News Letter

With your generous donations, the Salt Lake City RRR Centre has raised $1905.00! See below for how our NGO will use it…

The Salt Lake City RRR Centre’s Completed Projects 2025

Samudragarh Village in West Bengal - August Saree Donations

At Salt Lake City RRR, we chose to supply the Samudragarh village with sarees for several reasons. Samudragarh is a village located in Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal, India. It’s known for being a largely rural community where agriculture is the main source of income. Many families face poverty and limited access to education, especially for women. Many families decide to arrange marriages very early on in women’s lives, preventing them from a further education past 10th grade and limiting their job opportunities. This exacerbates the revolving cycle of poverty throughout the village and strains women's financial independence.

Through a village-wide survey, we identified 55 women with the lowest monthly incomes and dedicated $150 of donations to gifting each of them a high-quality cotton saree. These women earn $10-$20 each month, making it difficult to enjoy the celebration. Owning a new saree during Durga Puja allows them to celebrate fully, and is a contribution to meet basic human needs.

Because of you we could provide the women with clothing. This proves that any small change can create a big impact!

Interviews

Our organization wanted to personally interview a couple of the village women to better understand their situation, how we can help, and finally, to share with others.

After speaking with several women in Samudragarh Village, we found that most families live in one-room accommodations—typically small mud houses, and in some cases modest brick structures. Their husbands, who have only a primary-level education, struggle to maintain stable employment and are often affected by alcoholism, leaving household responsibilities to the women.

Many of these women were taken out of school at a young age to be married, leaving them with little to no education. As a result, their work opportunities are limited to low-paid labor, often as domestic help for wealthier households. Despite these challenges, they carry the full responsibility of providing for their families—caring for multiple children, elderly parents, or in-laws.

On average, these women earn just 3,000–4,000 rupees per month ($30–$50 USD). This income is far from sufficient to cover basic needs such as food, clothing, household supplies, and secure housing.

Joynagar Village in West Bengal - August Medicine and Computer Donation

The Salt Lake City RRR, chose to supply the Joynagar village with medicine and a computer for several reasons. Joynagar Village is a small agrarian community in rural West Bengal, where most families rely on farming or daily wage labor for their survival. Life here is shaped by economic hardship, characterized by low wages, unstable employment, and limited access to healthcare.

To support the community, Salt Lake City RRR recently provided a computer worth 11,000 rupees to the village school, creating new opportunities for students with digital learning. This can help students with job applications in the future by allowing a broader skill set and a stronger education.

We also addressed urgent health needs by donating 4,972 rupees worth of homeopathic medicines. These remedies, affordable and widely trusted in the village, help families treat common ailments and care for their children and elders. Medical clinics/hospitals are expensive and far, making them often unattainable, while this donation of homeopathic medicine provides a quick solution for mild illnesses.

The computer equips students for the future, while the medicines improve the present well-being of all the villagers. Your donations have directly helped the Joynagar village, and will continue in the future!

Funding Higher Education for Village Girls

Thanks to your generous support, we have launched a new initiative to empower village girls who aspire to continue their studies but are held back by financial hardship. In India, education is free only through the 10th grade. Beyond that, families must pay school fees—a barrier that too often ends a girl’s education and leads instead to early marriage or low-paying work.

Through this program, we are identifying ambitious young women who dream of higher education and giving them the opportunity to continue learning, building skills, and shaping brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

Meet Our First Higher Education Sponsor: Mayuri Roy Chowdhury

Our very first scholarship recipient is Mayuri Roy Chowdhury, a bright and determined 17-year-old student from Kolkata, India. She attends St. John’s Diocesan School, one of the city’s most respected institutions, and has a strong passion for history, aspiring to become an anthropologist.

Mayuri was raised by her single mother, who works as a dance instructor for women with disabilities. Mayuri’s mother receives a monthly salary of 9,000 rupees ($103), which barely covers necessities, while Mayuri’s school tuition alone consumes more than half of that income per month.

Thanks to your support, we are covering Mayuri’s school tuition for at least the next two years, with a commitment to continue supporting her education throughout her educational journey. With this opportunity, she can pursue her passion for history and work toward her dream of becoming an anthropologist.

Mayuri and her mother are deeply grateful for this chance—and it is only possible because of your donations, which have created a real change.