Sambalpur: Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a flagship subsidiary of Coal India, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gram Vikas, an Non-Government Organisation, for “Movement and Action Network for Transformation of Rural Areas” (MANTRA) to develop model villages in Jharsuguda and Sundergarh districts of Odisha at a cost of Rs two crore.
Entering into MoU for first time with an NGO, MCL plans to transform five remote villages with 364 households under company’s command area in Sundergarh and Jharsuguda districts.
The MoU was signed by Mr B Sairam, General Manager (CSR), MCL and Mr Liby T Johnson, ED, Gram Vihas, a Bhubaneswar-based NGO, in the presence of Mr L N Mishra, Director (Personnel), MCL.
“MCL is entering into inclusive growth programme of such type for the first time on partnership basis,” said Mr L N Mishra while congratulating MCL CSR and Gram Vikas for their association in the project, which is modeled as a comprehensive package of installing household sanitation units & piped water system to make the villages Open Defecation Free (ODF) and environmentally hygienic.
Mr Mishra said that the NGO should ensure the quality developmental works at all costs, which further would open doors for similar collaborations.
The major tenets of this model include 100 per cent inclusion of the target communities, creation of self-managed community institutions, focus on ensuring social and gender equity, cost sharing and sustainability of the interventions.
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