Bhubaneswar, Aug. 7 (UDN): In a major step towards reducing distress migration from rural Odisha, the Mission Shakti Department on Thursday signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) and the NSE Foundation to roll out Project BLESS, a three-year initiative focused on creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable families.
The agreement was signed at Lok Seva Bhawan in the presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Mission Shakti Secretary Manasi Nimbhal. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM).
Project BLESS aims to identify households at risk of distress migration before they leave their native villages and connect them with income-generating opportunities, skill development programmes, financial services and government welfare schemes. The initiative seeks to address the underlying economic factors that compel families to migrate in search of work.
The programme will be implemented across 69 blocks in eight migration-prone districts—Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Rayagada. It is expected to benefit nearly 8.81 lakh rural families and strengthen the livelihoods of members associated with 86,468 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
To ensure effective grassroots implementation, around 550 Jeevika Sakhis drawn from SHGs will work with Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs) to identify vulnerable households and facilitate access to government programmes and livelihood interventions.
A key feature of the initiative is a mobile application-based household vulnerability assessment, which will help prepare customised livelihood plans for families. The project also includes market-oriented skill training, improved access to credit, digital marketing platforms for rural enterprises and institutional strengthening of community-based organisations.
Recognising that migration may remain necessary for some families, Project BLESS also proposes support mechanisms for migrant workers, including access to fair wages, legal assistance and social security benefits at destination locations.
The initiative further seeks to ensure uninterrupted nutrition, healthcare and pre-primary education services for children of migrant families while reinforcing women-led SHGs to enhance economic resilience and community participation.
Representatives of the NSE Foundation and CRISP, including Rema Mohan, R. Subramaniam and G.V.G. Sharma, joined the MoU signing virtually, along with senior officials of the Mission Shakti Department.
Leave a Reply