Oxfam India and partner empowered Gurugumia, she inspired her village

Oxfam India and partner empowered Gurugumia, she inspired her village

Sharelines

Read how @OxfamIndia and partner helped Gurugumia become a leader and reduce migration from her village http://bit.ly/1Fd0T99

Gurugumia has inspired her entire village and reduced migration. Read how @OxfamIndia empowered her http://bit.ly/1Fd0T99

Gurugumia, 38, is a resident of a small village named Purajiput in Koraput district of Odisha. 

Even though the village is only about 14 kilometres away from the block headquarter, the living conditions were below standards. 

The residents of this village depend on agriculture or wage labour for their livelihoods. Lack of sustainable livelihood opportunities led to food insecurity in most of the households. 

As a result, migration was a prominent phenomenon in this village for about four months in a year. Entire families would migrate to other districts such as Koraput, Rayagada, Joypur or even to neighbouring state, Andhra Pradesh.

Realizing the situation in her village, Gurugumia mobilised 10 women and formed a Self Help Group (SHG) named ‘Maa Brundabati’.

Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), a partner of Oxfam India, helped Gurugumia build her capacity in group management, agriculture, education, planning, government schemes, rights & entitlements, natural resource management, compost preparation, etc. 

She also got exposure through different programmes at the village, village, council, block, district and state level.

With the enhanced capacity and her commitment for the upliftment of her village, she facilitated the group meetings for identification of key issues in the village, strategy to deal with them, livelihoods plan for the group members.

Gurugumia herself practices improved agricultural practices including System of Rice Intensification (SRI), kitchen gardening, vegetable cultivation. She also mobilises others to follow her techniques for an improved livelihood.  

“CYSD and Oxfam India have not only helped me in positive change in my life, but I am also able to help my community members realise their dreams,” said Gurugumia.

After getting a proper direction from CYSD and Oxfam India, she has been doing a lot of development work including advocating for construction of check dams and roads in her village. 

With her consistent efforts seven families, who were initially excluded, got houses through the Indira Awas Yojna in her village. 

The village has seen an increase in the standard of living and it is all because of Gurugumia’s work. This has resulted in reduced migration of people from the village. 

Truly Gurugumia is an icon in her village. 

 

Written by: Oxfam India staff

Photo credit: Oxfam India

 


Others

Find out how Oxfam India is enabling communities by working to provide a life of dignity and equal opportunity for all.Get to know more about Oxfam India`s latest projects.

Read More

Related Stories

Essential Services

13 Sep, 2023

Kalahandi, Odisha

Solar-based IRP: Providing Clean Drinking Water

As the round of introductions was in progress at the meeting of the water users committee in Deulsulia village, one couldn’t help but notice the discoloured teeth of the men, women and children.

Read More

Women Livelihood

29 Aug, 2023

Kalahandi, Odisha

Goat Rearing To Supplement Income

“Goat rearing is not an additional burden on us. In fact, it is our source for additional income,” says Rukha Jani of the Ma Janaki SHG in Nunpur village in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.

Read More

Women Livelihood

22 Aug, 2023

Nalanda, Bihar

Sprinklers For Nalanda Farmers Ushers Improved Yields

सब खूबी में सबसे

Read More

Women Livelihood

21 Aug, 2023

Nalanda, Bihar

Vermicompost Pit | Our Gift To Mother Earth

“The field with the big mango tree” is how one finds the way to Sanju Devi’s field in Lodipur village in Nagarnausa block in Bihar’s Nalanda district.

Read More