Eklavya Social Development Foundation & Research

We are located in the village of Jalchak, which is part of the Paschim Medinipur district. The office is at Amitava Jana’s place. It’s a rural setting, so things move a bit slower here than they do in the big cities. At Eklavya Social Development Foundation & Research, we spend a lot of our time out in the fields or talking to people in their homes. The research part of our name might sound fancy, but it really just means we ask a lot of questions to understand what the village needs. We might be looking at farming practices or how the local school is doing. It’s all very grounded. We don't have a big office with air conditioning. We mostly sit under the fan or out on the porch when it’s not too hot. Amitava is well known in Jalchak, so people trust us when we come around asking questions. We aren't trying to change the world overnight. We just want to see if we can make small improvements here in our own backyard. The roads around here can be tough during the rains, but we still get out there. It’s honest work. We write down what we find and try to find ways to help out. Being part of Paschim Medinipur is a big part of who we are. We live here, so we care about what happens to our neighbors and the land.