About Us
Anwesha Kolkata is a well known organization in the field of disability in West Bengal. It is an organization of parents and well wishers of children and persons with hearing impairment. We had our first meeting in November 2004. We met as few parents looking for answers to our children’s inherent issues in different spheres of life – hearing, speech, language, education, socialization and inclusion. We felt that we could share our worries and aspirations and learn from one another. We slowly discovered that together we can be stronger and can help other children and their families with our collective knowledge, skill, experience, and understanding. Over the years we also realized that we would have to fight for our children’s rights and we can best do that in a group.
We believe that our children must grow up in an inclusive barrier-free environment with other children, should enjoy equal rights as anyone else. We put every effort to ensure that they are not denied their rights and learn to fulfill their responsibilities. We want all deaf children to grow into responsible and valuable citizens of our country.
Our work has been recognized by the state government. We received the state award for best parents’ association in 2011 and 2017. Besides, we are also recipients of the Mahasweta Devi Memorial Award 2017 for advocating the rights of deaf children and young adults. We have touched the lives of hundreds of families with children and persons with deafness through our activities over a decade and received “The Telegraph Education Foundation” Certification of Honour For “Touching Lives”!
Our 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.
Our 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.
Our Legal Status
- We are a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1961 (Regn. No. S/IL/36488 of 2006-07).
- We are also registered with the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995
- We are registered u/s 12A under the I T Act, 1961.
- Donations made to Anwesha Kolkata are exempted from income taxes under section 80 (G) of the I T Act, 1961.
- We are registered with Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI. This allows us to receive foreign donations.