Oxfam India and partner empowered Gurugumia, she inspired her village

Oxfam India and partner empowered Gurugumia, she inspired her village

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Read how @OxfamIndia and partner helped Gurugumia become a leader and reduce migration from her village http://bit.ly/1Fd0T99

Gurugumia has inspired her entire village and reduced migration. Read how @OxfamIndia empowered her http://bit.ly/1Fd0T99

Gurugumia, 38, is a resident of a small village named Purajiput in Koraput district of Odisha. 

Even though the village is only about 14 kilometres away from the block headquarter, the living conditions were below standards. 

The residents of this village depend on agriculture or wage labour for their livelihoods. Lack of sustainable livelihood opportunities led to food insecurity in most of the households. 

As a result, migration was a prominent phenomenon in this village for about four months in a year. Entire families would migrate to other districts such as Koraput, Rayagada, Joypur or even to neighbouring state, Andhra Pradesh.

Realizing the situation in her village, Gurugumia mobilised 10 women and formed a Self Help Group (SHG) named ‘Maa Brundabati’.

Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), a partner of Oxfam India, helped Gurugumia build her capacity in group management, agriculture, education, planning, government schemes, rights & entitlements, natural resource management, compost preparation, etc. 

She also got exposure through different programmes at the village, village, council, block, district and state level.

With the enhanced capacity and her commitment for the upliftment of her village, she facilitated the group meetings for identification of key issues in the village, strategy to deal with them, livelihoods plan for the group members.

Gurugumia herself practices improved agricultural practices including System of Rice Intensification (SRI), kitchen gardening, vegetable cultivation. She also mobilises others to follow her techniques for an improved livelihood.  

“CYSD and Oxfam India have not only helped me in positive change in my life, but I am also able to help my community members realise their dreams,” said Gurugumia.

After getting a proper direction from CYSD and Oxfam India, she has been doing a lot of development work including advocating for construction of check dams and roads in her village. 

With her consistent efforts seven families, who were initially excluded, got houses through the Indira Awas Yojna in her village. 

The village has seen an increase in the standard of living and it is all because of Gurugumia’s work. This has resulted in reduced migration of people from the village. 

Truly Gurugumia is an icon in her village. 

Written by: Oxfam India staff

Photo credit: Oxfam India