Government Schemes Can Transform Rural Lives, Says Collector at Sinapali Camp

Nuapada, August 10: An awareness camp for migrant workers along with a series of public welfare activities was organised at Talakot village under Ghatmal Gram Panchayat in Sinapali block of Nuapada district on Sunday, with District Collector Madhusudan Dash emphasising the need to create sustainable livelihood opportunities within the local area. The programme was attended by Chief Development Officer, Zilla Parishad Lambodar Dharua, Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer Dr Dwarikanath Satapathy, Sinapali BDO Karmi Oram, Tahasildar Upanjali Majhi and Sarpanch Tekram Majhi, besides district- and block-level officials from various departments. During the camp, officials sensitised migrant workers, farmers, women and other villagers about various people-oriented government schemes and the benefits available under them. Discussions also focused on the challenges faced by migrant workers while working outside the state and the livelihood opportunities that can be explored locally. Collector Calls for Local Employment Opportunities Addressing the gathering, Collector Madhusudan Dash urged migrant workers to explore employment and livelihood opportunities available through government programmes rather than being compelled to migrate to other states and work under difficult conditions. He highlighted the potential of the VBG-RAM-G programme, stating that rural families could utilise available opportunities to earn an income within their own villages, strengthen their livelihoods and move towards greater self-reliance. The Collector also urged parents to ensure that their children attend school regularly and receive quality education. He said that better education and skill development among children could help address several social and economic challenges faced by families in the long run. He further called upon villagers to ensure effective implementation of government schemes at the panchayat level and sought their cooperation in making the village free from single-use plastic. ‘A Tree for the Girl Child’ Initiative The programme began with initiatives such as ‘A Tree for the Girl Child’ and ‘A Day for the Unborn Child’. Collector Dash held newborn girl Tripti Mayee Majhi in his arms and wished her a bright future. He presented gifts and a sapling to the child’s parents as a symbolic gesture promoting the value of the girl child and environmental conservation. Pregnant women were also provided with fruits, vegetables, nutritious food items and gifts as part of the maternal and child welfare initiative. Praise for Eco-Friendly SHG Products The Collector appreciated the efforts of Self-Help Groups for preparing plates and bowls from locally collected forest leaves. He said such eco-friendly initiatives could help reduce dependence on single-use plastic and contribute towards environmental protection and ecological balance. For their notable contribution to cleanliness and environmental protection, Maniram Jagat and Pankaj Hans were felicitated with the ‘Swachhata Doot Samman’. The programme concluded with ‘A Day for Birds’, aimed at creating awareness among villagers about bird protection, biodiversity conservation and the importance of preserving the natural ecosystem. The multifaceted programme brought together livelihood promotion, migrant worker awareness, education, women and child welfare, sanitation and environmental conservation, reinforcing the administration’s focus on inclusive development at the grassroots level.