About Us

Anwesha Kolkata is an association of parents of deaf and hard of hearing children and persons working towards their social inclusion for two decades. We believe they have every potential to become contributing citizens of our country if they receive the right support from an early age.

Through partnerships with local organizations, we work collaboratively to maximize reach.

Vision

To improve the quality of life of all persons with hearing impairment by ensuring equal rights and opportunities, to help them become responsible and contributing citizens.

Mission

To build a committed and strong parent group that will provide guidance and training to parents and caregivers of all children with hearing impairment, create awareness and sensitivity in the community, and network with other organizations working in the area of disability

History and Milestone

A group of five parents came together in 2004. In the course of bringing up their children with hearing loss they realized that together they could better tackle the challenges they faced and they could help other families who are looking for support. The focus of the group is to empower families and children to overcome the barriers of deafness, both at an individual and societal level, through different activities and programmes

Became a Registered Society

Anweshan 2006- Face to Face between Policy makers of Education Department, Teachers from mainstream schools, children with deafness and their parents

2006

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Filed Public Interest Litigation

Became partner of a four year long project “Rights of Deaf Children and their Families in India”.
Filed PIL (Public Interest Litigation) for implementation of one language provision for students with hearing impairment

2009

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Pratidhwani WB

State level network of parents groups “Pratidhwani WB” initiated as part of RDC project.

2010

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Best Parents Group Award

Received Best Parents Group Award from Social Welfare Dept, Govt. WB.

2011

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Started Early Intervention Programme

Started Early Intervention Programme with teachers trained from Balavidyalaya, Chennai.

2012

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

securing single language rights

Organised advocacy programme involving young adults of BONDHU for securing single language rights. Order passed the same year.

2012

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Parents Training Course started

Won the PIL on single language

2013

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

International Ear Care Day

Public Awareness Programme on International Ear Care Day on 3rd March.

2014

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

International Conference on FCEI

Participation to International Conference on FCEI – Family Centred Early Intervention in Austria in 2014

2014

Austria

Started organising state level Family Day

2017

India

World Hearing Day

Celebrated World Hearing Day. Conducted screening camps for 1015 Kolkata traffic police personnel from 25 Traffic Guards

2017

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Nakshatra Samman

Started awarding Nakshatra Samman to deaf youth who set examples against all odds, during International Week of the Deaf People.

2017

Best Parents Organization

Received State award for the 2nd Time “Best Parents Organization” on 3rd December 2017. Also became the recipient of The Legend Mahasweta Devi Award on 10th December 2017.

2017

Published by the WHO

Activities on World Hearing Day celebration was included in the report published by the WHO

2018

The Telegraph Education Foundation Certification of Honour

Anwesha Kolkata received The Telegraph Education Foundation Certification of Honour for ‘Touching Lives’ on 7th September 2019.

2019

West Bengal, India

Translating the Campaign Materials

Anwesha Kolkata started translating the Campaign Materials of the World Hearing Day in Bengali.

2019

West Bengal, India

Nominated as the Co-Chair GPODHH

President of Anwesha Kolkata was nominated as the Co-Chair GPODHH (Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing).

2020

World Report on Hearing

One of our young adults was featured in the World Report on Hearing, WHO, released on 03 March 2021 and advocacy on single language was highlighted.

2021

Co-Chair World Hearing Day Work Stream

President of Anwesha Kolkata was nominated as the Co-Chair World Hearing Day Work Stream, World Hearing Forum, WHO

2023

Hearing Screening

Started Hearing Screening for young babies at the community level.

2024

Community Level

Started providing educational support to children who are deaf or hard of hearing at the community level.

2024

GOVERNING BODY

Snigdha Sarkar

President

Samir Kumar Ghatak

Vice President

Ankita Dewanji

Vice President

Soma Ghosh

Secretary

Anindita Chakraborty

Asst. Secretary

Aloke Kumar Saha

Treasurer

Anup Kumar Agarwal

Member

Sudeb Paul

Member

Pubali Guha

Member

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