Pockets: Tribal villages in Daspalla Block of Nayagarh District; Recurrent flood and cyclone (natural hazards) affected villages in Gop Block of Puri District; Fishermen villages of conflict-affected Chilika Lake under Ganjam, Puri and Khurdha Districts; and Slums of Bhubaneswar (State Capital) city.

Interventions (2007 – 2009):

A detailed needs assessment and village-level participatory planning was conducted in each pocket. A long-term development plan was developed based on ground-level problems and community-level planning. Pilot interventions were taken up in each pocket: Daspalla: Improvement of village access roads, drinking water sources, agro service centres, and promotion of renewable energy sources (solar lighting); ii.Gop: Flood-proofing of drinking water sources, agro development centres (agricultural inputs and equipment), provision of community boats, fuel efficient cooking stoves, and demonstration of flood and cyclone proof construction technology by constructing community centre building; iii.Chilika: Improvement of drinking water sources, post-harvest fishing technology (dry-fish platform), and community centre building; iv.Urban Slum: Improvement of drinking water sources, waste management technology demonstration, and improvement of community centres.

Based on macro-micro analysis, the long-term development plan was finalized which consisted of a study of government policies and programmes, community-level needs, gaps and experiences from pilot activities.

Pilot demonstration activities in each pocket (with local NGO partners): Daspalla: Micro-irrigation project, organic farming and forest protection etc; ii. Gop: Micro irrigation, promotion of bamboo plantation, extension of vegetable cultivation, and improvement of agro-service centre; iii. Chilika: Community based conservation practices in Chilika Lake, and legal and policy issues; iv. Slum: Water point management by communities and community sanitary toilets.

Long-Term Planned Interventions (2009 – 2011): Detailed project reports for 1st phase of interventions (three years) was prepared for the disaster pocket in Gop and the tribal pocket in Daspalla, with have been prepared for mobilization of required resources. Additionally, the registration process and legal procedure for Liaison Status for Practical Action in India was initiated.

Donor: Practical Action (previously ITDG).