Village Development Project: Empowering Communities In Janla Panchayat Of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A unique Village Development Project in three villages of Janla panchayat in Odisha has reached out to 20,000 underprivileged people to raise ‘empowered communities’.

The project, run by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL), is through a holistic programme, inclusive of skills training to ensure self-reliant communities.

“Our vision is to actively contribute to the social and economic development of the underserved communities, lifting the burden of poverty and helping bring in inclusive growth. In so doing, build a better, sustainable way of life for the weaker sections of society and raise the country’s Human Development Index. Our goals are aligned with the UNSDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Group). Odisha is among our priority state,” said Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.

The three villages that ABFRL is engaged in — in sync with the Centre’s SansadAdarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY) — are Ogalapada, Dhakinamundhamunha and Uttaramundamunha, and has been in operation for over 2 years.

Among the notable programmes afoot are mushroom cultivation, which assures sustainable livelihoods, watershed management towards bolstering farm productivity and setting up of academic support centres, including the Ama Library.

During the COVID-19 pandemic ABFRL supported 20 SHGs in Janla panchayat to enable them stitch masks. Over 6,000 masks were distributed to these villages.