Founded on 1st August, 1988, the Organisation has completed a decade of its existence in 1998. It is a major Non-Profit, Non-Government Organisation based in Orissa and working for empowerment of marginalised and disadavantaged sections of population on issues of local, national and global significance. It is registered under Societies Registration Act-1860, FCR Act 1976 and 35 AC of Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. As a source of sustenance of the Organisation and its activities, it receives voluntary contributions form the public, its members and staff in addition to the Grant-in-aid from various Government and non-Government quarters. It has a duly constituted General Body for the overall governance of the Organisation as a whole and an Executive Committee for its day-to-day administration.

The Drug Deaddiction-cum-Rehabilitation Centre at Cuttack has been running since middle of 1992 in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India and continues to render the indoor and O.P.D. services to the addicts and alcoholics drawn from different parts of the City and also from all over the State. The patients were treated in both Indoor set-up and O.P.D. In addition to the medical management of the patients so treated, priority was given to the rehabilitation of the cured patients in their family, workplace and community. Participation in different Out-reach Programmes like Seminars, Workshops, Training Courses, Meetings etc was simultaneously emphasized for preventive education and awareness against Drug and Alcoholism among the wider sections of the society.

In recognition of the rich experience and expertise in the field, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India sanctioned a new Drug Deaddiction-cum- Rehabilitation Centre to be run by Project Swarajya, at Kendrapara, which was operationalised from 1st August, 1998. The Centre is located in 2 (two) premises in the District of Kendrapara, one at Khadianga as a medical set-up and the other at Silipur, Marshaghai for Rehabilitation Programmes. Headed by Sri Ashis Senapati as its Project Director, the Centre is equipped with necessary professional staff including Dr. Ananda Gopal Mohanty, as its Medical Officer. As is natural, in the 1st year of its inauguration the newly set up Centre emphasized the holding of Out-reach Programmes like meetings and Health Camps in different parts of the District so as to identify and motivate the potential addicts and alcoholics for De-toxificaton and Treatment in our medical set-up. The posters and leaf-lets on the theme of Drug Abuse and Alcoholisim were also circulated among the public at large for the purpose of preventive education and awareness.

Along side of the deaddiction and detoxification services for the Drug addicts and alcoholics, who are also psychopaths some way or other, the Organisation has been working for rehabilitation of mentaly ill persons hailing from different parts of the State During the years 1994-1996 the Organisation has carried out a Project "Early Intervention to infants and toddles at risk or having developmental delays" for the babies of 0-3 years age group in collaboration with the National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped (NIMH) Secunderabad. On completion of this Project the infrastructure and expertise that was gathered during the project period have been put to use by the Organisation for continuation of the early intervention services to the vulnerable infants at Sardar Ballava Bhai Patel Institute of Peadiatrics ( Sishu Bhawan), Cuttack under the guidance of Dr. D.D. Tripathya senior peadiatrician of the State.

The Organisation has also been treating and rehabilitating the chronic and residual mentally ill persons through the medical management and after care. During a span of 3 years from 1996 to 1999 as many as 241 patients have been treated by our Centre in the age group of 15-50 years. However, there as no exclusive project funded by any agency for the purpose of treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill persons at Cuttack. The Organisation therefore strives to set up one such Centre for both Indoor and OPD services including the vocational training for all round rehabilitation of mentally ill persons at Cuttack

Mali Sahi in Orissa's Capital City of Bhubaneswar has remained as a traditional colony of sex workers for decades. Presently, there are about 100 female sex workers in the age group of 15 -35 years hailing from different parts of the State. Besides the women sex workers, male spouses of some sex workers, their children, dependent parents and relatives and above all the pimps do live in the colony. Except the flesh trade, which brings them the paltry and uncertain income depending upon the climate and other factors, the sex workers don't have any other source of wherewithal.

The people of this colony are deprived of the minimum urban services like electricity, water connection, sanitation and sewerage which are available to other slums of the city. The sex workers population of the Mali Sahi are faced with stark realities like illiteracy, malnutrition, diseases and impoverishment. They are also constantly threatened and harassed by the pimps, brothel owners, police and a section of shrewd and exploitative customers.

Orissa Patita Udhar Samiti, an NGO based in Bhubaneswar has been working for the rehabilitation of Mali Sahi sex workers for last 3 years. It succeeded in getting victory for a series of Public Interest Litigations in favour of the sex workers, following which the State Govt. of Orissa was made alert for amelioration and rehabilitation of the sex workers and their families and children. It was able to secure essential provisions like electricity, water connection and ration cards for the sex workers colony at Mali Sahi. It provided free condoms for use by the customers against AIDS menace.

Project Swarajya extended its whole-hearted co-operation to Orissa Patita Udhar Samiti in the matter of all-round rehabilitation of the sex workers at Mali Sahi especially in the matter of photography and documentation of each sex worker, awareness generation on HIV/AIDS, Drug Abuse/Alcoholism and Human Rights.

As in the year before, the Organisation conducted 30 Eco-Clubs each in 30 high Schools in and around the Cuttack City, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India. The local collaborating organisations were the Circle Inspector of Schools, Cuttack, Dr. Ashutosh Debata, Secretary, Cuttack District Environment Society, Afforestation Division of the State Forest Department, Utkaliya Ahimsa Mancha and Nandighosh. Under the Eco-Club Programme such activities as School-level Eco-Competitions (Debate, Quiz & Paint), Inter-school Eco-Competitions, Institutional Plantation and Lectures on Environmental topics were carried out involving students of the concerned Schools. While Inaugural Function was held in Marwari High School, the Valedictory Ceremony for Award of Prize to best Eco-Clubs and Winners of Eco- Competitions was organised in Sanat Nalini Girls' High School, Cuttack. To spread the message of Environment Protection among the general public, an Eco-March by the NCC Students of different High Schools, was held which marched through the main thorough fares of the city holding banners and chanting environmental slogans.

The cause of conservation of Sea Turtles in Orissa coast reached a new height in the year under review. As in the previous years, the video survey on the mass death of Sea Turtles in different coasts of Orissa was conducted in collaboration with the officials of Fisheries and Forest Departments of the State. In order to spread the message of such conservation across the globe Mr. Chitta Behera, Director, Project Swarajya took part in the 19th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, held in South Padre Island, Texas, U.S.A.during 2-7 March, 1999 under the aegis of I.U.C.N. In course of his participation, Mr. Chitta Behera presented a paper entitled "Towards Averting Doom's Day for Olive Ridleys in Orissa Coast, India" and also moved a Resolution "On checking the fishing related mass mortality of sea turtles in Orissa Coast, India" which was unanimously passed after necessary discussion and amendment. The Organisation did also conduct a video survey on mass nesting of Olive Ridleys at Gahirmatha in March, 1999 which took place after 2 years of interruption to the delight of every body. In order to apprise the turtle lovers all over the world, the Organisation has hosted a web-page on Internet, on the present position and problems of Gahirmatha under the title 'Gahirmatha again abuzz with nesting Olive Ridleys after a lapse of 2 years"

During this year, Project Swarajyya conducted 2 TRYSEM ( Training of Rural Youth For Self Employment) programmes at Chatua and Zillanasi under Ersama and Kujang Blocks respectively in Jagatsinghpur district. While the first programme was meant for both boys and girls of fishermen community, the 2nd one was for fisher women exclusively. The fishery trades which were imparted through such training programmes are scientific and hygienic fish drying, fish pickle making and smoked prawn making. The trainees were trained in such a way that they can rehabilitate themselves through self-employment in these trades. The DRDA, Jagatsinghpur provided necessary financial assistance for conduction of TRYSEM programmes.

The Organisation has been maintaining a public reference Library since its inception. The Library contains more than 5,000 Books and Reports alongwith about 200 Magazines and Periodicals for the purpose of reference by the interested users like NGOs, Media men, Writers, Research Scholars and other Intellectuals. The Organisation has two full-fledged Internet-ready Multimedia Computer Systems which are also used by the interested persons for updated information and knowledge on any subject whatsoever.

The Videography Unit of the Organisation which is well equipped with editing hardwares and softwares is also put to service for disseminating, recording and storing important information and stories on different topics through video cassettes.

In this very year too, the Kendrapara branch of Project Swarajya has started building up a Library of books and magazines along with storing News Clippings from national and regional dailies and magazines for the purpose of reference and use by the general public.

As in the previous years, the Organisation was engaged in multifarious consumer protection activities in the form of organising and participating in the Seminars, Workshops, Public Meetings, Training Programmes etc. in different parts of the State. It also acted as an honest negotiator between the aggrieved consumers and the dealers and sellers for a mutual agreement on their disputes. The Organisation did also provide consultancy to the aggrieved consumers in the matter of approaching the State & District Level Consumer Fora for redressal of their grievances. The Consumer Awareness Programmes were held in the districts of Cuttack, Kenarapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri in collaboration with the local NGOs, Co-operative Societies, Youth Clubs and Mahila Mandals.

As in the previous years, the Organisation both organised and took part in several health education and service camps in different parts of coastal Orissa, the main objective being the spread of basic lessons in health and hygiene, population control and prevention of Drug abuse/alcoholism and AIDS. The potential addicts and alcoholics were identified in such camps and were advised for admission and treatment in the Drug Deaddiction-cum-Rehabilitation Centre run by the Organisation at Cuttack and Kendrapara. The participants of such camps were also sensitised on the Universal Immunisation, Sex Education, Small Family Norm and Population Control which are priorities, not only at national but also at global level.

As in the previous years, the Organisation carried forward the campaign on the rights of the women, girl child and child labour through organising and partaking of the various fora and events at State level. Two intensive training programmes were held at Bimala Bhawan, Silipur Marshaghai on prevention of atrocities on women in rural areas in collaboration with JEETA & PIPAR in course of the year.

Deputed by the Organisation, Mrs. Prashikha Acharya and Mrs. Dolli Dash received 3 Phase training from National Labour Institute, Ghaziabad and in turn were instrumental in spreading the message of rehabilitation of Child Labour on different occasions across the State.

Centring round the issue of gang rape of Mrs.Anjana Mishra, there was a State-wide protest in different forms by the political parties, NGOs and students and youth Organisations. Our Organisation sent its women team for participation in such events.

As in the previous year, the Organisation continued to provide training in advanced videography and operation of multi-media computer system to the desirous students from among the staff and public free of cost. The Organisation is having 4 computer systems including 2 Internet-ready Multi-media PCs alongwith a full-fledged Videography Unit consisting of a number of colour T. V. s , V. C.R. s, Titlers and Audio-Video Mixers. In this year about 10 students were provided with training in operation of multi-media and E-mail- Internet while about 20 students received the training in video shooting, editing, titling, duplicating and partitioning.

12 nos. of students of Functional English in the Department of English, Ravenshaw College received the training in Videography and exposure to Multi-media and Email- Internet in the month of February, 1999 as a part of their curriculum. Project Swarajya has been identified by the Dept.of English, Ravenshaw College as a nodal agency for imparting such training to Functional English students every year.

In continuation of the earlier efforts, the Organisation carried forward the campaign on Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs, the ancient blue blooded and commercially valuable marine animal, available in Orissa coast. A fresh survey of the habitats and breeding grounds of Horseshoe Crabs discovered earlier by Project Swarajya was undertaken with a view to assess the population of Horseshoe Crabs. As a part of the Survey, video shooting of the Horseshoe Crabs as stranded on the beaches and caught in the trawl-nets and gill- nets, was also undertaken. It was found on the whole that the Horseshoe Crab population is registering a steady declining owing to fishing in the sensitive areas, which is not presently regulated under any specific legislation either by Govt. of India or Orissa State Govt. Moreover, it was found that the Horseshoe Crabs and Sea Turtles share as they do the same inshore habitat in the sea bottom and both are therefore accidentally caught and often killed in the trawl-nets The Organisation has therefore campaigned for introducing specific regulatory measures for protection of Horseshoe Crabs vis-a-vis the fishing and eco-degradation in and around the nesting beaches.

Since the Organisation is working on several different fronts of social welfare, it has to network with the like-minded Organisations and individuals depending upon the nature of the issue and the geographical area. The Organisations so networked with us do include NGOs, Co-operative Societies, Youth Clubs, Mahila Mandals, Govt. Undertakings and Companies. And the individuals so networked with do include Government Officials, Eminent Citizens, Mediamen, Social Activists and Intellectuals. The issues around which such networking has been undertaken are Prevention of Drug abuse/alcoholism, Sea Turtle Protection, Conservation of Mangrove Eco-system, Coastal Community Development, Appropriate Rural Technologies, Women's Rights, Child Labour, Eco-Club and Environment Protection.

As a brother NGO, Project Swarajya has been rendering free and subsidised services to the Organisations and individuals so networked in terms of videography of the events organised by them, documentation of the project profiles and reports, formulation of Project Proposals and counseling and guidance on funding support by donor agencies.

Ever since its inception, Project Swarajya has been searching for, researching into and disseminating the appropriate technologies which are user-friendly, eco-friendly, cost- effective and time-saving production devices, suitable especially for rural, illiterate or semi-literate people including women and various disadvantaged groups of population. The following are a few salient appropriate rural technologies which are available with Project Swarajya for the purpose of dissemination:-

• Fish Aggregating Device for Traditional Marine Fishermen.
  
  
• Paddy-cum-Fish Integrated Farming for saline water-logged areas.
  
  
• Turtle Excluder Device (TED) for the trawlers doing sea fishing.
  
  
• Scientific and Hygienic drying of fish for the coastal fishermen & fisher women
  
  
• Fish Pickle making for the coastal fishermen and fisher women, and
  
  
• Smoked Prawn making for coastal fisher women.