Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Odisha's 11 Young Leaders Graduate from Jana Nayika Fellowship
In Odisha, eleven young people finished a special one-year programme called the Jana Nayika Fellowship.
The programme taught them about being good citizens and making their communities fairer for everyone.
It was run by an organisation called Safe Odisha For Her.
The young people could continue their studies and jobs while also helping their communities.
They worked on problems like treating everyone equally, helping people with disabilities, and keeping villages clean and connected.
One of them helped 35 families in Kalahandi get toilets through a government scheme called the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Another helped get a new Anganwadi building approved for young children in her village.
At the end, they shared their ideas at a graduation ceremony in Bhubaneswar.
Pranay Manjari, the founder of the organisation, said the fellows' journeys as community changemakers were only beginning.
Eleven young leaders from across Odisha completed the one-year Jana Nayika Fellowship on gender and citizen leadership.
The programme was organised by Safe Odisha For Her and launched in September 2025.
Campaigns tackled gender equality, disability inclusion, police accountability, sanitation, caste discrimination and more.
One fellow helped bring 35 Dalit families in Kalahandi into Swachh Bharat Mission benefits; another secured approval for a new Anganwadi building.
A graduation ceremony was held at Gram Vikas, Forest Park, Bhubaneswar, on the eve of the 80th Independence Day.
- Who
- Eleven young leaders from across Odisha, supported by the organisation Safe Odisha For Her and its founder Pranay Manjari.
- What
- They completed the Jana Nayika Fellowship, a one-year online programme on gender and citizen leadership, and presented their community campaigns at a graduation ceremony.
- When
- The programme was launched in September 2025 and concluded on the eve of the 80th Independence Day.
- Where
- Odisha; the graduation ceremony was held at Gram Vikas, Forest Park, Bhubaneswar.
- Why
- To enable young people to engage in social change while continuing their studies, work and everyday lives, addressing issues such as gender equality, caste discrimination and disability inclusion.
- Programme
- Jana Nayika Fellowship
- Organiser
- Safe Odisha For Her
- Format
- One-year online programme on gender and citizen leadership
- Launch
- September 2025
- Graduation
- On the eve of the 80th Independence Day at Gram Vikas, Forest Park, Bhubaneswar
- Number of fellows
- 11 young leaders from across Odisha
- Notable outcome
- 35 Dalit families in Kalahandi included in Swachh Bharat Mission
- Founder
- Pranay Manjari