SHIS had an informal start in 1978 when Mr M A Wohab and Ms Sabitri Pal two Law School pass outs felt their inner calling to help fight abject poverty, mal-nutrition, almost no modern healthcare, low mortality and various other issues in areas like Bhangar and Sunderbans . They started reaching out from a closed Tea Shop at Bhangar, pooled their personal resources and from friends and relatives and started sinking tube wells , working on removing arsenic poisoning and slowly started getting support from others and Government working on TB eradication.

They met famous Swiss, Brother Gaston Dayanand, who dedicated his life to ameliorate to conditions of the poor and needy in West Bengal. Bro. Gaston through his European network introduced them to philanthrope’s in Germany Spain France etc. They met famous French Novelist Dominique Lapierre and with active help from Lapierre started taking up various projects one by one .

In the meantime SHIS had got registered in 1983. But such was the love and devotion of the duo looking at the plight of the islanders of Sunderbans where modern medicines didn't reach and people were dying SHIS started an unique concept of Mobile Medical Units reaching out healthcare to the islanders .SHIS hired motor boats and took a medical team to the inhabited islands with a medical team and medical supplies.


Our Goals ansd Objectives

1. Improved modern healthcare for EWS free at doorstep
2.Minimise infantile mortality
3. Clean arsenic free drinking water
4. To protect against infectious diseases like TB, Malaria etc
5 To help people in distress and natural disasters like floods, cyclones Tsunami etc
6. To provide clean sanitation with Government help
7. To reach modern Future Ready' education and vocational training to all EWS including children with special abilities so that they become the change agent to socially uplift their family.
8 . To promote Women entrepreneurs and Self Help Groups to convert waste plastic to useful products to generate income and reduce plastic pollution


Friends, philosophers and guides : Though SHIS started off by two young philanthropists, seeing the good work done in the field of drinking water,arsenic removal and healthcare SHIS got support from Government as well as many luminaries.Brother Gaston Dayanand, a Swiss national who dedicated his life for charity in India came forward. He brought French author of 'City of Joy' fame Dominique Lapierre.They roped in donors and experts from different Western countries like Germany,France,Australia Netherlands,Spain, USA,Canada and more .Dr Renate Konig and others volunteered for eradication of TB.Dr.H.N.Gupta and Prof A .K.Roy of Canada helped with their time and knowledge to guide the teams on the ground .Dr Chanemougane helped SHIS develop treatment procedure for TB patients. Dr.Helgo and his team helped establishing the SHIS Deaf & Dumb School.

Dominique Lapierre Dada as he was called by locals took a great liking to SHIS projects and from 1986 to 2015 till he was bedridden he visited SHIS annually at Bhangar and various parts of Sunderbans and developed grassroot followers.He used to donate money from his royalties and even selling his palatial house in Paris and moving to a small house in the outskirts of Paris .He was the main patron behind purchasing 4 motor launches for extending SHIS MMU program to cover 30 out of 54 inhabited islands of Sunderbans.He helped SHIS set up SHIS General Hospital at Bhangar, SHIS Eye Care Hospital, SHIS Deaf & Dumb School with Dr Helgo, SHIS Shishu Bikash Academy and many other projects .

Major initiatives by SHIS :
SHIS pioneered many firsts in WB and worked in various areas.SHIS was there rescuing villagers and islanders to safety in case of floods ,cyclones and natural disasters .SHIS has also organised relief for Tsunami victims in TN & Andamans.
Main ongoing activities of SHIS are as under.
1. Arsenic Mitigation
2. TB Elimination Programme
3. Assisting in Governments various health initiatives ,vaccination programs
4. SHIS General Hospital Bhangar
5.SHIS Eye Care Hospital
6.Community Delivery Centres (CDC)
7.Mobile Medical Units in Sundarban
8. Sanitation Programme
9. SHIS Deaf & Dumb School
10.SHIS Shishu Bikash Academy
11.Assisting developing Self Help Groups


SHIS has done outstanding work in the areas of Reproductive Child Health projects at Kultoli, Kakdwip, Patharpratima and Namkhana.

SHIS has done excellent work for eradication of TB right from the 80's.Over the last two decades SHIS has been involved with World vision ,CARE ,USAID etc for eradication of TB under Global Fund program

Awards & Recognition :

SHIS has received numerous awards and recognition , we are mentioning a few.

1. Mother Teresa Lifetime Achievement Award
2. TiE Award for Best NGO
3. Unsung Hero’s of Compassion Award, San Francisco, 2009
4 Rastrapati Prativa Patil, for Best NGO
5.Award from West Bengal, for Best NGO
6 Bangabhushan Award, West Bengal Government