Mohapatra, Prasanta Kumar

Odisha, a fast-urbanizing coastal state in India faces significant challenges to protect its water resources from water pollution emanating from its 115 cities and towns. As of 2017, nineteen river stretches were highly polluted and centralized sewage management was seen as not suitable in all urban areas due to technical, social and governance reasons. Drinking water scarcity was looming large with its vulnerability to natural disasters like cyclones, and long dry spells of hot weather each year. These issues, exacerbated by climate change, impacted marginalized communities.
The escalating crisis necessitated swift government intervention, paired with efforts to foster citizen responsibility for resource conservation. The sanitation policy was re-written in 2017 and focus was driven towards a multi-dimensional, inclusive approach involving community managed decentralized solutions for wastewater management.
In order to enhance climate resilience, three-pronged principles were adopted: people-centric initiatives, nature-driven approaches, and the development of resilient and inclusive economies. Odisha introduced an innovative wastewater treatment system of separate black and grey-water treatment that is environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient. The decentralized, customized, community-driven model recycles treated water, reducing freshwater shortages and environmental risks. Powered by solar energy, this system avoids chemicals and promotes zero discharge.
Odisha's efforts have a strong focus on empowering marginalized groups like women and transgender self-help groups (SHGs) and slum dwellers associations (SDAs). 1500 SDAs have been associated as implementing partners creating employment opportunities and improving livelihoods. 113 SHGs groups were trained and engaged for operation of the faecal sludge treatment plants. Over 7.3 million urban inhabitants including one third living in informal settlements have benefited from these interventions. As of 2023, twelve polluted river stretches were delisted due to improvement in river health. Grey-water management with nature-based systems is on-going. This approach resulted in reducing pressure on freshwater and advancing climate resilience.

Odisha (an eastern Indian state) prioritizes water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for all. Besides creating adequate infrastructure, Odisha is ensuring the last mile service delivery through a decentralized community -led WASH management in the cities. This instills community stewardship while leveraging the local resources and skills.

Around 23% of Odisha’s urban families (1.56 m people) live in slums (Census, 2011), are engaged in informal daily wage job like sanitation work, rag picking, construction labor, etc. With low levels of education and skills, they struggle accessing opportunities in urban areas. Absence of identity and address papers deprive them of state’s social security benefits.

India’s 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, and National Urban Livelihood Mission, 2013 mandate the Urban Local Bodies to address vulnerabilities of urban poor through grassroots institution building, skilling and engaging them in livelihoods.

Odisha has engaged a woman cadre called Jalasathis (Water-Friends) in 2019, who are WSHG members, for managing public awareness, water tax collection, and resolving on-the-ground issues of water supply. Similarly, based on the DAY-NULM and SBM Convergence Guidelines, 2018, Odisha has pioneered the decentralised community partnership model in Solid Waste Management (SWM).
More than 5000 women members from sanitation worker, waste picker and trans-women SHGs are spearheading the SWM value chain – ensuring citizen’s behaviour change, collection and processing of segregated waste.

Odisha has established a training - learning ecosystem with tech-support from Urban Management Centre, a not-for-profit. WSHG friendly modules on their roles and responsibilities, digital literacy, financial literacy, communication skills have been developed and they have been trained.

Overall, 6000 plus WSHG members are managing WASH in Odisha. These women earn a decent income of 15000 INR per month and can access social security entitlements. Women’s status has increased within family and the community; they have gained voice and agency besides their economic empowerment.