The Calcutta Samaritans

Inception: , , The Calcutta Samaritans was born in 1971. Rev. Vijayan Pavamani, our founder, and his wife Premila Pavamani, our current Director, began their work to befriend the lonely in crisis, from the veranda of a small cottage that was their home. , , The Calcutta Samaritans is a registered, secular, autonomous and voluntary organisation. We have now been able to befriend a much wider range of persons with special needs. From the suicidal to the substance abuser through treatment and rehabilitation; from those at risk of STD s and AIDS to a larger group NGOs being trained in drug awareness and de-addiction; The Calcutta Samaritans has honed in to the marginalized for which the organization campaigns and advocates. , , The organization has grown beyond all expectation with over 150 Samaritans working day and night to ease pain, loneliness and suffering. , , Rev. Pavamani believed that those who came to us were not cases , or numbers, but persons in need, who needed to be cared for, and the person more important than their problems . By personal example in his lifetime, Rev. Vijayan Pavamani focused on the individual; proving that it is not the work itself, but the manner in which one does the work that is important. , , This is the work ethic that we have adopted. , , We strive to, quite simply, be there for those who come to us. , , The vision: , The Calcutta Samaritans vision is a community that affirms the dignity and self-worth of the individual and ensures their holistic empowerment. , , The mission: , We are a movement of people working to improve the quality of life of individuals in society: By listening, befriending and counseling through education, healthcare and advocacy, rehabilitation, self-scheme projects and job-skills development for the upliftment of the community. , , The following are the projects/departments of the organization: , , Awareness Assistance and Counselling Centre for substance abuse , De-addiction centre supported by MSJE at Kolkata and Jamshedpur , Long term rehabilitation and aftercare centre for substance abusers , Targeted intervention for IDUs and FSWs supported SACS , Regional Resource and Training Centre supported by MSJE , Campaign and advocacy supported by Actionaid , Vocational rehabilitation & job skills training centre , Work place prevention programmes in Kolkata and at Jamshedpur , Pathological laboratory