Concerned about the water scarcity and sanitation challenges that the State faces and knowing well that climate change is already aggravating the problem, an inception meeting of the ‘Youth for Water’ campaign was organised here on Sunday under the leadership of Odisha’s Water Man Ranjan Panda in order to involve youth in chalking out strategies to address these critical issues.
People from across the State, mainly youths and their mentors from five districts, attended the meeting organised by the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), a consortium of civil society organisations and concerned citizens, local youth-based NGO Patang and Unicef, Bhubaneswar office.
The meeting decided to reach out to and mobilise at least a thousand young people initially from various colleges, universities and associations on water, sanitation, hygiene (including menstrual) (WASH), rivers, environment and climate change issues for bringing positive change in their behaviour and organising common action initiatives.
“In the coming 10 months, we will be focusing more on activities related to WASH. Today we have decided to identify and build capacities of select young people to be Safe Water/WASH ambassadors in their daily lives so that they can be the change makers and mobilise their families, neighbourhoods and institutions in joining the efforts.
We have also decided to engage these young people in online and offline activities for campaigning on water and related issues, Panda said.
“We will be expanding the scope of this campaign and seeking collaboration of other institutions to be able to reach out to all the youth of the State gradually,” he pointed out.
Within the next 10 months, specific activities will be organised in 10 colleges/localities spanning five districts – Bargarh, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Puri and Sambalpur – and will spread to other districts gradually.
‘Youth for Water Club’ will be started in such institutions/places to engage the local youth through innovative actions throughout the year.