The Odisha Human Rights Law Network unit was established in 2004 at Bhubaneswar with a sub-unit at Kandhamal. The unit focuses on providing legal support to groups displaced by either multinational mining companies or special economic zones (SEZs).

The unit intervened in Kandhamal district when the Christian minority faced persecution by the fundamental forces. It continues to file PILs in defence of marginalised communities, including stigmatised members of society such as sex workers. The ‘Arun Mallick compensation case’ whereby a petition was filed before the high court for the proper rehabilitation of commercial sex workers of Bhubaneswar is an example of this. Due to the intervention, the court delivered a historic judgment stopping the government from evicting the sex workers without proper rehabilitation.

1. Land rights of marginalised communities facing eviction threat from mining corporations

2. Rights of PLHIV

4. Reproductive rights of women from marginalized communities

5. Health rights & prevention of chronic diseases

6. Protection of the environment from polluting industries