Self-Help Groups of about 10 to 15 rural women under NRLM (Aajeevika), built into Village and Cluster Federations.
40.3% of enterprises in Sundargarh are women-owned. 88.4% of women have their own bank account, better than the typical district. Small business loans in the district run at ₹40,391 per lakh population. NRLM Self Help Groups are the vehicle through which women access credit like this to build livelihoods.
83% of registered enterprises are in services while 17% are in manufacturing. Only 10% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 74% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Sundargarh, which ranks 3 of 30 in Odisha for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 49.8 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on women in the labour force at 56.3% and women taking part in all major household decisions at 89.7%, while it lags on women's freedom of movement at 36.6%.