Launched in 1999 under the leadership of CLPOA and the West Bengal State Resource Group for Deprived Urban Children (WBSRGEDUC), Shikshalaya Prakalpa was a pioneering initiative to ensure access to primary education for out-of-school children living in Kolkata's urban slums. A city-wide survey conducted by 50 NGOs identified 44,646 out-of-school children (5–9 years) across 141 municipal wards, laying the foundation for one of India's largest urban alternative education programmes.

Working in partnership with the District Primary School Council, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Loreto Day School (Academic Support Group), and 65 NGO partners, the programme established Alternative Innovative Education (AIE) Centres to prepare children for mainstream schooling. The centres offered flexible class timings, innovative teaching methods, school uniforms, learning materials, health check-ups, sports, and co-curricular activities, creating a child-friendly learning environment for first-generation learners.

Community participation was central to the programme's success. Local clubs, community halls, and residents provided learning spaces, while parents and community volunteers actively supported enrolment, attendance, health camps, and mid-day meals. CLPOA coordinated planning, resource mobilization, capacity building, monitoring, and quality assurance, ensuring effective implementation across the city.

Before its integration into Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and conclusion in 2012, Shikshalaya Prakalpa operated 340 learning centres across 69 municipal wards, involving 60 NGO partners. The programme enrolled 16,242 children (8,772 boys and 7,470 girls) supported by 635 educators, significantly expanding access to education for marginalized urban children. Today, Shikshalaya Prakalpa stands as a landmark initiative that demonstrated the power of community participation and multi-stakeholder partnerships in achieving universal elementary education.