Odisha Launches SAHAJOG to Bridge Welfare Gap for Urban Poor

Odisha Launches SAHAJOG to Bridge Welfare Gap for Urban Poor

On Thursday, the Odisha government launched SAHAJOG, an innovative initiative aimed at improving access to government welfare schemes for the urban poor. The program is designed to identify eligible individuals in urban areas and ensure they receive the benefits of various social welfare programs.

It was formally inaugurated by Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, the State Minister for Housing and Urban Development. The program aims to close the gap between urban poverty and access to state welfare by employing a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy. This includes widespread awareness campaigns, doorstep delivery of services, and strengthened implementation frameworks at both the Urban Local Body (ULB) and district levels.

The initiative follows the successful completion of a pilot project conducted across six ULBs, reaching 5,000 households. The pilot phase played a critical role in uncovering key challenges and fine-tuning methods to better serve the most vulnerable urban populations.

In its first phase, SAHAJOG will target 14 major welfare schemes. These include the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), distribution of ration cards under the National Food Security Act, piped water supply, issuance of Ayushman Bharat health cards, identification of persons with disabilities, and the Subhadra Yojana, among others ensuring holistic support to those in need.

The first phase will be implemented in 44 ULBs across eight districts, benefiting an estimated 15 lakh residents. These districts, Khordha, Cuttack, Ganjam, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Bhadrak have been selected due to their relatively higher urban poor populations. Over time, the initiative is expected to be expanded to all ULBs across the State.

The initiative will follow a fast-track, campaign-mode approach during its first two months. Community volunteers and frontline workers will receive performance-based incentives, ensuring their active involvement in the execution. At the operational level, interdepartmental committees have been established at both State and district levels to ensure smooth coordination and efficient execution. The district committees will be chaired by the respective District Collectors.

The State government has positioned SAHAJOG as part of its broader developmental goals, aligning it with the “Viksit Odisha” and “Viksit Bharat” missions to accelerate inclusive growth and social welfare across urban sectors.