Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government’s Mission Shakti Department on Thursday signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) and the NSE Foundation to launch Project BLESS, a three-year initiative, aimed at reducing distress migration.
It will create sustainable livelihood opportunities, promoting skill development and encouraging entrepreneurship among vulnerable rural families. The MoU was signed at Lok Seva Bhawan in the presence of Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Mission Shakti Secretary Manasi Nimbhal. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM).
Project BLESS is designed to identify families vulnerable to migration before they leave their villages and connect them with sustainable livelihood options, skill development programmes, financial services and government welfare schemes. The initiative seeks to address the root causes of distress migration by strengthening local employment opportunities and improving rural incomes.
The project will be implemented across 69 blocks in eight districts — Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Rayagada. It is expected to benefit around 8.81 lakh rural families and 86,468 Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
To ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level, around 550 Jeevika Sakhis selected from SHGs will work with community institutions. The programme will be carried out through SHGs, Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs).
As part of the initiative, a mobile application-based vulnerability assessment will be conducted at the household level to identify families at risk of migration. Based on the findings, family-specific livelihood plans will be prepared, while beneficiaries will receive market-oriented skill development training, access to digital market platforms and support in securing financial services.
The project will also facilitate access to credit, government welfare schemes and livelihood opportunities tailored to individual family needs. In cases where migration cannot be avoided, migrant workers will receive assistance in accessing fair wages, legal support and social security benefits at their destinations.
Special emphasis will be placed on ensuring uninterrupted nutrition, healthcare and pre-primary education services for children of migrant families. The initiative also aims to strengthen SHGs and their federations, enhancing women’s economic empowerment and building resilient rural communities.
Among those present during the signing ceremony were NSE Foundation representative Rema Mohan, CRISP representatives R. Subramaniam and G.V.G. Sharma, along with senior officials from the Mission Shakti Department and representatives of the partner organisations.
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