from the Ground Up
Urban governance in Indian cities demands critical reform to enable sustainable and inclusive development. Institutional frameworks exist — but inadequate decentralization, weak citizen engagement, and poor public service delivery mean that marginalized communities, especially children, women, and youth in informal settlements, remain unheard and underserved.
Humara Bachpan Trust works to change this from the ground up. Starting with children who began voicing their basic needs as young citizens, HBT has built a model of grassroots democratic governance that spans children, adolescents, youth, and women across urban and rural communities. This work led to Bhubaneswar becoming India’s first Child-Friendly City — a living proof of what participatory governance can achieve.
HBT works to empower poor and marginalized communities on their rights — creating avenues for them to effectively access and enjoy their fundamental entitlements as active citizens, not passive beneficiaries.
“When the most marginalized are equipped and organized, they do not just survive their city — they shape it.”
“When communities understand the Gram Sabha as their right and not a ritual, they stop waiting for governance to reach them — they bring governance into being themselves.”
Build Leaders from Within Communities
Through the Community Leadership Programme, children, adolescents, youth, and women are equipped with knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand their rights, identify problems, and act on them. Peer leaders are federated upward — from inter-slum to city level — creating an organized civic voice duty bearers cannot ignore.
Map, Plan, and Co-Design with Communities
Using proprietary participatory tools — Children Led Planning (CLP), CRAA, Cities4Kids Audit, Safety Audit, and Public Space Assessment — HBT ensures community members themselves define problems and co-design solutions. These exercises generate evidence-rich plans that guide infrastructure improvements and city-level policy advocacy.
Connect Citizens to Governance through Interface Building
Identifying problems is only the beginning. HBT’s Community Interface Building creates formal platforms — backed by Charters of Demands — where community members meet corporators, ward officers, municipal commissioners, and district officials. These structured encounters produce measurable outcomes: roads built, drains covered, streetlights repaired.
Advocate through Evidence-Based Policy Research
HBT synthesizes audit findings, community data, and field evidence into policy briefs shared with state and national authorities. Participatory budgeting sessions bring citizens into city spending conversations. Policy briefs on Swachh Bharat Mission, PM Awas Yojana, AMRUT, and urban sanitation ground policy reform in community-documented reality.
9,100+ members
7,200+ members
28,280+ leaders
exercises conducted
through advocacy
audits completed
facilitated
Leadership Building —
Creating Change from Within
Building the agency of children, adolescents, youth, and women is the cornerstone of HBT’s governance work. The Community Leadership Programme develops peer leaders through multi-phase training in urban policies, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving.
Leaders form child clubs, adolescent groups, Sambhavi women’s groups, and youth clubs — organized into inter-slum, cluster, and city-level federations that sustain civic engagement year-round. These leaders are not trained once and forgotten. Regular review meetings, refresher trainings, and inter-slum exchanges keep them engaged, skilled, and accountable to their communities.
| Indicator | Cumulative Achievement |
|---|---|
| Child Clubs | 252 clubs │ 9,100+ members │ 3,336 child leaders |
| Adolescent Clubs | 415 clubs │ 7,200+ members │ 680 adolescent leaders |
| Sambhavi Women’s Groups | 265 groups │ 28,280+ women leaders |
| Youth Peer Leaders | 280+ peer leaders across operational areas |
| Adolescent girls trained on life skills | 12,000+ annually — Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Sundargarh & Puri |
Sai Kumar: From Struggle to Civic Leader
Growing up in a family barely making ends meet, Sai Kumar always wanted to take charge. Through HBT’s Peer Leadership Training, he led plantation drives, installed streetlights in his community’s bylanes, and filed a successful Charter of Demand for water pipe connections at Station Square.
“We can bring progressive changes if we are guided the right way.”
Chittaranjan: The Voice He Found
A dropout who rarely spoke in gatherings, Chittaranjan began attending peer leader training and transformed. He enrolled in ITI, worked with city officials to solve infrastructure problems, and personally supported eight COVID-19-positive community members during quarantine.
“Now I am not only speaking for myself — I am also the voice of my community.”
Sangita: A Second Chance at Education
Sangita failed her matriculation exam and feared her journey was over. After joining HBT’s peer leader group and undergoing three phases of leadership training, she became an advocate against gender-based violence and enrolled for supplementary board examinations.
“I will study social science. This will help me build a career in social work.”
Community Led Planning —
Communities Shaping Their Own Environments
CLP is a participatory mapping process where communities use social mapping, problem trees, solution trees, and stakeholder analysis to identify pressing issues and develop evidence-based plans for change.
Children Led Planning (CLP) is a ten-step process through which children analyse their situation, identify and prioritize issues, plan for a dream neighbourhood, and advocate for implementation — with inputs from architects, early childhood specialists, and urban planners. This methodology has been deployed in BDA slum redevelopment projects including Nilamadhab Nagar, OUAT, and Mahisakhala resettlements, directly influencing housing design and infrastructure.
Community Resilience and Action Analysis (CRAA) maps the economic, social, and infrastructural conditions of a community — capturing livelihood patterns, seasonal vulnerabilities, and institutional linkages — generating community-owned action plans.
| Indicator | Achievement |
|---|---|
| CLP exercises conducted | 80+ across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, Sundargarh & Balangir |
| Children Led Planning in BDA projects | Nilamadhab Nagar, OUAT, Mahisakhala — influencing housing design & infrastructure |
| CRAA mapping reports | 32 neighbourhoods documented; reports shared with city planners |
| Geographies covered | Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Puri, Balangir |
In Shantinagar FCI Colony — 404 households — more than 80 families depended on community toilets that had been dysfunctional for years. Youth club members of ‘Tulasi Sathi Sangha’ presented their demands before the Corporator; all six dysfunctional toilets were renovated immediately. The youth then converted the open defecation space into a neighbourhood play park.
Community Interface Building —
Translating Demands into Action
Community members — equipped with maps, data, and Charters of Demands — meet duty bearers including corporators, ward officers, municipal commissioners, and department officials. These are not token consultations. They produce tangible, documented infrastructure outcomes.
| Issue | Communities | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Water logging & drainage | Pandapark, Harekrushna Nagar, OUAT Farmgate, Telugu Basti | Done New drains constructed; existing drains cleaned by BMC |
| Dysfunctional streetlights | Rameswar, Nilachakranagar, Bhagabati, Bijayalaxmi, Patharbandha | Done 42+ streetlights repaired; 5 new lights installed |
| Road repair & construction | Pandapark, OCC, Chillipokhari, OUAT Farmgate, Hatiasuni | Done Multiple stretches of concrete & paved roads constructed |
| Dysfunctional community toilets | Shantinagar FCI Colony, OUAT Farmgate, Mochisahi | Done 6 toilets renovated; 1 new toilet constructed |
| Drinking water supply | Behera Sahi, Saradhapalli, Station Square, Shantipalli | Done Multiple taps installed; pipe connections laid |
| Open / uncovered drains | Adeikhala, Gangipichu, Madhusudhan Nagar, Siripur | Done Drains covered; permanent drainage works completed |
| Garbage disposal & dustbins | OCC, Santoshi Nagar, Patharabandha, Rickshaw Colony | Done Dustbins installed; accumulated garbage cleared |
| Community halls & mandap | Bijaylaxmi, Mahavirnagar, Laxminagar, Jagannathabasti | Done New halls constructed; existing halls repaired |
| Anganwadi centres | Sabarsahi, Madhusudan Nagar, OUAT Farmgate, SSB | Done New AWC with child-friendly features; renovations completed |
| Open drain (Youth-led audit) | Fire Station Basti, Bhagabati Basti, Jagamara, Baramunda | Done Presented to Cabinet Minister; permanent drainage built in Fire Station Basti |
Cities4Kids Audit &
Safe, Vibrant Public Spaces
Child and adolescent leaders audit public infrastructure, city services, and schemes against child-friendly parameters — generating evidence-based policy recommendations shared with city authorities and policymakers.
In partnership with WRI India, HBT implements the Safe, Vibrant, Healthy Public Spaces (SVHPS) programme, training adolescents as Public Space Ambassadors who systematically assess and advocate for safer, more inclusive public spaces. Using the PSAF framework, 250 adolescents across Bhubaneswar have evaluated 16 spaces — generating evidence on safety, vibrancy, cleanliness, and inclusivity.
The Rajdhani College frontage — rated Red on safety and accessibility — was co-designed by 800+ adolescents and transformed into a Model Adolescent-Friendly Public Space. In 20 days post-activation: 1,650 registered users and 200–250 daily visitors. PSAF rating shifted from Red to Green/Amber across all indicators.
| Indicator | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Cities4Kids audits conducted | 200+ community & infrastructure audits |
| Anganwadi centres audited | 109 ECCD centres across Bhubaneswar |
| ‘Kabbad se Juggad’ play spaces | 8 play spaces created from waste materials |
| Public Space Assessments (PSAF) | 16 spaces; 250 adolescents trained |
| Model Adolescent-Friendly Public Spaces | 2 — Rajdhani College Frontage & OUAT Farmgate |
| Policy briefs released | Urban Sanitation (SBM), PM Awas Yojana, AMRUT, RAY |
Socially Smart City —
Bhubaneswar 2017–2023
HBT served as the nodal agency of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation for six years, implementing the Socially Smart City programme across 100 slums — contributing directly to SDG 11 and Bhubaneswar’s recognition as India’s first Child-Friendly City.
From 2017 to 2023, the Socially Smart City programme took deliberate cognizance of the needs of the urban poor, young people, women, and the aged — creating a model of sustainable urbanization grounded in new urbanism principles designed to provide people with prosperity, safety, and equity through sustained, people-led civic engagement.
| Indicator | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Programme period | 2017–2023 (6 years) |
| Slums covered | 100 slums across Bhubaneswar |
| ‘Pragati Sathi’ youth leaders developed | 440 youth leaders |
| SDG alignment | SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities |
| Partner institutions | BMC, BSCL, UNFPA |
| City-level recognition | Bhubaneswar declared India’s first Child-Friendly City |
UCDAP —
Urban Community Development Action Program
A CSR initiative of DESPL operating across 50 communities in 15 wards of Bhubaneswar. UCDAP uses health, education, and economic development as entry points through which marginalized people build civic agency and claim their rights.
Every component of UCDAP is designed to develop informed, empowered citizens who can identify what they are entitled to, navigate the systems meant to serve them, and hold duty bearers accountable. Women, adolescent girls, and youth are not programme recipients — they are the advocates, auditors, and leaders who drive change.
Annapurna: Healthcare as a Right
Annapurna, 22, had silently suffered from a suspected breast tumor for years — fear of stigma kept her from speaking out. When HBT’s UCDAP team began community engagement sessions, she confided in an HBT team member. The team accompanied her to KIIMS Hospital for examination and timely treatment. She has now fully recovered.
“The team stood by my side when I had no one else to turn to.”
Kajal Khatun: Education Reclaimed at 26
Married at 15 due to societal pressure, Kajal spent 12 years quietly holding onto her dream of completing Class 10. When she learned about HBT through neighbours in 2024, the UCDAP team supported her enrolment in NIOS at Unit-1 High School. She appeared for her board examinations — reclaiming her right to education.
“With the support of HBT, I am taking charge of my life.”
| Indicator | Achievement (Apr 2024 – Mar 2025) |
|---|---|
| Communities & wards covered | 50 communities, 15 wards, Bhubaneswar |
| Child marriage cases addressed (ADVIKA) | 6 cases; 4 FIRs filed; rescued girls safely home |
| Youth enrolled in Government ITI | 40 youths — 25 girls, 15 boys |
| Youth-led Drain Audit | 25 adolescents │ 10 areas │ Presented to Cabinet Minister │ Drains covered |
| Gender Safety Audits (16 Days) | 4 audits; 37 women & adolescents; 4 public locations |
| Subhadra Yojana outreach | 3,229 individuals across 33 communities |
| Stakeholder interface meetings | 22 meetings │ 525 participants │ 28 communities |
Governance is not something that happens to communities — it is something communities must be empowered to exercise. Across Balangir and Puri districts, HBT has demonstrated what this looks like in practice: women cotton farmers convening Republic Day Gram Sabhas; farming communities using National Panchayati Raj Day to approve climate-resilient plans; communities passing formal resolutions on Independence Day. These are not consultations. They are communities governing.
110 Women Cotton Farmers Convene to Resolve a Water Crisis
110 women cotton farmers held a special Gram Sabha, choosing Republic Day to signal their identity as citizens exercising a constitutional right. They arrived with a mapped plan for nine lift irrigation points across 70 acres of cotton land, costed under MGNREGS. The Gram Sabha unanimously approved every proposal. The event was covered by The Statesman and Odisha Today.
Farmers Approve a Climate-Resilient Agriculture Plan
Farming communities held a Gram Sabha attended by the Sarpanch, PEO, ADO, ward members, and 80 farmers. The assembly unanimously approved renovation of lift irrigation systems, construction of an earthen canal, clearing of community ponds, establishment of 100 vermicompost beds, and distribution of vegetable seeds to 100 households.
Independence Day Gram Sabha Passes a 25-Activity Convergence Plan
A formal Convergence Action Plan — a community-endorsed resolution — directed 25 specific activities across MGNREGA, Fishery, Horticulture, OLM, and Animal Husbandry Departments. This included pond renovation, road and drainage construction, fish cultivation, vermicomposting, mushroom cultivation, and school building construction.
Access to Rights & Entitlements
HBT bridges the gap between marginalized families and government welfare schemes — ensuring that constitutional rights become lived realities, not just commitments on paper.
ASHA workers, Anganwadi teachers, and Mahila Arogya Samiti members are oriented on government health schemes — equipping them to reach more households. Street plays and neighbourhood campaigns raise awareness on reproductive rights, family planning, domestic violence, and child marriage.
| Scheme / Category | Beneficiaries Reached |
|---|---|
| PM SVANidhi Yojana (street vendors) | 67 vendors enrolled |
| Widow pension & PwD pension | 10 widows, 7 PwD (Bhubaneswar & Sundargarh) |
| Old age pension (Sundargarh) | 59 individuals enrolled |
| Madhu Babu Pension Yojana | 38 beneficiaries (widows, PwDs, senior citizens) |
| Public Distribution System (ration cards) | 181 poor families linked |
| MGNREGS job cards | 82 households facilitated |
| Aadhaar card facilitation & correction | 196+ individuals (new + corrected) |
| ICDS new enrolments | 62 children |
| Krushak Odisha Portal — farmers (Puri) | 7,552 farmers enrolled |
| Crop insurance (PMFBY) | 192 farmers enrolled |
| Livestock vaccination & insurance | 1,827 HHs (vaccination); 107 HHs (insurance) |
| Frontline workers oriented per cycle | 103+ ASHA / Anganwadi / MAS members |
| Programme Component | Scale of Reach | Geography |
|---|---|---|
| Child Clubs & Leaders | 252 clubs │ 9,100+ members │ 3,336 leaders | Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Sundargarh |
| Adolescent Clubs & Leaders | 415 clubs │ 7,200+ members │ 680 leaders | Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sundargarh, Sambalpur |
| Sambhavi Women’s Groups | 265 groups │ 28,280+ women leaders | Pan-operational |
| Community Led Planning | 80+ exercises across urban & rural communities | Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sundargarh, Balangir |
| Infrastructure Outcomes (CoD) | 100+ tangible changes — roads, drains, lights, water, toilets, halls | Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sundargarh |
| Public Space Assessments (PSAF) | 16 spaces assessed │ 250 Public Space Ambassadors | Bhubaneswar |
| Model Adolescent-Friendly Public Spaces | 2 Model Public Spaces | Rajdhani College Frontage & OUAT Farmgate, Bhubaneswar |
| Cities4Kids Audits | 200+ audits (sanitation, play, ECCD, safety, gender) | Bhubaneswar |
| Socially Smart City (BMC Nodal Agency) | 100 slums │ 440 ‘Pragati Sathi’ youth leaders | Bhubaneswar, Odisha |
| UCDAP (CSR Initiative of DESPL) | 50 communities │ 15 wards │ Healthcare, Education, GBV, Entitlements | Bhubaneswar |
| People’s Participatory Governance | 3 Gram Sabhas │ 140 women farmers │ 25-activity convergence plan | Balangir & Puri, Odisha |
| Entitlements & scheme linkages | 10,000+ individuals linked to pensions, ration cards, health & agricultural schemes | Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sundargarh, Balangir |
| City-level Recognition | Bhubaneswar declared India’s first Child-Friendly City | |