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+91 97320 86932 dscwswomen21@gmail.com
18+YEARS
Santuri Block, Purulia, West Bengal · Since 2006

Skilled hands, standing on their own ground.

We work with women and adolescent girls in rural West Bengal — turning hidden talent into livelihood, through skill training, financial literacy, and collective strength.

Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 2006 · Reg. No. S/IL 38401

How we work to make a difference

Our story

Eighteen years, one thread at a time

2006 — The beginning

Three social workers register DSCWS under the Societies Registration Act (S/IL 38401), setting up base in Santuri Block, Purulia, with a single goal: give disadvantaged women a path to their own livelihood.

Early years — Finding the craft

Skill training begins in embroidery, kantha stitch, and jute work — building on skills women already had, and turning them into income.

Growing reach — Health & education

The work expands beyond livelihood — community health camps and educational aid for adolescent girls become part of DSCWS's regular work.

Today — 11–50 people strong

What began as a 3-member team is now an organisation of 11–50 people, working across handicrafts, entrepreneurship, health, and education for women across rural West Bengal.

2006
Founded, starting with a 3-member team
11–50
People working across the organisation
12A · 80G
Certified — donations are tax-exempt
Who we are

A society founded in 2006 by three social workers — for women, by women.

DSCWS is a non-government organisation whose work is focused on women empowerment, education, health, environment, entrepreneurship and promoting income generation among disadvantaged women to enhance their livelihood.


Registered under the Societies Registration Act in 2006 (S/IL 38401), we are headquartered in Durgapur, West Bengal, with a branch office in Santuri Block, Purulia. Our team is dynamic and always looks forward for the advancement of women and adolescent girls who need support.


Gender justice, natural resource management and livelihood security are our primary areas of concern.

18+
Years of Work
1000+
Women Trained
39
Villages Reached
20+
Partners
2006
Founded
01

Vision

Transforming lives of women from recipients of training and knowledge to cultivators of learning-into-application — using opportunities to earn a livelihood, get empowered financially and socially, and thrive with dignity and minimum dependency.

02

Mission

Work with commitment for entrepreneurship development, education and women employment — and enhance sustainable livelihood among women and adolescent girls who are less privileged.

03

Values

Environmental sustainability · Food and livelihood security · Gender-neutral justice · Prudent natural resource management.

Trust & Transparency

Every registration, on the record

DSCWS is a fully registered, compliant Indian NGO. All donations qualify for tax exemption under the Income Tax Act.

Society Registration
S/IL 38401
Societies Registration Act, 2006
PAN
AABTD4731C
Income Tax Department, Govt. of India
12A Certificate
CIT/DGP/REG.12A/2010-11/1775-77
Income tax exemption for the society
80G Certificate
CIT/DGP/EXEMP.80G/2010-11/1779-81
Tax deduction for donors
CSR Registration
CSR00006994
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
NITI Aayog / NGO Darpan
WB/2016/0112758
NGO Darpan registration
MSME
WB03A0020676
Ministry of MSME
UDYAM (MSME)
UDYAM-WB-23-0064081
Udyam Registration, Govt. of India
E-Anudan
WB/00025871
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Impact — By the Numbers

Two decades of work. Documented outcomes.

The figures below are drawn directly from our project records with named partners and areas served — never estimates.

01
20+
Years of Service
Working continuously since 2006.
02
39
Tribal Villages Reached
Sanitary napkin programme with ISP-SAIL, Burnpur.
03
25,000+
Health Beneficiaries
Mobile medical camp — 10 villages, Bokaro Steel Plant.
04
3
State & District Awards
First prize in Kantha Stitch — three consecutive years.

10,000+ beneficiaries reached through sanitary napkin training and distribution in 2024–25 (ISP-SAIL Burnpur).

2,500 children received health kits during pandemic relief work with NSPCL in 2020–21.

150 tribal students (Classes I–X) trained in dance, music and art at the Pinnacle Infotech Tribal School (2019–20).

What we do

Nine focus areas, one integrated approach

Women Empowerment

Skill, dignity and economic independence for women and adolescent girls.

Skill Development

Tailoring, kantha stitch, embroidery, jute work, food processing and more.

Healthcare

Free medical camps, mobile clinics and menstrual hygiene programmes.

Education

Tribal schools, art & music training and children's welfare initiatives.

Entrepreneurship

PMEGP, MUDRA facilitation, SHG formation and micro-enterprise support.

Environment

Tree plantation, no-plastic campaigns and community awareness.

Tribal Development

Programmes reaching Adivasi villages of Paschim Bardhaman and Jharkhand.

Livelihood & SHG

Self-help group formation, bank linkages and sustainable income generation.

Community Welfare

Legal aid, self-defence training, awareness on government schemes.

Jute & File Making

Sustainable jute-based products including files, folders, and organisers.

A curriculum of craft

Skills carried by hand

Textile & Embroidery

Kantha Stitch · Hand Embroidery · Hand Painting · Bandhani · Batik Print · Garment Design & Dress Making

Craft & Heritage

Jute & File Making · Jewellery Making · Fabric Painting · M-Seal Craft · Kantha-Stitch Sarees

Enterprise & Livelihood

Food Processing · Candle Making · Agarbatti (Incense) · Bag Making · Detergent Making · Mushroom Cultivation

SHG Outlet

Kutir Shilpo — a bridge between the artisan and the world

Kutir Shilpo is our SHG retail outlet in Durgapur — a permanent marketplace for hand-made craft produced by the women we train. Products are also available online through our e-commerce partner, banglarkantha.co.in.

Visit the outlet
Kutir Shilpo · OCS-08, 3rd Administration Building, ADDA, City Centre, Durgapur

Impact Stories

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Partners in Progress

Trusted by the institutions that build India

Every partner listed here has directly funded, hosted, or collaborated on a DSCWS project on record.

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Founder

Mrs. Aditi Sarkhel

Director & Founder · DSCWS

DSCWS is the brainchild of Mrs. Aditi Sarkhel. She took the first small steps of the initiative in 2006 with a vision of building a platform from which many underprivileged people — especially women — could benefit and earn a livelihood with dignity.

Born in Asansol, West Bengal, Mrs. Sarkhel pursued a Master's in Bengali Literature from BB College, Asansol, and a Master's in Social Work (MSW) from Netaji Subhash Open University. Alongside her work with DSCWS, she serves as a Bengali faculty in a government school in Durgapur. She has received numerous accolades for her contribution to society and women empowerment.

RoleDirector & Founder
EducationM.A. Bengali · MSW
Since2006
Based inDurgapur, West Bengal
Our approach

How we create lasting change

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