Lodha Micro Project: An impact study on development of Lodha women in Odisha

Lodha micro project has been launched in Suliapada and Morada blocks in Mayurbhanj district in Odisha to bring Lodha people into the mainstream with feasible income generating activities to remove the social stigma of their criminal identity. Moreover, Lodha women have more responsibilities and involvement in farm activities for maintenance of their family. The study revealed that there was developments on good linkages established, better coordination, team work, contact and understanding among people, increase in income, employment, production, productivity and irrigation facilities, educational activities, self sufficiency in food, better housing, adopting remunerative enterprise with use of inputs and materials as well as plantations in degraded lands. Poor developments were observed on restoration of ecological balance, access to credit facilities, easy marketing of the produce, productive time management, farm activities round the year, proper maintenance of the assets created etc. have to be further strengthened for the empowerment of Lodha women facilitating alround development of the Lodha community.