Odisha has won the international online Popular City Award at the 5th Guangzhou Award for Urban Innovation 2021 announced on November 12, receiving more than 4.60 lakh votes from across the world.
People across the globe selected the Urban Wage Employment Initiative (UWEI) now known as MUKTA programme of the Government of Odisha from among 15 other international programmes and cities. The State also received Medals of Honour for two of its key initiatives – Urban Wage Employment Initiative (MUKTA) and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) – for their outstanding contribution to local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda. The two programmes were globally recognized from among 273 initiatives from 175 cities and local Governments in 60 countries including Australia, China, South Africa, USA, Brazil and Denmark
While the UWEI was selected for reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience of the urban poor, the FSSM in Brahmapur was shortlisted for promoting sustainable environment conservation and women empowerment.
The award’s Technical Committee consisting of distinguished members from technical, academic and across the world assessed each submission using the main criteria of – innovativeness, effectiveness, context, replicability/scalability, and significance.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and H and UD Minister Pratap Jena congratulated the H and UD Department on the occasion.