The nearby villages of the Sundarbans are plagued with various problems throughout the year. On the one hand, there are multiple natural disasters, and on the other, a perpetual livelihood crisis. Once a natural disaster occurs it takes several years to rebuild and repair the damage. Nature is their best friend and also their worst enemy. The cyclones and heavy rain destroy their houses on a regular basis. They are also always under threat from tigers and other wild animals. They cannot however escape this danger as most villagers need to venture out into the forests to collect honey or crabs which they then sell to make ends meet. Apart from occasional tourism this is their only source of income and there is no choice but to brave the dangerous elements of nature. They live in constant fear and poverty because the means to sustain themselves involves them grappling with the elements of Nature. Often the poverty, constant cycles of death and devastation leave lasting trauma on these families and predominantly their children. 

Education is their only solace and the only way to break the cycle. Pathokoli was hence founded to provide quality education to the children by means of a digital classroom. The institution ensures to take plain chalk and board learning to a better level. Their situation should not handicap them. These children have every right and access to modern day educational facilities. 

A computer room has been opened to help the students familiarize themselves with tech and equip them better to deal with the modern world. A football academy has also been founded because sports and physical activity is instrumental to keeping mentally healthy and catalyzing cognitive abilities. 

Most of the children dwelling in the villages suffer from malnutrition. Quoting from The First Post , “Children of the Sundarbans face an extra burden of morbidity, with a report from IIHMR suggesting that 0.3 million children will be ill in a month and 26,000 children will need hospitalization in one year in the Sunderbans” . More than one third of children are severely malnourished. Under the initiative of Colonel Bhupal Lahiri Memorial Trust Nutrition programs are underway in six schools of Basanti block in Sundarbans to prevent malnutrition among children in some areas. More than 1000 children are given eggs, fruit, milk regularly after a mid-day meal for about five days in a week. This has been continuing for almost seven years now. The program was functional during the pandemic as well as during natural calamities.

Computers have now become an essential part of life. Children of all age groups must be tech-savvy and have basic knowledge of computers to make their mark in the fast growing and evolving digital world. Smart classrooms enable every child to benefit from the many advantages of digitized learning. This is an expensive venture but necessary. The children should not be deprived of modern-day tools of learning just because they have been born into families that are stricken with poverty and grown up in areas which do not have even basic amenities.

These children have every right to proper nutrition, sports facilities, e-learning methodologies, clean water, safe homes and most importantly sound education that will enable them to break the cycle of poverty and risk and lead better lives in the future. The funds shall ensure the bare minimum for these children so that they may lead respectable lives.