Odisha
NGO in Odisha
The Challenge
The erratic rainfall pattern in Odisha makes the region vulnerable to frequent spells of droughts and floods. Deforestation is now making the situation worse and leading to soil erosion and declining land fertility. Marginal farmers and the landless often bear the brunt of uncertain climate and loss of livelihoods. This intensifies the vicious cycle of poverty and migration.
WOTR’s Approach
WOTR has made strategic efforts to tackle poverty at the grassroots. By promoting sustainable management of natural resources, WOTR enhances livelihood security for the rural and tribal communities. By rejuvenating the ecosystems, we strive to regain the ecological balance and keep a check on the degradation of natural resources
Presence
WOTR is currently working in 150 villages across 9 blocks in 3 districts of the state. These districts are Gajapati, Ganjam, and Rayagada.
Flagship Programmes
Water and Land Management
To mitigate the impact of drought and floods in the region, WOTR has planned activities and initiatives to conserve water and revive soil health. By constructing water harvesting structures and introducing appropriate cropping patterns, our emphasis is to enhance water availability and farm productivity. Additionally, efficient micro-irrigation systems are being promoted for judicious use of harvested water. This has also led to an increase in the area under the Rabi (winter) crop.
loose boulder structures and 7136 meters of stone bunds created
ha land made cultivable through land development activities, resulting in additional productivity
million litres of additional water harvesting potential created
hectares of land assured irrigation throughout the year
Climate Resilient Agriculture
The tribal community in Odisha had a traditional practice of single crop due to the rainfall pattern and lack of water resources. The knowledge and capacity-building initiatives have led to an increase in productivity and today farmers grow both Kharif and Rabi crops besides cultivating cash crops.
farmers supported through Climate Resilient Agriculture
families supported to adopt kitchen gardening
families have been trained on climate-resilient agriculture
increase in paddy yield through climate-resilient agriculture practices
Livelihoods
The landless and vulnerable households in Odisha have been supported through alternative sources of livelihood. These include livestock management and agri-allied activities such as goatery, poultry, and dairy management, etc. WOTR is also supporting the community members to learn skills such as carpentry, masonry and running small grocery shops.
households supported with various livelihood options
women members in two all-women producer groups trading in brooms, tamarind, lemon, cashew and millets
Women Empowerment
Women empowerment and institution building are other initiatives of prime importance in Odisha. Well-being ranking, net planning, PRA and formation of Village Development Committees (VDCs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Sanyukt Mahila Samhiti (SMS) have been initiated at the beginning of every project.
SHGs ensuring women’s participation in 95 VDCs
women provided with smokeless chulhas, thereby reducing their drudgery and health threats
women provided with pressure cookers to shorten food cooking time
solar street lights installed for better safety
Other Initiatives
Declining health and poor education are the outcomes of poverty. While WOTR is working to enhance livelihood security for the people of Odisha, the team is also focusing on improving their health and education status. Specific initiatives are taken to improve school infrastructure and provide support to Aanganwadis. The Child Growth Monitoring Program aims to assess the health of children below 5 years and provide the necessary support to children and mothers.
schools supported with libraries and 7 schools with drinking water facilities
government primary schools renovated and painted to encourage children to attend school
individual toilets and 29 community toilets constructed
children between 0-5 years monitored in Rayagada district
Health and vitality for Clementina
Clementina, a 2.5-year-old girl was found to be severely malnourished when monitored under WOTR’s Child Growth Monitoring Program. Her stunted growth and poor weight were a cause of constant worry for her mother. Siba, Clementina’s mother, with the support of WOTR was able to access timely treatment and care for her little daughter.
Clementina is now a healthy girl and exhibiting healthy signs of growth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Odisha faces major rural development challenges such as erratic rainfall, droughts, floods, deforestation, soil erosion, and declining land fertility. These environmental and climate-related issues affect agriculture, increase poverty and distress migration, and worsen health and education conditions in rural and tribal communities.
Odisha is vulnerable to droughts and floods due to unpredictable rainfall patterns and widespread deforestation. The loss of natural vegetation reduces the land’s ability to absorb rainwater, increasing runoff, soil erosion, and the impact of extreme weather events on rural communities.
Soil erosion and declining land fertility in Odisha are mainly caused by deforestation and erratic rainfall. Heavy rains wash away nutrient-rich topsoil, reducing agricultural productivity and increasing food insecurity for farming communities
WOTR supports water and land management in Odisha through water harvesting structures, land development activities, and micro-irrigation systems. These interventions improve water availability, restore degraded land, and help farmers cultivate crops throughout the year.
WOTR promotes women’s empowerment in Odisha through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Development Committees (VDCs), and women-led groups that encourage participation in community decision-making. Women have also benefited from initiatives like smokeless chulhas, pressure cookers, and solar street lights that improve health, safety, and daily living conditions.
WOTR promotes climate-resilient farming in Odisha through crop diversification, kitchen gardening, and training on Kharif, Rabi, and cash crop cultivation. These practices improve food security, income opportunities, and agricultural productivity for farming families.
WOTR has created a significant and measurable impact across 198 villages in three districts: Gajapati, Ganjam, and Rayagada; directly improving the lives of 1,39,796 people. On the water and land front, WOTR has treated over 128 hectares of land for soil and water conservation, saved 1.76 million litres of water, and created a water storage capacity of 3.03 million litres. To strengthen rural livelihoods and economic independence, WOTR has supported 6 Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) and 251 Self-Help Groups, enabling farmers and women to organise collectively, access markets, and build more resilient incomes.