The Global Handwashing Day was observed in different villages in Nuapada district by youths, children and women on October 15. Youths of Kusmal, Dumerjor, Jharsaram, Kendupati and Bhimapadar villages took active part in the hand washing drive in their respective villages.
A campaign to raise awareness about importance of hand washing had started by a group called Arpan News in Nuapada District in cooperation with the Water Initiative, Patang and the Unicef in the last week of September. A group of 25 youths of Kusmal, Jharsaram and Dumerjor villages were motivated to facilitate different activities in their respective villages. Appeals were also made through social media to encourage general public to observe the hand washing day on October 15.
The targeted participants were children in Anganwadi centres, girls and wome in villages and MGNREGS workers in work sites.
The youths engaged themselves in their villages regularly since October 1 and posted their pictures in a group created by ArpanNews called "Youths for Change".
Those pictures were shared by ArpanNews in whatsapp and Facebook pages. The efforts resulted in motivating people of several villages to organise hand washing day on October 15.Children of Ward 07 in Khariar NAC observed day in their locality. Likewise, women of Kapsi village in Sinapali block, Risigaon, Bhimapadar, Kendupati villages of Khariar block also observed day in their respective villages which were facilitated by Anganwadi Workers and ASHAs. Julias Jordan Bag, a renowned vegetable artist, made an art in vegetables on hand washing which enthused many people to do handwashing regularly.