Disability and Development are the major thrust areas of CCD.  Since 2004 CCD has been focusing on leadership promotion, social & financial inclusion, micro-enterprise promotion, strengthening Disabled people’s organization at Panchayat, Block level, District and State level, network building, and livelihood promotion.  In the Gajapati district, there are 16433 persons with disabilities but CCD has reached only 3015 persons with disabilities and working for their mainstreaming.

Therapeutic and Rehabilitative services to intellectual disability children have been initiated by CCD with the support of SSEPD, Government of Odisha.  66 children with intellectual disability children have been identified and providing therapy services and also imparting training to the parents on therapy exercises to continue the exercise to their children.  Monthly 4 - 5 times therapy services rendering to the children.  Credit support is being provided to the parents of intellectual disability children for their financial rehabilitation.  Our physiotherapist is making home visits to provide therapy and from time to time we are also hiring physiotherapists from a government hospital for better services and linking to government provisions.  With the regular therapy services and also efforts by the parents, now 25 children with intellectual disabilities are improving their physical condition.  The improvement is increasing from 40% to 80% basing on their disability.

Major Achievements 

3015 new PwD members have identified and included in SAMARTH for their mainstreaming.

2981 nos of medical certificates issued by the medical authority with the facilitation of SAMARTH and project staff.

2979 PwD members have received a pension and with the facilitation of project staff, 1988 members have got Rs.700/- with 60% and above disability.

1725 members have got knowledge of PwD law and entitlements and 50% of members are coming forward for their rights through advocacy with block officials.

767 PwD members got vocational / skill development training on different trades  and the units are going on. Financial literacy training has helped a lot in bank linkage and financial inclusion.  

1559 members have started their individual income generation activity and getting an income of Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 18000/- per month.

184 SHGs of PwDs have been promoted with 1045 members from different categories.  They are continuing their monthly savings with credit from their group.

935 members have been trained on SHG operation and management.  Regular meetings of SHG and record maintenance is being done with the help of project staff and CRPs of OLM.

588 PwD members got financial support of Rs. 64.52 lakhs to strengthen their self-help projects from REHSWISS from 2004 to 2023.

53 Visually Impaired Students are being enrolled in Government schools to get higher education and promoted Braille education.

12 Physically impaired members received artificial limb from Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability Deptt., (SSEPD), Government of Odisha.


Advocacy activities by CCD / SAMARTH OPD, Gajapati

One Braille Resource cum Vocation Centre mobilized from District Administration worth of Rs. 10 lakhs.  Also mobilized one Braille Printer worth of Rs. 3.2 lakhs and Low vision materials worth of Rs. 10 lakhs.

Monthly network meeting of SAMARTH has been conducted to review the ongoing activities focusing on income generation activities, advocacy measures to get their right and entitlements.  

13 graduate visually impaired persons got a laptop with the facilitation of SAMARTH.

19 PwD couples got a marriage incentive of Rs. 50000/- each and one person got Rs. 2,50,000 from Government.

4 PwD members got State-level Award from Govt. of Odisha on the eve of International Disabled Day as the best self-employment.  One PwD member has received Red Cross Award from Indian Red Cross Society for his outstanding contribution for rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in Gajapati District, Odisha.  7 PwD members have received District level Award and 10 PwD members got Block level Award for best Self-Employment.

Mr. Santosh Kumar Moharana, DPO member of SAMARTH has received sambhabi award from Bansidhar Illa Panda Foundation, Bhubaneswar in 2018.

Mr. Santosh Kumar Moharana, Secretary of SAMARTH has got an opportunity to visit Brussels, Belzium with the support of Europian Union and Sightsavers and highlighted the initiatives of SAMARTH on Gajapati towards mainstreaming the PwDs.

Mr. Niranjan Behera, Chairperson of SAMARTH has received National Award from Hon'ble Vice-President of India as best non-professional in rendering social services for Persons with Disabilities in Odisha.