The Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) on Wednesday handed over maintenance responsibility of its 25 drinking water kiosks located under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area to a transgender Self-Help Group (TG SHG).
“This is yet another pioneering move towards giving the transgender community a bigger role in mainstream society. We have already handed over the operation and maintenance (O and M) of one of our Water Treatment Plants (WTP) located at Pratapnagari, Cuttack to a local transgender SHG this month only,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WATCO Er Pradipta Kumar Swain.
“The WATCO has planned to engage more such transgender SHGs in its activities in other ULBs of the State in future days,” he added.
Members of the city based Swikruti TG SHG would be deployed from May 1 towards daily maintenance of the drinking water kiosks to maintain its hygiene and cleanliness.
President, Swikruti TG SHG Meghna Sahoo along with its member Aisha Priyadarshini Panda, Managing Director, WATCO Er Sarat Mishra; General Manager, WATCO Division-I Er Bishnu Charan Padhi and Public Relations Officer, WATCO Shyamal Kishore were present.