The Thakurpukur Society for Help – Enlightenment – Development

(T-SHED) was formed in March 2003 as a mission organisation committed to Integral Mission.

 

T-SHED is engaged in the socio–economic and environmental development of the deprived, down-trodden, marginalized and under-privileged people of our society so that the society will be sustainable, self–reliant and developed.  We also believe that every human being has the right to hear the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We give special emphasis on Women, Children and Youths. We believe that women are the best change agent within society. Children are the future of the nation. 

 

We focus especially on the Bengali Speaking People. Bengali is the sixth largest language of the world. 250 million people speak this language but less than 1% of them are reached with the gospel. Currently we are working in Unreached and Unengaged places in West Bengal, India and in future we will extend our ministry beyond West Bengal. Please pray and participate in all our activities.

 

Our Vision

To see the Transformation, Empowerment and Integral Development of the Down-trodden and Marginalized.

 

Our Mission

To Build the Equal, Just, Peaceful and Sustainable Society through Edu Care, Social Care, Economic Care, Health Care, Nature Care and Spiritual Care.

 

Our Scriptural Foundation

Let Us Rise and Build (Nehemiah 2: 18, KJV)

 

Our Ministries
1. Spiritual Care  

2. Edu Care 

3. Social Care
4. Economic Care    

5. Health Care      

6. Nature Care

 

Our Statement of Faith 
We Believe

1. That the Bible is the Inspired, the only Infallible and the Authoritative Word of God
2. That there is one God, eternally existing in 3 Persons in Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
3. In the deity of Jesus Christ, in His Virgin Birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death on the cross through shedding of His Blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His present rule as the Head of the Church and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. In the present ministry of the person of the Holy Spirit, by whom indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life and to overcome the attacks of the evil one, Satan.
5. That for salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
6. In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. In the Spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, with equality across racial, gender, caste and class differences.

Where we work
Presently we are working in Sunderban Islands, Sonarpur, and Kolkata in West Bengal, India.
 

Sunderban Islands: The Sunderbans is the world’s largest expanse of mangrove forest, occupying the southern half of West Bengal and straddling national boundaries. It covers 4,264 square kms. It is also a part of the world’s largest delta islands formed by the river Ganges. It is the natural habitat of unique flora and fauna, most notably the Royal Bengal Tiger. 70% of the area is under saline water. There are 102 islands and 52 islands are inhabited. Out of these 52 islands, only 14 islands have churches. The rest are without any church and Christian presence. At least 4 million people live in the islands. The islands are accessible only by boat. The means of transport and communication are not well developed. About 85% of the population is very poor. They earn less than US$1 per day. Many do not get a square meal in a day. They live by collecting honey from the forest, fishing and daily labour. Every year many honey collectors are killed by tigers in the forest. Drought and then heavy rainfall as well as increasing soil salinity have made it impossible to grow enough food to survive on traditional agriculture alone. People living in Sunderban are deprived of basic amenities too. They have very little access to health care, education, drinking water, electricity. Rising sea levels is another problem here. Reports says that in 30 years, 90 square km areas including two islands are lost. It has forced thousands of families to leave their houses and lands. They have been turned into environmental refugees. Breaches of earthen embankment and cyclonic storms mean loss of life and destruction of crops and property on a regular basis.

 

T-SHED has adopted 5 islands – Pakhirala, Satjalia, Dayapur, Jharkhali and Pathar Pratima, where they are engaged in Integral development of the people as well as the environment.
 
Sonarpur – in this area we are working in 2 places, namely, Darigachi and Kelegore. We work mainly among the Children and Young Adults. But recently we have started to work among the older generation. This place is very close to Kolkata but people are deprived of civic amenities. They face struggles and challenges for existence.

 

South-Western Part of Kolkata – Kolkata does not need any further introduction. The 300-year old city has many slums, pavement dwellers, street children. There are also good percentages of people, who are rich and influential. We work among both people groups. We began our work in the South-Western part of Kolkata, in Taratala, Mejherhat, New Alipur, Golsahapur, and Ajanta. In this vast region there was no church. We pioneered the work and now we have established four fellowship groups – two in the slum area and two among the upper middle-class families.