Urban Innovations: Odisha Only State From India To Feature In Top-15 For Global Award

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is the only state from India with two initiatives in the Top 15 and one initiative in the next top 30 deserving interventions for Global Award.

The two projects shortlisted for the 2020 Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovations exemplary models of innovative policies and practice are: Urban Wage Employment Initiative (UWEI) and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) have been shortlisted in the Top-15.

While UWEI implemented in all 114 Urban Local Bodies, FSSM has been taken up in Berhampur.

Another people-centric urban initiative ‘Drink from Tap Mission’ in Puri has also been selected in the Top 30 list.

Panchayati Raj and Housing and Urban Development Minister Pratap Jena congratulated the department and officers concerned for their persistent hard work and dedication in setting benchmarks in Urban Development.

While the UWEI was shortlisted for reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing the resilience of the state’s urban population, FSSM was chosen for promoting sustainable environment conservation and women empowerment.

The 2020 Guangzhou Award aimed at recognizing innovation in improving social, economic, and environmental sustainability in cities and regions across the world had received 273 initiatives submitted from 175 cities and from 60 countries.

The award is co-sponsored by the City of Guangzhou and reputed global networks of cities and local, regional, and metropolitan governments, namely United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis).

The Award is also supported by ICLEI and C40.

The other 15 shortlisted cities of the 5th Guangzhou Award are City of Unley, Australia; Wien, Austria; São José dos Pinhais, Brazil; Chongqing Municipality, China; Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark; Quito, Ecuador; Bandung City Government, Indonesia; Union of Municipalities, Lebanon; Municipality Of Antananarivo (Commune Urbaine d’Antananarivo, Madagascar; Breda, Netherlands; Departmental Council of Saint Louis, Senegal; City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Los Angeles, USA.

All 15 shortlisted cities will receive medals and certificates and all the 45 interventions will be featured in the special publication to be brought out on the Innovative Interventions.

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