{"id":116,"date":"2026-06-15T19:59:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.ushacoop.org.in\/?page_id=116"},"modified":"2026-07-08T13:13:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:13:47","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dev.ushacoop.org.in\/?page_id=116","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About Us<\/h1>

Usha Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited<\/strong> is India’s first sex workers’ financial cooperative \u2014 built by sex workers, for sex workers, and led by sex workers.
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About us<\/h2><\/div>
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Embracing Humanity: A Tale of Warmth and True Support<\/h3>

Usha was founded in 1995 in Sonagachi, Kolkata, growing out of the Sexual Health and HIV Intervention Programme (SHIP), where public health expert Dr. Smarajit Jana<\/strong> saw firsthand how sex workers were shut out of formal banking. With no identification or residential proof accepted by banks, women were forced to borrow from moneylenders and madams at exploitative rates, trapping them in cycles of debt. Dr. Jana and community leaders came together with a simple conviction: the community needed a financial institution of its own. That conviction became Usha, formally registered on 21 June 1995<\/strong> (Regd. 6\/Cal) under the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Central Zone, Kolkata.
Thirty years on, Usha operates across every district of West Bengal, with branch offices in Basirhat, Titagarh, Siliguri, Asansol, Kalna, Domjur, and Sheoraphuli<\/strong>, and rehabilitation infrastructure in Baruipur<\/strong>. Older sex workers and daughters of sex workers are prioritized in Usha’s own workforce, so the cooperative’s growth directly strengthens the community it serves.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

About us<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What We Do<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
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Financial Services<\/strong><\/div>
Savings and low-interest loans on fair, accessible terms for members long excluded from formal banking.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Health Interventions<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div>
HIV services, ART follow-up, telehealth, and health education tailored to the community’s needs.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Social Empowerment<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div>
training on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and legal rights, including awareness of Supreme Court rulings that protect sex workers.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Skills Development & Entrepreneurship<\/strong><\/strong><\/div>
vocational training and market linkages that help members build sustainable, independent livelihoods.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Community Governance<\/strong><\/strong><\/div>
A nine-member Board of Directors, all drawn from the sex worker community and elected through a two-tier electoral system, guided by a Special Officer appointed by the Government of West Bengal.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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SHG Group Development<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/div>
Delivered through two-day interactive workshops using psychology-based learning, savings simulations, and collaborative five-year business planning exercises.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Listen from our volunteers<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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See words from our wellbeing<\/h3><\/div>
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Being part of the XYZ NGO community has been a life-changing experience for me. Their dedication to making a positive impact on the world is truly inspiring. Through their website, I found various volunteering opportunities.<\/div><\/div>
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Joseph from Denmark<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
I stumbled upon the NGO website while searching for a reputable organization to support. I must say that I’m thoroughly impressed by their transparency and efficiency. The website provides comprehensive information.<\/div><\/div>
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Jade from USA<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Finding a purposeful way to give back to society was always on my mind, and thanks to the NGO website, I found my calling. Their website is a treasure trove of opportunities, offering volunteering programs catering to various causes.<\/div><\/div>
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Xin Paul from Singapore<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
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Space Adventures<\/h5><\/div>

Explore the Universe with Us!<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Launch Opportunities<\/h3>
Embark on exhilarating journeys to space, with scheduled launches that offer a gateway to the cosmos.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Orbital Accommodations<\/h3>
Experience unparalleled comfort amidst the stars with our state-of-the-art orbital accommodations.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Astronaut Training<\/h3>
Prepare for the ultimate cosmic odyssey through rigorous astronaut training programs.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Celestial Sightseeing<\/h3>
Witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the universe firsthand as you embark on celestial sightseeing tours.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Spacecraft Excursions<\/h3>
Embark on thrilling spacecraft excursions, venturing into the depths of space aboard cutting-edge.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Space Photography<\/h3>
Capture the wonders of the cosmos through the lens of space photography.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Galactic Events<\/h3>
Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of the cosmos with our curated selection of galactic events.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Space Showcase<\/h3>
Explore the forefront of space exploration through our space showcase.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
Space Adventures<\/h5><\/div>

Explore the Universe with Us!<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Launch Opportunities<\/h3>
Embark on exhilarating journeys to space, with scheduled launches that offer a gateway to the cosmos.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Orbital Accommodations<\/h3>
Experience unparalleled comfort amidst the stars with our state-of-the-art orbital accommodations.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Astronaut Training<\/h3>
Prepare for the ultimate cosmic odyssey through rigorous astronaut training programs.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Celestial Sightseeing<\/h3>
Witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the universe firsthand as you embark on celestial sightseeing tours.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Spacecraft Excursions<\/h3>
Embark on thrilling spacecraft excursions, venturing into the depths of space aboard cutting-edge.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Space Photography<\/h3>
Capture the wonders of the cosmos through the lens of space photography.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Galactic Events<\/h3>
Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of the cosmos with our curated selection of galactic events.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\"Info<\/div><\/div>

Space Showcase<\/h3>
Explore the forefront of space exploration through our space showcase.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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About Us<\/h2>\n\n\n