Lokshakti Samiti

LSS has diligently worked on poverty reduction initiatives across 49 villages spanning 25 panchayats in the Sarguja district. In this endeavour, it has successfully established 286 Common Interest Groups (CIGs) and formed a federation. These CIGs are seamlessly integrated into various income-generating activities, bolstered by bank linkages and comprehensive training. This holistic approach aimed to foster both economic self-sufficiency and social independence among the beneficiaries.
The organization undertook the Community-Based Pro-Poor Initiative (CBPPI) in 100 villages within the Raigarh district. Under this initiative, LSS diligently conducted activities such as social audits, Gram Sabha empowerment, leadership development, Community-Based Organization (CBO) formation, and the harnessing of local resources for income generation. These activities predominantly cantered around advancing the socio-economic status of women within these communities.

LSS has been actively engaged in National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) interventions across 30 Gram Panchayats (GPs) within the Kharsia Block of Raigarh district. This program is instrumental in ensuring timely wage payments to laborers, facilitating job card issuance, monitoring and mitigating migration trends, and promoting livelihood-enhancing activities through active community participation.
In addition to its work in Kharsia Block, the organization has achieved significant success with NREGA interventions in seven villages located in the Pathhalgaon block of Jashpur district, as well as seven villages in the Pusore block of Raigarh district. Collaborating closely with local panchayats, LSS has undertaken initiatives to enhance the capacity of villagers, fostering their overall progress. This proactive intervention has generated increased demand for job card issuance and subsequently fueled employment requests.

LSS actively fosters the establishment of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and subsequently provides comprehensive training to equip them with the skills needed for diverse income generation activities. These activities encompass a wide range of options, including fisheries, collective farming, non-timber forest product (NTFP) collection, goat rearing, poultry farming, bamboo crafts, carpentry, sericulture, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy farming, and more. The aim is to empower SHG members to engage in income-generating ventures aligned with their individual interests and capitalize on locally available resources for maximum benefit.

Agriculture serves as the primary livelihood source in this region, characterized by an uneven distribution of resources. While land is abundant, the lack of irrigation facilities poses a significant challenge.
LSS is diligently working to address this issue by implementing a watershed approach across 35,000 hectares of land. This initiative has resulted in the excavation of 581 tanks and ponds and the renovation of 62 canals through canal bunding. To further support soil conservation efforts, boulder checks spanning 39,500 running meters have been established, along with soil checks covering 1,500 running meters.
As a result of these efforts, nearly 9,800 families now have access to irrigation facilities, safeguarding 9,000 hectares of land for seasonal farming.

The Water Aid Project was a community-led initiative aimed at improving water cleanliness and encouraging the use of toilets to enhance hygiene and sanitation in the area. This project received support from Water Aid India, with contributions from Delhi and Bhopal. Its primary objectives included providing clean drinking water for all residents, fostering an understanding of the importance of toilets, and promoting the adoption of sanitary and hygienic practices within the community.
A variety of activities were carried out in the area to address health, hygiene, and sanitation:
1. Formation and capacity building of Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
2. Capacity building at different levels, including PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions), ICDS workers, Mitanins, Masons, and Hand pump Mechanics.
3. Installation, repair, and restoration of new hand pumps.
4. Water testing and treatment.
5. Management of wastewater.

To ensure the sustainability of initiatives and activities undertaken within the operational area, LSS has actively facilitated the establishment of 900 community-based organizations (CBOs) in various villages. These CBOs play a pivotal role in overseeing development projects within their respective communities and engaging in advocacy efforts.
With support from LSS, these CBOs effectively advocate for a range of rights and issues, including local governance, gender equality, environmental concerns, access to safe drinking water, and sanitation practices.
To engage and motivate community members, LSS conducts meetings and camps where participants receive informative sessions about prevalent issues and corporate social responsibilities of industries. These sessions educate the community about industrial regulations, women's rights, and basic legal processes through legal literacy programs.

Within this thematic area, LSS operates a Childline initiative. Childline (1098) is a project endorsed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It provides a 24-hour telephone service to assist children in need of safety, care, and protection, as well as those experiencing violations of their rights. This service is available to children who may be:
1. Alone or unwell
2. Facing violations of their rights
3. Involved in child labor
4. Lost and in need of assistance
5. Helpless or orphaned
6. Separated from their families and require assistance to reunite with them
Throughout the year, various activities are organized for children, including events such as National Nutrition Month celebrations, Global Hand Wash Day programs, Childline Friendship Week, National Girl Child Day programs, sensitization workshops, and training sessions.