Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata

Started in 1943 in North Kolkata and later moved to Narendrapur, this ashrama runs many institutions.

Activities:

1. A residential autonomous degree college offering graduate and postgraduate courses in arts and science subjects.

2. A residential high school (Bengali Medium – class 5 to 10).

3. A residential higher secondary school (English Medium – class 5 to 12).

4. A non-residential primary school.

5. A kindergarten.

6. Blind Boys’ Academy: (i) a residential higher secondary school (class 1 to class 12), which offers general education as well as training in computer operations and music and crafts. The students received substantial financial assistance; (ii) a library with 40,985 Braille volumes, 11,262 ink-print volumes, 864 audio books and 4 periodicals, (iii) Regional Braille Press: Published 29 new titles and 121 reprints in English and Bengali, in addition to various textbooks;  (iv) Teachers’ Training Institute offering BEd (Special Education in Visual Impairment); (v) Industrial Training Institute (ITI) offering training in computer applications; (vi) A training-cum-production project, which trained students in mushroom cultivation and agriculture.

7. An Industrial Training Institute offering the following courses: (a) NCVT-affiliated two-year trades in electrician, fitter, plumber, refrigeration & air conditioning, turner, welder, draughtsman and motor vehicle mechanic. (b) WBSCTVESD (West Bengal State Council of Technical & Vocational Education and Skill Development) affiliated two-year higher secondary vocational course in Automobile and Electrical trades and a six-month course in Electrical House Wireman & Motor Winder trade. (c) MSME & T (Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles), Government of WB, funded two certificate courses in Automobile Service Technician cum Driver and Motor Driving.

8. An institute offering courses in shorthand, typewriting, spoken English, computer operations, AutoCAD, etc.

9. A public library with 75,275 books.

10. Lokasiksha Parishad (an institute for social welfare and integrated rural development), which conducted the following activities through 282 rural youth organizations, 3 project offices and 26 cluster organizations spread in 12 districts of West Bengal:

    1. Educational activities: (a) two study centres (Madhyamik and Higher Secondary) of the West Bengal Council of Rabindra Open Schooling; (b) a library with 26,900 books and 3 periodicals; (c) a publication unit that publishes magazines, newsletters and audio CDs in English and Bengali; (d) publication of the Bengali monthly Samaj Siksha (68^th year) and books (25 reprints, total number of titles: 112); (e) preaching at different places; (f) study circles; (g) values education programmes.
    2. Women and child development activities: (a) a mobile unit for conducting workshops, seminars and programmes for development of character, personality and culture, involving 4267 children, 32,942 community people and 930 volunteers; (b) 123 centres of Early Childhood Education spread over 9 districts (benefited 5151 children) with growth monitoring; (c) comprehensive education and guidance was provided to 806 children through the Vivekananda Child Development Fund (VCDF) under Child Sponsorship Programme; (d) Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) project with education, immunization, family welfare and healthcare services in 17 municipal wards of North Kolkata through 125 Anganwadi centres, serving the poor sections of the population. Pre basic education provided to 1860 children every month; meals were served to 4285 children per month. 42 vaccination programmes were held, in which 671 children were vaccinated.
    3. Animal resource development programme: Youths were trained in dairy and poultry management, and cattle growers were provided with veterinary clinic services and technical guidance.
    4. Vocational training in various courses ranging from agricultural to industrial trades and training-cum-production activity.
    5. Farmers’ training and programmes: (i) 33 training programmes (trained 825 farmers), (ii) 14 awareness generation programmes on save soil and green school for 490 marginalised local people.
    6. Joint Forest Management programme: (a) plantation programme; (b) early childhood education programme; (c) Entrepreneurship Development Programme through skill training; (d) empowerment of downtrodden women programme by imparting vocational training to indigent women; (e) the Sundarban Islands Programme (f) skill-based training to rural youth.
    7. Health, Water, Sanitation & Environment: (i) regular testing of water samples; (ii) training programmes for ASHA employees.

11. Jan Shikshan Sansthan It conducts: (i) vocational training courses; (ii) Awareness drives; (iii) workshops, orientation programmes, and other events; (iv) livelihood promotion, and other activities.

12. Agriculture Training Centre (ATC) and State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI): These units conducted the following activities: (i) 128 medium and short-term programmes (4893 trainees); (ii) a postgraduate diploma course; (iii) six month in-service KPS training; (iv) training for Agri clinic and Agri business centre; (v) one-year diploma course in Agricultural Extension Service for the input dealers; (vi) 12-week certificate course on insecticide management; (vii) skill training programmes (trained 450 rural youths); (viii) National Food Security Mission for increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds; (ix) demonstration and trial of advanced farming technologies; (x) distribution of quality seeds; and (xi) soil testing.

13. Activities under the off-campus centre of RKMVERI (deemed university), Belur, with 335 students:

    1. Courses under the Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development (FARD):

       1. MSc and PhD in Agricultural Biotechnology (AgBT).

       2. MSc and PhD in Medical Biotechnology (MdBT).

       3. MSc and PhD in Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD).

       4. MSc and PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding (GPB).

       5. MSc and PhD in Agronomy.

       6. MSc and PhD in Environment and Disaster Management.

       7. One-year Diploma in Integrated Agriculture (DIA).

       8. One-year PG Diploma in Post Harvest and Food Technology.

       9. MSc in Medical Laboratory Sciences and Technology (MLST)

       10. MSc in Critical Care Science and Technology (CCST)

    2. A vocational training unit under Lokasiksha Parishad to provide skill development training to youths.
    3. A library with 3285 books and 23 periodicals.
    4. A Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), named Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, is located at Arapanch village in South 24 Parganas district. It aims to develop the socio-economic condition of the farming community by transfer of technology in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and aquaculture. The KVK conducted 131 training programmes and demonstrations (3901 participants), and engaged itself in the production of seeds, livestock, and bio-products.
14. Vivekananda Social Welfare Centre, meant mainly for the underprivileged living in the slums of Rambagan and Goabagan in northern Kolkata, and Hotor in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, conducts the following activities: (i) a dispensary; (ii) a vocational training centre with 97 trainees; and (iii) a computer training centre.
15. A book bank and educational aid for farmers’ children.
16. A Medicinal Plant Research and Extension Centre: with over 200 species of medicinal plants grown in an area of 4 acres, it undertook research, training and demonstration activities.
17. A Quality Testing Laboratory for quality assessment of herbal drugs, especially ayurveda, siddha and unani drugs.
18. A 40-bed hospital.
19. A dispensary with allopathy, homeopathy and ayurveda sections, and a panchakarma unit.
20. A mobile medical unit.
21. Three blood donation camps .
22. Five units of Gadadhar Abhyudaya Prakalpa.
23. Three units of Vivekananda Abhyudaya Prakalpa .
24. A museum named Environment and Man.
25. Welfare work: Providing food, clothes, blankets, ration kits, hygiene kits, educational kits, and pecuniary, medical and educational aid.
26. Gohaldanga campus: Situated 150 km away from the main campus, this service centre conducts values education classes and agricultural training programmes.