CINI Asha is the urban unit of Child In Need Institute (CINI). CINI is a non-governmental organization founded in 1974 by Dr. S. N. Chaudhuri, a paediatrician. CINI mainly focuses on improving children's health in the rural areas of West Bengal. CINI Asha was established in 1989 with a mission "To improve the quality of life of the socially disadvantaged children living in the urban areas through education, health and social mobilisation." CINI Asha works to bring children abandoned on the streets, slum dwellers, children of sex workers and child labourers into school and to provide jobs for these children after graduating from school.

In addition, CINI Asha works towards spreading awareness of the problems and issues facing street children among the middle class urban population, and also increase awareness of violence towards girls and women, and the dangers of HIV and AIDS.