In many rural areas of India, children with developmental and intellectual disabilities remain undiagnosed and unsupported for years. Limited awareness, social stigma, and lack of services leave families struggling on their own. In West Bengal's Purulia district, a local initiative is beginning to change this reality through early identification and sustained support. Bandhu Purulia, a grassroots organisation, is working to ensure that neurodivergent children are identified early, supported consistently, and given a fair chance to learn, grow and belong. At the centre of this work is Ek Prayas, an early intervention and learning centre that has become a lifeline for families across nearby villages.
Bandhu Purulia was founded in 2017 by Annapurna Mukherjee, Director of the organisation. Her journey into this space is deeply personal. Mukherjee grew up watching her family struggle to find basic services for her brother, who was born with cerebral palsy. They were living in a small village, which meant limited access to therapy, special education, or even reliable information. The gaps were many, and the support systems were few.
With a background in Geography and a Master's degree in Social Work from IGNOU, Annapurna Mukherjee chose to channel her lived experience into action. She set out to build a space where children with autism, intellectual disabilities, and cerebral palsy could receive the care and education her own family once searched for. Bandhu Purulia was born from that resolve.
Ek Prayas is an early intervention learning centre run by Bandhu Purulia in Purulia district. It supports children with autism and other cognitive and developmental disabilities, most of them from nearby villages. Today, the centre works with 73 neurodivergent children, focusing mainly on those up to the age of 10. The goal is early support, when it matters most. Children who come to the centre undergo detailed assessments. Based on their needs, customised learning and rehabilitation plans are created. The focus goes beyond academics. Daily living skills, communication, behaviour support and basic independence are all part of the learning process. For many families, this is the first time their child's needs have been understood and addressed.
One of Bandhu Purulia's strongest pillars is community involvement. The organisation works closely with ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ICDS centres, and local health staff. These are often the first people to notice when a child is developing differently. Bandhu Purulia trains them to identify early signs of developmental delays and guide families toward support. Once children are identified, parents are counselled and involved at every step. Fear is addressed with information. Stigma is challenged through conversation. Families are shown that their child can learn and progress. Over time, this approach has led to visible change. Parents who once kept children at home are now willing to send them to school. Many now understand that disability does not mean inability.
Another key focus of Bandhu Purulia is preparing children for possible integration into mainstream schools. Not every child will follow the same path, and the organisation recognises that. But for those who can, early intervention builds the foundation needed to adapt to regular classrooms later. The centre also works on advocacy within villages, addressing long-held beliefs and social barriers around disability. Slowly, acceptance is growing.
Bandhu Purulia's work extends beyond its centre walls. So far, the organisation has reached 2,500 households across 45 villages, supported 65 children directly, and engaged with 97 ICDS centres to strengthen early childhood and disability support. The organisation has also responded to practical challenges faced by families. When parents struggled to attend sessions because they would lose daily wages, Bandhu Purulia introduced livelihood support initiatives. This allowed parents to work while their children received care, ensuring consistent attendance and stability.
At its core, Bandhu Purulia is about dignity. It is about meeting children where they are, respecting their pace, and giving families the tools to support them. In a region where services are scarce and awareness is limited, Bandhu Purulia is proving that early intervention, when rooted in community and compassion, can change lives. One child, one family, and one village at a time.
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