Hon’ble President of the IRCS Odisha State Branch (Hon’ble Governor of Odisha) Shri Ganeshi Lal, has launched a water and sanitation project that will benefit over eight thousand families in Ganjam and Nayagarh Districts over the next two years. The project is supported by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS, NHQ) and will be implemented by the Odisha State Branch.

Hon’ble President Indian Red Cross Society Odisha State Branch unveiled the project at an event held on 27th June at the Abhisekh Hall, Raj Bhawan, Bhubaneshwar.

The Hon’ble Shri Ganeshi Lal compared the Red Cross movement to a flower whose fragrance is not bound by boundaries, banners or borders. “I express gratitude to the fairest blossom…and I congratulate you all and wish you success, and would like to be a part of your work,” he said in his speech.

Sharing the details, Dr. R.K. Vats, Secretary General IRCS, said, “The goal of this project is to enable rural communities in the coastal districts of Ganjam and Nayagarh to manage water and sanitation systems, in line with the Swachh Bharat Mission, and work towards achieving open defecation free communities through increased access to and use of household and school sanitation facilities to improve health and wellbeing. The project is expected to reach 8,170 rural households or approximately 40,000 people.”

The project shall leverage and align its activities with the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission by tapping into a multi-stakeholder partnership which includes the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Samsung Community Chest fund.

“Drawing from our global experience, the IFRC delegation in India, as well as the IFRC Asia-Pacific regional office, will provide technical support to the programme,” Mr. Leon Prop, Head, IFRC Indian Cluster office said.

Dr Vinayak Prasad Prusty, Honorary Secretary of the IRCS State Branch, Dr. Vanshree Singh, Director Blood Bank and Project Supervisor (Health) and Mr. Chiranjeet Das, National Programme Manager from IRCS, National Headquarters, New Delhi, and Mr. N Tirumala Nayak, Collector, Nayagarh District were also present.

Odisha Rural Development Department, District Water and Sanitation Mission, Department of School and Mass Education, Women and Child Development Department, District Administrations and Gram Panchayats are important key stakeholders who will be involved in the implementation.

This project contributes to Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations – Goal 6 that entails activities in the field of clean water and sanitation for all.