Ek Tara

Ek Tara started its operations in the Topsia and Tiljala slums of Kolkata in the year 2011. The founder members of EkTara are Ms. Vinita Saraf and Ms. Namrata Sureka who envisioned integration of minority urban slum dwelling communities through holistic education focused on the girl child.

The organization operates in an area which until a few years ago was the heart of the tannery industry. Most of the tannery workers were Bihari Muslims who settled in Kolkata for a better future. Ever since the government decided to shift these out of city limits, a large number of people who were engaged in these factories became unemployed, resulting in extreme poverty. It is with families of these people that the Topsia chapter first began, to counter problems that rise with poverty, unemployment and most importantly lack of education. Today, 95% of the children and women who are part of Ek Tara are from the minority community.

The mission of Ek Tara is as follows:
Educate: 1,500 children and women by 2023
Empower: 500 women with employable skills in 5 years
Engage: Impact the lives of 5,000 individuals by changing their mindset through education and skill building.

The main program run by EkTara includes:
Education
Health and Nutrition
WESH (Water-Environment –Sanitation –Hygiene)
Community Engagement