The Social Assistance Institution is an NGO operating in the heartlands of Sundarbans by welfare work related to overall improvement of the lives and incomes of the backward masses living in this area. Primarily, SAI has directed its efforts towards reduction of malnourishment among children by an income generation program for their mothers. Project Saksham, as we call it, adepts the women of the impoverished families to develop their own small-scale poultry farming, becoming self-sufficient by farming vegetables for their own use in their spare lands and providing assistance from time to time by distributing nutritious ingredients for daily use. Another grassroots level issue which would halt any development in the long-run is the lack of education, and having anticipated that, SAI is concentrating on a spread of education amongst the needy children in the Sundarbans area.

We are aware that the inhabitants of Sundarbans have to fight against unforeseeable odds in the form of natural calamities every year. Cyclones like Aila, Fani, Bulbul, Amphan, Yaas further slow-down whatever little progress people make towards stability. As a result, people have to earn their daily bread by enhancing their meagre income from cultivation through unusual yet risky jobs, which may vary from collection of honey, wood cutting in the deep forest of Sundarbans to fishing on its volatile rivers.  As one would expect, many of them are attacked by tigers in the process and succumb to injuries. Those injured are usually rendered incapable of earning their livelihood henceforth. When staying alive with a roof over one’s head proves to be such a tremendous struggle, spending money or time on their children’s education seems like a luxury.  In most cases, even though the children start primary education, economic condition of their families compels them to drop out.  Additionally, the rate of dropping out has substantially increased since COVID-19 as many parents have lost their livelihood during the period between 2020-2021 and have no choice but to substitute their family income by children doing odd jobs to support their families. Save Tiger Affected Families (STAF) and Disaster Relief are initiatives taken by SAI to alleviate the sufferings of families going through these conditions.

In this scenario, SAI planned to provide educational support to needy children of Basanti and Gosaba, and Kumirmari areas of Sundarbans by providing books, tuition, and all kinds of support relating to the development of children.  Accordingly, SAI opened its first education centre "Sundarban Badaban Bharati Education Centre" at Bharatgarh of Basanti in Sundarbans in January 2021.  Presently 35 teachers are imparting education to 534 students enrolled from class LKG to Class X on regular basis.  Students, 50% of whom are girls, belong to all communities of the area.  SAI also extends special support to orphan students of the area.

In order to prevent soil erosion, SAI motivates students to enable plantation of mangrove trees especially at the bank of river Matla.  Students actively take part in the celebration of Republic Day on 26th January, Independence Day on 15th August and Netaji’s Birthday on 23rd January.  Several cultural events like celebration of birthday of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul, and other eminent personalities are organised to enhance team-building and soft skills of the students. Environment, especially in an area like Sundarbans, is an undeniable factor in our lives; hence SAI actively attempts to raise awareness among locals regarding measures of preserving their surroundings and their integral role in it. World Environment Day is celebrated on 5th June where students make science projects and models on environmental issues or arrange processions, which communicates the message to their families as one of its benefits. 

Apart from providing tuition on a regular basis, the teachers and SAI management are in constant touch with the students and their guardians ensuring they are on the track of improving their quality of life. The results are seen in the number of school dropouts, which even in corona period has almost become nil in the area.  

SAI’s objective is literacy for each and every child in Sundarbans.  As per the existing statistic, India has a literacy rate of 74.04% and West Bengal is at 80.44%. Sundarbans, which is in the rural part of South 24 Parganas, is trailing with a figure of 67.4%. To bring up these numbers in accordance with their objective, SAI has strategically opened its second education centre named “Barnaparichay Education Centre” in July 2022 with 121 students from Nursery to Class VIII in Sonagaon Island of Sundarbans, opposite of Sojnekhali & Sudhonnokhali forests, where no high-school exists. In 2024, this centre teaches up to Class – X. This year (2025) 14 students have successfully appeared in Madhyamik Examination from “Barnaparichay Education Centre”.
 
On  January 23, 2025  “The Social Assistance Institution (SAI)” inaugurated its third education centre “Nonamatir Pathsala” at Kumirmari of Sundarbans with 70 numbers of students. Kumirmari is a remote area of ​​the Sundarbans, and one of the objectives is to meet the educational needs of the area and provide facilities through our education centre. Education is a key driver of social development. Our new school "Nonamatir Pathsala" will contribute to the overall growth and development of the children of Kumirmari. Educating girls and women can have a transformative impact on society. This new school will play a significant role in empowering women and promoting gender equality. The Sundarbans is a fragile ecosystem. The school will incorporate environmental education and sustainable practices, promoting environment-friendly values ​​among students. Education can be a powerful tool for social mobility. The School will provide opportunities for students to improve their socio-economic status.

Through more educational centres like this, SAI plans to provide skill development education after Madhyamik and Uchchha Madhyamik (Higher Secondary) to those students whose families’ economic condition would not allow them to pursue further academic education. Making higher education achievable for students will open up many new avenues for them in life, and in turn, help them earn their livelihood and support their family.  In this journey, SAI plans to provide all kinds of support to the students with accommodation in Kolkata and suburbs.