Child in Need Institute (CINI) was set up in 1974 by Dr Samir Chaudhuri, a paediatrician working in Kolkata.  One man’s mission to treat children with malnutrition has, over the years, grown into a highly regarded, comprehensive development project. CINI has now been working for over 38 years.  CINI has developed a multi-layered approach, working to empower women by giving them an active role in its programmes. It liaises with all levels of government to ensure delivery of appropriate services through the barriers of poverty, caste and gender and works with local communities to enable them to better access those services.As many challenges as possible facing poor mothers and children need to be dealt with if the cycle of poverty is to be broken.  CINI’s work concentrates on the core areas of  nutrition, healthcare, education, and protection and on helping to establish child and woman friendly communitites. 

CINI’s flagship project is Adopt a Mother, Save her Child. The Adopt a Mother project concentrates on antenatal care and the first two years of a child’s life, during which time, proper nutrition is particularly critical. CINI believes that the most effective way to give a child born into a poor family the best possible start in life is through its mother; nobody is going to take better care of her unborn child or her infant, but she needs to be given the right support.

CINI partners Childline in West Bengal, a toll free number 1098, that provides intervention and assistance to children in trouble. This service is used by adults and the police to report instances of child abuse, child labour and child trafficking but also by children themselves.

CINI also runs TEEN LINE, a tele-service and face to face counselling helpline for adoloscent and young people. We address queries regarding sex and sexuality, reproductive health, emotional problem and career guidance.