Jharsuguda : More than 450 Community Based Organizations of 78 Panchayats of Sundergarh and Jharsuguda districts came together under one platform the �Loka Sangathan Utsav� here to raise voice towards ensuring livelihood of 2, 40,000 poor people.
There are different schemes and programmes such as MGNREGA, Forest Rights Act and Food Security Act have been introduced by Govt from time to time, which benefits are yet to reach the poor and marginalized, expressed by the leaders of the community based organizations during the Utsav.
Inaugurating the two days long Lokutsav, Jharsuguda District Collector Jharsuguda Mr. Parameswaram �B� said that the MGNREGA is revolutionary initiative taken by Government towards poverty alleviation of rural poor through secured livelihood generation. The Forest Committee formed in 161 villages which is promoting secure land and forest rights of Adivasi forest dwellers, he further added.
Ms. Lilli Kumari Kullu, OAS -1 (SB), APD, DRDA commended the efforts made by the CBO leaders in making the rights and entitlements reaching the targeted beneficiaries. The State Programme Head of PACS, Shri Sashikant Malick delivered the keynote address and Dr. Kumar Prasant spoke about the constructive, positive role played by the CBOs are to be accelerated in future days for the betterment of rural poor. Among others, Father Nicholas Barla and Father Sahaya Raj also spoke about the forest rights of the Dalit and Adivasis.
In this two days event, representatives from 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 �will participate and present their opinion about the activities conducted in the sector of MGNREGA, health and Education sector through the village level CBOs under PACS (DFID) program intervention. Shri Prasanna Kumar Lima, Programme Officer (PACS) extended vote of thanks.
