Shakti Social Cultural and Sporting Organisation

District

Rayagada

States

Odisha

Shakti engages in diverse activities to improve livelihoods in rural areas. Its efforts focus on natural resource management (NRM) and food security, involving land, water, and forest management to ensure sustainability. Shakti supports communities in sustainable NRM through forestry, horticulture, agriculture, and water conservation. Alternative livelihoods such as fish farming and livestock development are encouraged. The organisation advocates for forest management through Village Forest Management Committees, successfully protecting substantial forest areas. Social Forestry and horticultural initiatives further enhance local incomes. Integrated Watershed Development aims to boost water tables, prevent soil erosion, and improve agricultural productivity. Shakti also promotes agriculture with specific crop cultivation, livestock development, and skill-building training for women and youth, leading to sustainable livelihoods for many households.

District

Rayagada

States

Odisha

Shakti's core mission is empowering women as change agents. Recognizing women's pivotal role in meeting family needs, it addresses gender imbalance and poverty by uplifting women through motivation, training, and leadership development. Over 5,000 women are organized into 419 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), encouraged to save and undertake income-generating activities. Shakti fosters their social empowerment, enabling active participation in decision-making, both locally and as elected representatives. To date, over 500 women representatives have been empowered for positive change in their communities.