UK-Based Odia Entrepreneurs Transform Lives with New Bathroom Facility for Tribal Girls in Odisha
In a heartwarming development, the long-standing need for a secure, roofed bathroom facility for 46 tribal girls at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Balika Ashram in Majhiguda, Nabarangpur, Odisha, has finally been fulfilled. This transformative project, funded and executed by United Kingdom-based Odia entrepreneurs, marks substantial progress in improving the living conditions of the girls, who had previously endured limited access to basic sanitation.
Addressing a Critical Sanitation Gap
The ashram currently houses 46 tribal girls aged between seven and fourteen, with the majority belonging to Scheduled Tribe communities. While the government provides free boarding, lodging, education, computer training, and health check-up support, a pressing concern identified during multiple visits was the lack of a proper bathroom facility. Previously, the girls were compelled to use nearby bushes, raising serious issues around safety, privacy, hygiene, and mental wellbeing.
District Child Protection Officer Shri Suresh Pattnaik facilitated these visits, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. The emotional attachment to Odisha and a moral responsibility towards its vulnerable communities drove UK-based Odia entrepreneur Captain Arun Kar (Retd) and Mrs Nidhi Kar to personally finance the construction of a dedicated bathroom facility after obtaining formal approval from authorities.
Project Execution and Broader Impact
Work on the bathroom facility commenced in January 2026, with the roof now completed and the project expected to be fully finished within days. The initiative involved meticulous field-level need assessment, local coordination, and engagement with the district administration led by Dr Bibhuti Bhusan Pattnayak and Swagatika Tripathy. Engagement extended to meetings with MP Shri Balabhadra Majhi and MLA Shri Gouri Majhi, focusing on child protection, dignity, and sustainable community responses.
Captain Kar and Mrs Kar were deeply moved by the hardships faced by the local girls, often questioning why such suffering persisted in the 21st century. Their involvement grew through direct interaction with the community, leading to a broader commitment beyond infrastructure. This project aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), reinforcing a dedication to dignity, health, and inclusive development.
Additional Support Initiatives
In April 2025, during Utkal Divas celebrations in the UK, the recurring demand for sanitary products at the ashram was raised by Dr Pattnayak. Priyanka agreed to support the effort through the Mo library initiative, with Captain Kar and Nidhi Kar generously donating an additional amount to provide sanitary pads to 38 girls for three months, addressing sustained menstrual hygiene needs.
Beyond social welfare, Nidhi Kar has taken meaningful steps through Earthnest towards environmental stewardship, promoting plastic-free, biodegradable alternatives and supporting a circular, greener economy. In December 2025, Captain Kar was honoured at the University of Oxford with the UN Global Excellence Award 2025, conferred by the United Nations Global Peace Council, in recognition of his global leadership and impact.
This initiative exemplifies a model of care by Prabasi Odias miles away from their homeland, driven by sincere sentiment and love for Odisha and its people. It underscores the power of diaspora engagement in addressing critical local needs and fostering sustainable development.
