The Founder of Dr. Dash Foundation, USA, Dr. Sita Kantha Dash, a great Innovator; Entrepreneur and Philanthropist is a close friend of Shri Jagadananda, the Co-Founder and Mentor of CYSD for last couple of decades. Their companionship became stronger when Shri Jagadananda was invited by The Odisha Society of Americas to join their Annual Function as the Chief Guest in July 2018.

Upgradation of CYSD Resource Centre (Library) to Model Citizen Information-cum-Assistance Centre

The CYSD Library & Information Centre is located at CYSD-DRTC in Bhubaneswar. It is a repository of variety of learning resources and reference materials relating to social reengineering and development across different thematic areas. The Library currently holds 8,400 books, 2,700 mimeographs and 80 archived and bound periodicals and journals along with CYSD’s own publications. It also currently subscribes to 14 journals in the fields of social sciences, economics, politics and health, and to 8 daily newspapers (in both English and Odia; the local language). Important articles relating to development and social sciences are scanned and kept for ready reference. The library not only houses national and international books and journals but also up-to-the-minute data and reports on specific developmental issues addressed through CYSD’s Action Projects and policy research work. CYSD’s publications also include training modules, IEC materials and toolkits on sexual and reproductive health, the prevention of HIV/AIDS, education, women’s self-help groups, the State budget and its implications for citizens, and various Government Welfare Schemes and Acts. The Library-cum-Information Centre is being used by young researchers, development professionals, and media professionals, besides frontline workers of CYSD. 

With an objective to upgrade and transform the Library & Information Centre to a State Resource Centre with improved facilities along with the provision of modern technology for an effective Citizen Information-cum-Documentation Centre as a Hub to spread a Citizen Assistance Centre movement in the State, CYSD proposed Dr Dash Foundation to extend support of 40 lakhs. Out of which Dr Dash Foundation in the first phase supported Rs. 6.5 lakh through CAF America.

The key activities of the proposed upgradation of the centre were:

• Renovation of Facility,    
• Software Up-gradation
• Development of an Online Catalogue
• Staff Training on SMART-Lib 
• Digitization of CYSD Publications

However, the initial phase of the project implementation got a setback owing to unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic. Hence, the renovation work remained in half way without much progress. Once the pandemic situation comes normalcy, the unfinished work with be completed. 

Odisha Vikash Conclave-2018 & Felicitation to Dr. S K Dash 

The Odisha Development Initiative, a broad-based Coalition, initiated by CYSD, had organised the second edition of the Odisha Vikash Conclave (OVC). The OVC-2018 was a three-day long dialogical process organised in Bhubaneswar during 24 –26 August 2018 involving participation of about 2600 delegates from different sectors including civil society organisations, government, academia, corporate bodies and media with an aim to delineate a development roadmap for the State in harmony with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to build synergy amongst the different actors and stakeholders. 

During the Inaugural Function of OVC on 24th evening, Dr. S K Dash, the Founder of Dr. Dash Foundation was felicitated along with Padma Awardee Shri Bhabani Pattnaik, noted Freedom Fighter & Gandhian Leader and Ms. Pramila Swain, veteran Social Activist for their outstanding services for the society with the august presence of Shri Soumya Ranjan Pattnaik, Hob’ble Member of Parliament, Dr. Rajesh Tandon, President of PRIA, Jamnalal Bajaj Awardee Smt. Shanti Dash and Shri Jagadananda, Co-Founder of CYSD and Convenor of OVC.

HSC Examination 2019 Toppers Award Ceremony:

With a view to give moral boost to the High School passed out students of Odisha, Dr. Dash Foundation in association with Non-Resident Odia Facilitation Centre and Dr. Hemanta & Sworna Senapati Trust organised HSC Examination-2019 Toppers Award Ceremony on 16th December 2019 in Bhubaneswar. The award ceremony was graced by the dignitaries like, Shri Prafulla Ghadei, former Finance Minister, Odisha, Shri Sahadev Sahoo, former Chief Secretary of Odisha, Dr. S K Dash, Founder of Dr. Dash Foundation, Shri Jagadananda, Co-Founder of CYSD and former Odisha State Information Commissioner and the Senior Representatives of Non-Resident Odia Facilitation Centre and Hr. Hemanta & Sworna Senapati Trust. Three best students were awarded with Certificate and Cash Prize. For successful organisation of the Award Ceremony, CYSD had generously supported the logistic facilities including Meeting Hall.

The joint efforts of CYSD and Dr. Dash Foundation for the development of Odisha state, especially in the field of education through library movement will continue till yielding rewarding impacts.

CYSD is thankful to Dr. Dash Foundation for their continued partnership support, cooperation and guidance for the cause of Odisha state. In response to FANI Cyclone, CYSD had undertaken massive village sanitation and disinfection drive in the worst affected blocks of Puri district, Odisha mobilising around 100 volunteers. Followed sanitation and disinfection drive, 24 numbers Health Check-up Camps were carried out in affected blocks of the district. Around 2527 people were treated and provided with free medicines.

About CYSD

CYSD, a non-profit development organization established in 1982, has been working towards improving the quality of lives of tribal and rural poor in Odisha. The centre has primary focus on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, promoting participatory governance through Community led Accountability process. The organisation has carved out four coherent and reinforcing strategic actions, such as; Building Sustainable Livelihoods; Fostering Inclusive Governance; Advocating for Responsive State; and Reducing Disaster Vulnerability and Addressing Climate Change Concerns to realize its mission and vision. 

The livelihood interventions are intended towards food and nutrition security; promotion of skill and entrepreneurship for better employability of the youth; and income enhancement opportunities for rural poor, more particularly the tribals. The pilots of CYSD including promotion of Women Self-Help Groups in 1980’s; watershed development in 1990’s; agro-forestry and collective farming in 2000’s have become mainstream activities by several CSOs and the Government.

Efforts are afoot towards strengthening local governance institutions, facilitating citizen-led monitoring and processes to ensure realisation of rights of the people including Right to Food, Right to Education, Right to Information, Forest Rights Act, MGNREGA etc. The organisation has also successfully facilitated and experienced roll out of different social accountability tools (Community Score Card, Citizen Report Card etc.); community monitoring of Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), School Education, Maternal & Child Health and WASH; social audit of MGNREGS; budget analysis & budget tracking at state and district level.  About 2117 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) involving 40000 plus members have been strengthened to complement the larger governance initiatives in the state. 85 Community Leaders have been empowered through capacity building programmes helping them to understand their community and the society as a whole and set the agenda for promoting community development initiatives focusing on equity and inclusion. More than a thousand youth are sensitized on their local issues, especially pertaining to women and the physically challenged and are connected with the panchayat and block administration to resolve those issues.  

CYSD has taken initiatives to make the State responsive to the inclusive development agenda. In this regard, regular dialogue/consultations are organized in the State under the banner of Odisha Development Initiative; bringing the civil society, government, academia, research institutions and private sector together deliberating upon the development issues and building synergy among different actors to take the development agenda forward.

CYSD has an identity as a strong regional player in disaster preparedness & response and has enhanced its efforts towards innovating climate change adaptation practices and research. In this process, the organisation has a great learning from the experiences in responding to Super Cyclone -1999, very severe cyclonic storm Phailin – 2013, Hudhud- 2014, Titli – 2018, Fani – 2019 and Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan – 2020, COVID-19 Pandemic and Floods 2020 in Odisha with regard to relief, rehabilitation and restoration activities undertaken in convergence with government and partnering with INGOs, civil society and the private sector. 

Outreach: Currently, CYSD reaches out to 17.5 lakh population spread over 8800 villages in 102 blocks of 12 districts in Odisha including 8 tribal Districts of like Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Kalahandi and Bolangiri. However, the Organisation covers all the districts of Odisha indirectly through partner networks.