Imagine a group of 25 to 30 people, all in their early and mid-20s, working toward a common goal of developing their surroundings, educating people around them, identifying problems, and drawing possible solutions. This is the dream of 23-year-old Iswar Ghiuria from Gundalia Guda, a remote village in the Boipariguda Block of Koraput District, which he has made come true. With around 60 households, this village, like many remote villages, lacks proper connectivity. With barely any other livelihood options, the villagers are mostly small and marginal farmers whose annual income is solely dependent on a single crop harvest for the whole year. During the non-agricultural season, the men from the village move out in search of work as daily wage laborers to make ends meet.

Growing up in such an environment, Iswar developed a strong desire to make a positive impact on his villagers from a very young age. However, his lack of proper awareness and knowledge left him constantly perplexed about where and how to begin, which issues to prioritize, and how to find solutions. Ishwar reflects on this, saying, “I always wanted to contribute to the development of this village, but I felt lost in terms of how and where to start.”

Iswar’s aspiration to improve his village caught the attention of CYSD’s community facilitators. When searching for an engaged community member, the residents of Gundalia Guda were determined that Iswar should become their community leader. Iswar admitted, “Initially, I had no idea what it meant to be a community leader or what responsibilities it entailed. However, I was thrilled to learn that this role could be my gateway to developing my village.”

Through the training he received, Iswar has gained the ability to identify problems and their underlying causes, enabling him to formulate suitable solutions. Iswar emphasized that, among the village’s various issues, youth unemployment stands out as a major concern, followed by problems related to road connectivity, illiteracy, and water scarcity. He elaborated, saying, “Unemployment is the most pressing challenge in our village at present. People lack viable income sources since we rely on a single annual crop due to water scarcity during the summer season. Consequently, during non-agricultural periods, many young men from the village have to seek employment as daily wage workers. Additionally, our village lacks proper road infrastructure; all we have is a mud road, which becomes impassable even with minor rainfall.”

With this intention in mind, Iswar initially rallied the youth in the village to join forces with him. This led to the establishment of ‘The Youth Club Foundation,’ which currently boasts 30 active members. Through this youth club, they approached the village with potential solutions to various problems. Iswar shared his vision, saying, “Starting a youth club was always a dream of mine. The youth represent the workforce with the capacity and ability to take on challenging tasks and yield promising results. That’s why, I initiated this youth club, and it has undertaken several important initiatives.”

His efforts are noteworthy – the village now has an asphalt road. Iswar explained, “I took on the responsibility of addressing the issue of proper road connectivity. With the support of all the youth club members, we submitted an application to the Panchayat Office, requesting a proper asphalt road for our village.” Their hard work paid off, as the village received approval and funding of Rs. 24 Lakhs/- for road construction. Additionally, through this intervention, they secured employment opportunities under MGNREGS. In the coming months, the village will have a well-functioning road connecting it to the block headquarters.

Iswar emphasized, “Once the road is constructed, I believe that many of the village’s problems can be resolved. Lack of proper connectivity has hindered access, especially during medical emergencies.” Iswar recounted that during the rainy season, he and other villagers had to carry patients and walk nearly 2 kilometers on muddy roads to access medical facilities. “I’m delighted that one of the village’s major issues has been addressed, and it fills me with pride to have played a vital role in bringing about this change,” he expressed.

Iswar is currently dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of unemployment in his village. His efforts are focused on mobilizing the community towards embracing sustainable livelihood opportunities at the village level. Through this youth club, Iswar took the initiative to construct a playground for the village children. He explained his motivation, saying, “I want the children to experience happiness and good health. I discussed this with the villagers, and together, we identified a small piece of land. We raised funds ourselves, cleared the land, and created a playground for the children.”

In addition to his community work, Iswar also ran for the position of Sarpanch in the 2022 GP Election, although he did not secure enough votes to win. Despite this setback, he remains resolute, stating, “I recognize that I am on the right path. While I may have encountered failure, I am confident that I will succeed one day.”

He believes that with additional support from the government and NGOs, this small, remote village has the potential to become a model village in the Boipariguda block. Iswar’s determination and commitment to his community’s development continue to drive positive change, paving the way for a brighter future.