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The Socio Economic Development Centre was established in 1982 with a clear purpose of enhancing the socio-economic development of the rural people of North Bihar. In 1998 on November 11th the Diocese of Bettiah came into existence with Rt. Rev. Victor Henry Thakur as the first Bishop of Bettiah Diocese.  In 2001 a Social Service Society was formed with the name Bettiah Diocesan Social Service Society (BDSSS) and began to function as a separate entity. Since its inception BDSSS has been marching forward with a commitment and determination to empower the downtrodden and marginalized people, especially women, children, youth and marginalized farmers, of the Bettiah diocese. It has a clear vision “To build a new society where values of love, justice, equality and peace are nurtured with due respect for all, irrespective of caste & creed.”

In 2017, Bettiah Diocese got a new Bishop, Rt. Rev. Bishop Peter Sebastian Goveas.

The BDSSS is implementing several community development programs by organizing the marginalized people through the formation of community organizations through which several developmental activities are implemented. Some of these are Women Empowerment Programs, Health and Sanitation, Community Disaster Preparedness and Management, Livelihood Enhancement, Agriculture Development, Relief services, Formal and Non-Formal Education for the marginalized children and youth, Sensitizing and Enabling stakeholders to claim various social entitlements, Capacity Building of the Community and the organizational staff, and Networking with the like-minded NGOs and Government departments. Thus, BDSSS has been successful in her mission to “uphold the dignity of all, especially the poor and marginalized, through an empowerment process by which all the people are enabled to realize their self worth and potential in Society.”

Today the BDSSS family ensures a greater participation of the people and community, thereby helping them in their integral and sustainable development.

As a social wing of the Diocese it reaches out to its five civil districts namely West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan and Saran. We have a total staff of 48 members: 11 office staff and 37 project staff,including Gender, Social, NRM, Disaster Management, and Agriculture specialists. The BDSSS has a well-equipped training centre (Sewa Kendra at Dussaiya) with a residential facility for 110 people.