Rughaguda, Odisha – December 11, 2024: A networking meeting and awareness programme in Rughaguda village highlighted the significant progress made by the SBI Gram Seva project in five remote Adivasi villages within Odisha’s Lanjigarh block.

The well-attended event brought together Village Development Committee (VDC) members, PRI members, the Sarpanch, SHG members, village leaders, and residents from neighbouring areas. The Gram Seva programme, a SBI Foundation partnership with Gram Vikas, is improving the lives of 399 households across Rughaguda, Thuangapadar, Talbora, Rangiguda, and Lermuhi.

Over the past four years, the project has implemented a range of initiatives, including digitising villages, strengthening education and healthcare services, promoting sustainable livelihoods, improving access to social protection schemes, and enhancing rural infrastructure. The programme also emphasises utilising renewable energy, supporting women and youth, and bolstering community institutions.

“For a single photocopy of the Aadhar card, a resident travelled seven kilometers…and paid ₹10 for a single copy,” recalled Budhi Tandi, VDC President of Talbora, describing the past difficulties faced by residents. Now, he says, “residents have piped water supply…fewer cases of diarrhoea,” and access to a variety of vegetables grown in their own gardens thanks to the project’s support.

The Naib Sarpanch of Lakhbahali Panchayat pointed to the tangible changes in the villages: “There is visible impact…with access to basic necessities like drinking water through taps at home, remedial classes for children, [and] 42 women set up tailoring shops in the villages after getting trained under the Gram Seva project.”

Baidyanath Naik, ex-Sarpanch of neighbouring Pahadapadara Panchayat, commended the project’s achievements. He cited Gram Vikas’s successful work in the Thuamul Rampur block, where “farmers are cultivating two crops in a year due to the land development and plantation work carried out by Gram Vikas on the hills.”

Local NGO representatives expressed their support for the project. Karna Sahu from Sebajagat, a resident of the panchayat, remarked, “We now have water supply, community bathrooms, livestock support, beekeeping, and many other resources that are crucial for a community to thrive.” Ajaya Kumar Das from Dapta added, “Dapta would be eager to collaborate with Gram Vikas on livelihood initiatives moving forward.”

Khageswar Naik, a village leader from Rughaguda, highlighted the project’s impact on previously underserved communities: “We were often neglected when it came to basic services due to our remote location. But the Gram Seva project has provided us with vital services like ambulance access, street lights, farming equipment, and educational resources.”

Nirmal Mohanty, Project Holder for Gram Seva, reviewed the project’s accomplishments and emphasised the importance of community ownership for long-term success. He also introduced the Water Secure Gram Panchayat (WSGP) programme to promote collaborative water management.

Sasmita Harijan, a resident of Rughaguda, shared how the project has enabled her to earn a sustainable income and provide for her family: “I earn a minimum of ₹1000 a month stitching blouses and dresses…I have grown bitter gourd, pumpkin, tomato, brinjal and green chillies in my backyard…This has helped my children eat healthy.”

The meeting served as a celebration of the positive changes brought about by the SBI Gram Seva project and reinforced the value of community participation in driving sustainable development.

Reported by: N Dibya Alok, Pushpanjali Barik, Subin Das