Sukinda, April 10, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening rural livelihoods and boosting agricultural productivity in Odisha’s Jajpur district, Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) has facilitated the establishment of a mini rice mill and the provision of a petrol water pump for a Women’s Self‑Help Group (WSHG) in Chingudipal Gram Panchayat of Sukinda block.
The initiative, implemented through strategic convergence with the Agriculture Department, Mission Shakti Department, and the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Government of Odisha, has empowered the 10‑member WSHG, Gojabayani, to access critical infrastructure by leveraging government subsidies and collective community participation.
Designed to create sustainable income opportunities and strengthen agricultural resilience, the intervention enables local paddy processing and ensures timely irrigation support for farming activities. The newly installed mini rice mill, with a processing capacity of 75 kg per hour, offers affordable and accessible milling services within the village. This has significantly reduced dependence on distant commercial mills while improving value realisation for local farmers. To ensure sustainability, the WSHG has adopted a nominal contribution model of ₹1 per kg, generating income for maintenance and future operations.
Complementing this effort, the petrol water pump has enhanced irrigation flexibility, reducing reliance on erratic rainfall, expanding the irrigated area, and improving cropping intensity – which are critical factors for stable farm incomes in the region.
The total cost of the mini rice mill stands at ₹35,000, of which ₹20,000 was mobilised as a subsidy through departmental convergence. Similarly, the petrol water pump, valued at ₹25,000, received a ₹15,000 subsidy. The remaining contributions were made directly by the WSHG members, reinforcing their ownership and commitment to the enterprise.
The initiative aligns with Grassroots Governance and Decentralised Planning, a core thematic area of TSF’s development approach that promotes bottom‑up planning and community‑led solutions. Nirupama Mahanta, Fellow – Grassroots Governance and Decentralised Planning, worked closely with the Community Resource Person (CRP) to support documentation, strengthen convergence efforts, and build the institutional capacity of the WSHG.
Expressing her confidence in the group’s journey ahead, Rebati Mahanta, President of Gojabayani WSHG, said, “The success of our group is the result of our collective effort, and we are committed to achieving even greater progress in the future.”
Building on this success, Tata Steel Foundation, in partnership with government departments, plans to replicate the convergence‑based model across other Gram Panchayats and blocks, further strengthening community‑owned enterprises and women‑led livelihoods.
Highlighting the broader significance of the initiative, Debanjan Mukherjee, Head, Kalinganagar Impact Cluster, Tata Steel Foundation, said, “This initiative is a strong example of how convergence with line departments can drive meaningful and sustainable impact at the grassroots level. Such models will be key to scaling inclusive rural development across the region.”
