Malda Sahayogita Samiti

Malda Sahayogita Samiti (MSS) is dedicated to protecting vulnerable children through various programmes. It works on community-based rehabilitation to support special children's education, where it provides shelter homes, organises awareness meetings to form village-level protection committees and collaborates with GoodWeave India Trust to stop child labour in the carpet industry. Its efforts focus on rehabilitating and supporting vulnerable children, ensuring their return to education, counselling families, and closely monitoring their progress to create a safer environment and promote their well-being.

In partnership with Operation Red Alert and My Choices Foundation, MSS operates in Malda District, targeting the community and students aged 12-17. It has undertaken the SVP (Social Village Programme) across a hundred vulnerable villages, raising awareness on preventing child trafficking, early marriage, child labour, domestic violence, child abuse, and school dropouts through LCD presentations, movie screenings, and leaflet distributions. High school students receive education through comic books and leaflets, while community-level programmes in primary schools or community halls focus on mobilizing the community around child protection. Challenges faced include issues like unsafe migration labour, capacity limitations for both boys and girls, malnutrition, communication barriers, lack of trained human resources, monitoring weaknesses, and insufficient funding.

Malda Sahayogita Samiti (MSS) conducted two rounds of food distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially aiding 45 families involved in gold jewellery dust collection in Malda, it provided essential support on June 24, 2020. Later, collaborating with the Right To Food & Work Campaign, it distributed food across 8 locations in Malda from August 15 to 26, 2020, benefitting marginalized groups including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, minorities, and general communities. MSS ensured inclusive relief efforts by aiding various vulnerable groups, even those without digital ration cards, and provided shelter and support to seven migrant labourers for 14 days.

The Sabla-Kanyashree Convergence (SAG-KP) Programme, a collaboration with the Ratua-1 & 2 Blocks ICDS Project in Malda District and supported by the Department of Women & Child Development, Govt. of West Bengal, involves various activities including planning with CDPO and supervisors, ensuring comprehensive inclusion of all Adolescent Girls (AGs) within the jurisdiction, enrolling Kanyashree girls, and regularly updating lists of eligible beneficiaries and out-of-school girls. The programme also involves establishing links with schools, promoting health initiatives like IFA and de-worming, ensuring the availability of Kishori Cards, organising Kishori Diwas events, facilitating referrals to healthcare facilities, and promoting kitchen gardens.

Terre des Hommes Foundation Lausanne, Switzerland supports a comprehensive initiative focused on child protection and skill development, specifically in the Ratua-1 Block encompassing five GPs in Malda District, West Bengal. The programme aims to prevent human trafficking and aid the reintegration of victims while advocating for child rights and dignity. Various activities are carried out throughout the year, including monthly gender-focused sessions with adolescents, community and school awareness sessions, meetings with male members and community influencers, and youth-led joint collective actions on gender issues. Additionally, the programme conducts media and district-level advocacy meetings with stakeholders, organises safeguarding workshops, and hosts gender discussions with various VLCPC stakeholders at local, block, and district levels. The focus remains on promoting awareness, building resources, and fostering a protective environment for children.