Around 450 community-based organisations (CBO) of 78 gram panchayats of Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts came together under one platform ‘loka Sangathan Utsav’ here to raise their voice in ensuring livelihood to 2.4 lakh poor people.
Though there are different welfare schemes and programmes like MGNREGA, Forest Rights Act and Food Security Act, but the poor and marginalised people are being deprived of getting the benefits, expressed community leaders at the loka Sangathan Utsav.
Inaugurating the two-day Utsav, Jharsuguda Collector Parameswaram B said forest committees have been formed in 161 villages which is promoting land and forest rights of tribals and forest dwellers.
District Rural Development Agency Additional Project Director lilli Kumari Kullu highlighted various efforts being undertaken by the community based leaders in making the rights and entitlements reaching the targeted beneficiaries.
PACS State Programme Head Sashikant Malick, Dr Kumar Prasant spoke about the constructive, positive role played by the community village leaders for the betterment of rural poor. Among others, Nicholas Barla and Sahaya Raj spoke about the forest rights of the dalit and tribal peoples.
On the second day event, representatives of 288 village forest rights committee, village development committee of Kunwarmunda, lathikata, Bisra and Nugaon blocks of Sundargarh district and lakhanpur, Kirmira and Kolabira blocks of Jharsuguda district participated and presented their opinion about the activities conducted in MGNREGA, health and education sectors.