The Dalit Development Mission (DDM), Nuapada has initiated a household survey for assessment of the socioeconomic situation of Dalits in Titilagarh block of Balangir district.
"The survey would include various aspects like their education, health, skill, occupational pattern, income and migration, land ownership, housing facilities, food availability and access to development," said DDM founder PK Naik.
“Our effort would be to identify the gaps where we could intervene to expedite development of Dalits by providing our support as well as linking eligible households to Government programmes and schemes," he said.
A Cadre Training programme of the youths who have been engaged for the survey was held on Saturday. "We have decided to complete the survey within a month," said Naik. A general body meeting of the DDM under the chairmanship of Naik was held on Sunday to elect its office-bearers and discuss about the various problems faced by Dalits in the society. The meeting was addressed by former Nuapada ZP President Puspanjali Pandey, Dr PK Barik, social activist Lankesh Ravan, journalist Ajit Panda, Upendra Tandi, Dr Pranabandhu Jagdala, Ugrasen Tandi and Amar Singh Mahanand. Ugaesen Tandi was elected as president.
The DDM was formed in the year 2016 and has been working for Dalit empowerment. Several Dalit girls and boys have got financial support from the DDM to pursue their higher studies.
