Odisha signs five-year pact with SELCO to boost rural livelihoods

The Odisha government has entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SELCO Foundation to enhance rural livelihoods, clean energy access, and community services. The initiative focuses on six southern districts: Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Gajapati.

A central component of the agreement is the establishment of ‘Seva Hubs.’ These community-level service centers are designed to identify local needs, build capacity, coordinate with government departments, and connect residents with financial services and clean technologies. The program aims to support various sectors, including healthcare, nutrition, climate resilience, vocational skilling, and rural entrepreneurship.

The project targets several key groups, including smallholder farmers, rural artisans, women’s self-help groups, tribal communities, young entrepreneurs, and persons with disabilities. The initiative is intended to complement existing state welfare programs by integrating technical expertise and innovation models into grassroots implementation.