Bore Well Irrigation

Without having a substantial increase in the agricultural production, the economy is not in a position to achieve the plan objectives. ICDA has provided bore well for irrigation in Padhani Gram Panchayat under Bhadrak Dist. The entire program is participatory in nature. The stakeholders were motivated to carry out the entire activities of installation of bore well and its maintenance. There are 6 groups of such stakeholders and each group consists of 10 no. of marginal farmers. The project has been conceived to provide irrigation to minimum 60 hact. of land. As regards the functioning of the groups; they are transferred with the rights to manage the irrigation system.

Inter Cropping & Crop Diversification

We had put strenuous and continual effort to develop our farmers’ aptitude towards crop diversification and inter cropping system. Human activity is not only determined by capability but it is also subject to external influences such as social and moral values and an economic incentive which determines the attitude and motivation to adopt new methodologies/technologies. We are content to place here that 280 no. of house holders of marginal farmers were covered under the present program, whose attitude to agriculture underwent a dramatic change.

Free Computer Education for Women

The participation of women in economic activities particularly outside the home is often posited as an important enabling factor in the economic and social empowerment of women. Not only can employment be a source of economic independence, but also it can help to give women a sense of self worth. In order to enhance the necessary skills in women to get paid employment, ICDA is offering free one-year computer education to women/girls. 82 no. of trainees have got placement in both formal and informal sectors.

Drinking Water

Consumption of contaminated drinking water was another area, which drew attention of ICDA on an urgent basis. Six no. of hand pumps were installed in Padhani Gram Panchyat for safe drinking water. The community was involved in the implementation, acceptance and maintenance of hand pumps. Special drives were organized using members to contact groups from each village and trained over five days on the linkages between water and disease and the importance of hygiene. Another area of concern here was in the disposal of wastewater. This problem was solved by the community who undertake the responsibility of diverting the stagnant water around the hand pumps for productive purpose, as for instance, for growing plants etc.

Rural Sanitation

It is believed that a well-designed project combined with water supply, excreta disposal and hygiene education can reduce diarrhea morbidity by 30 to 50 percent, reduce mortality by an even grater extent and can significantly reduce other communicable infections and parasitic infestations. They also help to improve the nutritional status of infants and children. It is because of above-mentioned facts ICDA has been providing simple latrines to the rural households of below poverty line groups. These latrines do not require any special servicing and are user friendly. As of now, 600 no. Of such families are covered under the programme.

Integrated Handloom Training

One of the priority areas of ICDA is to generate employment for the craftsmen, who have lost their income due to their failure to meet the changing demand of the customers. Understanding this ICDA has been implementing Integrated Handloom Training Program of Ministry of Textile, Govt. of India at Sabira under Soro Block of Balasore Dist. There are 20 no. of trainees and they are being trained by Master Craftsman appointed by Weavers Service Center, Bhubaneswar under Ministry of Textile.