Sahayog: Odisha’s New Lifeline for Urban Poor
Bhubaneswar, Odisha: The Housing & Urban Development Department, in collaboration with Tata Steel Foundation, has launched Sahayog, a flagship initiative designed to connect economically weaker and marginalised urban communities with government welfare schemes.
A one‑day workshop was organised at the Odisha Urban Academy, Bhubaneswar, bringing together frontline workers, Swachha Sathis, Self‑Help Group members, and Slum Dwellers’ Associations.
An FAQ booklet was released to assist workers in addressing common queries during surveys.
Speaking at the event, Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee highlighted that Sahayog is not merely about scheme access but about improving the quality of life for vulnerable communities.
She praised grassroots workers for their role in strengthening urban governance.
Senior officials, including Sourav Roy (CEO, Tata Steel Foundation), Shatrughna Kar (Additional Secretary), and Sourindra Rautray (Nodal Officer), discussed the programme’s achievements and future roadmap.
Participants shared experiences of how Sahayog has benefited their localities and offered suggestions for further improvement.
The workshop concluded with a call to frontline workers to continue their community‑level engagement and ensure that feedback from the ground is incorporated into policy implementation.
