Justice for Oraon Tribe

Continuing our support to the Oraon tribe, we approached ‘Tribal Welfare department, Government of West Bengal’, Urban Land Reforms department, Government of West Bengal and ‘Calcutta Municipal Corporation’. We fought for establishing the land right of the tribe and sidewise started educating the whole family of the tribes so that they become self-dependent. Night school was started for the elder members with the help of eminent local people, senior citizens and some Community Based Organisations (CBO). Once the mothers of the kids understood the value of education, they started sending their children to the school.

Apart from educating the Oraon tribe of Naktala, we also worked on their healthy sanitation process and managed safe drinking water facility, ration card, voter card and birth certificate. Finally in 1998, all our efforts were paid in the form of the tribe getting their land right. It was a great victory for the organisation also as it has been the motivation behind its coming into existence. Now, the Oraon tribes of the locality are secured socially and financially as they were trained in various handicraft works and some have gone out for work. Even their kids are regular to schools and very much part of the civil society. 

It was a satisfaction that cannot be described in words. We are just happy to see them secured socially and financially and living their life like any other member of the socitey.

How SEED started its Journey?

“Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead.”

These lines of Mother Teresa, an epitome of love and care, brought together some renowned professionals of South Kolkata (West Bengal), who had a spark to serve the society in all possible way. In the mid-90s, our group noticed the problems of the Oraon Tribes living in their locality Naktala. A small group of the tribe was staying there for years in a vested land. When the local land speculators noticed the rising market price of the land, they aimed at selling this land illegally for commercial purposes. The poor illiterate tribal people had no idea about their rights so fell helpless. With an aim to help this community, in 1995, our group consisting members from different strata of the society formed a small organisation named “Naktala Centre for Socio-Economic Reform and Environmental Conservation” that aimed to work for people, with the people and by the people. Developmental consultants and renowned social workers joined hands and thus the organisation was registered in 1996 under the West Bengal Society Registration Act 1961.