The Odisha government has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) and the NSE Foundation to implement Project BLESS, a three-year initiative aimed at preventing distress migration by strengthening livelihood opportunities, skill development and entrepreneurship among vulnerable rural families.
The MoU was signed by the state Mission Shakti Department at Lok Seva Bhawan in the presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Mission Shakti Secretary Manasi Nimbhal. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM).
Project BLESS aims to identify families vulnerable to migration before they leave their villages and connect them with sustainable livelihood opportunities, skill training, financial services and government welfare schemes.
The initiative will cover 69 blocks across eight districts — Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Rayagada — and is expected to benefit around 8.81 lakh rural families and 86,468 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Around 550 Jeevika Sakhis selected from SHGs will assist in implementing the programme at the grassroots level.
The project will use SHGs, Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs) to deliver support. A mobile application-based vulnerability assessment will be conducted at the household level to identify families at risk.
Under the initiative, families will receive customised livelihood plans, market-oriented skill development training, access to digital market platforms, credit facilities and links to government welfare schemes.
The programme will also provide support to migrant workers in cases where migration cannot be avoided, including access to fair wages, legal assistance and social security benefits.
The initiative will focus on strengthening community institutions and promoting women’s economic empowerment through SHGs and their federations. It will also ensure continuity of nutrition, healthcare and pre-primary education services for children of migrant families.
ANI
