Policy & Politics

Odisha Govt Adopts Multidimensional Approach To Achieve ODF Plus Status

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has adopted a multidimensional approach to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status, said Sushil Kumar Lohani, principal secretary, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.

He was speaking at a one-day workshop on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), organised by the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department in collaboration with UNICEF and local and national development partners in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

The objective of the workshop was to analyse the status of progress of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which is to ensure that everyone in the world has access to lasting and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
services in Odisha. The workshop also included deliberations with multiple stakeholders on strengthening, convergence, and accountability.

“More than 30% of villages have been declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus in Odisha. (ODF plus village is a village which sustains its ODF status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and visually clean). Our focus is on verification of ODF Plus status. We are focusing on urban-rural convergence between Panchayati Raj
and Drinking Water (PR&DW) and Housing and Urban Development (H&D) departments to cater to the gram panchayats/villages beyond a 20 km radius of Urban Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) to meet their desludging requirements,” Lohani said.

“The need of the hour is to adopt a multidimensional approach for both toilet retrofitting means converting the existing single pit toilets into twin pit toilets and Faecal Sludge Management (FSM). I am delighted that Odisha is leading these innovative approaches in the country,” he added.

B Parmeswaran, Director, Drinking Water Department, said, “Construction of individual soak pits has been the norm under Swacchh Bharat Mission (SBM-G). Odisha has also been taken it up under the ongoing Sujalam 3.0 campaign on a war footing. So far, Odisha has been successful in emerging as a top-performing state in this campaign.”

He further said “On the water front, the government provides safe and adequate drinking water to every household through the national flagship programme. The tap water connection at the doorstep has a far-reaching socio-economic impact on rural livelihood systems.”

The participants focused on sustainability of the WASH service and emphasised on systems strengthening, developing tools and frameworks, and identifying locations for qualitative data collection and convergence of partners.

Development partners like UNICEF, Water Aid, Water For People, SuSanA and IRC were also present.

“Children and their families in poor and rural communities are most at risk of being left behind. Governments must invest in their communities if we are to bridge these economic and geographic divides and realise this important human right,” said Shipra Saxena, WASH-CCES Specialist, UNICEF.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

After Breakup, Malaika Arora’s Relationship Status Is ‘Hehehe’

Mumbai: After beau Arjun Kapoor declared publicly that he is not dating anyone right now,…

November 25, 2024

Amid Aishwarya & Abhishek’s Divorce Rumours, Shweta Gifts Flowers To Ash’s Sister-In-Law

Mumbai: Even though Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan have maintained a dignified silence over their…

November 25, 2024

Siddhant Das To Step Down As Chairman Of Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority

Bhubaneswar: Siddhant Das has sought to step down as Chairman of Odisha Real Estate Regulatory…

November 25, 2024

ISL: Odisha FC Hammer Hyderabad 6-0, Biggest Win Of The Season

Hyderabad: Odisha FC went on a scoring spree at the Gachibowli Stadium as they humbled hosts…

November 25, 2024

Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Debut’ Film ‘Paanch’ To Be Released After 22 Years!

Mumbai: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s directorial debut ‘Paanch’ is finally going to see the light of…

November 25, 2024

Taapsee Pannu Wants To Work With Big Heroes For This Reason

Mumbai: Actress Taapsee Pannu, who has shared screen space with very few A-listers, has now…

November 25, 2024

Vigilance Arrests Forester & ‘Gaon Sathi’ For Misappropriation Of Rs 10 Lakh Govt Funds In Odisha’s Koraput

Bhubaneswar: Vigilance has arrested a Forester and a Gaon Sathi (village mate) for alleged misappropriation…

November 25, 2024

IPL Auction: Vaibhav Suryavanshi Becomes A Crorepati At 13! Bhuvi Bags Rs 10.75 Cr

Mumbai: Ten days ago, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made headlines after becoming the youngest cricketer to make…

November 25, 2024