Yearly Archives: 2019

Got married when I was just 21, but my woes started when my husband migrated to Bhubaneswar for the Security Guard job in a private company and I was not allowed to go outside the home because of the traditional barriers” – says Puspalata.  Living with her two children and in-laws in Barda village of Cuttack Sadar, she had to struggle for 13 years to come out of the customary hurdle and to get connected with the digital world.

With a very low income of her husband, it was quite difficult for her to run the home. Meanwhile, Puspalata didn’t have any alternative engagement except doing the household chores. However, every day she was dreaming for an opportunity to become self-dependent. In the meantime, she became a mother of two kids – a daughter and a son. Life became more difficult with new motherhood responsibilities.

Fortunately, she had learned the skills of tailoring and stitching of ladies garments. Without thinking much she started tailoring work getting orders from her neighbors and relatives to supplement her household income. But, her products were of old-fashion and traditional one, owing to which those were not appreciated by everybody. With meager income, she could not provide her family a better standard of living. However, she was in search of a learning platform to upgrade her skill base and to get connected with more people.

One fine morning, she came to know about the Internet Saathi programme launched by CYSD. “I can’t forget the moment when I got selected for an Internet Saathi and that was a great turning point of my life”, said Puspalata, when asked about her transformation.  Through Internet Saathi Programme, she learnt the use and benefits of the internet. Now, she is visiting to different villages of her cluster and meeting different women. “Learning new garment designs from internet, upgrading  her skills to cope with the modern fashion have helped Puspalata connecting with number of women to get good stitching orders; and her dress designs are at par with those stitched in Bhubaneswar & Cuttack cities”, says Mamata one of the beneficiaries of Puspalata’s  village.

 Now, Puspalata is the proud owner of one tailoring machine and earning Rs.3000 per month. When Puspalata was asked, what she would do with her extra earning money from Internet Saathi and stitching, she replied “I will make arrangement of milk and clothes for my in-laws and children” with tears in her sparkling eyes. “I will train another 4 to 5 girls so that my stitching business can grow and the trained girls will be able to earn in a dignified way”. 

Puspalata is one of the active Saathies in the Cuttack Sadar Block. Very committed and passionate of her work. “Internet Saathi has brought smile on the face of our family” – said Saisa, her daughter while learning to solve a problem in Mathematics from YouTube.

The woes of rural artisans of both coconut cluster and Pattachitra with the effect of cyclone FANI is still a concern. The first-hand visit of CYSD team to the artisans’ clusters of Puri district witnessed the major craft that suffered the wrath of cyclone was coconut coir craft and Pattachitra along with the handloom textiles. With a view to get a clear picture of loss occurred by cyclone, a team of five representatives led by ‘Kala Aur Katha’, having technical expertise on craft sector, visited the Pattachitra artisans affected villages of Raghurajpur, Sakhigopal, Dandasahi, Badurasahi, Chandanpur of Puri district. The team closely interacted with every Pattachitra artisans to find out their basic requirements. Keeping in mind the above, it was decided to give a space to the rural Pattachitra artisans, especially the young men and women artisans, for restoration of their livelihoods in a sustained manner, in upgrading their existing skills and empowering them to recover from distress.

In this context, a seven-day Capacity Building Workshop for Pattachitra Artisans was organized from 20th – 26th August at CYSD-DRTC, Bhubaneswar in association with Kala Aur Katha. Around 15 artisans from FANI affected villages of Raghurajpur and Dandasahi of Puri district participated in the programme. After receiving the week-long training, the Pattachitra artisan participants could upgrade their skill base and felt confident to bring quality finished products for wider marketing to meet the changing need of customers. The concern of the artisans in terms of networking and marketing of finished products was assured to be solved by finding the possibilities to make a Centre for Excellence connecting local & global marketing through e-commerce.

Unity is power. This has been proven in Dhangadaguda village of Nayakguda Panchayat in Mathili block of Malkangiri district. The whole community came together to face the challenge of improving the condition of sanitation, hygiene and drinking water and ultimately succeeded in their mission. This was possible only through their sheer commitment, strong will power and determination.

The drinking water and sanitation scenario is grim in Odisha, with 94% of rural villages do not have access to potable water sources and sanitation coverage is less than 1%. This has resulted in 80% of rural people being affected by diseases due to dirty and polluted water, coupled with improper sanitation. To address this issue, the government has constructed IHHL for each household but the problem remains unchanged. It would be wrong to assume that construction of a toilet in every house can curb the open defecation issue. People prefer to defecate in the open field despite having latrines in their houses due to insufficient water. 

Dhangadaguda village was no exception and suffering from the same problem. The village comprises of 180 households with a total population of 165. The primary source of income is agriculture and daily wage labour. 

The villagers of Dhangadaguda had to take bathe in a small stream and fetch drinking water from 3 tube wells, which dried up in the summer. Open defecation was a common phenomenon and the ponds being used for cleaning & washing purpose. Ponds were also used for washing of animals. All these activities resulted in severe health problems for the villagers. Waterborne diseases, such as diarrhea, scabies and vomiting were prevalent.  Every householder was provided with toilets under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan scheme but people misused it either for poultry shed or fuel-wood shed due to insufficient water. 

With the intervention of CYSD in Dhangadaguda, the villagers discussed their major issues, like poor sanitation and drinking water with the Project team. The village women had no other way than waiting for hours to get drinking water from the tube wells. Even, they were unable to prepare food in time and send their children to school on time. “Many a time, while we were waiting in queue to fetch drinking water, our curry on chulah got burnt,” said Radhika Gore, a villager. 

In this context, several meetings were organized with village households to find a permanent solution for the drinking water problem. The project team made a condition with the villagers that CYSD will support them in facilitating drinking water provided each family would use their individual toilets supported by the government and keep the village neat and clean. The villagers were agreed to the condition, following which a village water and sanitation committee (VWSC) was formed. Simultaneously, the VWSC was insisted to create a corpus fund by collecting Rs. 40/- per month from each family and the money to be deposited in the Bank Account of VWSC.

CYSD supported for installation of an automatic solar dual water pump and a water tank of 5000 liter capacity. The total project cost was Rs 3, 94, 800/-, the people provided labour contribution and built a barricade around the water tank for its safety and security. After completion of the project in October 2017, the villagers have been getting potable water near their home through two water supply stand posts. Water quality sample check-up is being done periodically by the RWSS representative with the support of a volunteer and monitored by VWSC members.

It is observed that in due course a sense of dignity has enhancement among the villagers. The villagers became quite aware of their village cleanliness – sanitation and hygiene. They continued keeping the village roads and household backyards clean using dust bins. The villagers, particularly women have proper privacy for washing and bathing. Their daily drudgery burden of fetching water has reduced substantially. They are getting time to make their children ready for school. 

The water tank in the village has become a symbol of dignity and pride for them. Besides, the villagers could mobilize required funds for construction of a community hall from Panchayat Samiti The hall is being used for the functioning of village youth club. Moreover, the villagers are in the process of declaring their village as Open Defecation Free village in the coming year. In this regard, villagers have taken vow to construct shock pit for their individual latrines. Indeed, Dhangadaguda has become a model village and eye-opener for the neighboring villages in tribal block of Mathili.

The 6th Batch of Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centre (AC&ABC) training programme has been launched by CYSD on 25th September 2019 at its Development Resource & Training Centre (DRTC) with participation of 17 young agri-allied professionals. 

CYSD being the Nodal Centre for Odisha state has been implementing Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centre Schemes supported by Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India through MANAGE, Hyderabad, in association with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The main agenda of the scheme is to tap the expertise available in the large pool of Agricultural graduates and diploma holders as well as vocational trainees in agri-allied sectors. The focus of the scheme is to train, enable and eventually empower the agri-allied youth professionals to set up their own clinics or business centres and offer professional extension services to innumerable farmers.  

During last 3 years, CYSD has effectively trained and laid foundation of 118 young agri-allied professionals as budding agri-entrepreneurs in diversified sectors, like agri-input centre, agri-clinics, diary, fishery, goatery, integrated farming, mushroom cultivation, mobile livestock clinic, online-farmers’ helpline, agro-industries, nursery and plant protection, renting farm equipment etc. The sixty days residential business-oriented capacity building training programme included experts from OUAT, IMAGE and NABARD as faculties.

Being rich with technical expertise, resources, competent faculties and equipped infrastructure, CYSD has been able to create a pool of agri-entrepreneurs who are extending support and assistance to more than 20000 farmers in different ways. To establish and promote financing for self-employment, NABAR is extending 100% refinancing to the lending agency and a subsidy claim up-to 40% for the trainees over the individual loan facility up-to 25 lakh.

Children are the worst sufferers during and post-cyclone FANI. While parents and other adults are busy with salvaging items from the ravage, repairing houses, arranging for food and water – children are neglected and left on their own jeopardizing their security, health and education.

Taking into account the effects of extremely devastating cyclone FANI on children, special care and protection are considered critical during the post-cyclone scenario. Thus, CYSD has initiated 7 transitional space for school children (Child-Friendly Space – CFS) in six worst affected villages of Krushnaprasad block in Puri district with the support of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) for a period of three months.

The purpose of CFS is to support the resilience and well-being of children through structured activities conducted in a safe and child-friendly environment. The primary participants of CFSs are children (3-18 years of age). These spaces will prepare children to go to the formal education system after a certain temporary period. The main activities conducted at CFS are designed in harmony with the local culture like, Playing, Drawing, Painting and Storytelling for children; Provision of play kits, first-aid kits, safe drinking water, learning materials for children; Health check-up,  immunization and Nutritious food supplies; conducting sessions on confidence-building and drawing out children from stress; parents counselling and Trauma counselling of children. For this, community institutions and community-based organizations, especially the women groups & Anganwadi Workers are closely involved in monitoring the CFSs.

In order to enhance the coaching skill capacity of Anganwadi Workers, a 2-day “Trainers’ Training (ToT) on Child-Friendly Space” was organized in association with Pro Sport Development (PSD). A total of 19 women Anganwadi Workers of various villages of Krushna Prasad block participated in the programme. The training was part of the Fani rehabilitation program, especially for children and adolescents. The Anganwadi Workers were provided exposure to sports-based learning and facilitation skills for young children.

CYSD views shelter as one of the major concerns in cyclone FANI affected districts of Puri and Khurda where large populations have lost their shelters in terms of full damage to their houses.

After a few round table discussions on ‘Social Housing’ inviting experts and representatives of Civil Society Organizations, CYSD considered to initiate construction of temporary shelters – “traditional intermediate shelter” for the most affected vulnerable families as a crucial need of the hour. 

Brahmagiri and Krushnaprasad blocks of Puri district being the worst affected, CYSD embarked to provide intermediate shelters to the vulnerable families of the affected blocks. During this critical phase,  the household identification was done based on widow, single deserted woman-headed family, differently-abled person, old age and poorest of the poor families without means. CYSD  adopted the community-led decision approach and worked together with the communities, block and district administration, and local civil society organizations. Fortunately, The Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) evinced their interest and extended generous support for the proposed d social housing construction.

CYSD made plan for construction of 130 traditional intermediate shelters – 34 numbers in Brahmagiri block and 96 in Krushnaprasad block of Puri district in association with AAINA, Antarang of JAGRUTI and UDYAMA. In this initiative, material support of Galvanized coloured Aluminum sheet, wooden ballah, bamboo, fitting materials, etc are being provided to affected beneficiaries. Besides, while CYSD ensures the support of skilled carpenter, the household provides labour contribution for construction of the shelter. 

Out of 130 proposed shelters, as of now, 53 shelters have been completed and some more are under progress. However, walling of 16 constructed houses is yet to be done by the respective households as incessant rains hindering the progress. However, it is planned to complete the construction work by mid of October.

The present minimalistic housing schemes are not the answer to the long-term needs of the people in disaster-prone areas. Therefore, the policy gear has to radically shift from minimalistic approach to the disaster resilient housing – using innovative means.  Therefore,  a Multi-stakeholder Consultation on Post Cyclone FANI – Rebuilding Odisha  “Habitat for  Odisha, forum to drive the Social Housing Movement” was organized on the 27th  & 28th  of August.

The Key Objectives of the consultation were to share experiences and expertise on appropriate, low cost and disaster-resilient technologies for construction of houses; to develop mechanism of convergence and dovetailing resources including affordable credit for constructing the houses in a time-bound and appropriate manner; and to develop a framework of actions to bring about appropriate policy and guidelines for construction of disaster-resilient houses in disaster-prone areas.

The deliberation of the Consultation was held in three separate Thematic Groups, like (I) Disaster Resilient Housing, (II) Access to affordable Credit for Social Housing, and (III) Dealing with most Vulnerabilities and Vulnerable population.

The consultation was participated by 165 delegates, like officials from Government Departments of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Supply (PR & DW), Housing & Urban (H&UD);  Odisha Urban Housing Mission (OUHM), Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Humanitarian Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Technical Institutions, Aid Agencies, UN Agencies, Financial Institutions—National Housing Bank, Micro Finance Institution and the Corporate sector.

Recommendations

A shift to ownership driven approach was emphasized in order to make the social housing programme a movement. A multi-stakeholder forum “Habitat for Odisha’, as an initiative to drive the social housing movement in Odisha is the need of the hour, said Shri K. Chakrabarty, Chief General Manager, National Housing Bank, the apex housing finance body set up by the GoI.

A holistic housing programme with all necessary facilities exploring opportunities from all possible sources including toilet under Swachh Bharat Mission, electricity under Saubhagya, drinking water under pipe water supply programmes, and labour component under MGNREGS, is the need for rural Odisha, said Shri Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, former Chief Secretary, Odisha in a keynote address.

Different platforms such as Government, bankers, MFIs and CSOs should join hands with each other. Even, awareness among rural mass is crucial regarding the process and accessibility of housing loan, said Shri P. K.Biswal, Special Secretary and Director, Institutional Finance, Government of Odisha. State Cooperative Banks, MFIs with their presence in the rural areas may be linked with to facilitate affordable housing finance, he added. A scheme without collaterals up to Rs 10 lakh may be introduced for Rural Housing Finance for economic weaker sections in the State.

Setting up a chain of housing support services hub to extend handholding support to common people in accessing information on various housing schemes, accessing loan from Banks, complying documents and technical-knowhow on construction

of houses with involvement of civil society organizations is important to further drive the social housing movement in the State, said Shri Jagadananda, the Co-founder of CYSD. This will be a major capacity Building to build a safe housing movement in the State, he added. 

Further, skill training support on a wider scale for construction workers may be linked with the existing skilling programme in order to meet the quality housing service needs. While focusing on reconstruction of disaster-resilient houses, retrofitting and repairing of the houses, with economically viable may also be planned. 

“Habitat literacy focusing on disaster resilient housing schemes, technical knowhow need to be disseminated among the people of Odisha, said Padmashree (Dr.) G. Shankar, Architect and Chairman, Habitat Technology Group, Kerala.  The workshop was attended by a wide range of delegates from different sectors including civil society, architects, officials from the government, bankers, micro-finance institutions and social housing experts across the country.

Dipti Ranjan Mohanty

“My determination and acquired skills have convinced the community members to work for our own village development”, says Damayanti, an outreach worker, associated with CYSD’s Child Development Project for more than a decade.

Gourigada, is a small hamlet of Baliposhi Village under Thakurmunda operational area where Damayanti Mohanta (46) lives. She has put her sincere efforts to illustrate how women are often at the forefront of change and raising their voices and proved herself as an all-rounder in pursuing integrated community development approach, especially for the cause of women development.

In her efforts, Damayanti has effectively built leadership in women and enabled their participation in economic, social and governance spheres at Gram Panchayat level. Her uninterrupted involvement has brought changes in women’s economic condition and enhanced the livelihood status of women through joining SHGs. Being an active member of PRI and Child Protection Committee, Damayanti has ensured child rights and child protection following effective reporting mechanisms to check violations. Her frequent touch with parents, teachers, and pupils in the community and counseling to them has brought the dropout children back to school.

Damayanti has been passionately promoting life skill education for girls focusing on Menstrual Hygiene Management, Hand Washing and career counseling in 4 targeted schools for last two years. With her acquired skills and training knowledge, she has imparted training to hundreds of women in her block. The Block Administration has also recognized her efforts and designated her as GP level Motivator for spreading the message of Swachh Bharat Mission.Thakurmunda, a predominantly tribal and backward block now witnesses drastic decline in child marriage and trafficking through her committed efforts. Her innovation in leading a block level Producer Company involving 500 women producers is really remarkable in terms of enhancing the livelihoods of members.

“Because of CYSD, I have been a successful outreach worker and able to facilitate inclusion of 160 women in SHG programmes; sensitized 1157 families to avail benefit of Swachh Bharat Mission; eased completion of 940 individual latrine construction, strengthened Village WASH Committee in 13 villages under ODF initiatives; sensitized 441 young mothers on MCH Care and Nutrition through video shows and facilitated observance of 24 Village Health Nutrition Day at the village level; mobilized resource of Rs.15000/- per each SHG member for 30 SHGs under Mission Shakti program; provided handhold support to 150 women members for commercial pumpkin cultivation; facilitated meetings of Palli Sabha, Gram Sabha and SMCs and child protection committee at regular intervals, etc.”, says Damayant proudly.

Prafulla Kumar Maharana

Kusa, a budding young arts graduate of 22, realizes that education forms the foundation of any society. Quality education is one of the most important means of the development which transforms a backward community to a developed one. Despite, the existence of a primary school in his village and a high school 2 km away from the village, quality education for children of his village has become a dream.

Kusa Kurami who belongs to Pakanaguda, an interior tribal village having 45 households of Nayakguda GP in Mathili block of Malkangiri district has created a ray of hope among the parents of Pakanaguda children for quality education.

In spite of many special educational programmes and policies implemented for backward areas, it seems the education in Pakanaguda is yet to bear the fruits.  Kusa being the first graduate in his village often dreams a developed village by imparting quality teaching to the children.

Without taking a single money from parents he is running a coaching centre in the evening at 6 pm for two hours in village Anganwadi Center. Kusa teaches all the children of Class-I to Class-VII tirelessly, assisted by Madhab Badami, a Class-X student of his village. “I am trying to illuminate small lamps to brighten my village”, says Kusa.“Around 30 – 35 children are regularly coming to the coaching centre. Their parents promptly send them to classes and without wasting time they study properly under the guidance of Kusa”, said father of Lachman Gouda, a student of Kusa.

Due to lack of electricity connection in Anganwadi Centre, Kusa uses charged lantern and mobile light during his coaching class. He is planning to arrange electricity to the room and has made a request to CYSD Project for support. Also, he has initiated to collect a token contribution Rs. 20/- from each household for electricity connection to centre ensuring community participation.

“Normally the teachers in government schools do not give sufficient time for doubt clearing of students. Rather they remain busy in other activities of the school, like Mid-Day Meal, etc. instead of focusing on education. As a result students do not get quality teaching in school. Further, language is a big barrier for tribal children. That’s way I have started this coaching centre”, said Kusa.

While imparting lessons to children, he always advises, “If you do not study well, you will not get admission in better government schools for quality learning. But, I want to see you all as good educated human being to make our village educationally developed.

Besides running the coaching center, Kusa also assists his father in rice milling and earning a pocket money Rs.200/- per day. “I feel proud that my son is providing free teaching support to our village children. Gathering of children in a common place in the evening for learning makes me really happy”, says Kusa’s father Laxminath Kurami.

Nevertheless, Kusa has made his career plan to become a teacher for which he will pursue Bachelor Degree in Education along with acquire computer application knowledge. Definitely, Kusa is an inspiration for the village school children.

Ramesh Ch. Swain

Migration to nearby city of Vishakhapatanam in search of livelihoods had been a regular phenomenon for the inhabitants of Naranga, a small village of 40 families with 650 population. Due to less cultivable land, they were struggling to meet their daily requirements. Naranga is a tribal village located in Panchada GP under Dasamantpur block of Koraput.

With the intervention of CYSD, few developmental works were initiated in the village. The community people had no rights over forest land.  After submitting land right applications and with rigorous follow ups, the villagers were entitled for forest land under Forest Rights Act for the purpose of living, cultivation and collecting forest produces.

Taking into account the resources available in Naranga, a comprehensive participatory village planning was prepared and approved in Gram Sabha. Then in convergence with line Departments the land was developed for enhancement of livelihoods of the poor families. Under OTELP programme, input support for vegetable cultivation and mango plantation in WADI programme were provided to them. The broad interventions in the areas included land usage planning, soil and water harvesting measures and improved farm based agro-forestry practices. The capacities enhancement of community cadres, collaboration with block and district administrations have resulted in mobilizing all families to join the MGNREGS works for earnings. Involvement in MGNREGS helped them mostly to get 100 days of employment in last year. Successful implementation of MGNREGS in the village resulted in checking the villagers’ migration, provided them employment at critical period and ensured alternative livelihood options like, trading, tailoring, cattle rearing, handicrafts, collection and selling of forest produces and running grocery shops. 13 SHGs have also been formed and strengthened for their collective development.

Now, the villagers have got requisite skill to manage their earnings from vegetables cultivation. WADI intervention has also impacted the economic upliftment of the villagers through sustainable agriculture, social empowerment, improvement in quality of life including health, women empowerment, increase in food and nutritional security.

With available sources and noticeable livelihoods enhancement, the villagers have changed their mindset not migrate further. Following which migration rate has declined drastically as the tribal people can adjust to a particular way of life in their own village.

The interventions have reduced the vulnerability and Naranga has become a self-sustained village. Now, the residents are looking forward to community development with bigger plan to address their secondary needs.