Samasingha cluster

Samasingha cluster, which comes under Kolabira block of Jharsuguda district, is one of the five clusters which have been covered under ICAP. Under this cluster there are 29villages from 7 GPs. Samasingha cluster comes under non-tribal characterization of cluster. Samasingha itself is a GP, which is the largest GP in terms of population in this cluster. Although this cluster falls under the category of non-tribal cluster, it still has considerable number of ST population apart from SC, OBC and few general category populations. Major workforce of this cluster is involved in agriculture related activities. It is however noticeable fact that this block is only 10-15 Km away from major industrial site of Vedanta, and other big companies. This creates an opportunity to engage major number of workforce form nearby villages, but lack of skill and certain technical expertise has barred them from working there. As, farmers here are not able to take second crop, they mostly remain unemployed, in remaining season. Women workforce is mostly into broom making and collection of few NTFP.

Despite of several constraints, there lies a big potential of turning this cluster into cluster with diverse and sustainable livelihood opportunities. As it has better inner and outer road connectivity across the villages. There are families who have been getting skill through their forefathers, such as of pottery, jewelry and other handicrafts etc. Such skills can be shaped up into income generation livelihood options.

Apart from livelihood options, few areas which need attention are women and child health, improving infrastructure of Aganwadi, and PHCs, providing technical education to youth, strengthening SHGs etc.