New Light Kolkata & Usa

What New Light Kolkata & Usa does

New Light is a registered public charitable trust founded in 2000 by Urmi Basu in Kolkata, India, operating from a temple terrace inside the Kalighat red-light district. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of community development programs for women and children in vulnerable situations, including residential shelters (Soma Memorial Girls Home for 36 girls, Khelaghar Boys Home for boys aged 4-18, Sonar Tori for women 18-25, Syamatara for Dalit children, and a 24/7 Creche Cum Night Shelter), Montessori-style playschools (Jhinuk, HTS Operation Starfish), a community clinic offering HIV/AIDS and general healthcare, the THALI tuberculosis program funded by USAID, nutrition programs serving nearly 1,000 children, anti-trafficking rescue and rehabilitation (Unmochon), therapeutic programs (Kalpataru), gender-based violence advocacy, and social enterprise income-generation initiatives (Mukti sanitary napkin production, Aanchal embroidery). The underlying technology is essentially non-existent as a platform: services are delivered through physical facilities and human outreach workers recruited from within the beneficiary communities. There is no proprietary software, app, SaaS product, or API; the model is community-based social services delivered in person.

The business model is a donations-and-grants collective: New Light provides all services free of charge to beneficiaries and is funded entirely through charitable contributions from individual donors, institutional supporters (Mundo Cooperante in Spain, Amistad International in California, BONO Direkthilfe in Germany, Aura Freedom International), corporate CSR programs (Standard Chartered, ITC, Hindustan Unilever, HSBC), and bilateral aid agencies (USAID). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on outreach workers from within the red-light districts, word-of-mouth referrals, media coverage, celebrity endorsements, and international volunteer pipelines rather than paid marketing. The organization reports no revenue figures; it operates with 20+ paid staff plus volunteers and community workers across 9 facilities in Kolkata and one rural program in Murshidabad district, serving approximately 250+ residential children, ~1,000 nutrition program children, and ~4,500 persons in the HIV/AIDS target group.

Name

New Light Kolkata & Usa

Legal name

New Light

Website

https://newlightindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Light is a registered charitable trust founded in 2000 in Kolkata's Kalighat red-light district, operating 9 community facilities delivering free shelter, education, healthcare, anti-trafficking rescue, HIV/AIDS care, and empowerment programs for children of sex workers, Dalit community members, and at-risk women in India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services and Anti-Trafficking

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Anti-trafficking rehabilitation
• Child shelter care
• Gender-based violence advocacy
• Livelihood empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: New Light relies entirely on donations from individuals and institutional donors. The organization provides care and services to beneficiaries at no cost, funded through charitable contributions from India and abroad.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Light is a charitable nonprofit that operates a network of residential shelters, playschools, a community clinic, and outreach programs serving children of female sex workers, Dalit community children, young women at risk, and female sex workers in Kolkata's red-light districts. Services are delivered free of charge and include 24/7 shelter, formal and remedial education, healthcare including HIV/AIDS and TB care, nutrition, recreational activities, legal aid, gender-based violence counseling, anti-trafficking rescue and rehabilitation, and income-generation programs such as Kantha embroidery and sanitary napkin manufacturing. The organization is funded entirely through individual donations, institutional grants, and CSR contributions from India and abroad.

Product overview

New Light is a registered charitable trust operating in Kolkata, India that offers a comprehensive suite of community development programs for women and children in vulnerable situations. Rather than a single product, New Light operates a portfolio of interconnected programs including residential shelters (Creche Cum Night Shelter, Soma Memorial Girls Home, Sonar Tori, Khelaghar Boys Home, Syamatara), educational facilities (Jhinuk Playschool, HTS Operation Starfish), healthcare services (Community Clinic, HIV/AIDS Care), empowerment initiatives (Aanchal Project, Mukti Project), rescue and rehabilitation (Unmochon), therapeutic programs (Kalpataru), recreation and arts programs, and advocacy efforts. The organization primarily serves children of sex workers, Dalit community members, trafficking survivors, and women at risk of exploitation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soma Memorial Girls Home: A licensed residential facility for girls aged 8-18 who have been removed from red light districts, providing shelter, education, counseling, and therapeutic activities.
• Sonar Tori
• New Light Syamatara
• Khelaghar
• HTS - Operation Starfish
• Jhinuk Playschool
• Creche Cum Night Shelter
• THALI
• Kalpataru
• Anchal Project
• Mukti Project
• Unmochon
• New Light Media Centre

Products and services

• Creche Cum Night Shelter 24/7 shelter program for children from infancy to 16 years operating above a temple in Kalighat; offers nutrition, education, healthcare, recreational facilities, art therapy, computer training, dance, music, and sports.
• Syamatara Shelter Multi-functional shelter for children of the Dalit community located behind the crematorium in Keoratala, Kolkata, offering education, healthcare support, nutrition, and community development.
• Soma Memorial Girls Home Licensed residential facility for 36 girls aged 8-18 removed from red-light districts, offering counseling, education, dance, boxing, music, yoga, and therapeutic activities.
• Sonar Tori (The Golden Boat) Women's Residence Safe shelter for young women aged 18-25 pursuing higher education or professional training, providing protective care and support for those who cannot return to the sex trade; assists with identity documents.
• HTS - Operation Starfish Playschool Playschool for toddlers and out-of-school children aged 3-6 in the Sonagachi sex worker district; provides basic schooling, nutrition, health checkups, and vaccinations to prepare them for mainstream schools.
• Khelaghar Boys Home Residential home for male children aged 4-18 of women in prostitution; provides safe shelter, formal and remedial education, counseling, healthcare, and vocational training.
• Jhinuk Playschool Montessori-style pre-primary center for toddlers up to age 5 at the main Kalighat campus, focusing on school readiness and cognitive stimulation.
• Education Program Comprehensive educational support including enrollment in mainstream schools, remedial education, tutoring, and support for higher education through partnerships with multiple schools and institutions.
• Healthcare Services Community clinic offering gynecological, pediatric, STD, HIV/AIDS, and general medicine services; home visits, counseling, and nutrition support for those on ART.
• HIV/AIDS Care and Support Program Comprehensive HIV/AIDS services for approximately 2,000 female sex workers, their partners and children (about 4,500 total target group), including identification, diagnosis, treatment, care, counseling, nutrition support, and neonatal care.
• THALI (Tuberculosis Health Action Learning Initiative) USAID-funded project contributing to India's national TB response through monitoring, evaluation, private sector engagement, and knowledge management.
• Nutrition Program Nutrition support benefiting nearly 1,000 children through meals and food supplementation as a critical component of child development.
• Aanchal Project Sustainable income generation through Kantha embroidery work, training exited or ready-to-exit sex workers to produce quilts and blankets from old sarees.
• Mukti Project (Sanitary Napkin Manufacturing) Manufacturing project producing bio-degradable sanitary napkins, run by women escaping abuse and oppression; combines income generation with menstrual health education.
• Unmochon Rescue and Rehabilitation Anti-human trafficking wing focusing on rescue, rehabilitation, and restoration, working with community organizations in high-risk districts to combat trafficking and child marriage.
• Gender-Based Violence Advocacy Advocacy and counseling services for women victims of violence, legal aid, and community engagement to prevent trafficking and underage marriages.
• Kalpataru Healing Program Restorative and healing program for women trafficked in the sex trade featuring meditation, yoga, music, dance, movement therapy, clay modeling, and beauty care over three-day workshops.
• Recreation Program Creative arts, music, dance, and physical education programs including art and ceramics, boxing, Kathak and contemporary dance, music, photography, theatre, and football.
• Media Advocacy Centre Alternative cultural space for exhibitions, seminars, workshops, film screenings, performances, and press meets; provides a platform for young artists and cultural performers.
• Climate Change and Trafficking Program Environmental initiative addressing climate-induced vulnerability to trafficking through mangrove planting, nursery building, and distribution of chickens and goats to prevent women's exploitation in climate-vulnerable Bengal delta districts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000 children benefiting from nutrition programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Aura Freedom InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021International feminist organization co-designing and implementing the 'Empowering the Future' project through Soma Memorial Girls Home, focused on preventing sexual exploitation, human trafficking, child marriage, and gender-based violence against girls ages 8-18.
• Aakaar Innovations (Mumbai)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Mumbai-based social enterprise providing technical support for the MUKTI Project, including training women in sanitary napkin manufacturing technology.
• The Storydancer Project (Zuleikha)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Collaborative partnership with Zuleikha's Storydancer Project to create Kalpataru — a restorative healing program for women trafficked in the sex trade, using meditation, yoga, dance, clay art, and ayurvedic nutrition. Program expanded to red-light districts, Ranchi, and Dum Dum Correctional Home.
• Mundo Cooperante (Madrid)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadrid-based international development organization providing consistent support to Soma Memorial Girls Home from 2007 to 2021 through various partner organizations and campaigns. A valued partnership that has strengthened and deepened over 14+ years, supporting the residential facility for girls at risk.
• Amistad International (California)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia-based nonprofit providing seed funding for Soma Memorial Girls Home since its founding in 2005 and ongoing support. One of New Light's longest-standing international partnerships, continuing to support Soma Home post-pandemic.
• Rotary Club of Calcutta ChowrengheesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Rotary chapter partnering with New Light for community events, health fairs, and resource mobilization.
• Girls Not BridessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal partnership of over 1000 civil society organizations committed to ending child marriage, in which Unmochon anti-trafficking program participates as a collaborating member.
• Girl2B FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation working to end child marriage and trafficking, collaborating with New Light's Unmochon program.
• Empowering Women PeriodsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing support and expertise for the menstrual health and hygiene components of the MUKTI Project.
• Clean Water for Children (CWFC)minorOthersWater and sanitation partner supporting clean water initiatives for children in New Light communities.
• Blossomy.orgsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based nonprofit partnering with New Light on the Tamalpa Life/Art Process and The Light Space photography school for survivors of trafficking.
• The Empowerment BagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerE-commerce platform supporting and selling products made by women empowerment organizations.
• Luxton Junior School (UK)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK-based school engaged in cross-cultural support and awareness for New Light.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Missionaries of Charity: Kolkata-headquartered global Catholic charity founded by Mother Teresa; one of the most recognized Indian-origin humanitarian organizations. New Light's legal advisor previously worked there for 30+ years, indicating deep operational and philosophical overlap.
• Childline India Foundation: India-wide 24/7 helpline and emergency outreach service for children in distress, including children of sex workers. Much larger scale and government backing; complementary rather than substitutable to New Light's residential care model.
• International Justice Mission: Large global anti-trafficking and modern-slavery organization with operations across India including Kolkata. Operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic mandate; competes for the same institutional donor pool.

Direct peers

• Apne Aap Women Worldwide: India-based anti-trafficking organization focused on ending intergenerational prostitution in red-light districts, serving women and children of sex workers through self-empowerment groups, education, and livelihood. Direct mission and beneficiary overlap with New Light.
• Shadhika: US-based nonprofit that funds education and empowerment for girls in India, and is publicly acknowledged as a connected supporter of New Light (referred to as 'New Light USA - Shadhika'). Direct partner in the funding and programmatic sense.
• Sanlaap: Kolkata-based anti-trafficking and child-protection nonprofit that runs shelters, rescue operations, and rehabilitation programs. Most direct geographic and operational peer to New Light, working in overlapping red-light districts of West Bengal.
• Prajwala: Hyderabad-based anti-trafficking nonprofit that pioneered the 'preventive model' serving children of sex workers through shelter, education, and economic empowerment. Operationally and programmatically the closest national peer to New Light's multi-generational approach.
• FXB India Suraksha: Indian arm of FXB International, working with children and families of sex workers across India through community-based protection, education, and economic empowerment. Closest structural peer in terms of targeting children of sex workers with holistic services.
• Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee: Kolkata-based collective of 65,000+ sex workers based in Sonagachi, where New Light operates Operation Starfish. The same community, addressing overlapping beneficiary needs through self-organization rather than service delivery — strong operational adjacency.
• Aura Freedom International: Canadian feminist organization that co-designs and co-implements New Light's 'Empowering the Future' project at Soma Memorial Girls Home. Direct programmatic partner and peer in the anti-sexual-exploitation space serving girls ages 8-18.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/newlightkolkata
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-light-kolkata-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Light Kolkata & Usa