Founded in August 1988, Project Swarajya is a non-profit Non-Government Organisation based at Cuttack, Orissa having its branch and activities in other districts of the State and beyond. Presently located in a historic building at Bakharabad, Cuttack, which was a nerve-centre of the freedom struggle in Orissa, the Organisation true to its name is committed to the goal of empowering the people, especially the marginalized sections such as Dalits, Women, Minorities, destitutes and disadvantaged in every aspect of their collective life vis-à-vis the vested interests of the State and other dominant power blocks.

The Organisation is Registered under the following Acts:
- Society Registration Act 1860,
- Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 1976
- Section 80(G) of Income Tax Act 1961 (For receiving tax-exempt donation )

Address-
Head Office
Ganesh Ghat, Bakharabad, Cuttack-753002, Orissa, India
Ph-91-671-2421097 & 2308518, Mobile: 09437021247
E-mail-projectswarajya@sify.com and dollidash@rediffmail.com

Branch Office 1
'Swarajya' Short Stay Home, Near Collectorate, At-Khadianga, Po/Dt-Kendrapada-754211, Orissa, India
Ph-06727 233569, Mobile-09861262342
E-mail-senapatiashis@rediffmail.com

Branch Office 2
Nishamukti Kendra, At-Bimala Bhawan, Po-Silipur, Via-Marshaghai, Dist-Kendrapada-754213 Orissa, India
Ph-06727 272035, Mobile-09938130940

Highlights of Performance

Right since its inception the Organisation has engaged itself in multifarious social welfare activities, which can be grouped under the major heads as follows:

Human Rights

• Right to Work Campaign in Orissa in 1989-90.
• Scavenger Liberation Programme in Cuttack Muncipal area.in 1991-92.
• Campaign for Right to Information in Orissa ongoing since 2001.
• Campaign for Governance Reform in Orissa ongoing since 2001.
• Consumer Rights Awareness and Protection ongoing since 1992.
• Participation in Prison Reform programme in respect of treating the addict prisoners ongoing since 2002.

Women Empowerment and Child Welfare

• Prevention of atrocities against women ongoing since 1991.
• Capacity raising of rural women through income generation at Tarpur in 1992-93.
• Vocational Training-cum-Production programme for coastal fisher women during 1993-98.
• Legal Awareness and Aid to poor and disadvantaged women ongoing since 1990.
• Special Schools and Awareness for Prevention of Child Labour in Cuttack City in 1996-97.
• Campaign against trafficking of women in Orissa ongoing since 2001.

Environment and Biodiversity Protection

• Study and Campaign for prevention of water pollution in Taldanda Canal in 1993.
• Survey and Conservation of Mangrove Forests in Orissa Coast in 1992-94.
• Survey and Conservation of Indian Horse Shoe Crabs in Orissa Coast in 1992-94.
• Protection of Olive riddle Sea Turtles in Orissa Coast ongoing since 1996 and presently popularizing the Trawl Guard among the trawling community.
• Installation of Fish Aggregating Devices along Orissa coast in 1993-95.
• Integrated Paddy-cum-Fish Farming in Waterlogged areas in Orissa Coast in 1994-95.
• Running of Eco-Clubs in Cuttack City in 1997-99.
• PIL in Orissa High Court against pollution by PPL ( admitted in 1995 and disposed of in 2002) and against Oswal Fertilisers at Paradip ( admitted in 2002 ).

Social Defence

• Management of Drug Counseling Centre at Cuttack in 1992-92.
• Management of a Drug De-addiction Centre at Cuttack since 1992 and another at Kendrapara since 1998.
• Awareness Campaign against drug abuse and alcoholism since 1990.
• Rescue and rehabilitation of the persons and families affected in the Liquor Tragedy of May 1992 in Cuttack City.
• Rescue and Relief Work among the minorities in the wake of the communal riots that flared up following the Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992 .
• Relief and Rehabilitation Work in the Super Cyclone of October 1999 and Super Floods of July 2001.

Miscellaneous

• Organising cultural events and competitions for school children ongoing since 2002.
• Running a dance school for children ongoing since 2002.
• Running of Sunday Forum on topical issues ongoing since May 2003.
• Road Safety Awareness Programmes since 1998.
• Networking and collaboration with like-minded Organisations and individuals ongoing since inception.
• Maintenance of a Library and Documentation Centre .

Leading Publications

The organization has a series of publications in the form of books, booklets and reports in both English and regional language of Oriya covering various issues within the ambit of its multifarious activities. Only the leading ones are mentioned below:

• Oriya Translation of Towards Green Villages by Centre for Science and Environment.
• Mangrove Forests and Wildlife of Orissa ( Oriya) and its English version.
• Horse Shoe Crab, A living Fossil by Dr.Anil Chatterji of NIO, Goa.
• Shifting Cultivation by Dr.S.K.Jena.
• Ram Lekhani Kankada ( Horse shoe Crab)- Oriya.
• Oriya Translation of Brown Sugar- A killer Drug by TTK, Madras.
• Fighting Drug Abuse- A Compilation of articles by Dr.N.M.Rath, Psychiatrist.
• Report of the TED Workshop at Paradip held in November 1996.
• Report of the TED Workshop at Paradip held in February 2002.
• Oriya Translation of the Orissa High Court Judgment on water pollution in Taladanda canal.
• CD ROM on Report of the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution and Right to Information Campaign in Orissa.
• Report of the Paddy-cum-Fish Integrated Farming in water-logged areas of coastal Orissa.
• Report of the Workshop on Prevention of Atrocities against Women.
• How to prepare hygienic dried fish ( both in Oriya and English).
• Report of the Workshop on Juang Tribes of Keonjhar.

Besides a numbers of manuscripts are ready, but yet to be published.

Government and Non-Government Organisations Networked-

• Orissa Police on drug abuse and crime prevention prevention.
• 'Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Welfare Department, Orissa' on Consumer Protection.
• 'NAWO' (National Alliance of Women Organisations) Delhi on women related issues.
• 'Nari Shakti' (A forum of Women NGO Workers), Orissa.
• 'FINGODAP' (Federation of Indian NGO Working on Drug Abuse Prevention).
• 'INSAF ( Indian Social Action Forum), Delhi'.
• 'State Women's Commission, Orissa' on prevention of atrocities on women and girl children.
• National Institute of Social Defence, Delhi on drug abuse prevention.
• Lohia-Ambedkar Vichar Manch on Dalit issues.
• Centre for World Solidarity, Hyderabad on gender and human rights issues.
• Ministry of Law and Justice, GOI on issues of governance.

Sources of Funding

The Organisation has right since its inception has relied upon basically two sources of support to maintain itself and also for carrying forward its activities. Firstly, the voluntary contribution from its members and staff, and supporters and sympathizers from among the public. Secondly, grant-in-aid from Government agencies and as well from funding agencies at home and abroad. Among the Central Government agencies who have aided the organization are Dept of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Ministry of Labour, CAPART, Leal Aid Services Authority of India and Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Among the international agencies who have supported the Organisation in the past are DANIDA, SIDA, NORAD, CEBEMO, UNDP and WORLD BANK( New Delhi Small Grants Programme), CWS etc.

Management

The Organisation is managed as per its Bye-Laws of 1989 ( amended in 2001) under Society Registration Act 1860 by a General Body consisting of 15 Members and an Executive Committee of 5 Members, all of whom are not only educationally qualified, but also skilled and experienced in various ways. The President of the Organisation is a renowned Dalit leader and social reformer of the State. The Secretary is the executive head for conducting day-to-day affairs of the Organisation. In the General Body as many as --- are women members, and in Executive Committee, they number.

LOOKING AHEAD

• A larger and more effective role in reorienting the campaign for governance reform including the right to information in a proper direction.
• A full fledged Documentation and Dissemination Centre for advocacy and support service to the progressive and forward looking circles, groups and individuals.
• Strengthening the Women and Human Rights Networks in Orissa and India.
• Popularising the Trawl Guard as an alternative device for protection of Olive ridley sea turtles.
• Building up of a strong advocacy network for sustainable management of coastal ecosystem and endangered species like horse shoe crab, dolphin, sea turtles, sharks etc.
• Training and Skill Upgradation of the staff and associates of the Organisation.
• Building-up of a Publication and Electronic Communication Unit for advocacy and networking.

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