Pradan

- requesting all interested candidates to read the job description and eligibility criteria carefully before applying by clicking on this link: https://www.pradan.net/other-opportunities/ or by scanning the QR code.

PRADAN organised a series of orientation meetings with six Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) in Aheri Block of Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra. The meetings brought together more than 75 CLF and Village Organisation (VO) leaders from over 25 villages.

Conducted under the Sampann Vidarbha Initiative of Tata Trusts – Nurturing Equitable Empowerment (& Livelihoods) in Vidarbha (NEEV Project), the orientation was part of a broader effort to build collaboration and convergence with key stakeholders at the block and Gram Panchayat levels. As part of this process, meetings were held with Gram Sevaks, line department officials, and the Block level officials to introduce the initiative, discuss its objectives, and explore opportunities for coordinated action.

Building on these engagements, the orientation sessions were organised with community institutions across Aheri Block to create a shared understanding of the vision of the Sampann Vidarbha
Initiative and the role of community institutions in driving sustainable and inclusive development. Through interactive discussions, videos, and participatory exercises, women leaders reflected on their aspirations for their families, villages, Gram Panchayats, and the wider community.

The discussions focused on agriculture, livestock, water conservation, natural resource management, and collective livelihood initiatives. Participants shared experiences from Kharif cultivation, vegetable farming, and livestock rearing, while discussing challenges such as water scarcity and exploring opportunities to strengthen livelihoods through collective action.

The conversations were anchored around the concept of 5Js Samvardhan, that is, Jal, Jungle, Jamin, Janwar, and Jan helping participants connect livelihood enhancement with sustainable resource management.

Women leaders expressed a strong need for livelihood support, technical guidance, capacity building, exposure visits, and institutional strengthening. Most importantly, the meetings revealed a strong sense of enthusiasm, ownership, and readiness among community leaders to work together towards meaningful change.

These engagements reaffirmed the critical role of CLFs as key institutions for promoting sustainable livelihoods, strengthening local resource management, and advancing women's leadership in rural communities.

Story credit: Kodepaka Sandya and Anjali Mane



Devendra Fadnavis CMOMaharashtra @जिल्हा माहिती कार्यालय गडचिरोली

Collective Action for a Water Secure Odisha

PRADAN participated in the Odisha Water Conclave 2026 held in KISS campus, Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district, Odisha, under the theme "Collective Action for a Water-Secure Odisha." The conclave was organised by the District Administration, Kalahandi, in association with the Coalition for Change in Odisha.

The event brought together over 20 partner organisations associated with the Coalition, government officials, civil society organisations (CSOs), academic institutions, SHG leaders, and PRI members to deliberate on pathways towards a water-secure and climate-resilient future for rural Odisha.

The conclave featured discussions on critical challenges such as erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, non-functional and underutilised water infrastructure, and distress migration. Deliberations emphasised the need for improved planning, technology-enabled water governance, institutional convergence, community ownership, and the adoption of climate-resilient crops and sustainable farming practices. The discussions also highlighted the importance of integrating tools such as GIS, CLART, and YUKTADHARA with traditional knowledge systems to enable precision-based planning.

The event was graced by Sri Soumyaranjan Pradhan (IAS), Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Kalahandi, and Dr. Pawan Kumar Agrawal, Vice Chancellor, Maa Manikeswari University, Bhawanipatna, along with district-level officials. Sri Pradyumna Kumar Das, Programme Administrator, ITDA also joined the valedictory session.

Exhibition stalls set up by participating CSOs showcased impactful initiatives on water security through collaborations among government institutions, CSOs, CBOs, and PRIs. A compilation of best practices, including interventions from Podapadar village and Champadeipur Gram Panchayat in Lanjigarh block, was disseminated among participants.

A key outcome of the conclave was the collective commitment of participating CSO partners to advance five common agendas aimed at building a water-secure and climate-resilient Kalahandi district. The district administration identified a total of 273 villages across eight blocks for the development of water security action plans and the scaling up of model village strategies.

Note: PRADAN is a member of the Coalition for Change in Odisha and works alongside partner organisations to strengthen community-led water governance and promote collaborative, women collective-driven, climate-resilient solutions for a water-secure Odisha.



Administration, Kalahandi Livelihoods Mission Shakti @
Harsha Trust Gram Vikas – Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Sundargarh Foundation Alok Pathagara Foundation Manikeswari University for Change in Odisha

From Lohardaga to Dubai: A milestone for women farmers and collectives

A consignment of 1.5 tonnes of premium Grade-A Amrapali mangoes from Lohardaga district in Jharkhand has been exported to Dubai through APEDA, opening new market opportunities for local farmers and demonstrating the power of collective action.

The export was undertaken through Senem Nirem Farmer Producer Company Limited (FPCL), an FPO facilitated by PRADAN. The consignment was sourced from a single 27-acre mango plantation cluster managed by 30 women farmers from Rocho-Barwatoli village in Kuru Block. Through the export, farmers received ₹43 per kilogram for their produce, securing access to a high-value market.

Marking the occasion, the District Administration, Lohardaga, officially flagged off the consignment. The ceremony was led by Shri Sandeep Meena, Deputy Commissioner, Lohardaga. During the
online flag-off ceremony, Shri Raj Maheshwaram, Deputy Development Commissioner, Lohardaga, congratulated all stakeholders involved and highlighted the district's vision for scaling up mango exports in the years ahead.

Supported by PRADAN, Rocho has emerged as a model organic village, known for its large-scale mango plantations developed in contiguous patches. This achievement reflects years of investment in farmer collectivisation, sustainable agriculture, and market linkages.

The export also highlights the immense potential of Lohardaga as a mango-producing region. Across the district, more than 8,500 acres of mango plantations have been developed under various schemes. Under the Birsa Harit Gram Yojana (BHGY) alone, over 6,500 acres of mango plantations have been established, creating the potential to produce more than 2,500 metric tonnes of premium-quality mangoes annually.

As efforts continue to strengthen FPOs, promote organic certification, and expand access to international markets, this milestone offers a glimpse of what is possible when farmers, institutions, and local administration work together to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Story credit: Md Fahad Khan



and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority

The history of Bastar lives not only in historical records but also in its songs, traditions, art forms, and collective memory.

History of Bastar, authored by Kuntal Mukherjee, Integrator, PRADAN, and Rameshwar Baghel, social worker, brings together these diverse threads to trace the region’s historical journey, cultural heritage, and evolving identity.

Supported by Rainmatter Foundation, the book draws on extensive research, field experiences, and community knowledge to offer a deeper understanding of the people, traditions, and values that continue to shape Bastar today.

Originally written in Hindi, this publication is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the rich cultural legacy of Bastar.

Read and download the book here:
https://www.pradan.net/sampark/repository/history-of-bastar/

PRADAN organised a field visit for Mr. Swapan Dhar, MD & CEO, SBI Foundation, to Kerkera village in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The visit was also attended by Mr. Pradyumna Nayak, Block Development Officer, Karanjia.

The visit offered an opportunity to observe how renewable energy-based livelihood interventions introduced under the Solar Technology for Eradicating Poverty (STEP) Project are enabling climate-resilient agriculture while strengthening rural livelihoods. Implemented in partnership with SBI Foundation, the project worked with nearly 2,000 small and marginal farmers across Mayurbhanj (Odisha) and Jamui (Bihar) to improve access to irrigation, promote diversified agriculture, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The delegation interacted with members of Water User Groups & Solar User Associations and visited Solar Lift Irrigation Systems (SLIS), community-managed irrigation infrastructure, demonstration plots, Bio Resource Centres (BRCs), and women-led solar-powered enterprises. Discussions focused on vegetable cultivation, diversified agriculture, regenerative farming practices, income enhancement activities, and solar-powered micro-enterprises promoted under the project.

A key highlight of the initiative has been the establishment of 50 solar-powered lift irrigation systems with a total installed capacity of 275 kW, bringing nearly 1,000 acres under assured irrigation and supporting around 2,000 farmers. By replacing conventional irrigation sources such as diesel pumps and reducing dependence on manual water transportation, the project has improved agricultural productivity, reduced input costs, and enabled year-round cultivation. The initiative is expected to avoid approximately 500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions over five years and has helped promote clean energy solutions that contribute to a lower-carbon rural economy.

Women farmers shared their experiences of accessing reliable irrigation, expanding vegetable cultivation and fruit tree plantations, adopting crop diversification, increasing cropping intensity, and improving household incomes through sustainable farming and enterprise activities.

The visit highlighted how community ownership, strong local institutions, and renewable energy-based solutions continue to sustain project outcomes while creating pathways for improved incomes, resilient agriculture, environmental sustainability, and a lower-carbon rural economy.



SBI Foundation

“Aam ke Aam, Gutliyon ke Daam” (profits from the mangoes and profits from the kernels too), is a proverb that reminds us how value can be found in unexpected places.

In Nagri block of Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh, members of Gattasilli Farmer Producer Company, an FPO facilitated by PRADAN, have transformed discarded mango kernels into a new livelihood opportunity. What was once considered waste is now being collected, processed, and linked to markets through collective action.

Around 250 farmers from 19 villages were trained in quality drying and storage practices to meet industry standards. The result: nearly 2.7 tonnes of premium-quality mango kernels have been aggregated and sold for use in cosmetics and personal care products so far, with an expected seasonal turnover of around ₹1 lakh.

The initiative highlights how Farmer Producer Organisations can unlock new income streams by strengthening local value chains, creating market linkages, and turning underutilised resources into economic opportunities for rural communities.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/Gattasilli-FPC

Story credit: Saswati Subhadarshini
Story Map Credit: Rohit Raman

- requesting all interested candidates to read the job description and eligibility criteria carefully before applying by clicking on this link: https://www.pradan.net/other-opportunities/ or by scanning the QR code.

PRADAN organised a two-day district-level Training of Trainers (ToT) on nutrition for Community Resource Persons (CRPs) from nine blocks in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh. Attended by around 30 participants, the training aimed to strengthen their understanding of nutrition and build their capacity to promote nutrition-sensitive interventions within communities.
The sessions covered key topics such as nutrition and malnutrition, dietary diversity, nutrition garden models, and integrating nutrition into livelihood planning. Through interactive exercises and group discussions, participants explored balanced diets, locally available nutritious foods, and practical ways to improve household nutrition.
The training also addressed common myths and misconceptions. Discussions highlighted the links between gender and nutrition, the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition, and the importance of sustained behaviour change for improving nutritional outcomes.
Participants were introduced to key nutrition assessment tools, including BMI (Body Mass Index), MDD (Minimum Dietary Diversity), and FCS (Food Consumption Score), and developed an action plan for nutrition baseline assessments, capacity building, and nutrition-sensitive planning.
Through this initiative, PRADAN aims to strengthen frontline members as nutrition champions who can support livelihood interventions, nutrition gardens, and behaviour change efforts, ultimately reaching around 4,000–4,500 households across the district.

Story credit: Hiba Basheer.

PRADAN, with the support of Axis Bank Limited, organised Micro Production Cluster (MPC) Melas in the Katoria and Chandan blocks of Banka district, Bihar.

The primary objective of the melas was to promote cluster-based vegetable cultivation and raise awareness about the benefits of collective farming. Around 1,200 women farmers participated in the events, sharing their experiences, agricultural challenges, and aspirations for improving their livelihoods and strengthening their villages.

The melas also served as a platform to demonstrate crop-specific Packages of Practices (PoPs) and regenerative agricultural techniques for selected vegetable crops. Participants were introduced to improved cultivation practices for crops such as brinjal, grafted tomato, and chilli, and were encouraged to cultivate vegetables on at least 0.1 acres of land.

A key focus of the programme was supporting farmers across the entire value chain; from quality seed procurement to market linkages, highlighting opportunities to enhance productivity and increase incomes. Farmers who had already adopted vegetable cultivation shared their success stories, inspiring others to explore the practice. A comparative analysis of returns from traditional crops such as paddy and maize versus vegetable cultivation further demonstrated the higher income potential of diversified farming systems.

The events generated significant interest among participants, with many women expressing their willingness to adopt vegetable cultivation and become members of the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO).

The MPC Melas emerged as an effective platform for knowledge sharing, peer learning, and community mobilisation. By combining technical demonstrations, farmer-to-farmer learning, and awareness on market-oriented agriculture, the initiative encouraged women farmers to adopt collective farming approaches and vegetable-based livelihoods. In doing so, it laid the foundation for more resilient livelihoods, higher farm incomes, and sustainable agricultural development.

Story credit: Parul Kashyap and Saroj Kumar