Hands united in tradition, celebrating the richness of indigenous seeds and sustainable farming

Hands at work, hearts empowered—transforming skills into sustainable livelihoods.

Empowering voices, strengthening communities—women leading the way toward change.

Youth engagement in Panchayati Raj strengthens democratic governance and community development processes.

Sports empower youth to dream big, work hard, and realize their true potential.

Disaster warriors are the unsung heroes who rise amidst chaos to bring hope and resilience.

Empowered communities are those where capacity building turns challenges into opportunities.

From the fields of Kundra in Koraput, watermelon is more than just a crop—it’s a source of livelihood, sustainability, and community strength.

A Survival Kit is a bundle of hope and care, helping Cyclone Dana survivors take their first step towards recovery.

vision

An equitable society where women and men can freely realize their full potential, fulfill their rights and responsibilities and lead their life with dignity and self-respect.

MISSION

To enable marginalized women, men and children to improve their quality of life. To this end, CYSD uses issue based research to influence policies from a pro-poor and rights based perspective. It also works to ensure transparent, gender sensitive, accountable and democratic governance by building the capacities of people and organizations in participatory planning.

OUR VALUES

Transparency
Accountability
Gender Equity
Inclusive & Participatory Action

Leadership Messages

Chairperson's Message

Dear Friends, I am honoured to serve as the Chair of CYSD and extend my heartfelt thanks to both co-founders, Shri Jagadananda and Shri P. K. Sahoo, for this opportunity...

Dr. Rajesh Tandon
Chairperson

Secretary's Message

For more than four and a half decades, the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) has remained a humble yet determined journey of learning, action, and collective hope...

Jagadananda
Secretary

Our Programs

Following a lifecycle approach, CYSD works intensively in four major areas – Sustainable Livelihoods | Inclusive Education | Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Action I Skilling the Youth for Social Transformation

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE RURAL LIVELIHOODS

CYSD is committed to advancing sustainable livelihoods for the remote tribal and rural poor of Odisha, focusing on women, smallholder farmers, and migrants in both farm and non-farm sectors. This strategy helps reduce poverty and ensures household food and nutrition security.

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

CYSD is dedicated to actively engaging with vulnerable and marginalized communities, aiming to enhance their capacities through public education in critical areas such as disaster management, food and nutritional security, basic public health, employment opportunities, development planning, and livelihoods. Our strategic objective for 2022-2027 is to collaborate with these identified groups, helping them realize their rights and entitlements across a diverse range of topics.

MITIGATING DISASTER RISKS AND ADVANCING CLIMATE ACTION

CYSD has played a pivotal role in responding to various humanitarian crises in the state, from the devastating 1999 super cyclone to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-22) and the recent floods in 2022. CYSD’s disaster response efforts are multifaceted. During any disaster, the organization’s rescue team promptly provides victims with relief and necessary support, ensuring a swift response. Additionally, the rescue team coordinates a collaborative civil society response involving various stakeholders for a broader impact. CYSD also implements long-term rehabilitation measures to help communities recover and rebuild.

SKILLING THE YOUTH FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

Odisha has a predominantly young population, making it one of the country's youngest regions It is imperative to harness the potential of this mass and equip them with demand-based quality skills for the job market. CYSD has focused on several critical green skilling initiatives to economically empower unemployed youth.

Since 1982, CYSD has been empowering the poor and marginalized communities in Odisha. Recognizing the immense untapped potential in the state, especially in rural areas, CYSD focuses on tribal populations living in the most remote regions, especially the tribal and rural districts of Koraput, Malkanagiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Bolangiri, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Khurda. The organization works intensively with these communities and, through partner organizations, replicates its innovative approaches across all districts of Odisha.