AWARD empowers marginalized communities, especially women and youth, by fostering sustainable development, enhancing livelihoods, & ensuring access to essential services in underdeveloped rural area.

The Association for Women and Rural Development (AWARD) was founded in the late 1980s and early 1990s, inspired by a deep commitment to community mobilization and people’s empowerment. The organization emerged from extensive grassroots engagement in Bamra, a region marked by vast forests, a significant tribal population, and widespread poverty. Motivated by the need to foster a people-centered development process, AWARD was established to mobilize youth and women, addressing issues of marginalization and limited access to government resources. Bamra Block, located in Sambalpur District, Odisha, is uniquely positioned at the intersection of Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda districts. Despite its strategic location and connectivity through rail and road networks, many interior pockets remain isolated, lacking essential infrastructure such as education, healthcare, irrigation, and livelihood opportunities. The region’s economy largely depends on rain-fed agriculture, minor forest product collection, and labor-intensive work. However, government intervention in development has often fallen short of expectations due to inaccessibility and low literacy rates, leaving communities underserved. Since its inception, AWARD has been dedicated to bridging this gap by empowering communities through advocacy, capacity-building, and sustainable development initiatives. With a clear vision and mission, the organization continues to work tirelessly to uplift marginalized populations, ensuring their voices are heard and their aspirations fulfilled.