Organisation for Social Change and Rural Development

OVERVIEW
MY EXPERIENCE

RECOMMENDATIONS

Organisation for Social Change and Rural Development (OSCARD) took its birth in 1990, with the congregation of like mind, young, intellectuals, enthusiastic, self made and self reliant persons who have concern for the deprived and under privileged people belonging to every nook and corner of the society.

To provide integrated development of the poor and disadvantaged.

To enable people to improve and develop own

competency, capacity and potentiality for a dignified livelihood.

To organize and mobilize women for their total

empowerment. To facilitate the process that will bring changes. To take up housing projects in rural sector. To operate legal aid center for poor and needy people.

VISION OSCARD envisages a society which is economically productive, equable, socially just, environmentally sound and genuinely democratic. Mission Bringing a positive Change is OSCARD's Mission. OSCARD commits and dedicates to bring positive changes in the quality of life of the poor through sustainable eco-social initiatives and development processes. GOAL (2005-2010) OSCARDs effort will enhance the capabilities of vulnerable and marginalize people especially women and children, to better control their lives.

APPROACHES OSCARDS approach based on the development philosophy: Do not give fish to a man but make him learn how to fish. METHODOLOGY For undertaking various action programmes OSCARD practices the participatory method realising the pivotal role of the target group for whom the action programme meant.

Since last thirteen years, OSCARD has its presence in all most all parts of the state of Orissa and worked efficiently in neighboring

states like West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra

Pradesh with Research assignments conferred by various Ministries of Govt. of India other international agencies.

OSCARD with its Headquartered at Bhubaneswar

operates through 5 Regional Centres located in

different region of the state, supported with 8 project offices. The present staff strength is 102 with 26 professionals in various field like Health, Engineering, Management, Social work, Rural

Development, Micro Finance and Enterprise

Development.

Women & Reproductive Child Health Care

Small & Micro Enterprise Development

Micro Credit Programme

Capacity Building of Grassroot NGOs

Panchayati Raj & Decentralised Planning Research & Evaluation Activities Social welfare activities

OSCARD has established strong partnership with the following Dept. /Ministries and Apex Institutions:

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India. Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. Development Commissioner (S.S.I) Ministry of Industry, Govt. of India. NABARD, (National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development) SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) NMDFC (National Minority Development & Finance Corporation)

Ministry of Rural Development Govt. of India.

Concern Worldwide Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Govt. Of India

I Visited the OSCARD headquarters located at Bhubaneswar and met with the staff.
Mr. S.S.Mohapatra (Main Trustee & Coordinator) gave a brief idea of OSCARD and its area of operations and functioning.

Mr. Mohapatra advised to do the field work to understand the working of OSCARD at Bhuipali village, a village where 85% of the household belongs to tribal group called KHARIA where the integrated development of the village was going on by OSCARD keeping a balance in the cultural way of life. In Spite of some changes in the village by government, this tribal group has yet not altered their life styles and economic condition.

The main aim of this project was to provide Science and Technology inputs for their development and which are far

beyond their reach. The project believed

that group approach is the best way for

arriving at solution of the problem.

The concept of co-operative and collective farming , selfhelp groups and farmers clubs have been incorporated.

Presently, 12 women self help groups and 6 farmers clubs are functioning effectively.

The farmers clubs are undertaking various farming activities jointly with the spirit of cooperation.

The project has achieved justice on the gender perspective as

it focuses women as the equal partner in the progress.

Adoption of new technology in farm sector such as use of agriculture equipments, rise in use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, introduction of bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide.

59 families have adopted off farm activities such as rearing of hybrid varieties of cows, poultry and goats etc.

22 tribals are engaged in bee keeping (Italian variety) and Sisal fiber work. 62 progressive farmers have adopted high yielding varieties of paddy and vegetables.

Gender balancing has been done through promotion of women self help groups thereby increasing the women participation in the decision making process and sharing the natural resources.

More batches of training programme should be there for farmers. Skills up gradation in extraction of seeds. Proper drinking water facilities should be provided. Bio-gas plants should be set up and knowledge should be given for the usage and working of same. There should be more plantations of fruit trees. Batches of training on bee keeping and honey extraction should

be more.

Seed bank which is set up to be more functional.

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