As part of the Eco-Club initiative of the School of Social Sciences—wherein each postgraduate department undertakes environmentally friendly actions throughout the academic year—the Department of Anthropology organized a Campus Clean-up Drive in the premises fronting the School of Social Sciences Building on the 29th April, 2024. This activity reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and community participation in campus upkeep.
The drive was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Bharathi Karri (Head of the Department). Those present from the Faculty were Dr. Rashmi Pramanik (Associate Professor), Dr. David (Guest Faculty), and Dr. Arpita Santra (Guest Faculty). The Research scholars present were Ms. Somarani Debta and Mr. Satyajit Patra, and a large group of postgraduate students from both first and second-year batches.
The PG second-year student volunteers included Lalatendu Chhachhan, Debaprakash Patra, Kshirod Naik, Jyotirmayee Mohanta, and Smrutiprava Sahoo. From the first-year batch, the participants were Monalisa Ray, Soumyashree Das, Deepika Sandha, Niharika Pradshan, Padmini Sethi, Bandana Pradhan, Debasmita Kar, Smrutirekha Nayak, Mandeep Singh, Sunita Dash, Rajeshwari Sahu, Arati Sahu, Kloria Behera, Sudipta Behera, Bikash Haraka, Pranati Hansdah, Arpita Toppo, Kiran Das, and Payal Sethy. The activity promoted collective ownership of the academic environment while encouraging ecological consciousness among students and staff.
The 20th Annual National Conference of the Indian Association for Social Sciences and Health (IASSH) was held from March 5–7, 2025, at Sambalpur University, hosted by the Department of Anthropology. The conference brought together scholars, health professionals, and researchers from across India to engage with the theme “Health and Wellbeing in India: Socio-economic and Gender Implications.” Inaugurated by the Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bidhu Bhusan Mishra, and graced by senior figures like Prof. T.V. Sekher (President, IASSH) and Dr. Bijay Kumar Sahu (DST, GoI), the event highlighted the role of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex health disparities across the country.
Over the course of three days, the conference featured 14 technical sessions, 3 plenary panels, and a series of memorial lectures, including the Prof. John Caldwell Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof. P.M. Kulkarni of JNU, and the Dr. K.E. Vaidyanathan Memorial Lecture by Prof. Achin Chakraborty from IDSK, Kolkata. Key sessions explored pressing issues in maternal and child health, gender and ageing, tribal health, mental health, reproductive well-being, and the challenges posed by urbanization and migration. The plenary sessions hosted by CINI, NSO, and MCL addressed neonatal survival in tribal regions, health data for development, and gender-based barriers in healthcare delivery.
The conference also included a poster exhibition showcasing innovative fieldwork and student-led research, along with cultural events that celebrated Odisha’s artistic traditions. The active involvement of postgraduate students, research scholars, and early-career academics culminated in the Youth Best Paper Awards and closing reflections by the organizing team. The event underscored the Department’s growing stature as a hub for socially engaged research and its commitment to fostering dialogue across disciplines and institutions.
September 1–7, 2024
Oraonpada Village & Sambalpur University Campus
The Department of Anthropology observed National Nutrition Week by conducting an outreach campaign aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of balanced diets and nutritional well-being. The campaign focused on the dietary needs of children, women, and the elderly, addressing issues such as malnutrition and food-related disorders.
Activities were held at Oraonpada village and within the university premises, as part of the ongoing ICSSR-funded research project (2023–2024). Faculty, research scholars, and postgraduate students participated actively through health talks, demonstrations, and community interaction.
A two-day workshop was organized in the villages of Sunabeda and Soseng Panchayat to raise awareness on maternal and child health. The program involved interactive sessions with women, health workers, and local leaders, combining anthropological insight with public health advocacy.
As part of its practical training and field-based pedagogical approach, the Department of Anthropology, Sambalpur University, organized a study tour to the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad, from 1st December to the 5th, 2024. The visit involved postgraduate first- and second-year students, a few Ph.D. scholars, and faculty members, providing a valuable opportunity to engage directly with models of rural development, sustainable technologies, and innovation in eco-friendly housing and livelihood practices.
At NIRDPR, the students were introduced to a range of sustainable housing models, including the Jack Arch House, Rat Trap Bond Brick Wall, Ferro Cement Channel House, and PMAY-G model houses, certified by HUDCO. These structures demonstrated low-cost, climate-resilient construction techniques rooted in local materials and green technologies. The group also explored production and technology units, such as bio-pesticide processing, leaf-plate making, solar rooftop systems, mushroom cultivation, and natural farming innovations. A key highlight was the apiculture (beekeeping) demonstration, where students learned about scientific honey extraction methods that protect bee populations and promote biodiversity.
The tour further exposed students to cutting-edge techniques such as hydroponics, vermicomposting, bio-gas energy conversion, and compressed stabilised earth block (CSEB) production. Through live demonstrations and expert explanations, students grasped the socio-economic relevance of these eco-technologies, especially in tribal and rural settings-areas closely aligned with the department's academic focus. This experiential learning initiative not only deepened their understanding of applied anthropology and rural livelihoods but also encouraged a critical reflection on sustainability, innovation, and indigenous knowledge systems.
| Sl. No. | Publish Date | Title | View |
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| 1. | 10-02-2026 | Department of Anthropology - National Workshop SPSS & NVIVO |  |