Kolkata is one of the rapidly growing urban centers that have experienced approximately double the increase in its population over the last few years. It is a hub for cultural and financial activities in East India. The major reason behind this increase in the population of Kolkata is because of the migration of people who shift to cities in search of a better life. They become victims of Urban Poverty and struggle to make their ends meet. Apart from this, these people also suffer from lack of infrastructure, poor sanitation, lack of employment and unsound health conditions.
SOS Children’s Village in Kolkata was established in 1977 as a result of the sincere efforts of Mr. A.L. Dias, the then Governor of West Bengal and a few committed social workers.
The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 saw a mass exodus of people from East Pakistan (territory of Pakistan before birth of Bangladesh) to India, particularly to West Bengal. In the chaos that followed the war, many children became homeless & orphaned. A registered Society namely SOS Children’s Villages, West Bengal, India, was then formed to provide care to these children. The then Governor of West Bengal Mr A.L. Dias was named ex-officio President, and eminent social workers, educationists, administrators and industrialists of the city as members of the Society.
On 28 Feburary 1977, the SOS Children’s Village Kolkata started functioning with 16 children from a Government run reception center of the State of West Bengal. Mrs. Joan Dias Inaugurated the Children’s Village Kolkata on 17th September 1977. The Village was dedicated by Dr. Hermann Gmeiner on 21st January 1978.