The Beginning
The inception of CSP work in Kolkata slums began in 1969. The Founder, Mrs. Kalyani Karlekar, having retired from the West Bengal Education Service, started distributing re-conditioned powdered milk obtained as a gift from the Indian Red Cross Society, to children in the slums of Manoharpukur, Panditia and Garcha areas in South Calcutta.
Subsequently, she obtained milk under the Special Child Nutrition Programme (SCNP) from the Government of West Bengal and continued the work with some socially committed persons under the umbrella of what was called “Rashbehari Social Project”, named after the road on which her house stood.
By 1972 this informal association had grown both in the number of volunteers and scope of work and was renamed “Calcutta Social Project” and the organisation was registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act on the 1st of September, 1972 with Registration No S/12082 of 1972-73. The registered office was the Karlekar home at 172/3, Rash Behari Avenue, Calcutta 700029.
Subsequently the organisation was registered as a charitable organisation under section 12A of the Income Tax Act. 1961 and the provisions of Sections 11 and 12 of the Act became applicable in order that donations made to Calcutta Social Project qualify for deductions U/S 8OG of the I.T. Act.
The Project works in the slums of Manoharpukur Road, Motilal Nehru Road, Panditiya, Garcha in South Calcutta and in poverty ridden backward area of East Calcutta called Paschim Chowbaga. It also works with street children on Madan Street near Chandni Market, Bowbazar in Central Calcutta, Chetla (Kalighat) and Harish Mukherji Road in Bhowanipur.
Chronology of Events
1969 Milk Distribution programme begins
1970 Girl’s Craft Centre begins
Work Centre Co-operative starts
1971 Garden for Children Primary School starts
1974 MCH – Mother & Child Health Programme starts
1974 Medical Aid programme starts
1974 Balwadi (Kindergarten) starts
1975 Boys Craft Centre starts
1975 Non-formal education programme starts
1978 Adult Literacy programme starts
1978 Crèche launched
1982 Non-formal School at Dhapa starts
1983 Special Feeding programme starts
1984 Primary Health Care starts
1984 Home for Non-delinquent Abandoned and Neglected Children starts
1987 Non -formal School at Dhapa shifted to Paschim Chowbaga
1989 Day Care Centre starts
1991 Street Children programme starts
1993 Child Labour programme starts
1995 CSP Young Men’s Printing Co-operative starts
2000 Computer Education programme for slum girls launched
2002 Drop-out Prevention programme starts
2004 Vocational Training Institute launched
2005 Sports and Athletics programme starts
2008 Tutorial Institute for Underprivileged Students starts
2009 Adult High School closed
2009 English Communication Skills programme starts
2010 As part of the English Communications Skills programme, Digital Pencils Plan implemented in street centres
2011 Open Shelter for Boys Sponsor By ICPS (Govt. Of India)
2014 Nursing & Health Care Assistant Training Programme
2016 Entrepreneurship Development Programme for Girls Craft Centre- Kaamyaab
Practices Computer Education programme for slum girls and Boys launched