Ekta Pariwar Foundation

Up on the third floor at 38/2 Fakir Bagan Lane in Howrah, you will find the Ekta Pariwar Foundation. Being in Howrah means dealing with the noise and the crowds, but up here, it’s a little bit quieter. We are a small group of people who wanted to create a sense of family, which is why we picked the name. It’s not a big operation with lots of staff. Just a few of us who grew up around here and wanted to give back to the streets we know. The stairs up to the office can be a bit of a climb, especially in the heat, but we are used to it by now. We spend most of our time talking to people from the neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone else in this part of Howrah, so news travels fast. We don't do much advertising because we don't need to. If someone needs help, they usually find their way to our door. Our desks are usually piled high with files and there is always a pot of tea going somewhere. It’s a very informal way of running things, but it works for us. We don't have a grand plan or a complicated hierarchy. We just take things one day at a time and try to be useful to the folks who live on the lanes nearby. It’s simple, it’s local, and it’s who we are.