Taking ICECD’s motto of Self Reliance through entrepreneurship a step ahead, a team of ICECD experts reached Gopalpur in the Ganjam District of southern Odisha, where 1536 displaced families found themselves, without a source of livelihood, faced with a severe dependency syndrome.

The people of Gopalpur were mostly engaged in agriculture, for generations. Lack of education, employable skills and awareness regarding opportunities made it even more difficult for them to find a livelihood.

Entrepreneurship Development: As a joint effort with Tata Steel, ICECD experts conducted an extensive training for 100 displaced rural men and women of Gopalpur. After the training the community men and women of Odisha initiated their own businesses, like manufacturing of pepsi/ice candy, book and stationery shops, screen-printing, mehndi cone manufacturing, wafer chips, fryums and garment manufacturing. Today, they all have not only overcome their financial constraints, but have consolidated the well-being of their families and earning from Rs. 4,000 to 50,000 per month.