Calcutta Rescue is a pioneering Indian-registered charity working
to improve the lives of the poorest people in and around Kolkata.
Calcutta Rescue is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kolkata, India, working since 1980 to improve the lives of people living in poverty. Through free healthcare, education, and vocational training, Calcutta Rescue provides essential services to thousands of underprivileged men, women, and children every year.
From running street clinics and mobile health units to supporting children’s education and skills training programs, the organization focuses on long-term impact and sustainable change. Every project reflects compassion, transparency, and a deep commitment to human dignity.
Supported by donors, volunteers, and global partners, Calcutta Rescue ensures that every contribution directly helps people in need. The team continues to expand its reach, offering medical aid, education opportunities, and livelihood support to the most vulnerable communities across Kolkata and West Bengal.
Together, we can build a healthier, more hopeful future — one life at a time.
Although India’s economy is growing fast it is still home to a quarter of the world’s poorest people. It is estimated that a third of Kolkata’s residents live in slums.
The provision of government services is improving, but major gaps remain, particularly for the very poor. We focus on filing these gaps in an integrated and cost-effective way, based on our award-winning experience built up over more than 30 years.
We provide free healthcare, education, vocational training, social support and sanitation so that families and whole communities have a chance to lift themselves out of poverty
Calcutta Rescue was set up by Dr Jack Preger, the pioneer of street medicine, who devoted his life to assisting people living in dire poverty in the city’s slums.
