Arun Kar supports UK Odia Diaspora initiative advancing health, gender dignity and sanitation for tribal girls in Odisha

A 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 met. This project, funded and executed by United Kingdom (UK)-based Odia entrepreneurs, marks substantial progress in the living conditions of the girls, who had limited access to basic sanitation until now. The work stems from an emotional attachment to Odisha and a moral responsibility towards some of its most vulnerable communities. It has been carried out with sincere sentiment and love for the state and the people of their origin. The initiative involved field-level need assessment, local coordination, and engagement with the district administration led by Dr Bibhuti Bhusan Pattnayak and Swagatika Tripathy, and received financial support from Captain Arun Kar (Retd) and Mrs Nidhi Kar.

The ashram currently houses 46 tribal girls aged between seven and fourteen, the majority of whom belong to Scheduled Tribe communities. The government provides free boarding and lodging, education (including coaching), computer training, and health check-up support. During multiple visits, one of the most pressing concerns identified at the ashram was the lack of a proper bathroom facility — a necessity that had long been unavailable. The visits were facilitated by District Child Protection Officer Shri Suresh Pattnaik.

Previously, the girls were compelled to use nearby bushes, raising serious concerns around safety, privacy, hygiene and mental wellbeing. With formal approval from the authorities, UK-based Odia entrepreneur Captain Arun Kar (Retd) and Nidhi Kar personally undertook to finance the construction of a dedicated bathroom facility. Work commenced in January 2026, marking a significant step towards resolving a long-standing and sensitive problem. The roof has now been completed, and the project is expected to be fully finished within days.

Engagement with district administration
Dr Pattnayak and social worker Kanhu Raj Benjamin Singh Sadhu met Nabarangpur Collector Dr Maheswar Swain to convey the UK-based Odia diaspora initiatives and monitor progress for welfare interventions. Meetings were also held with MP Shri Balabhadra Majhi and MLA Shri Gouri Majhi regarding child protection, dignity, and sustainable community response.

A model of care by Prabasi Odias miles away from their homeland
Captain Kar and Mrs Kar were deeply moved by the hardships faced by local girls and often questioned why such suffering continued to persist in the 21st century when the world is progressing rapidly. Their involvement grew through direct interaction with the community and a deeper understanding of local realities. Based on this, they funded the construction of a bathroom facility at the ashram. Their support, however, goes beyond infrastructure, indicating a broader commitment to the welfare of the girls. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 5 and 6, an initiative supported by Captain Kar and Nidhi Kar has addressed a long-pending sanitation need for 46 tribal girls at an ashram in Nabarangpur, reinforcing a broader commitment to dignity, health and inclusive development.

Mo library initiative: Another example of support for sustained menstrual hygiene
In April 2025, during Utkal Divas celebrations in the UK, the recurring demand for sanitary products at the ashram was raised by Dr Pattnayak, and Priyanka agreed to support the effort by raising funds through the Mo library initiative. Captain Kar and Nidhi Kar recognised the need and generously donated an additional amount on top of the collected funds to the Mo Library initiative, which helped provide sanitary pads to 38 girls for three months.

Extending impact beyond social welfare
Through Earthnest, Nidhi Kar has taken meaningful steps towards environmental stewardship, promoting plastic-free, biodegradable alternatives and supporting the transition towards a circular and greener economy, with a focus on practical sustainability and long-term impact. 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.

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