23/1, Ballygunge Station Road, Calcutta – 700 019.

Saroj Nalini Dutta Memorial Association has been working for the development of the women and children for last seventy four years. Smt. Saroj Nalini Dutt, whose sacred name the Association bears, was the founder of Mahila Samiti Movement in undivided Bengal & India.

After the death of Smt. Saroj Nalini in January, 1925 at the age of thirty seven, this Association was founded by her husband, late Gurusaday Dutt, an illustrious member of the Indian Civil Serice to continue her work and to commemorate her memory. In pre-partition days, this Association had more than four hundred Mahila Samities, mostly in rural West Bengal and two (2) in other neighbouring states.
This Association is one of the founder members of Associated Country Women of the World (A.C.W.W.), Lanka mahila Samiti of Sri Lanka and Bangla Desh Mahila Samiti of Bangladesh.

Main objectives.
(a) To educate women of low income group families both in urban and rural areas.
(b) To arrange facilities for maternal and child health care and teach hygiene and principles of basic health and child care to rural and urban women.
(c) To teach Nutrition and Family Planning in order to improve the quality of life.
(d) To establish and run vocational training centers for improving the economic condition of women.
(e) To work for the welfare of children concerning their health, education and other activities.
(f) To look after aged women, widows and deserted wives.
(g) To train women in Teacher’s Training so that they can become teachers in rural and urban areas.

Main office of the Association is located at 23/1, Ballygunge Station Road, Calcutta – 700 019. The rural Head Quarters is at Mirpur, which is situated 36 km., from Calcutta in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal. It was started in 1970 and served as the Head Quarter and Centre for rural Training for the Association. In 1967, the Association completed a three years pilot project in leadership training at Mirpur, covering 18 villages in South 24 Parganas. The need for the follow up work of this project, led to the formation of the Central Rural Training Centre; in 1968, land was acquired in the village of Mirpur, Gradually, an integrated project of literacy, income generation, health, nutrition, family planning, clean water, sanitation in 100 villages was launched.

The Ashram was started by Lady Basanta Kumari Chatterjee, widow of Late Sir Pratul Chandra Chatterjee, Chief Justice, Lahore High Court by an indenture, dated 7th April, 1930. It is run by a Board of Trustees.

This is the premier Ashram in Orissa which is recognized and aided both by the Govt. of Orissa and the Central Social Welfare board, New Delhi. In course of the past years, the institution has become the most well-known women’s welfare organization of Orissa.

The Ashram is residential. A vocational training center is run at the headquarters. It is a home for the training of low-income group women. A Primary School and a High School are also attached to the Ashram. It also houses an Old Age Home.

Saroj Nalini Industrial School founded in 1925 by Gurusaday Dutt in memory of his wife, is one of the largest and oldest vocational training centers in eastern India. The establishment of this school is one of the earliest endeavours towards the upliftment of the condition of women.

In those days, women were not so educated and the “Pardah” system still existed. Saroj Nalini Devi felt the need of teaching women some crafts which would help them not only to earn money and become self-sufficient, but also to lead a dignified life. While teaching women in different areas, she felt the need of trained teachers to instruct these women. Hence the school was born.

The course of the school was so designed that women without formal education, could learn the handicrafts to supplement their family’s income. It is a two year diploma course with twelve subjects of which Drawing and Tailoring are compulsory. Initially the general education of the students was upto standard VII but in the progressive modern world with the advancement of women in every sphere, even graduates are admitted into this course. There is also a special one-year course for crafts.

In addition to these courses, Lady Brabourne Needle work, a three years diploma course, conducted by the Education Directorate Govt. of West Bengal has also been introduced so that the enrolled candidates can become qualified crafts teachers in Secondary School.

Today, there are around 140 students in the school and prizes are awarded to them for their excellent performances. This year both the prizes, “Prativa Sen Memorial” and “Hemnalini Mallick Memorial” were awarded to Sm. Ratna Debnath. Most of the prizes are donated by the members of the Executive Committee.

The Industrial School normally caters to students from low-income group; to help these needy trainees, there are many stipends from various endowments and donations. Every year, before certain festivals, Exhibition Cum-Sale of the products made, are organized. A lot of hard work is put in, to keep alive and further the efforts of Saroj Nalini Devi.

Every year after obtaining diplomas in various crafts, many girls pass out of the Industrial School and other Vocational units of the Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association. All of them did not get suitable jobs; hence the association started a Production unit in 1962 so that some of the girls can be gainfully employed. Today with the help of these girls, the Production Unit is supplying various articles to the public. Some of these like hand-painted as well as hand-embroidered sarees, table cloths, bedcovers, aprons, bags with appliqués, dresses in different designs, jute bags and folders, etc. are very much appreciated by customers. Embroidered jackets meant for children and adult men & women are also available and have become very popular amongst our well-wishers.

Besides all these, block printed sarees, bedcovers with matching cushion covers, table cloths with matching napkins and other household things are in great demand.
“Khes” woven with new threads and ld sarees and dhotis (supplied by the customers) and other weaving products such as table mats, napkins, sling bags are in great demand. Orders from other states (other than West Bengal) are also received regularly.

“Balaposh” is another popular item. It is made out of old silk sarees (supplied by the customers) and can be used as a quilt or as a counterpane.

Bags like suitcases, also made out of old trousers old shirts and skirts are very much appreciated. Almost every week new orders for Balaposh and bags are received.

In the past, Bengal was famous for its art of Kantha stitch. In course of time, this art almost died and it was late Gurusaday Dutt who revived this art and gave it a new life. Today, the Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association, following the path of its founder, has been trying to revive the art of kantha. Kantha Unit is producing kanthas (big & small), bags, sarees, various types of linens, table mats, etc., with beautiful designs stitched in Kantha style.

Kurtas & Shawls used by men & women embroidered in Kantha stitches are also very much in demand.

These items are popular not only among the Indians but also to the foreign visitors. Kantha unit, while producing various articles, tries to maintain a certain standard which is usually difficult to find in other roadside shops.

Saroj Nalini Training College was established in 1935. In the beginning, the course was for two years and the name was Saroj Nalini Junior Training School. Later in 1955, the school was upgraded and renamed as Saroj Nalini Senior Training College. In 1999, the name was again changed to Saroj Nalini Primary Teachers’ Training Institute. Now, the session starts in July and the Final Examination is held in June next year. The manimum qualification required for admission is School Final (Madhyamik) or equivalent and the course is for one year.

The course is open to both day scholars and residential students. The total number of students is 85; 50% seats are for freshers and 50% for deputed teachers (approved by D.I. pry. Education).

The age limited for the general group is from 18 years to 35 years and for S.C.S.T. communities, it is from 18 years to 40 years. With the view to enlighten the students, the Institute invites Educationalists to discuss methods of teaching in different aspects of syllabus.

The teachers of the institute also take part in different orientation programmes, workshops and seminars organized by the Director of School Education (P.E.), S.C.R.T., & Primary Council.

In addition to the prescribed syllabus, First-Aid classes are held and certificates are awarded by St. John's Ambulance Association.

This Primary School is run mainly for the benefit of the children of the lower income group.
In 1999, books donated by the Government of West Bengal were distributed amongst the students. The attendance of the students are satisfactory, which points out that they have become conscious about the value of education.

There are various kinds of extra-curricular activities for the children. They had their annual picnic where they enjoyed helping in cooking and serving food. They celebrated “Ananda Mela” during their Anniversary Celebration.

Saroj Nalini Dutta Memorial Association runs an evening Adult High School for the benefit of women of the under-privileged sections of our society, who do not get the opportunity of obtaining a formal education. Most of the students are housemaids in different homes. They never get this opportunity due to lack of time and other constraints. Free Adult High School was started on the 1st of December, 1966 to help these women to attend classes in the evening; some of them reach upto school final level & for the school final examination, some join other vocation, with the education they receive. They have to work hard, but it is heartening to see that in spite of various difficulties, they go through the course with determination.

There were 30 students during the year under review. It is gratifying to find that many girls have been earning more because of the education they have got from the Adult High School.

Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association has been working for women’s development since 1925. Women are made literate. They are given training in various vocations so that they become self-reliant and can stand on their feet. In spite of all these, it was felt that oppressed, battered and uncared women need protection and guidance. With these in view, our President, Sm. Aroti Dutt approached the central welfare board for sanctioning a Counselling Centre to this association. In 1985, at the 60th year of the inception of the association, the Counselling Centre was opened with the help of Central Social Welfare Board.

Problems of these unfortunate women are mainly related to oppression, marital maladjustment, dowry, maintenance inheritance, extra-marital affairs, bigamy, psychological imbalance, unwanted child, desertion, abduction, etc.

Since the beginning of the center, unit has recorded 1920 cases. 296 cases were completely solved. Medical assistance was provided in 88 cases and 643 cases were being given legal assistance, 126 cases were under education help, vocation-training has been provided to 136 cases. Jobs have been given to 112 persons, 440 cases have received police help.

All the cases are given verbal counselling. 

The department of Printing Technology was started in 1984 with the assistance from UNIFAM. Fifty girls from lower socio-economic groups were selected. The process of our selection was to put special emphasis on socio-economic background and they come from the suburbs of Calcutta. Four girls have been employed by us to run our press at the Headquarter. Most of them have got jobs elsewhere. Every year, we select two trainees. Efforts are made to get them jobs elsewhere.

Rasana, the Canteen wing of Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association has entered, in its present form, in its 16th year and its activities continue to grow.

On an average day, RASANA supplies snacks & meals and beverages to over 150 persons, providing at the same time, employment to some needy and destitute women.

Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association runs a residential Hostel for students and staff members.

The girls are accommodated in 3 dormitories. There are 2 rooms allotted for the teachers. The first room is shared by the Hostel Superintendent and senior teachers and the other one has 5 staff members.

Food is provided by the “Rasana” canteen which is both varied and nutritious. The girls themselves help out with cutting the vegetables and serving food at meal times. A sense of family and friendliness is the objective.

There are two doctors in attendance. Health check up for girls is done twice a year. There is hostel Superintendent to look after the girls.

Every year during anniversary of Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association, the Hostel girls take great pleasure in putting up a variety of performances. Short plays, singing, group dancing, comic skits, etc., are always well presented. A lot of sharing of clothes and jewellery goes on and every one thoroughly enjoys the show.
The aim of the hostel is to foster the essence of family life and caring. We hope this education will continue throughout their lives. Every year, they are taken out for excursions to Birla Science Museum, Gurusaday Museum, Science City and Belur Math.

They also go to Seminars, Meetings, etc. which give them valuable insight.

In 1957, an outdoor clinic for Women and Children was started by Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association at the Headquarter.

This Clinic caters to the health need of the low income group of mothers and children of the locality.

Medicines are distributed here almost free after the patients are thoroughly checked by the clinic doctor with the assistance of two nurses. Clinic timing is from 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m.

The expenses of the clinic are managed by liberal donations & contributions of the friends & well-wishers of the Association though at times, it becomes difficult to carry out the exspenses, due to high rise of the cost of medicines & other items.