DITO Social Welfare Association

The Ujaan Project offers a solution to the problems women encounter because reproductive health care and menstrual hygiene are not only not discussed, but also not treated under women's fundamental rights. The grave ramifications of this condition include the fact that inadequate menstrual hygiene is thought to be the cause of 70% of all reproductive diseases. This statistic is consistent with the percentage of rural women who do not use sanitary napkins and instead use improvised, unhygienic alternatives such as hay, ash, old rags, plastics, or newspapers. Furthermore, girls lose six days of school every month on average because of their periods, which adds to the annual dropout rate of almost 20% among girls.

The cultural stigma around the use of sanitary napkins, coupled with their costly cost, further intensifies the issue and widens the gender disparity. Ujaan Project is striving for a time when women at the grassroots level can be empowered.

Through the Save Drinking Water Project, DITO ensures access to clean and safe drinking water for approximately 7,500 people in Howrah. To address water scarcity and contamination issues, DITO has installed a dedicated water plant, which provides a continuous supply of sterile and purified drinking water to the community. This initiative plays a crucial role in improving public health, reducing waterborne diseases, and enhancing the overall quality of life for residents who previously struggled with inadequate access to clean water.

In rural West Bengal, The Last Mile Health Care offers accessible, reasonably priced medical services. The population's tendency to seek medical attention is decreased in rural places due to the lack of availability of high-quality healthcare facilities. One of the key GOI strategies, universal health care, loses significance in the absence of a pluralistic health care agenda.
With a mobile pharmacy that stocks over 200 different types of generic medications, it provides healthcare services to even the most isolated areas of rural Bengal. Its staff include social workers, medical professionals, and licensed doctors. Presently, the initiative operates in nine Howrah district areas. The group offers free prescription drugs for 15 days along with general medical consultations for INR 150.

Over 8000 patients have been successfully contacted by Last Mile Health Care, and over 5400 Capillary Blood Glucose (CBG) tests have been performed.

Quality education is the foundation for a child's overall development, shaping their future and empowering communities. However, many schools in rural areas struggle with poor infrastructure, lack of basic amenities, and inadequate learning environments, which hinder students' growth and engagement. To address these challenges, DITO Social Welfare Association has launched the Climate Resilient School Transformation Programme in Bankura, focusing on creating sustainable, child-friendly learning spaces. With a strong track record of renovating 9 Anganwadi Centres, 2 primary schools, 1 upper primary school, and 1 high school in Barjora, DITO is committed to upgrading deteriorated school infrastructure. This initiative enhances schools with child-friendly washrooms, adequate classrooms, proper dining halls, engaging BALA (Building as Learning Aid) paintings, and kitchen gardens, ensuring a safe and inspiring environment where children can learn and thrive.

DITO’s Climate Resilient Livelihood Generation Programme in Bankura is transforming the invasive water hyacinth into a sustainable livelihood for rural communities. Through skill-based training, 50 rural women are now crafting decorative items, packaging materials, and paper from processed hyacinth. The initiative also employs 150 community members across East Kolkata Wetlands, South 24 Parganas, and Bankura in extracting, cleaning, and processing the plant, converting an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity. Additionally, DITO supports women in marketing their products, ensuring fair pricing, and facilitating bank linkages to help them access credit and loans for small businesses.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a collective term that encompasses these interrelated disciplines, plays a crucial role in shaping future careers and innovations. To bridge the gender gap in STEM fields, DITO Social Welfare Association launched STEM FOR HER, fostering a passion for science and technology among girls. The program has been successfully implemented in Bally Girls High School, Bally Banga Sishu (Balika) Vidyalaya, Belur Girls High (H.S.) School, Palghat Girls High School, and Anandanagar Girls High School (H.S.), benefiting students from class VI to X, selected through a rigorous examination process. To enhance learning, DITO established a STEM lab at Belur Girls High School, equipped with microscopes, science charts, a skeleton model, STEM project materials, and a 3D printer, providing hands-on experience and fostering innovation. Over 1,000 girls now have access to this specialized STEM education, empowering them for future careers.

DITO offers scholarships for higher education to academically deserving girls from economically disadvantaged families. This initiative is designed to support girls from lower-income and marginalized backgrounds who otherwise might not have the financial means to pursue higher studies. By providing these scholarships, DITO ensures that talented young girls from underprivileged communities are given the opportunity to access quality education, empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and achieve their academic and career aspirations. This not only helps uplift the girls themselves but also has a positive ripple effect on their families and communities, fostering long-term social and economic development.

Till now we have given scholarships to about 100 girls to further their higher education.