In continuation of its women empowerment initiatives for communities surrounding its Cuttack and Rajgangpur plants and Lanjiberna Mines, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL) is promoting mushroom cultivation.
It has promoted mushroom cultivation at Lanjiberna and its peripheral villages such as Kheramuta, Jangartoli, Rumabahal, Dhaurada, Lamloi, Bihabandh, Gyanpali, Samleimunda, Damposh, Ghoghar, Meromdega (Kukuda).
At present most of the villages in Lanjiberna and Rajgangpur periphery area have mushroom cultivation units enabling women to earn up to Rs 5,000 a month. Each beneficiary has laid 30 to 40 beds for mushroom farming which yields around 3kg mushroom from each bed. Similarly, paddy straw mushroom is cultivated from July to October making women independent and plays a vital role in supporting their families.
In the Cuttack area, 30 SHG members of 4 SHGs including Baba Jogeswar SHG of Amiyajhari village, Jay Trinath SHG, Matru shakti SHG and Sai Sharana SHG of Safa village are involved in mushroom cultivation as their income generation activity. Dalmia Cement provided training and seeds and enabling them to earn an average income per member of up to Rs 4,000 per month.