The journey of Development Action Society (DAS) began with a shared vision of two committed social workers—Ms. Purabi Roy and Ms. Sheila Sen Gupta. Driven by the desire to make education accessible to underprivileged children, they took a humble yet powerful step by starting a school in the remote village of Uchhepota, on the outskirts of Kolkata. For the first time, children in this village—many of them first-generation learners—received formal education, planting the seeds of change.

Witnessing the transformative impact of education on the community, the founders were inspired to expand their efforts. They soon began engaging with marginalized communities across the southern fringes and rural areas surrounding Kolkata. Their work evolved beyond education to address pressing social issues such as violence against women, child labour, early marriage, human trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence, and the growing influence of anti-social activities among children.

What began as a small school eventually grew into a broader grassroots movement. In response to the growing needs of the communities and the scale of their interventions, Development Action Society (DAS) was formally registered as an organization. Since then, DAS has remained steadfast in its mission to empower vulnerable populations—especially women and children—through education, protection, and community development.