West Bengal is in the eastern part of India on the Bay of Bengal, covering 88,752 Km. Sikkim and Bhutan surround the state in the north, Assam in the northeast, Bangladesh in the east, the Bay of Bengal in the south, Odisha in the southwest, Jharkhand &  Bihar in the west, and Nepal in the northwest. West Bengal is the primary business and financial hub of Eastern India, primarily dependent on agriculture and medium-sized industries like the Jute and Tea industries. The state is rich in minerals like coal. NIFAA inaugurated its WB branch at Kolkata Press Club on 19th November 2018. Since then, the branch has successfully participated in social works, theatre, folk culture, and folk-art practices, which have shown encouraging results. We have managed to approach the underprivileged people in different villages and remote areas of West Bengal and helped them with clothes and other essential things. The Cyclone, which had hit the coastline of Orissa and West Bengal, like Amphan and Foni, had a devastating effect on the people mainly on the poor fishers and other needy people who lived near the coastal areas of these states. NIFAA–WB came forward to help Cyclone Victims by providing dry rations and some essential items, i.e., medicines and tarpaulins to them. During the widespread COVID pandemic, many people who lived on daily wages lost their jobs and had no food. NIFAA W.B. gathered such people from our locality and fed them by providing meals daily for over a month. They have also helped some labourers who could not return to their hometown due to conveyance problems. NIFAA W.B. helped them and sent them safely back to their hometown on Andaman Island. Hundred such laborers were there, and NIFAA chairman Mr. Pritpal Singh Pannu helped financially to buy their tickets. During the COVID pandemic times, NIFAA WB organized various programs to help ordinary people. NIFAA gave honorary awards and new clothes to the Dhakis artists (dhak players) and their families.
Besides, under the Samvedna campaign, with extra precautions, 52 blood donation camps were conducted all over West Bengal, including a special event with participation of only female blood donors, which set an example. A blood crisis rose among thalassemia patients during the pandemic.
NIFAA WB volunteers went to Maniktala Blood Bank and donated blood to meet out their requirements. Two street dramas were performed by the NIFAA WB theatre wing-One on the theme of COVID awareness and the other on Rainwater harvesting. NIFAA WB team performed these street dramas in rural areas of various districts of West Bengal to create awareness among the masses.
State team also started craft-making teaching work for college students and rural people so that they can be financially independent and develop their skills.
NIFAA West Bengal team look forward to continuing with this work by the grace of God.