of the district.

11

Maternal Health Awareness (Since 2009)

Awareness programmes focused on maternal healthcare have been conducted in four blocks of Dakshin Dinajpur since 2009.

12

General Social Awareness Campaigns

Ujjiban Society regularly organizes social awareness programs addressing various pressing community issues such as gender equality, environmental sustainability, legal rights, and more.

OUR TEAM

Meet Our Dedicated Team

Our passionate team works together with integrity, compassion, and commitment to create lasting positive change in communities.

Team Member

John Doe

Founder & President
Team Member

Jane Smith

Programme Coordinator
Team Member

David Roy

Project Manager
Team Member

Emily Das

Community Development Officer
AWARENESS GENERATION

Awareness Generation Programme

Awareness Generation Programme

1. Prohibition of Child Marriage

Dakshin Dinajpur district comprises eight blocks, of which seven share a border with Ban-gladesh, covering approximately 252 kilometers of the Indo-Bangladesh international boun-dary. The district is primarily agrarian, with a high percentage of the population living below the poverty line. A large section of the population migrates to other states in search of work as seasonal or daily wage labourers.

A deeply rooted social issue in this region is child marriage, particularly involving girl children. Socio-cultural norms, poverty, and illiteracy contribute to a prevailing belief that daughters are a burden. As a result, many families seek to marry off their daughters between the ages of 14 to 15 years—well below the legal age.

Key Interventions and Activities:

  • Organized frequent awareness meetings involving:
    • Adolescent groups
    • Youth groups
    • Parents and guardians
  • Discussed key issues including:
    • Child rights and protection laws
    • Government welfare schemes
    • CHILDLINE 1098 and its services
    • Roles and responsibilities of: Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Block Level Child Protection Committee (BLCPC), Village and Gram Panchayat Level Committees (VLCPC & GPLCPC)
  • Actively intervened in reported cases of child marriage through coordination with:
    • Child Helpline 1098
    • CWC
    • District Child Protection Unit (DCPU)
    • Local Police
  • During the COVID-19 lockdown, a new pattern emerged where adolescent girls formed relationships over mobile phones and eloped, often unknowingly falling prey to human traffickers. The Society took urgent action in such cases in partnership with CHILDLINE and other stakeholders.
  • Recognized the need for sustained counseling and engagement with adolescent girls to prevent such risks in the future.

Child Marriage Awareness in 2023–24:

In the reporting year, it was evident that awareness levels around child marriage remained low in several areas. Ujjiban Society conducted multiple awareness programmes across various blocks of Dakshin Dinajpur, where the do's and don’ts regarding child marriage were clearly outlined.

  • Collaborated with teachers, volunteers, students, SHG members, and local clubs, whose support was instrumental.
  • Engaged women’s groups, adolescent girls, club members, and general community members to spread the message within their localities.

2. Awareness Programme on Plantation and Environmental Conservation

In light of increasing climate change impacts, Ujjiban Society organized awareness pro-grammes on plantation and ecological sustainability across the district in collaboration with:

  • High Schools and Primary Schools
  • Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
  • Youth and social clubs

Context and Concerns:

  • Global warming has severely impacted farmers, women, and indigenous commun-ities (Adivasis) in North Bengal, including Dakshin Dinajpur, Uttar Dinajpur, and Malda.
  • Deforestation and exploitation of forest resources have disrupted ecosystems and en-dangered forest-dwelling species.
  • The climate of North Bengal is shifting, with noticeable temperature increases and seasonal imbalances.

Awareness Themes and Impact:

  • Educated communities on:
    • Environmental benefits of tree plantation
    • The role of forest cover in climate regulation
    • Economic value of certain plantation species for livelihood support
  • Promoted community-based afforestation through SHGs, encouraging Gram Pan-chayats to adopt local plantation drives.
  • On World Environment Day, plants were distributed to children and women as a symbol of nurturing life and environmental responsibility.

Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) Installation

Location: Hili Block, Dakshin Dinajpur

Since 24th August 2010, Ujjiban Society has been actively implementing the Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) Installation Programme along with mass awareness initiatives under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, now integrated into the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and Mission Nirmal Bangla.

The programme is being implemented in coordination with the Dakshin Dinajpur Zilla Parishad, with formal permission granted by the Additional Executive Officer.

Project Locations:

  • Dhalpara Gram Panchayat
  • Jamalpur Gram Panchayat
  • Binshira Gram Panchayat

(All under Hili Block, Dakshin Dinajpur)

Activities Conducted:

  • Door-to-door campaigns to promote hygienic practices
  • Follow-up visits to monitor usage and maintenance
  • Para-level meetings with community members for behavioral change
  • Mass awareness drives involving SHGs, school students, and local leaders

Achievements (FY 2023–2024):

Successfully installed 24 individual household toilets across the above-mentioned Gram Panchayats:

  • Binshira GP
  • Jamalpur GP
  • Dhalpara GP

This initiative has contributed significantly to the sanitation coverage in remote rural areas, supporting the Government of India’s goal of making villages Open Defecation Free (ODF) and ensuring dignity, privacy, and health for every household.

Observation of International Human Rights Day

Date: 10th December, 2023
Venue: Teor Kishan Mandi, Hili Block, Dakshin Dinajpur
Organized by: Ujjiban Society
In collaboration with: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Dakshin Dinajpur

On 10th December 2023, Ujjiban Society, in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Dakshin Dinajpur, observed International Human Rights Day at Teor Kishan Mandi, Hili Block. The event took place at the Ujjiban Society office campus, drawing active participation from NGO workers, Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs), students, local citizens, and social workers.

The day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on 10th December 1948. It was formally declared as International Human Rights Day in 1950 and has since been commemorated globally to promote human dignity, equality, freedom, and justice.

Programme Highlights:

  • The event began with a welcome speech delivered by Mr. Suraj Das, social worker and Secretary of Ujjiban Society.
  • Representatives from DLSA Dakshin Dinajpur and Ujjiban Society staff shared inspiring thoughts on the significance of human rights, par-ticularly in the context of marginalized groups, women, children, the elderly, and the working class.
  • A rally/procession was organized through the local area, featuring:
    • Slogans advocating equality, freedom, and access to justice
    • Placards and banners highlighting key human rights messages
    • Participation from students, SHG members, and community leaders
  • An awareness camp was also held at the venue to sensitize the local population on:
    • Rule of law and constitutional rights
    • Political, economic, and social justice for all citizens
    • The role of institutions like CWC, DLSA, CHILDLINE, and lo-cal governance bodies in protecting rights

Impact:

The observance created a strong platform for:

  • Raising awareness about basic human rights and civil liberties
  • Reinforcing the importance of constitutional values in everyday life
  • Encouraging citizen participation in protecting and promoting justice and equality

Ujjiban Society remains committed to promoting social justice and human dignity through continuous legal awareness and rights-based initiatives.

Observation of International Women’s Day

Date: 8th March 2024
Venue: Ujjiban Society Office Campus, Teor Kishan Mandi, Hili Block, Dakshin Dinajpur
Organized by: Ujjiban Society

On 8th March 2024, Ujjiban Society celebrated International Women’s Day at its office premises in Teor Kishan Mandi, Hili Block. The event brought together women from vari-ous communities, along with representatives from civil society, self-help groups, and local leadership, to honour the achievements of women and reflect on the continuing journey to-ward gender equality.

The programme included speeches from dignitaries and grassroots women leaders who emphasized that economic independence is a key pillar of women's empowerment. Dis-cussions also highlighted the importance of education, equal opportunity, and community participation in achieving sustainable gender justice.

Key Highlights of the Programme:

  • A rally was organized with participation from women, students, and local community members. The participants carried placards and banners with slogans focused on women’s development, leadership, and equality.
  • Women participants shared their experiences and challenges, particularly in relation to economic participation and social mobility.
  • Speakers discussed the historic roots of Women’s Day, recalling:
    • The 1858 protest by women workers in a New York yarn factory who de-manded equal pay, regulated working hours, and safe workplace condi-tions.
    • The harsh response to that movement, which laid the foundation for Interna-tional Women’s Day, now recognized and celebrated globally.

UN Theme for 2024: "Women in Leadership Will Build a New World of Equality"

This theme resonated strongly throughout the programme, reinforcing Ujjiban Society’s belief that true social change is only possible when women are empowered to lead—in families, communities, and institutions.

Impact and Reflection:

Through this observance, Ujjiban Society reaffirmed its commitment to:

  • Promoting gender equality and leadership opportunities for women
  • Raising awareness of women’s rights and social justice
  • Encouraging economic empowerment as a foundation for sustainable development

We thank all participants, community partners, and volunteers who contributed to making this day meaningful and impactful.