BSSS as an expert has engaged in many agricultural projects for the purpose of building up the backbone of our economy, contributing significantly to food security, employment, and rural development. BSSS has been focussing on enhancing crop yields through sustainable farming practices, improved irrigation, and access to high-quality seeds. Climate change remains a challenge, affecting rainfall patterns and crop productivity. In response, we introduced climate-resilient crop varieties and promoted adaptive farming techniques among our farmers. We have also invested in training programs to equip farmers with knowledge on organic farming and soil health management. Digital tools for weather forecasting and market information were provided to aid in informed decision-making. Our collective efforts aim to build a resilient agricultural sector capable of meeting future demands while preserving the environment.
The Agricultural Development Program has primarily focused on the Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and parts of Balasore districts, specifically targeting tribal communities and the most impoverished populations. From the outset, both international and local funding agencies have supported this initiative and regard us as experts in the field. Government agencies such as CTCRI and NABARD have conducted various studies on rice intensification, with experiments actively carried out within our program areas.
Projects like SWAAD II, PEACE, and DREAM, funded by Caritas France and Manos Unidas, are implementing initiatives that promote sustainable agricultural practices embraced by the community.
SWAAD II – (Social Welfare through Agricultural and Allied Development)
This project is designed for 17 villages within the Saragachhida Gram Panchayat of Kuliana Block in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The area is predominantly inhabited by tribal communities, including the Santhal, Khadia, and Bhumij tribes, who rely heavily on land, forest, and natural resources for their livelihoods. Five of these villages lie along the Odisha-West Bengal border. Agriculture, forest products, animal husbandry, and daily wage labor serve as the primary sources of income for these communities. Currently, agriculture is limited to a single crop of paddy cultivated during the Kharif season, solely dependent on rainfall, as most of the farmland is upland with minimal irrigation. Traditional farming practices, combined with limited livelihood alternatives, hinder income diversification for households. Furthermore, the community faces challenges in accessing government and allied support schemes.
To address these issues, BSSS initiated its intervention in June 2019, targeting 3,564 people across 833 households. Within the project framework, BSSS has established various Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), including 17 Farmers Clubs across the project villages (Saragachhida village is split into Saragachhida-01 and Saragachhida-02, each with its own club) and a Farmers Federation. Farmers receive training in advanced agricultural practices and are provided with quality paddy and vegetable seeds for backyard gardening during Kharif and Rabi seasons. Additionally, 16 agricultural hubs have been established, equipped with improved farming tools.
BSSS has also adopted 34 Women’s Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) to develop them as model groups with robust record-keeping practices, active Income Generation Activities (IGAs), and strong linkages to resource agencies.
PEACE (Promoting Sustainable Economic Wellbeing and Creating Access to Quality Education)
The project aims topromote sustainable economic well-being and creating access to quality educationworking directly with 4440 beneficiaries and covering households around 1406 in the district of Keonjhar in 5 villages namely; Gobardhan, Sendkap, Rukunadeipur, Banua and Balisuan. Within the project 13 Farmer’s Club, 7 Bridge up Centers, 7 Children’s Club, and 1 Children’s parliament was formed and 26 SHGs was strengthened. Farmer’s club are now involved in growing vegetables, cash crops, pulses and rearing chicks, while the SHGs are involved in making Bodi, growing mushrooms and also rearing chicks collectively. The Children’s Club and Children’s Parliament are able to campaign for their rights and have been able to repair a tubewell in one of the villages by writing an application to the Sarpanch.
BSSS has been dedicated to transforming the lives of children through education, believing that knowledge is the foundation for a brighter future. Our programs focus on holistic development, reaching underserved communities and providing access to quality education. Through scholarships, after-school tutoring, and skill-building workshops, BSSS supports students academically and personally. Also, special emphasis is placed on digital literacy to prepare women in their day-to-day activity. By collaborating with parents and community leaders, we ensure that education remains accessible and meaningful. Our efforts have impacted hundreds of lives, fostering a love for learning and equipping children and women with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving world.
The concept of Bridge up centres was started in the filed area for providing remedial classes to the disadvantaged children. Presently there are around 50 BuCs running in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar district for providing remedial classes to the children to be able to perform well in formal school.
With the aim to provide basic education to women around 70 Women Literacy Centre has been temporarily established to help more than 2000 women to understand the importance of basic education.
Support from funding agencies like SAC, Wilde Ganzen, Hilfuzur and also local CSR funding agency like TPNODL has encouraged us for the positive impact brought about with their collaboration, support and opportunity through projects.
Women Literacy Center- with the support of Tata Power Northern Odisha Distribution Limited’s CSR funding more than 2000 women have received basic education like reading and writing skill and have understood elementary mathematics which can be used in their day-to-day activity. The WLC in Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Keonjhar has helped them to tap govt. schemes and linkages have also been initiated and successfully established. The women belonging to the age group of 20 – 60 years are interested and happy to receive basic education at their door step and at their convenience time. Women are now able to put their signature instead of thump impression whether it is in the bank or in the SHG meeting group or in their work area.
Bridge up Center - In the rural belt the govt. schools conduct regular classes but for the children especially belonging to tribal community are unable to cope with the pace of school curriculum due different ethnicity. The parents belonging to tribal community cannot to afford private tuitions as well, therefore a Bridge up centres were planned by BSSS to provide remedial classes for the children who are weak in studies and whose parents are not able to guide them in their studies nor can they afford to pay for private tuitions. The community space is utilised for the purpose making it easily accessible for the children. With the support of SAC (Stichting Actie Calcutta) and Wilde Ganzen around 40 centres are operational in districts of Mayurbhanj and Balasore. Another 10 centres in the district of Keonjhar is supported by Manos Unidas and 5 centres supported by FdnF (Freres de nos Freres). Around 400 children benefitted from BuC and performed well in their formal school with the help of BuC teachers. Many dropout children also enrolled and eventually got themselves admitted in the govt. school and could match the pace with other regular students.
Skill Development - With the collaboration of Hilfezur 105 students benefitted from the project with a support of training and placement. Various training program like tailoring, embroidery and computer application was imparted to the selected students. Now, the students have started to generate income for the family after the completion of the training program.
SEED (Skill, Education and Empowerment for Sustainable Development of Youth, children and women) -Working in 1 gram panchayat Srirampur of Jaleswar blocks covering 9 villages targeting a population of 7488within the household of 1173. With the support of FdnF, Geneva, Switzerland the project aims for Improved quality of life of the children through socio-economic empowerment of youth, women and children. Through the project 30 SHGs has been strengthened in terms of starting their own income generating activities and becoming active and functional. Quality education has been provided to 119 students in the age group of 5-12 years.
Since its inception BSSS has been involved in relief work during the times of disaster. With changing times, the organisations are now working for the purpose professionally for the relief work with collaboration of funding agencies like Caritas, CRS and even govt. Dept. We at BSSS have exclusive trainers for task force members their formation and training them to undertake the responsibilities of each task force team.
BSSS has been closely working with the emergency office of Balasore district and is also appointed as the Nodal NGO at the district level. The role of the Nodal NGO is to collaboratively work with OSDMA and Emergency Dept. for conducting mock drills and preparation of Village Disaster Management Plan (including village maps, hazard maps, safe route maps, resource maps, institutional maps, etc.) and train and prepare the task force team for the any kind of disaster. Presently BSSS is working with 2 blocks Baliapal and Balasore Sadar covering 30 villages and 30 multipurpose cyclone shelter. Similarly, in Basudevpur of Bhadrak district project Global Programme funded by German Government (BMZ) and Caritas German targeting around 10 villages with 20000 population task force team was formed in each of the 10 villages and were trained to counter the disaster as the areasare prone to flood and cyclone every year.
ECRICC (Enhancing Climate Resilience of India's Coastal Communities)
BSSS is also collaborating with the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Govt. of India to develop the resilience of the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations particularly women, in the coastal areas of India to climate change and extreme events, using an ecosystem-centered and community-based approach. This program focuses on activities of Awareness, Training, Climate Adaptive Livelihoods and Capacity Building.
Thirty-six villages of 15 panchayats of Bhogarai&Baliapal blocks of Balasore districts are selected as the area for intervention. 14093 Households with a 59,661 population are the beneficiaries of the program. This program is funded by the Green Climate Fund(GCF), the Government of India, the Government of Odisha and UNDP.There are 1133 SHGs in 15 Panchayats with 11795 women members who are directly targeted in the project.
One of the themes of BSSS is HEALTH, therefore in programs like, eye donation camp, Audicare camp and health checkup camps are organised from time to time in the project area of BSSS.