Cleft India is an initiative of ABMSS (Akila Bharatha Mahila Seva Samaja) and the German non profit organization, Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe e.V. to support underprivileged children born with cleft lip and palate and facial deformities.

In 2013, ABMSS partnered with Deutsche Cleft to provide needy children in India the access to safe and well timed comprehensive cleft care and surgery, completely free of cost.

From humble beginnings at 8 locations, the effort has grow into a pan India presence to over 30 locations covering 18 federal states, thanks to the generous support of many donors in India, Germany and the world over. In addition to the surgeries and ancillary care, the Cleft India Initiative supports awareness work in rural areas; education of doctors and medical personnel; speech and functional therapy; and provides supplemental vitamins and minerals to pregnant women and under nourished children.

Cleft India is part of THE CLEFT GROUP, a global initiative for the treatment of clefts led by Deutsche Cleft. The common goal is comprehensive care for cleft children at the highest possible level. THE CLEFT GROUP is currently active in Bangladesh, Bolivia, India, Peru, and Vietnam, and further co-operations are in the offing to extend treatment to even more children.