Release of Odisha Development Report 2020

The Odisha Development Report, published by Odisha Development Initiative, released on the occasion of the 3rd edition of Odisha Vikash Conclave-2020, contains 40 insightful articles written by experts from diverse sectors. The report, in a studied and objective attempt, has assessed the present situation and identified the key areas of concern and constraints in achieving inclusive growth. The report also clearly states that partnership, collaboration and joint initiatives of government, civil society organizations, academic and corporates can take the development agenda to a new height and Odisha can be at the forefront of socio-economic growth of the country in the coming decades.

Though the state’s position in health parameters such as malnutrition, anemia is better than the national average, the situation in tribal districts are alarming says the report. Over a dozens of tribal dominated districts are above the state average of anemic mothers and underweight children, the report highlighted further.

The ranking of overall index highlights that districts in the coastal and the industrial belt of north-west regions of Odisha are having better social development scenario as compared to other parts of the state. In the case of basic amenities, five districts namely Khorda, Cuttack, Jagatsignhpur, Ganjam and Puri have been maintaining the top ranking, while southern districts namely Baudh, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur and Malkanagiri were found to be the worst performing.

Eight districts in Odisha have more than 50 percent tribal population. The report highlights that the districts with high share of ST population record significantly low levels of development in health, basic amenities, education, economic, and the overall social wellbeing.

“Despite the well-orchestrated interventions by Finance Commission, Planning Commission and other institutions, Odisha remained a low recipient of federal transfers and corporate investments. Besides, regional disparity in Odisha is a major challenge and needs special attention with specially designed development programmes and schemes. Moreover, social inequalities based on caste, sex, region, lopsided development, rapid urbanization, high distressed migration, and less income opportunities are noted to be major challenges in Odisha.”                                     

 

“Odisha Development Report 2020 clearly articulates the development priorities for Odisha; what the government and the civil society can do; and good civil servants who are open to new ideas, free to accept and translate them to action.”

 

 

“One-fourth of the state population consists of indigenous people and over 90 percent of farmers are small and marginal landholders mainly depend on agriculture and allied sectors as their primary sources of income. CSOs have proved the partnership with government agencies on effective implementation of OTELP, cluster farming, agriculture production cluster programmes, etc; and many CSOs have demonstrated successful development models that need to be upscale in undeveloped rural/tribal pockets of the State.”

 

“The State Government is emphasizing on the agriculture productivity and improvement in the quality of life and livelihoods of tribal people through various income enhancement programmers and alternative livelihood opportunities meant for them. Also, the CSOs have demonstrated partnership with government agencies on effective implementation of the programmes & schemes and many of them have developed successful models that need to be up-scaled in underdeveloped pockets of the State.”

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The Coronavirus Crisis, an Opportunity for Realizing Innovation

For the first time when I heard about Coronavirus, I just took it very casually. Like African countries, endemics of Ebola and Zika were rumoured in India, same might be the case of Corona –  I imagined. Also, I thought – Is there any guaranty that people will die from Corona! But, they must die because of sudden closure of all transactions, i.e. due to state and country wide shut down!

Hasty closure of whole life transaction, from 24 March 2020 owing to COVID-19 pandemic, did much impact on the low income groups of people. At the beginning, when the govt closed everything all of a sudden such as business, travel, education, government offices, etc. people faced survival threats who were stuck at different points like, the persons who visited to non-native districts or states as hawkers, peddlers or small business holders.

I have had witnessed a similar case in front of my residence in Malkanagiri municipal area. A group of 9 families who had come from Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra for selling of different ply furniture, we used to call them as ‘Banjaras’, living under ripped tents in a barren land. Soon after closure of everything those families lost their earning source, dried up their earned money and even food stock. I realised and asked them whether they need any help from me, they replied with much hesitation, “Kya humko roti milega”. Then I rushed to home and collected whatever food items we had and offered them immediately. I informed the case to the Municipality Executive Officer hastily for arranging some food, but that was not sufficient as the government was providing very less quantity of ration to each person. To deal the issue, I tried to contact my near and dear ones for help, used social media platforms to generate support. Many likeminded people came forward to support the hungry families. In this way, I could help not only to those Banjara families but also to 40 other families who used to manage their livelihoods through daily labour. During day time, I used to work at office, very close to my residence, but at night, together with my cousins, our mission was to search for families or individuals around my colony who might have slept on empty stomach.

While one problem remained unsolved, another was cropped up. When Odisha Government called for the migrants to back home from their destination states, the situation became worse to worst, huge influx of migrants from different corners of Odisha reached Motu Tahasil of Malkangiri, the end point of the district and border of Odisha, Chatishgarh and newly emerged Telengana States. I was very closely watching the sorrows of migrants, hunger of labours along with their families travelled for 4-5 days from far away south Indian States, hopelessness eyes of mothers and crying face of children. I realised their pity, which continued to buzz in my mind until I did something for them. It was May, I was heavily assigned with project activities under Child Development Project adding to immediate Response to COVID-19 in terms of direct assistance to vulnerable families, young mass and children with survival kits, education kits & health kits at the join endeavours of CYSD & ChildFund India.

My involvement with CYSD and its response to COVID-19 once again reinforced me to initiate something different innovatively. Of late, it’s not me, but a group of likeminded young mass from Malkangiri town who were motivated through my social work, started mobilising funds for returnee migrants, especially who were going back home passing by Malkangiri town. With prior permission from District Administration we provided cooked food, dry food & water to the returnee migrants on their way to home. Looking at our initiative many civil society organizations in Malkangiri came forward to support the returnee migrants with food and water for a month or so. On daily basis we used to give approximately 1000 meals to the returnee migrants and for this activity we received enormous appreciations and blessings from the people. For the purpose, I had taken 2 days’ special leave from my office. The initiative was also supported and appreciated by my Supervisor.

The worst ever time came when the whole of my family members got infected in COVID -19, my father was in government quarantine centre, mother in COVID hospital, my wife and younger brother were in home quarantine. It’s me and my 3 years old daughter were left unaffected by virtue of God’s will, but had to suffer a lot by roaming from quarantine centre to COVID hospital and kitchen to medicine stores to support my parents for 20 days. But, these hurdles never stopped me to perform my duty and get involved passionate work.

Much earlier, I had assumed that economic crisis will impact the children’s education first, because it has become a trend in undivided Koraput district that my ‘Desia’ communities never give priority to education and discontinue their children’s education even for silly reasons. We the Education Team of the Child Development Project had identified some orphan, single parent and economically vulnerable children who were in the verge of discontinuing their higher education owing to economic crisis. We supported them financially for getting admission in the colleges by mobilising funds through social media campaign. The team mobilised around Rs. 80,000/- from the campaign and supported 12 such children for their higher education.

Of course, the Corona pandemic gave me a special opportunity to think and act innovatively for my society and the people. Still many more change initiatives are yet to bear fruits and I wish to keep enduring my mission during this pandemic crisis.

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COVID-19, a Rare Chance to Think Beyond HR Functions

The Covid-19 pandemic is a new experience for all of us.  Corona – no less than a shockwave for me!  To cope with the situation, there was no other way than accepting the option of working from home as a new arrangement.   The situation created a state of panic, fear, anxiety and stress among staffs including myself.  Within the numerous issues, supporting employees to get into new transition and face an abnormal situation was the top priority of HR. It became extremely essential for HR Unit to be available for the employees and help them through these difficult times.   

Putting People First: To reestablish a culture of the people-first organization, we put efforts to get understand the needs of the staff during this pandemic.   The first motto was to help the staff to work from home without any hassle.  Each staff’s need was assessed to make them digitally savvy and keep connected for better output and reporting.  Requirements such as laptop, desktop, mobile, Wi-Fi, etc. were made available for the staff to promote a culture of safe working from home. It helped us to retain our best talents and attract new talents as well. Through regular interaction with the team, the confidence of the staff for taking up ownership increased. A strong collaboration, commitment, togetherness and we as a team enhanced.

Team culture in workplace: During the pandemic, the staffs have been passing through a panic situation. Regular interaction with staffs helped them to ventilate their stress and anxiety. The Leadership Team and Managers played a very important role to overcome the situation. Through regular meeting and interaction with staffs in the form of ‘town hall meeting’, the decisions of the organization are being informed them. This way, not only the staffs developed a common understanding on what is happening across the organization, but also their voices were heard. The culture of appreciation for good work done by staff members created an underlying message that “we are together” during any crisis. Motivating staff and spearheading the way forward have been demonstrated during this pandemic by the organization leaders and managers. 

Employees’ Wellness: With the spread of Coronal pandemic, things changed overnight. Many of us still find it difficult to draw a line between personal spaces and working from home. Employees’ wellness was a clarion call of the hour. Taking care of physical and mental health for the staffs became the top priority. As a people-first culture organization, the Management regularly interacted with the staff and counselling sessions were being organized. Special focus was given on the female staff; the senior women staffs regularly interacted with the women colleagues to know their state of mind and to make them feel that they are not alone. To minimize the stress level, the staffs were offered counselling sessions by the professional counselor.  

Employees’ Safety: Envisioning the safety of employees would become the prime concern of the organization, HR team has initiated to partnering with other wings to define ways of ensuring safety and social distancing compliances at the office premises. Regular disinfection of premises and office rooms has become an essential component of keeping employees safe. The staffs are bring provided with masks, hand washes and sanitizers to make them safe in office hours. Amid a rapidly unfolding health crisis, HR functions have geared up to provide critical communication on safety protocols, hygiene practices, emergency numbers, list of hospitals, guidelines for quarantining and isolating etc.  

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Seasonal Vegetable Cultivation brings Transformation in Livelihoods of ‘Dauna’

“With the implementation of the Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) programme in my locality, I was motivated to cultivate different seasonal crops adopting new ideas and technology. Now, I am earning around Rs. 30,000 out of vegetable cultivation in a season. Being a marginal farmer, earlier I used to cultivate only rice and millet-based crops in the traditional pattern of cultivation, but the income was hardly meeting the needs of my family”, says Dauna from G. Maliguda village.

Dauna Mali is a marginal woman farmer from G. Maliguda village of Kollar Gram Panchayat in Boipariguda Block of Koraput district. She is a very active member of the Pragati Producer Group and supports her husband in agriculture-related works. Following the traditional method of agricultural farming, both the couple were cultivating only rice and millet-based crops and hardly earning Rs 8000 to Rs 10000 in a year. With this meager amount, it was very difficult to manage the family. In the meantime, CYSD intervened in their Kollar Panchayat and facilitated the producer group members to adapt the Agriculture Production Cluster approach in their cultivation. Being an active member of the Pragati Producer Group, Dauna was quickly motivated to initiate cultivating different crops including vegetables along with other members through new ideas and technology. Gradually, she started cultivating Cauliflower, Brinjal, and Beans in her farmland during Kharif and Rabi seasons including summer.

 

During this Rabi season, Dauna was supported with 120 grams of Cauliflower seed inputs. She raised nursery and planted the sapling in 0.70 cents of land and protected the cropping area with green fencing boundary. Through attending orientation programs organized by CYSD periodically, she has acquired basic knowledge and skill on various steps of cultivation, nursery bed preparation, pest and disease management, main field management, winter crop selection, and appropriate application of pesticide, fertilizer, and manure in farmland for nutrient enhancement, so on.

 Having this agricultural knowledge, skill, and own interest in farming, with hard work, she has stood as a successful farmer in cauliflower. “This time, I had made an investment of Rs. 9500/- for cauliflower farming. As of the end of November, I have sold only 40% of cauliflowers earning Rs 12000, but yet to sell 60% of cauliflower”, says Dauna. 

 

Indeed, Dauna has become an example for other farmers in her village. She is well managing her family without any financial burden now. “Adaption of the APC method in agriculture has brought a transformation in the standard of living of my family. I look forward to chasing the new ideas and techniques toward cultivating more such vegetables”, she added. 

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Backyard Poultry Farming Opens up better Livelihoods of ‘Daimati’

“I have never envisaged that a small initiative of backyard poultry rearing will one day bring changes in my life and livelihood. I had no space to accommodate 10 poultry birds initially, but now more than 60 are being well sheltered”, says Daimati Bhumia from Kupuliguda village of Koraput district.

Kupuliguda is a small tribal village under Kollar Panchayat of Boipariguda block.   Bhumia, being a poor tribal woman, was struggling to find out a way for sustained livelihoods by rearing 10 poultry birds in her house without a proper shed till end of 2017. During those days, buyers were coming to her doorstep to procure the poultry birds and she used to sell those with an estimated cost in absence of weighing machine. Her earning was hardly exceeded to Rs. 2000 per annum previously.

During 2018, with the intervention of CYSD in Kollar Panchayat for livelihoods promotion activities, Farmers’ Producer groups were formed through the Agriculture Production Cluster approach. Daimati was encouraged to become a member of the Pragati Farmers’ Producer Group in her village. Through attending regular meetings and orientation programs, she got to know the prospects of livestock rearing – as a better option for livelihoods. “With the facilitation of CYSD and support from ITDA, I have built a poultry shed and procured chicks phase-wise. Following the guidelines of a government scheme, I have segregated the birds and provided them with separate shelters. Now, I am owning around 60 poultry and ensuring vaccination to them on regular intervals”, shared Bhumia.

Bhumia’s keen interest and hard work enabled her to become a successful backyard poultry farmer in the village. She earns an average annual income of Rs.20000. Besides, she is involved in various agricultural activities to supplement her income.

“Adaption of APC approach in livestock farming with the intervention of CYSD has brought a big transformation in our lives and livelihoods”, added delightful Daimati.

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Technician ‘Ranjan’ renewed as Agri-entrepreneur

Being a skilled person, Ranjan Mohanta from Kundala village in Mirigikhoj Panchayat of Saharapada block, Keonjhar district was working as a technician in a private company in Maharastra. His monthly income was just sufficient to meet his family’s needs. The unpredicted Corona pandemic, followed by lockdown and shutdown, has taken away his job. He was forced to come back to his native place struggling throughout his journey. A happy family’s all hopes and aspirations were ruined by the unseen virus. His family members found it challenging to meet their daily needs. Life became a living hell! Ranjan was on the verge of losing his energy and confidence. Without any livelihoods option, he completely got disappointed.

“While I was thinking about how to survive, fortunately, I got a telephone call from the Citizens’ Support Centre of CYSD, asking me whether I want to undergo reskilling on Mushroom Cultivation. I could not imagine that such an opportunity will come to me at this critical hour. Without any second thought, I replied, certainly, yes”, shares Ranjan. He enthusiastically contacted the point person, got himself registered and received the Reskill Training on Mushroom Growing being organized from 10 – 14 October 2020 (at the Rural Livelihoods Training Centre (RLTC) of CYSD at Kapundi. He got an alternative way to start-up. “Now, I have started my own set-up as a mushroom supplier and earning my livelihoods reasonably”, says Ranjan, a renewed agri-entrepreneur.

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Reskilling on Mushroom Cultivation – A Rebirth for Sabitri

“Because of the abrupt lockdown and shut down owing to Covid-19 pandemic, I had to return to my home leaving the workplace. I lost my employment. Livelihood became a big challenge for survival of my family. Covid-19 pandemic ruined all my dreams”, shares Sabitri.

Sabitri Mohanta from Barbir village in Saharapada block of Keonjhar district was working in a Tamil Nadu based private garment company. Somehow, she was managing the needs of her family with the limited income. She was hopelessly wondering, if an alternative option of earning could be available locally.

“I received a call from CYSD’s Citizen Support Centre asking me, if I will be interested to join a training programme on Mushroom Cultivation for an alternative source of livelihoods. I could not control my happiness, immediately I replied, Yes, without any hesitation”, shares Sabitri.  Following the procedures, she registered her name and received a five-day training (from 5-9 October 2020) on Mushroom Growing organized at the RLTC of CYSD in Kapundi. With limited investment she has started her own enterprise. “On an average, I am producing 2 kg of mushrooms per day and selling @200 rupees per kg in local market. Besides, my family consumes the surplus mushrooms as nutrition supplements. Indeed, mushroom cultivation reskilling has given me rebirth. I am planning to set up a permanent enterprise in my village investing some more amount”, says aspiring Sabitri.

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Agril-Allied Skilling – an Alternative Livelihoods Option for Returnee Migrants 

The worldwide spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been severely affecting the global economy and as per the recent updates almost one-third to half of the global population have gone through the critical and compulsive lockdown and shut-down for a quite long period. More than one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just past few months – no work, no pay. Vulnerability has crept into their daily life; unrest like situation has arisen everywhere. The risk is higher particularly for daily wage workers with minimal social security; and the implications on the rural poor and marginalized sections with inadequate economic and social safety nets is severe. They are back to their native villages for a safe life. The surge of returnee migrants to rural pockets of the State throws a challenge of acute unemployment while the agri-allied sector creates an opportunity for these migrants’ engagement to address the zoomed employment crisis.

In this context, CYSD in collaboration with RCRC Network has taken an initiative towards skill development of the returnee migrants. About 150 returnee migrants were identified in Saharpada Block of Keonjhar district through a quick assessment, those who expressed their interest for alternative livelihoods in and around agri-allied sector.

The study reveals that there is demand for mushroom in the local market and has good return on the investment along with additional nutrition supplement. In this process, 83 migrants (53 female & 30 male) who had shown their interest and committed for initiating alternative livelihoods were trained as Mushroom Growers and Spawn Producers. The design of the programme is aligned with NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) framework. The 5 days training programmes conducted in batches by Kalinga Mushroom Research Unit were residential and held at CYSD’s Rural Livelihoods Training Centre at Kapundi in Saharpada Block.

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CYSD, a Value driven Institution of Innovations, Incubations and Inclusions

For the first time, I am meeting you all formally as Chair of the CYSD Board. I am very happy to be entrusted with this responsibility and like to meet you all including both Co-founders, Shri Jagadananda and Shri P. K. Sahoo.

I have known CYSD as long as my existence. It is a very important institution in the field of human centred, tribal focused and right based development organization.  CYSD as an institution is known by its values, not only it inculcates the values in its team but also everyone who comes in contact with this institution. It establishes own normative identify – which means it stands for the people in distress. The COVID-19 pandemic response work of the institution is a wonderful illustration of what CYSD stands for. Its COVID work presentation is a manifestation, demonstration and a symbol of the institution’s normative stand. Despite lockdown and shutdown, the quick response to the COVID through conducting daily meetings, generating feedback, mobilizing resource and pushing & influencing government to respond with that feedback is praiseworthy. Even for nearly last 40 years, it has created innovation – patented it and spread it among people, government and partner organizations. If we review history, we can find so many innovations, even long term partner, NOVIB learnt from CYSD and took it to other partners in another country.

You may not have written the story yourself but others have written the story for you. Secondly, CYSD is an institution known for its incubation. Many people have met me during COVID pandemic, not only in Odisha but all over in the country, including international organizations who have spent time with CYSD and learned a great deal. Therefore, I urge you all to imbibe its values. CYSD is the institution of value driven entity, not profit making or money making body, but a valued based Incubator Institution.  If you count, you will be surprised – in my guess, no less than 100 successful incubator entities are working all over India. Thirdly, the style of CYSD, as an institution is different from many other organizations i.e. inclusive of different type of stakeholders, point of views, partnership, diversity and even those occasionally may harass CYSD. So it is a value driven institution with explicit normative standwhich has created innovations, incubations and inclusions. That is what CYSD is for me and therefore, I am particularly delighted and grateful to be having this opportunity to become part of this great institution so intimately and closely, as this position offers.

Nevertheless, the story runs forward and backward. At this juncture, not just CYSD but all of us including my institution PRIA are in a difficult situation. COVID phenomena has happened to all, whether the rich people

living in palace or the poor people existing in hut, have become equal. Many disruptions have occurred due to the pandemic. This disruption has become severe in the lives of people which could impact generations to come. It could impact through livelihoods, health, education, movement and so on. You may think where the Anganwadi Worker serves for antenatal and post-natal care that stopped for long time, what has happened to the village / community poor tribal women and their health and those of their newborns and it could impact a lot. You are aware about the increased violence that has happened against women and girls at home, even during their work from home. On top of all this, all schools, colleges and universities remain closed. You can now see this impact of COVID on the learning opportunity and education of many young people from school to university level have been so severely disrupted.

At this juncture, we are facing a situation that we either keep our eyes closed and be happy with that we have got a lap top, a smart phone and our children are able to study hassles free and have two squares of meal for the family and we are healthy, therefore don’t need treatment. But, being part of CYSD, a value driven institution, it pains us increasingly because we cannot close our eyes. It has increased far more than even 40 years ago when the situation was not any better. But when we were hoping to improve the lives of our community, the people and showing some positive impact, this disruption has created a serious slide back. So we have to find fresh energy to be able to carry forward the agenda.

The second, of course, what happened for several years is the increasingly restrictive regulatory environment, which you are familiar, like legislation of GST, Income Tax,

Societies Registration Act, particularly for the CSOs.  The restriction on funding, more recently the amendments on FCRA Act, has literally affected the CSO fraternity. We are at a critical interval predicting that we will get out of this challenge soon. So all adversities, disruptions, obstacles, blockage pushed us to find new ways to carry forward our organization. What I am appealing to all of you is to use this occasion and disruption to figure out ways of strengthening CYSD’s institutional identity as one of the hallmarks which will always be there i.e. CYSD as an institution will continue to be relevant.

Third challenge at this moment is to give CYSD’s institutional identity, a longevity beyond its Co-founders, who have given their blood, sweat and time 24 x7. CYSD is their first baby – their affection, commitment for their baby will be there. But, it means that the next generation leadership has to take the responsibility. Of course, we will support the future leaders, provide all the opportunities to them but, they have to stand up, take risks, make mistakes and gain confidence. Most importantly, both the Co-founders along with myself are committed to supporting you. So, you take a small break and enjoy – take care of yourself and your family and come back with freshness and new vigor as the next phase of CYSD’s journey needs fresh energy and enthusiasm.  I look forward to meet you all, may be in the forthcoming Foundation Day of CYSD in March 2021.

Thank you all!

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Manjulata Reconciles Herself to Live Alone!

Life of a woman is full of challenges and obstacles, right from shouldering household responsibility and commitments at home and managing fulltime at workplace. The life of a working woman is revolving and juggling with numerous responsibilities at work place, some of them are loaded with daily routine life at home. Many women are grinded between these two phases of life running behind office work and managing all domestic affairs. Previously women were educated for the sake of getting married to better candidates and starting new family. But, nowadays they utilize their education and skill productively. Here is a story of a village girl, Manjulata Mohanta, who struggles to reconcile her commitments for the family.

Manjulata, is a volunteer who serve as a connect between the school and parents. She supports the school teachers as well as parents in ensuring that children are regular in schools, not engaged in domestic work or whiling away time, they get school uniforms, bags, stationery, properly cooked mid-day meal, etc.

Manjulata was born and brought up in a farmer’s family along with five siblings – four sisters and one brother. Her father used to do agricultural work and daily wages work, and her mother is engaged in cooking midday meal in a government run primary school. From an early age, she understood the survival strategy like fighting back the poverty boldly and bravely. Despite financial hardship, she had completed her higher secondary education.

Her dream of studying higher education remained in halfway due to financial constraints. She was compelled to acquaint with daily labour work like, pond digging, iron rods lifting or cutting, leaf plates making, and continued to supplement her family income. During that period, she got a marriage proposal from her boyfriend having government job. Unfortunately, the young man betrayed Manjulata and created nuisance, even one day she was kidnapped by his friends and sexually abused and harassed for three days. After some days the kidnappers released her and threatened to kill her if she suits any Police case. Initially, she couldn’t sleep being plagued by nightmares. It became difficult for her to trust people. Due to heavy stress and depression she attempted to commit suicide by jumping to the waterfall at Bhimkund. But, the will of God was something else! Immediately some local people rescued her and admitted in hospital.  She got a new life!

Two local UP School teachers namely Mr. Biswanath Bindhani and Mr. Nalaraj Sethy counselled Manjulata to overcome from the tragedy. She got engaged in different co-curricular activities of the school. In 2007, she found a job in ‘Pratham Odisha’ as Block Coordinator where she was facilitating training to Cluster Resource Coordinators on teaching techniques. She became independent and self-reliant when received handsome monthly salary. She could spend some amount of money on her sisters’ study and marriages. She reflects, Now, I am self-reliant, earning through a dignified job and living an independent life. Why should I go for suicide instead of giving back to society using whatever I have learnt, getting a new life?’’

In 2010, she resigned from Pratham Odisha and applied for a job in government sector but could not succeed. Then she joined CYSD as a ‘Community Teacher’ in its Child Development Project at Thakurmunda for girls’ impact education program. At the closure of impact education program, she was recognized as the best teacher out of 36 teachers.

Then, she was involved in “Combatting Child Domestic Labour” program of CYSD, as community volunteer-teacher and assigned to look after Benuadhar village of Bhaliadal Gram Panchayat, Thakurmunda. For easy and better monitoring purpose, she used to stay with the community people. Having long experience in education systems, she applies those in community special coaching centers. She has been guiding and counseling young girls regarding menstrual hygiene and sex education to protect themselves from harmful diseases.

Due to single, sometime people of her community pass filthy comments, but this does not make any different for Manjulata. She reconciles to live alone. She is determined not to tie the knot, because she knows the art of living without a man’s support. She owns a motorcycle for movement, has saved some money in bank and able to support her family out of her monthly income.

Moreover, Manjulata is well capacitated in the area of interpersonal development which helps her leading a confident and dignified life in the social sector. She has drawn a bead on awareness building of youth to respect women and protect young girls.

Manjulata says, I dont wish people to look at me and feel pity. Like a light, the time will pass away.  Im still alive. I thank God for giving me such lesson! And I want to help prevent this not to happen anyone else. 

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