Date

Background

Nabadisha is an initiative taken up by Kolkata Police for the care, protection and upliftment of the lesser privileged children of the city especially the pavement dwellers. Nabadisha was started in 1997 with 11 centres & has come a long way since then. Now there are 35 centres at different Police Stations with a total strength of over 1600 children approx.

Apart from imparting education, these children are trained in different extra-curricular activities ranging from sports, drama, singing, dance, vocational courses, etc.

Throughout the year, health camps are organised at all the Nabadisha centres in cooperation with other agencies where the children are administered free check-ups. They are also provided free medicines as per requirements.

This has been one of the most highly acclaimed endeavors of Kolkata Police in the field of Community Policing in recent times and has become a model project to be emulated by all other police forces in the country. The project has also been accredited with appreciation by international agencies like the UNICEF.

This is an educational and health care programme for the vulnerable children in the streets of Kolkata. It is a catalytic force that brings together the police, children, their parents, and other members of the community, local NGOs, volunteers, corporate sectors – to work together in the best interest of the city’s street children.

How it works

The educational aspect of these children is looked after by renowned NGOs. In addition to studies, these children are encouraged to take up vocational training programme in Handicrafts, Theatre / Drama / Art, etc.

Health and Personal hygiene is the other important aspect of this project. Monthly health camps are organized for all these children to detect & treat their ailments. Sports and physical activities form an integral part of their curriculum. They are encouraged and trained to take part in various sporting activities.

Kolkata Police only provides infrastructural & logistics support for these centers e.g. light, fan, repair of rooms, supply of water & sanitation requirements. We also provide transportation facility for taking the children to health cheek-up camps as well as other important events with prior approval of competent authority.

Outstanding Achievement:

A group of Nabadisha children participated in a Drama Festival, organized by DISHARI, a Pune based Bengali Theatre Group in Pune. They performed a one act play titled “BANGLAR MUKH”, which sought them fame to be adjudged as the best performance. Nabadisha children bagged best Jury award and a best actor award for their outstanding performance.

Present Status:

Under this scheme, a total of 36 centres are run within or around 35 police stations in Kolkata where a total of 1600 approx students receive free education, food and health check-up every month. The children who come to these informal schools are apart from some regular students either illiterate or are dropouts. NGO’s help these children to understand their class notes and lesson in better manner and to grow their interest of learning. This is a modern educational support and health care programme for the vulnerable in the streets of Kolkata Started in the year 1997 with only 11 centres. Recently we have distributed modified Health Card to maintain the records of all Nabadisha Children.

Wriddhi – A competitive Cultural prorgramme for Nabadisha children had been revived in August 2017 and in successive year i.e. 2018 in the month of July. In both the year response was overwhelming and children participated with utmost enthusiasm.

Major Annual events:

The following events were organized by Kolkata Police for Nabadisha Children.

1. Annual Sports
2. Wriddhi, a competition of Dance, Drama & Singing, to inculcate cultural activities amongst the Nabadisha children.

Future Plans:

To introduce more centres in all the Police Station areas. Kolkata Police is planning to introduce job oriented Vocational Training courses for the children of Nabadisha for their better future.