Kolkata Urban Services for the Poor

Bharat Chandra Saha, I.A.S.,
Project Director, CMU, KUSP

Kolkata Urban Services for the Poor (KUSP) Programme was launched by the Government of West Bengal with the sole objective of improving the quality of life of the urban poor. Striving towards this goal, over the last couple of years, we have had a few important learnings-

Keeping this in mind, the Innovative/Challenge Fund (I/CF) was launched under the KUSP programme with the prime objective of reaching out to those excluded communities partnering with the civil society groups.

The involvement of the civil societies, NGOs, research and academic institutions, private sector etc. in taking - up initiatives within the board area of urban governance is the most important challenging point. Moreover the inclusion of varied stakeholders for the innovative idea in itself is challenging rather tedious factor. The idea of involvement of the Community Development Society (CDS-a three tier city level community based organization comprising of poor women only) to take up a project into the fore-front for their own cause and benefit really excites us.

I/CF has a mixed bag of projects – both ‘income generating’ and ‘non-income generating’ ones. Income generating activities cover activities like zari work, foam bag making, para nursing, vermi composting, nursery-raising enterprise, canteen and catering unit, production & marketing of low-cost sanitary napkins, kites, jute ropes, imitation jewellery, spices, broom sticks etc. Other issues covered under various projects include Adult Education for illiterate women, empowering disabled poor, awareness generation on municipal solid waste, pre-primary education for poor children, legal awareness and aid, detection of iron deficiency anaemia & its prevention through dietary measures by promoting nutrition garden, anti trafficking awareness campaign, protection of women’s health through use of improved smokeless chullah etc.   

When we see 30 Muslim women members of Community Development Society (CDS), being empowered through the production of Gamcha (small cotton towel) and Mashari (mosquito net) project at Jangipur, Murshidabad, it gives meaning to I/CF. These women are also into purchasing raw materials, weaving, marketing and management of the same. In the non livelihood domain we have a number of exemplary projects. The project by Sahara Health & Education Society implemented in Rajpure Sonarpur municipality has impacted the respiratory health of the women through use of smokeless chullah. Also, a project implemented by Sutanutir Shakhya has created awareness regarding various laws affecting the wellbeing of women. Excellent IEC material has also emerged from this project which are being centrally circulated.

It gives some satisfaction when we see that 3.45 lakh people have been benefited through 99 Community Development Society (CDS) and 82 Non–Government organization (NGO). We have expanded our programmes to the entire State of West Bengal. Out of 121 Municipalities and 5 Municipal Corporations, we could reach 76 Municipal bodies. Our challenge is to reach to all the ULBs. We have reached this far with the monetary aid of Department for International Development, Govt. of U.K. After seeing our initiatives, innovativeness, transparency and overall process, Sir Jamsetji Tata Trust, Mumbai have come up with a fund of 5.4 crores for 3 years which initially focus on rolling out projects in and around Kolkata.

I really look forward to a greater mileage for this Fund. I/CF has to make its presence in each and every ULB with varied ideas and projects. Hence we launch this platform to share with all the small, yet pioneering initiative that are taking place and to invite newer ideas and directions to help us achieve our goal.