Environment Protection

Empowering Communities on Equality, Environment Protection and Disaster Preparedness (ECEEPDP) Project October 2025 to December 2028

The project is being implemented in 36 villages of 9 Gram Panchayats of 3 blocks of Puri District in Odisha with the following objectives and outcomes envisioned.

The targeted communities are empowered to identify environmental issues affecting their lives and livelihood, issues of inequalities, child protection, and take collective action to make duty bearers accountable for protection and realisation of the community members’ rights.

The targeted communities will strengthen their awareness concerning environmental issues and build their capacity to work locally for a sustainable environment, using innovative methods in for example organic farming, water conservation and management, waste management, sanitation and social forestry. As the project area is regularly affected by cyclones and floods there will also be a focus on building capacities for disaster preparedness and on creating structures in the local communities to be used in the event of environmental disasters. Environment protection and disaster preparedness committees will be formed at village level.

Project participants will be empowered to formulate, advocate and claim their rights for sustainable development. Platforms will be created for a dialogue between community members and duty-bearers/decision makers where duty-bearers will be sensitized of existing problems and urged to present their plans to achieve the necessary changes. They will be held accountable to contribute to the growth and sustainable development of the communities for which they have been appointed.

There will be a special focus on questions of gender equality and on empowering women to take an active role in advocating for the right to sustainable development and their own empowerment. This is anticipated to lead to women actively participating to a higher extent in decision-making both at home and in the community, as well as in decision-making bodies. Women will take up leadership role in environment protection and collective action in the communities in safety and security of women and children.

Adolescent boys and girls will improve their understanding and knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. They will also be involved in monitoring of child protection issues and to be part of the system along with the children themselves.

Outcome 1:

OLS is strengthened as a promoter of rights for sustainable development and equal control of natural resources between women and men.

 

Main activities

1. Capacity building training programme for staff members on Right(s) Way Forward
2. Advocacy work towards local level duty-bearers.
3. State Level project outcome dissemination workshop involving state government, corporate and civil society.

 

Capacity building will lead to positive changes in behaviour related to environment protection, child protection and equality even though OLS has been working in these aspects for long there is a need to sensitize new members. Senior staff members will take up the responsibility of improving the understanding of others and also contribute to taking up leadership roles among other CSOs. Improved understanding and knowledge will lead to better environment not only for themselves but also the community they serve.

 

Outcome 2:

1. Community level volunteers and change makers in the 36 targeted villages of 9 Gram Panchayats have strengthened their awareness and capacity to act for a sustainable environment in the communities.

 

Main activities

1. Holding Community Meetings.
2. Training for Community Facilitators on RWF and Community Action Plan.
3. Formation and capacity building of village level environment protection committees focussing on active involvement of women.
4. Trainings in accordance with developed Community Action Plan.
5. Exposure visits.
6. Wall paintings of Community Action Plans.
7. Mainstreaming a child rights perspective and child protection in capacity building activities.

 

The main positive change that is foreseen by these activities is the mindset of the people towards their rights to life with dignity. The actions of the people will improve their own environment. Exposure visits to places that are considered environment friendly made so by the people of those areas and CSOs will encourage the project beneficiaries to consider implementing the steps taken by the ideal villages/organisations. Wall paintings of the Community Action Plan will keep reminding all concerned about their responsibilities and time bound actions. The importance of child protection will be reinforced among the adults and they will be activated to take necessary steps to put systems in place.

 

Outcome 3:

Community members in the 36 villages in the RWF project have strengthened their knowledge within disaster preparedness and their capacity to act in case of a natural disaster.

 

Main activities

1. Training on disaster preparedness.
2. Formation of village level disaster preparedness committees.
3. Formation of River Protection Committees.
4. Mainstreaming child protection in disaster preparedness trainings.
5. Formation of Village Level Child Protection Committees.

 

The activities mentioned above will encourage the people of the affected areas to be prepared for the disasters and not wait till it is upon them and not look for external agencies or government to always come to their rescue. Rivers are polluted sometimes by the people living in its banks or vicinity. The River Protection Committees of the villages will be responsible to take necessary steps to arrest pollution at their level and also encourage them to create awareness among others resulting in improvement of the conditions of the rivers. It will also encourage them to take up the matters with the authorities concerned. The VLCPCs will understand their roles and responsibilities in child protection and it is expected to bring down cases of child abuse and child rights violations.

 

Outcome 4:

Targeted decision makers (duty-bearers) are accountable to a higher degree and contribute to the growth and sustainable development of the communities for which they have been appointed.

 

Main activities

1. Meetings between duty-bearers and local communities.
2. Advocacy work towards responsible duty-bearers by engaging them in dialogue concerning issues.
3. Conducting workshops involving duty bearers at Block and District levels.

 

Duty bearers will be sensitized towards their roles and responsibilities and they will be forced to leave their usual indifferent attitude and work for the people. It will give them an opportunity to interact will the people and make the people aware about the schemes and services of the government which will be beneficial for the people. It will give the duty bearers a sense of satisfaction which is expected to improve the work atmosphere and the alleviation of the condition of the people.

 

Outcome 5:

Women in the targeted communities are empowered to formulate, advocate and claim their rights for sustainable development.

 

Main activities

1. Community meetings involving more women.
2. Training programme for Community Facilitators on RWF and Community Action Plan in which women take up major roles.
3. Formation and capacity building of village level environment protection committees in which women take up leadership role.
4. Trainings in accordance with developed Community Action Plan.
5. Formation of Women Farmers’ Collectives and building their capacity through training and exposure visits involving women.

 

The women will be empowered to take up leadership roles in the communities as they will understand their own capabilities and put it to good use for bettering the condition of their ilk. It will develop a sense of equality with men which will be good for their mental wellbeing. Women will come out of their shells and demand equal rights and say in all matters concerning them, their families and the communities.

 

Outcome 6:

Children of the targeted areas will be sensitized on their rights including right to clean and hygienic environment.

 

Main activities:

1. Training for capacity building on environment protection.
2. Formation of Children’s Climate Action Team (CCAT) at village level.
3. School sensitization program on climate and environmental issues and promoting plantation in schools.

 

Children will develop their understanding of the rights and why it is important their rights are protected and realised. They will demand for the fulfilment of their rights in all aspects of their development including a non-polluting environment. It will encourage them to be more action oriented towards realisation of their rights instead of being passive non-recipients. All concerned in schools and communities will also be sensitized towards the rights of the children and child protection.

 

Outcome 7:

Network is strengthened and advocacy work improved to have the authorities to take note of the concerns of the people in light of the degradation of the environment and deteriorating living condition of the people.

 

Main activities

1. Networking meetings of CSOs especially those working on environmental issues.
2. Conducting workshops and capacity building programs for the common understanding of all concerned.
3. Jointly conducting campaigns to bring to the notice of the Government the concerns of environmental degradation and its responsibility to protect the environment.
4. Working together with vernacular/local dailies to highlight the conditions of the rivers, other water bodies, forests, lands etc. to the notice of the public and the government authorities.

 

First and foremost is the fact that the movements on environment protection will be strengthened through the coming together of the CSOs and the government agencies and authorities will be bound to take note of the demands of the networks/alliances. Overall, it will work towards improving the condition of the environment and all things related to it. Democratic process will be strengthened in the process.