A villager in Odisha has the word ‘Rotary’ tattooed on his forearm – his way of thanking the Rotarians of RC Jajpur, RI District 3262, who gifted him a wheelchair. “He is now confident of setting up a small tuck shop and earning a living with dignity,” says DG Manoj Kumar Tripathy who was instrumental in bringing together Project Madadgar (Helping People), a large-scale livelihood enhancement initiative executed with the collective strength of 125 Rotary clubs across RID 3262.
Over 1,000 individuals across Odisha were supported with tools that enabled economic independence, confidence and sustainable income. Sewing machines, wet grinders, hearing aids, wheelchairs and artificial limbs were distributed to beneficiaries. What set the project apart was not only its scale, but also “the meticulous planning that ensured the right support reached the right hands.”
Beneficiaries were identified through special government- supported camps organised by Rotary clubs across the district. Aadhaar cards were used to verify identity, BPL cards to confirm economic status, and PWD certificates to validate physical disabilities. “We wanted to ensure that every item distributed had the potential to change a life,” says Tripathy.
Under the project, 100 women received sewing machines, helping them improve tailoring skills, start home-based enterprises and supplement their family income. Another 100 women were given wet grinders, opening up opportunities in food preparation and small catering ventures.
The true impact of Madadgar unfolded during the DG’s visit to a remote village. When he visited the home of a woman who had received a wet grinder, she welcomed him with a warm smile, and a small bowl of freshly ground masala. “This is from the grinder Rotary gave me,” she said proudly. “It was a simple gesture, but one that captured the essence of Madadgar,” he smiles.
For many others, the project restored mobility and independence. Wheelchairs and artificial limbs brought renewed confidence to beneficiaries who had long depended on others for basic movement. Tripathy recalls being deeply moved when an elderly man, fitted with an artificial limb, ‘walked’ up to him and said that he was standing unaided for the first time in years.” Equally touching was the experience of a woman who received a hearing aid. Having lost her hearing in an accident, she told him she had “forgotten the world of sound. When she said she felt alive again, hearing voices and everyday sounds, it was humbling and heartwarming,” he recounts.
The project also addressed preventable blindness, with 100 cataract surgeries performed for those who could not afford treatment. For them, it meant returning to work, recognising loved ones again, and reclaiming everyday joys long taken for granted.
The total project cost was ₹35 lakh which was met through district funds (₹14 lakh) and club contributions. All materials were procured at subsidised rates from vendors. The project was inaugurated in Bhubaneshwar on Dec 23 by the state labour minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, local MLA Sushanta Rout and other district officials. Distribution activities continued for a week across RID 3262.
Encouraged by the impact, the DG has charted out similar initiatives in the months ahead. “District clubs are now working on providing e-autos in association with Bajaj India, pink autorickshaws and pushcarts to help women further enhance their family income,” he says.