Sakshyam

Building long-term livelihood skills in women and youth

Project Unnati

Unnati is an integrated capacity-building initiative that aims at social and economic empowerment of women in rural Odisha through the self-help approach. The project is based on capacity-building in the areas of savings and credits, livelihood, education, health, nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene. The initiatives for members are carried out through the participatory method wherein 12-15 women go through a comprehensive training process that includes a total of 151 meetings over a period of 3 years. The project started in the districts of Keonjhar and Angul. In 2015-16, it was expanded to Jajpur district. The SHGs are linked with the banks and government departments to receive financial assistance, training, monitoring, and support. SHG members are also informed about the different social security schemes of the government such as Mamata Yojana, Widow Pension, Biju Phasal Bima Yojana, and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). Furthermore, women receive life skills training in preventive health, nutrition, safe drinking water, and hygiene practices.

Unnati has been recognized as one of the best cases of ‘Corporate Support for Women’s Empowerment, Reproductive & Maternal Health’ by UN Foundation & GBCHealth.