Capabilities . . .

In the course of 50 years of development work at the grassroots level, the organisation has acquired special skills in community organisation and the process of building up people’s organisations. It also enjoys active support and co-operation of the State, District and Block level officials. As one of the leading organisations in the State, it has a high standing as a reliable committed voluntary organisation in Government circles. This is born out by the fact that the Government has nominated UAA to various state and district level consultative/ advisory committees from time to time. Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Government of India has nominated UAA as one of the National Task Force member for BOBLME Program. Both Government and UN agencies has entrusted the responsibility of Nodal Agency for implementation of Water and Sanitation program as well as coordinate Disaster Preparedness activities in the district. Funding agencies too, hold a very favourable impression of UAA because of its reach at the grassroots level, consistency in field involvement and judicious handling of funds. In the year 2001 the organisation was honoured with State Level Award for ‘Commendable Service to Humanity’ by the “State IYV Committee” headed by The Chief minister.


With the recommendation of Govt. of Odisha, National Coastal Zone Management Authority nominated UAA as a member in State Coastal Zone Management Authority, a statutory body to look into better management of Coast of Odisha. During the year the organisation received an award for its project “SAMUDRAM”, a state level federation of marine fisher women, through which the organisation promoted marine resource conservation and increase income of fishers in Orissa. The award was facilitated by UNDP for “CONSERVATION and POVERTY REDUCTION”, Equator Prize – 2010.

During the year 2011, Godfrey Phillips recognised President Samudram, Mrs. B. Chittiama’s effort for Women Empowerment and awarded “AMODINI” Prize.

In 2012 People’s Media Initiative through ‘orissadiary.com’ awarded her with “Living Legend” Memento for Samudram & UAAs initiative) contribution to empowerment of marine fishing community in Odisha.

In 2013 the above initiative got recognition from OTv, the established regional news channel under the category “PRERANAA”, meaning the Inspiration, for women leadership among marine fisher community.

In the year 2015 Samudram’s effort to increase income and status of women traditional fish-workers’ in Odisha was recognised by Pradyumna Bala Foundation and received “Pradyumna Bala Smaraki Award” with a cash prize of Rs. 200, 000/-.

In the year 2015 UAAs work in empowering urban slum women for mitigating their water and sanitation issues in Puri Municipality was recognised and felicitated by Odisha Journalist Union (OJU)- Puri.

In the year 2016 UAAs work in promotion of quality education through implementation of RtE and school water sanitation hygiene campaigning in Puri was recognised by a media house, the “Sishu Samachara, Puri”.