Welcome to VSSU

“Making use of unused and underused social resources to develop a self-reliant society"

Vivekananda Sevakendra-O-Sishu Uddyan (VSSU) was created in 1983 to empower remote riverside villages and vulnerable rural communities in the district of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal, India. VSSU works with people whose lives are dominated by extreme poverty (37.2% of the district population lives below the poverty line), illiteracy, disease and other handicaps. With multifaceted development interventions, VSSU strives to bring about positive changes in the quality of life of the poor people. VSSU firmly believes and is actively involved in building the social, economic and human capacity of the poor.

Our focus is on planning and implementing programs in the following areas:

• Environment
• Infrastructure development (rural road construction & repairs, electrification, water, sanitation)
• Youth education (pre-primary to secondary)
• Promotion of local art and culture,
• Healthcare

VSSU has adopted a holistic approach to development by integrating the following three dimensions: income generation, community development and livelihood development. We operate on the philosophy that the community itself possesses the resources to develop life-long self-reliance and sustainability, but lacks the mechanisms to mobilize these resources. By implementing social and economic development programs, VSSU aims to help mobilize these resources. Whereas in its beginning stages VSSU ran entirely on community resources, it has only recently broadened its philosophy to invite a vast number of other institutions to work together on empowering the poor. VSSU has established partnerships with the Indian Central Government, NGOs & other charitable societies, funding agencies, and single donors as well. VSSU always looks forward to the opportunity to create new partnerships. Please click here to find out more about VSSU...