In a landmark collaboration, the Child In Need Institute (CINI), ECHO India, and the Education Department of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) have joined hands to empower educators and strengthen school leadership in KMC schools. This initiative aims to foster innovative teaching practices and enhance educational outcomes for students, paving the way for transformative change in Kolkata’s education system.
Building on ECHO India’s successful partnership with KMC’s Health Department, this tri-party collaboration signifies a major step toward addressing the capacity-building challenges in Kolkata’s education system.
CINI, as a knowledge partner, will play a pivotal role in designing and delivering training programs for educators and school leaders. The initiative will initially focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) training and will expand into other critical, need-based areas over time. The partnership aims to establish a sustainable framework for capacity-building and knowledge-sharing by leveraging ECHO India’s collaborative learning model and KMC’s extensive network.
The official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place at KMC headquarters, attended by key dignitaries, including: Mr. Sandipan Saha, MMIC, Education; Mr. Siddhartha Shankar Dhara, Chief Manager, Education; Dr. Subrata Roy Chowdhury, Chief Medical Health Officer; Dr. Bibhakar Bhattacharya, Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer; Dr. Nabarun Majumder, Nodal Officer, National Urban Health Missionand Dr. Suddhachita Chakrabarti, Medical Officer, Health Department.
Representing ECHO India were Dr. Sandeep Bhalla, Vice President-Projects, and Ms. Aditi Sharma, Deputy General Manager. Representing CINI were Mr. Sujoy Roy, National Advocacy Officer; Dr. Swati Chakraborty, Assistant Director; and Ms. Sayani Adhikari, Coordinator, CINI E-School.
Mr. Sandipan Saha, MMIC, Education, emphasized the initiative’s importance: “By leveraging this collaboration between ECHO India, CINI, and KMC, we aim to create a community of educators who can share best practices, learn collaboratively, and innovate within their schools. This partnership will significantly benefit the children of Kolkata by strengthening the teaching-learning process and fostering inclusivity.”
Speaking on behalf of CINI, Mr. Sujoy Roy, National Advocacy Officer, added: “CINI has always been committed to ensuring quality education, health, and nutrition for every child. Our collaboration with KMC and ECHO India aligns with our mission to build sustainable, child-centered development models. Together, we will equip educators with the tools and knowledge needed to create inclusive and enriching environments where children can thrive.”
