A trust built by one person’s stubbornness, and kept going by many.
The Leenspire Foundation started in 2015 as the personal initiative of Lipimita Biswas, to improve the lives of underprivileged people around her in South Kolkata. It was registered as a charitable trust in 2020.
What we believe
Every person deserves access to essential resources, opportunities and rights, whatever their background. We work in five areas: education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, social and legal justice, and the environment.
We stay small and local on purpose. Our members live in the neighbourhoods we work in, our classes happen every week in the same places, and the people we help know us by name.
Mission
A better and fairer society for all, and a peaceful life for people in need.
Vision
A livable life for the underprivileged people of our society, and a community free of poverty.
Objectives of the trust
From the trust deed, in plain words. The trust operates throughout India regardless of caste, colour or creed, without any profit motive.
- Spread and provide education: open and support schools, institutions and skill-development courses.
- Emergency relief for famine, floods, cyclones and other calamities, and help for the needy and underprivileged.
- Consultative, technical and professional help to educational, medical and legal institutions.
- Welfare ashrams and training centres for the poor, marginalised, minorities, people with disabilities, widows, orphans, street children, the homeless, the aged, and disaster victims.
- Meetings, classes, seminars, workshops and campaigns, with research made available to anyone who can use it.
- Legal support for the needy: consultation, case filing and everything a court matter needs.
- Cooperation with educational, cultural and spiritual institutions and other trusts with matching aims.
- Grants and donations to needy people and to institutions doing educational and charitable work.
- Holding property and using its proceeds for the benefit of the trust’s work.
Eight values we work by
- Respect for human dignity
- Integrity and reliability in everything we do
- Commitment
- Social justice
- Legal justice
- Equality and equity
- Gender mainstreaming
- Wholeness and inclusiveness
Trustees and office-bearers
The people responsible for the trust’s decisions and its money.
- Lipimita BiswasFounder and chairperson
MA, MBA, IRPM, LLB. Started the work in 2015 and leads it today.
- Somnath BiswasChief functionary
MA, LLB.
- Swaran SinghSecretary
Represents the Sikh community and is Vice President of the Bharatiya Secular Council.
- Amar DasTreasurer
Responsible for budgets, fund management and statutory compliance. A businessman with over 15 years in air-conditioning and refrigeration, he helps run the trust’s employment schemes.
Advisers and associates
- Amar SenSenior Advocate, Calcutta High Court
- Sunil Krishna GhoshDirector, Orchid Energy and Utility Services; energy auditor and engineering consultant for over 30 years
- Navin GoelBusinessman and member of the Lions Club
- Subrata BanerjeeFormer regional trainer, Samsung India; works with our students
- Soumya BiswasFounder and CEO, Data Fidelity; volunteer with more than 200 NGOs
- Pulak PalFounder member, Joka Ankur Academy of Art and Culture; artist
- Sutanu DasRegional photography trainer, Panasonic India; visiting faculty, Brainware University
- Shagi NairBranch head, Sherkhan, Kolkata
- Bidyut SardarActive member, Sahojia Foundation
Homes and schools we work with
- Ambedkar Social Welfare MissionAn orphanage at Bidya Roy More, Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, home to 95 children, with Benarasi Memorial Junior High School.
- Shyamchak Pratibandhi Kalyan SamityA residential school for children with disabilities at Shyamchak, Paschim Medinipur.
- School for children with disabilities, NityaberiaSandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas.
Documents available to donors and CSR partners on request: trust deed, PAN, 12A and 80G certificates, CSR-1 registration, list of trustees, and audited accounts for the last three years. Ask for them.
From the founder
“It was not easy to get here, and it would not have been possible without my team members. I am honoured that they chose me for this post and gave me its responsibilities. The people who supported us in the toughest times are the reason we can reach this far. With that support we will be able to walk further.”
Lipimita Biswas, founder and chairperson
Why we need partners
At the Ambedkar Social Welfare Mission in Nimpith, 95 children depend on the people around them for everything. Most have lost their parents; others were abandoned or came from homes where they were neglected or abused. Food, clothing, medical care and schooling for all of them every day costs more than a small trust can carry alone.
We are looking for companies, organisations and individuals who will stand with these children: for their daily needs, and for the education and skills that let them grow into confident adults. Donate or talk to us about sponsoring.