Silchar, the main city of the Bengali-speaking Barak Valley in southern Assam, sits in a flood-prone region that saw devastating floods in recent years. Its NGOs focus on women's and children's welfare, health camps, flood relief and education. If you live here and want to give, volunteer or run a corporate social-responsibility programme, this guide is a useful starting point. It lists ten respected NGOs in and around Silchar, what each does, and the checks every donor and CSR team should run first.
How we chose these NGOs
We looked for organisations with a real presence in Silchar and Assam, programmes on the ground and public information about their work. Preference went to NGOs that are clear about their compliance — 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and FCRA — and that put services to people first. Treat this as a shortlist to research, and confirm an NGO's current status before you give.
Nivedita Nari Sangstha
Nivedita Nari Sangstha, established in 1996, promotes the welfare of disadvantaged women and children of the Barak Valley through education, nutrition, health and socioeconomic development in the Cachar district. Its long focus on women and children meets deep local need. For donors and CSR teams interested in women's and children's welfare, it is an experienced local partner. Ask about the women and children it supports and its programmes, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Dhaga Assam
Dhaga Assam, a Silchar youth group founded in 2019, organises free medical camps for poor communities, delivers aid during floods and disasters, and runs health campaigns including menstrual awareness. Youth-led, energetic groups like it respond quickly where people need help most. For donors and CSR teams interested in health, relief and youth action, it is worth researching. Ask about its camps and relief work and how contributions are used, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Barak Valley Welfare Development Society
Barak Valley Welfare Development Society is a Silchar humanitarian organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children and young people. Local welfare organisations often reach families that larger bodies miss. For donors who want to support grassroots work with children and youth, it is worth researching directly. Ask about its current programmes, beneficiaries and compliance, and confirm its registrations before giving.
Pratham (Assam)
Pratham, one of India's largest education NGOs, works in Assam to help children master reading and basic arithmetic, working with communities and government schools. Its widely cited learning assessments keep its work measurable. For CSR teams that want learning outcomes at scale, Pratham is reliable. Ask for its coverage in the region and learning data, and confirm its compliance before funding.
Akshaya Patra Foundation (Assam)
Akshaya Patra runs one of the world's largest school lunch programmes, cooking and delivering mid-day meals to children in government and aided schools, with kitchens serving Assam. A hot, nutritious meal raises school enrolment, attendance and concentration. For donors who want a measurable, child-focused outcome, the programme is clear and proven, and its scale makes it a frequent CSR partner. Ask about meals served in the region and review its accounts, and confirm its registrations before funding.
Goonj (Assam)
Goonj is a national organisation known for turning urban material into a resource for rural development and for major disaster relief, including significant work during Assam's floods. It links everyday giving to dignity-based development rather than charity. For donors and CSR teams interested in rural development and disaster response, Goonj has a strong record — highly relevant in flood-hit Silchar. Ask about its current work in the region and how contributions are used, and confirm its registrations before giving.
HelpAge India (Silchar)
HelpAge India works for the care, health and dignity of older people, running mobile healthcare, helplines and support programmes in Silchar and across Assam. As families change and younger members migrate for work, support for the elderly is increasingly needed. For donors and CSR teams focused on older people, HelpAge is an experienced national partner. Ask about its local programmes and the elders it serves, and confirm its compliance before funding.
SOS Children's Villages (Assam)
SOS Children's Villages provides family-based care, education and a stable home for orphaned and abandoned children, with programmes in Assam. The family-style model gives children long-term security rather than only institutional care. For donors who want to fund a child's whole upbringing, it offers a well-established structure. Ask about the children in care in the state and their education and outcomes, and confirm its registrations before giving.
Smile Foundation (Assam)
Smile Foundation is a national NGO running education, health and livelihood programmes in Assam, including learning centres for underprivileged children and mobile health services. Its programmes are well documented and frequently funded through corporate CSR. For donors who want established systems and reporting, it is a dependable option. Ask for the specific programmes in the region and their results, and verify its registrations before giving.
Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children)
Bal Raksha Bharat runs child-welfare programmes in Assam on education, health and nutrition, child protection and emergency response — work that matters greatly in a flood-prone region. As the Indian arm of a well-known global child-rights organisation, it brings strong systems and reporting. For donors and CSR teams focused on children, it is a dependable partner. Ask for the specific programmes in the region and the children reached, and confirm its registrations before funding.
How to verify any NGO before you donate in Silchar
Run the same short checklist before you give, whatever the cause:
- 12A — confirms registration for income-tax exemption as a charity.
- 80G — makes your donation eligible for a tax deduction; collect a valid receipt.
- CSR-1 — required before a company can route CSR funds to the NGO.
- FCRA — needed if the NGO accepts foreign contributions; confirm it is active.
- Reporting — read the latest annual report and audited accounts, and ask for concrete results.
You can browse NGOs whose compliance has been checked on NGOLists, and the compliance guide explains each registration in plain language.
Silchar's NGOs stand with the Barak Valley's women, children and flood-hit families. Choose the cause that matters to you, run the checks above, and give with confidence — and elsewhere in Assam, see our guide to the top NGOs in Guwahati.
Find verified NGOs in Silchar on NGOLists
Every NGO listed on NGOLists is checked for 12A, 80G, CSR-1 and FCRA before it appears, so donors and CSR teams can give with confidence. List your NGO or fund a cause today.