(Shri Pradeep Chatterjee)
MANTRA was formed with the support of a group of committed professionals of researchers, doctors, teachers and retired govt. officials. Disadvantaged populations specially children, old and women have been MANTRA" areas of targets. Since 2005 MANTRA has been providing support to a large number of children and their families in Dakshindari under South Dumdum Municipality and also started its activities in southern part of the city - at Dhakuria under Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
We have some future plans of making this community a child friendly society and facilitating proper access to information amongst marginalised sections.
As far as education sector is concerned, MANTRA has been taking up regular guidance and orientation classes for 100 plus children aged between 3 years to 14 years.
MANTRA has been organizing long sessions of one to one interaction with patients and doctors so that patient families have direct communication with doctors on their problems and ailments.
On the behavioral education like training and awareness generation a number of sessions have been planned to be taken up. Accordingly, identification of talents and aptitudes among students are being carried out by educational guides. Special sessions will be conducted on training cum information need of adolescents
Stubborn and inattentive students are being identified and counseled in a special way so that they are too not left behind this virtual mode of outreach. In Dhakuria, Kolkata direct support is being given by trained Counsellors
It is an integral part of MANTRA' activities at Dakshindari where children on a regular basis learn art, craft which in the shape of a product they gift to community as a mark of their good wishes to neighbours. Thus they imbibe feelings of sharing and giving away to people around them. They have been making items and waiting for the situation to stabilize so that they could restart their community interaction in full swing.