In 1989, ANTODAYA was formed and registered as a non-profit organization in India as a result of a group of dedicated people who had previously committed themselves to interact with the inhabitants of Thuamul Rampur Block in Kalahandi.

Thuamul Rampur Block is one of the most backward blocks in the Orissa State — As per sources from the “Planning and Coordination Department, Government of Orissa (GoO), it ranks third from the bottom in all development indicators. It comes under tribal sub-plan which focused on starvation deaths, child selling, etc. The people of Thuamul Rampur are more exposed to malarial attacks, malnutrition, and hazardous conditions. The skewed land distribution compels the rural poor to face food scarcity for approximately four to five months per year which in turn manifolds the difficulties.

Keeping all of this in view, ANTODAYA has been working in the area since its inception and is attempting to build a society where there is “NO HUNGER, DISCRIMINATION, INJUSTICE (ARISING OUT OF INERTIA), AND DISEASES.

ANTODAYA believes that an INTEGRATED approach towards the people’s development, with the people’s participation, is required in the following areas:

• People empowerment, especially women;
• Community health and nutrition development;
• Natural resource management; and
• Entrepreneurship development.