Kolkata’s Bondhu Collective journey marks three years of empowerment in underprivileged areas of Kalighat

Bondhu Collective empowers children in Kolkata's red-light area through education, celebrating success stories and overcoming challenges in 3 years.

Bondhu Collective, an NGO, working with children from Kolkata’s Kalighat red-light area and nearby underprivileged households, celebrates their journey of empowering young minds through education and care, marks its third year in Kolkata as a former student who overcame violence to become a board member at just 21. 

Operating from Batighar Pathshala (community school), their primary center in Kalighat area where their various initiatives like Meyeder Khela (football for girls), and Charchapath (art practice) have provided essential support to 50 children, many of whom face immense challenges at home. Smritiparna Sengupta, founding secretary of Bondhu Collective (Friends Collective) retracted their journey and told The Hindu, “Multiple girls here fought with their families to be here. Six of the students have already been admitted to better schools after we worked with them. The four older girls who have been with us since the beginning are now giving back to the community. They teach the younger kids, help with their workbooks, and take charge.” The NGO is also trying to ensure that second generation sex work can be reduced in the area, so young girls are not forced into the trade even when there is pressure from local strongmen to rattle their initiative. 

The NGO has had notable success stories in spite of many challenges, a young girl who returned to Bondhu Collective to finish her education after experiencing verbal, physical, and emotional abuse in her neighbourhood. She is currently a board member of the NGO at the age of 21, and she is set to finish her Class 10 exams in March. Khusi Shikari, the 21-year-old spoke about her journey and said, “Even my relatives showed resistance along with the locals when they saw me making progress in life through studies. They physically assaulted me. But my mother stood by me and spoke up against everyone who stood in my way.” 

The organisation has served as a point of hope for many mothers in the area, many of whom work in the red light area as sex workers, or many work two jobs just to sustain their families and it becomes a challenge for them to keep their children in school when they remain unattended at home. 

Much like Khusi herself, the founders of Bondhu Collective, Smritiparna, and Abhijit Ray, founder member have themselves faced physical violence at the hands of the local strongmen who resisted their initiatives to teach and educate female children. 

As Bondhu Collective celebrated their three-year anniversary program through music and dance performances, and a dance drama played by their students, they are looking forward to becoming stronger and bigger in the upcoming days.