To bear witness to the Indian Churches’ commitment to accompany the poor, the marginalized and excluded in their quest for justice, full realization of human rights and life with dignity in harmony with ecology
Just societies ensuring fullness of life in harmony with creation
LWSIT empowers the vulnerable and disadvantaged communities to ensure justice, ecological balance and overcome poverty
Enhanced dignity of lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in India
Justice, Accountability, Equality, Dignity, Democracy, Inclusiveness, Transparency
Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) started working in India from 1974 as a Country Program of Lutheran World Federation/Department of World Service (LWF/DWS) by extending relief support to the refugees of the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971 in collaboration with the Swedish Mission as the Cooch Behar Refugee Service. Lutheran World Service India Trust (LWSIT) got registered, nine years ago, on 4th September 2008, as a national NGO when (LWSI) completed nearly three decades of operations in India.
LWSIT is a Christian, ecumenical organization promoted jointly by the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) and National Council of Churches in India (NCCI). The primary purpose of LWSIT is to empower disadvantaged communities focusing mainly in the states of Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal while responding to disaster on pan India basis.
LWSIT works not only with excluded communities such as Dalits and Tribe/Adivasis but also with the entire community wherever the organization has its presence. We also work to include those who hold power and are duty-bearers in its area of operations.
We are a member of the prestigious ACT Alliance, CHS Alliance at global level and a part of the regional network in Asia – AZEECON. LWSIT is one of the founding members of SPHERE India and a member of Inter-Agency Groups in several states in India.
The Social Transformation, Economic Empowerment and Risk Reduction (STEER) Project is operational in five rural districts of Odisha and one in West Bengal. The project covers a total of 14,324 households in 332 communities with a population of 67,972.
The Gender Empowerment Project (GEP) is operational in the cities of Kolkata in West Bengal and Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Project has its presence in 6,389 households primarily in 75 slum communities with a population of 29,812.
The CAP-R is operational in 100 communities in Assam. It covers 4,365 households with a population of 21,514.
The Development Support Program for the Stone Quarry affected Communities (DSSQC) Project is operational in Birbhum district of West Bengal and Dumka district of Jharkhand. The Project has its presence in 130 communities covering a total of 7,197 households and a population of 35,399.