In a heartfelt move to promote social inclusion and cultural sustainability Odisha Television Network OTV under its flagship CSR initiative lsquoOTV Caresrsquo has proposed the construction of a ceremonial Puja Gate for a vibrant Santali tribal community living near the media organisationrsquos office in Bhubaneswar.
Home to more than 300 families and over 1200 individuals the indigenous Santali community celebrates their traditions and festivalsmdashsuch as Baha Banga March and Magmone Novembermdashwith vibrant devotion to Mother Nature. However the absence of a boundary or puja gate has left the community vulnerable to regular intrusions by stray animals and a gradual loss of culturally significant flora.
The proposed project involves constructing a 15 ft x 15 ft traditional gate engraved with the words Donated by OTV Cares.The estimated cost for the initiative stands at Rs 232000 inclusive of GST.
While the Santali communityrsquos average family income remains below Rs 2 lakh per annum their cultural richness and close-knit traditions continue to thrive. This initiative by OTV is not merely a gesture of charity but a step toward ensuring the sustainability and dignity of a deeply rooted tribal heritage.
Elated with OTVrsquos noble deed Mochiram Majhi the Community Leader said ldquoI want to express my gratitude to OTV and its entire staff for this kind gesture. We will always remain obliged for this noble deed.rdquo
Likewise Laxman Murmu said ldquoIrsquom more than happy today and want to thank OTV for the noble gesture.rdquo
ldquoPreserving culture tradition and the roots of our state has always been one of the top priorities of OTV. In that regard we have decided to invest in infrastructure developments where we propose to construct a 15ft15ft puja gate for the marginalized Majhi community who happen to be our neighbours. It gives us immense satisfaction and I would like to thank our MD Jagi Mangat Panda and our Head of Business Litisha Mangat Pand who approved this initiative and found this initiative logical enough to invest money inrdquo stated Dipti Ranjan Das OTV Cares.
By integrating infrastructure with cultural preservation the initiative aligns with OTV Caresrsquo larger vision of inclusive social development and community-centric growth. It is expected to boost local morale and further strengthen OTVrsquos relationship with the people it serves.