The Orissa Watershed Development Mission (OWDM) is an autonomous State level agency constituted under the Department of Agriculture, Government of Orissa, responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring all Watershed Development programmes in the State. The OWDM was constituted by the Govt. of Orissa as a registered Society and came into existence on 30th June, 2000. Recognizing the importance of Watershed Development as a platform for poverty alleviation, the Government of Orissa created the OWDM to give a “Strategic Mission” focus to the programme. The mission is intends to provide the required focus, coordination and operational flexibilities in implementation of watershed concepts and approaches in the State.

Vision

To bring about social and economic transformation of the people in the State of Orissa by creating an enabling environment for development of sustainable natural resources, effective social mobilization and people centered institutions through Watershed based approaches.

Mission

To facilitate sustainable rural development in the State through watershed movement with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable rural sections of the society through sustainable initiatives, bringing in convergence in various developmental efforts, establishing new processes and practices, encouraging innovations through learning, building people-centered institutions and play catalytic role in the processes and policy formulation with the sole objective of improving livelihood options of the community with efficient natural resource management.

The OWDM acts as a facilitating organization with a responsibility of creating knowledge and resource by collaborating with the Agencies having expertise in various aspects of Watershed Development and functioning in a integral part of the Govt. of Orissa having adequate operational autonomy regarding interpretation of guidelines and accountability for improving the quality and process in watershed development programmes.