The Government of Orissa have embarked upon an ambitious "Fiscal and Administrative Reform Programme" to restore fiscal sustainability and improve effectiveness of delivery of public services especially to the poor and disadvantaged sections of the society. The programme envisages reduction of poverty and improvement in quality of life in general and human development indicators in particular. It is aimed at significantly strengthen Poverty and Human Development Monitoring System; to mobilize civil society organizations; and to create capacities within the State Government for tracking the impact of various reforms by developing appropriate data base and formulating suitable pro‐poor development policies / programmes / projects. Keeping this end in view, an Agency, called "Poverty and Human Development Monitoring agency" has been constituted. The Agency, among other things, aims at tracking the progress of Poverty and Human development Indicators within the State from time to time and providing an ACTIVE (Accurate. Compact. Transparent, Informative, Visible and Effective) monitoring system and to collect national and international best practices with regard to poverty reduction and improved life quality and adapt them to local conditions and disseminate the same to different stakeholders.

To develop appropriate programmes/ projects/ policy options that will help reducing poverty and improving human development, it is essential to undertake evaluation / thematic study of the impact of on going programmes/ projects/ policy by the Poverty and Human Development Monitoring Agency (PHDMA).