A Custom Hiring Centre was inaugurated on 27th August, 2022 at Guapur village in Balipatna block of Khordha district for sustainable livelihood of farm women of Scheduled Caste community. On this occasion, the Director, ICAR-CIWA, Dr. Anil Kumar inspired women farmers to avail the benefits of the Custom Hiring Centre. He also highlighted the significance of Spice Grinding Machine in development of women entrepreneurship and said that CIWA will support it for digital marketing of the product. He encouraged the women to work with harmony and cooperation for success of the mission.The Spice Grinding Machine was installed at a place undertaken on lease by Mahila Krushak Sangathan and a set of agri-tools/

equipments (necessary accessories for spice grinding, weighing machine, ceiling machine, sprayer, pump, seed treatment drum, etc.) funded by SCSP component of ICAR were also handed over to the team of WSHG members who were identified to operate the Centre. The AID-Radio Kissan (Community Radio), Balipatna, Khordha came forward to support in day-to-day functioning of the Custom Hiring Centre by providing seed money to start the business, while Sarapanch assured to allot a shop in the village for sale of the products. A MoU was signed by the partners involved viz: ICAR-CIWA, WSHG and AID-Radio Kissan. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Ananta Sarkar and Dr. Sabita Mishra with the technical assistance from Dr. D. N. Sarangi and Sh. B. C. Behera. Shri P. K. Dutta (Chairman, Radio Kissan, Balipatna, Khordha), Smt. Kuni Senapati (Sarapanch, Guapur), Smt. Rina Mani Rout (Master Book Keeper, Gama Panchayat Level Federation, Balipatna), Smt. Anupama Bahera (Community Resource Person, Balipatna) and Smt. Tila Bhoi (Ward Member) also actively participated in the programme in which about 120 farm women from Guapur village also participated to make this programme successful.