Until recently, the only way to approach the hilltop village of Rugudikasada in Keonjhar Orissa, India, was on foot. It was a community still living under the shadow of illiteracy, ignorance, poor health and exploitation by money lenders. When LWF arrived in 1999, we began addressing these problems. Literacy, health awareness and community-based activities such as community cultivation and village cleaning programs were promoted.

Farming was entirely dependent on erratic rain, making the food-grain deficit a recurring problem. LWF facilitated a grain bank. At the end of 2003, the grain bank had 2800 kilograms (6172 lbs) of grain.

The villagers realized that further progress would require better communication. During 2003 they mobilized government resources to construct a road. Encouraged by their progress, they began to tackle the issue of irrigation and asked for assistance from LWF. They have now constructed an irrigation system which provides water to 50 acres of land! They are now producing vegetables year-round. Food is abundant for the first time in memory.