CM Naveen Patnaik lauded efforts of Community Conservation groups like SAMUDRAM

·         CM Naveen Patnaik lauded efforts of Community Conservation groups like SAMUDRAM

CM Naveen Patnaik lauded efforts of Community Conservation groups like SAMUDRAM,who has brought laurels for the state and its women folk.CM felicitated B.Chittama,President Samudram along with Mangaraj Pand,secretary ,UAA and pramotor of Samudram in a simple ceremony here in Bhubaneswar on 13th May.organised by UNDP INDIA.Samudram under the leadership of B.Chittama and through its 2000 strong members across coastal areas has been confered with UN EQUATOR AWARD for its outstanding contribution of protecting OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES and conserving biodiversity, thus ensuring livilihood of hundereds of fishing families.The Chief Minister thanked UNDP for refering and recognising an Odisha women's group,which was the lone representative from India.The CM further added,The success of Samudram and B.Chittama reminded the exemplry leadership and commitment of Odisha women.Samudram was given the honor in the presence of State Forest & Environmnet Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arabindo Behera, UNDP Country Director Caitlin Wiesen,Asst. Country Director Srinivasan iyer and State Representative Ambika Nanda.

By: Sudarshan Chhotray

ODISHA WOMEN'S FEDERATION LEADS THE WAY

 The SAMUDRAM Women’s Federation in OdIsha is a recipient of the prestigious Equator Prize for2010.The UNDP Equator initiative has recognized twenty-five local and indigenous community organizations for outstanding efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity. Representatives of winning communities attended the high –level event in New York entitled Biodiversity. Ecosystems and Climate Change: Scaling Up local solutions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The women’s federation brings together over 160 women’s  groups, comprising 2000 members and spanning 52 villages across Odisha.The organization has the twin objectives of empowering local women and protecting the threatened nesting sites of the Olive Ridley Turtle. Capacity building, micro-finance and disaster risk reduction, planning all complement conservation activities etc.Turtle monitoring and breeding are combined with habitat restoration (e.g.mangrove reforestation and beach protection) toensure the conservation of this threatened species.Conservation campaigns on ecological destructive pollution and fishing practices accoompany training for local fishermen on "Turtle Excluding Devices" and net types that are dangerous to turtles.Artificial reefs,eco-restoration zones and "fishing holidays" have been introduced to improve fishing productivity,diversify marine life,and allow for natural breeding and regeneration cycles.Local fisherwomen are provided with storage facilities(warehouses and refrigerators) and market access support, which improve their incomes.The combination of relatively simple social measurers and modern technology in bringing new life to an area devastated by tsunami in 2004.

SAMUDRAM
Samudram is a state level federation of women fish workers' organisation working in the state of Odisha for the development of marine fisher women and their families living on the coast of Bay of Bengal.The organisation started functioning in the year 1993 from Sana Nolianuagaon(Ganjam) as a federation of women organisations of coastal villages in Ganjam district and got itself registered in the year 1995-96.Presently headquartered at Katur village in Ganjam.

The area of the operation of the oraganisation are-traditional marine habitations of 21 coastal blocks in Ganjam, Puri,Jagatasinghpur,Kendrapara.Bhadrak and Balesore districts.

The basic thrust of the organisation are-
organising women fishworkers,health,education,water&sanitation,micro-finance,market penetration,eliminating middlemen,lobbying&advocacy and disater preparedness etc.