Caritas Japan Commends Community-Led Progress in Odisha

A delegation from Caritas Japan conducted an extensive field visit to witness the transformative impact of the “Empowering Communities for Resilience Building” project across the coastal districts of Ganjam, Balasore, and Puri. The visit between 9–18 March 2026 served as a powerful validation of Caritas India’s mission to turn vulnerable coastal regions into models of self-reliance and disaster preparedness.

The Caritas Japan team, led by Ms. Akiko Hashimoto and Mr. Ken Yamada, traversed four model villages within the Gram Panchayats of Poirasi, Karapada, Betagadia, and Bodas. The highlight of the visit was the high level of community ownership. Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC) members and Sarpanchs confidently demonstrated their locally developed Village Disaster Management Plans (VDMPs).

The technical precision displayed by these local leaders, presenting detailed maps of hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities, showcased a strong foundation of participatory planning that has moved beyond simple awareness to actionable preparedness.

The delegation also visited four model schools, where the “locksmiths” of the future, the students, stole the spotlight. Children explained their school-based hazard and evacuation maps with remarkable clarity, demonstrating that disaster readiness is becoming a core part of their education.

By integrating the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF), the project has successfully linked school safety with village-level disaster mechanisms, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society are the best prepared.

The project, Empowering Communities for Resilience Building in Odisha aimed to strengthen disaster preparedness, risk-informed governance, and community resilience in the disaster-prone coastal districts of Puri, Ganjam, and Balasore in Odisha.

Beyond emergency drills, the visit highlighted the project’s focus on long-term adaptive capacity. The team observed resilient livelihood initiatives currently supporting 80 vulnerable households, including daily wage earners and persons with disabilities, who were identified through inclusive selection criteria.

The mission concluded with a strategic review and a high-level meeting with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), where institutional coordination and government convergence were prioritized to ensure these models remain scalable and sustainable.

The Caritas Japan team expressed high appreciation for the effective implementation and the community-driven nature of the project. Describing the visit as a valuable learning experience, the donors recognized the positive, lasting impact of the interventions. As the project enters its final implementation phase, the foundation laid by this partnership continues to ensure that the communities of Odisha are not just surviving disasters but are flourishing.