The Sabar people belong to the Munda ethnic group tribe. During the colonial period, they were classed as one of the ‘criminal tribes’ under Criminal Tribes Act 1871, and suffer from social stigma and ostracism in modern times. One such group lives in Kaikala village in Hooghly district in conditions of extreme poverty.  Since August, 2021, we have been extending monthly ration support to the elderly people of this community.

To carry out this program effectively, we have collaborated with the local voluntary group “Kaikala Chetana” who work extensively with the community imparting innovative education. Presently we have 30 elderly, who have one thing in common and that is their ‘fate’. They either live alone in distressed conditions or live in very poor families that can only give them the bare minimum support they need to live. While some are abandoned by their families, some have lost everyone in the family with nobody to look after them. However it is also witnessed that a few have great family support within the little they have. Most of them have some kind of health problems for which medical camps are conducted and individual medical support is provided whenever possible. The monthly dry food / toiletry support  is based on individual requirements which are normally- muri, murki, soyabean, daal, mustard oil, biscuist, tea, sugar, soap , coconut oil etc. On special festivals and winter season – new clothes, toiletries and blankets are provided as per their requirement.