Odisha in top 15 urban initiatives shortlisted for global awards

BHUBNESWAR: Odisha is the only state from India with two initiatives in the Top 15 deserving interventions for Global Award. The state has one more initiative in the top 30 list.

The state’s two urban innovations are Urban Wage Employment Initiative (UWEI), implemented in all the 114 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) in Berhampur. These have been shortlisted in the top 15 Prestigious 2020 Guangzhou International Award for urban innovations exceptional models of innovative policies and practices. Moreover, one more innovative and people-centric model of Government of Odisha, ‘Drink from Tap Mission’ in Puri, has been selected in the top 30 list of deserving innovations.

UWEI was nominated for reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience of the urban population in the state. However, FSSM was selected for promoting sustainable environment conservation and women empowerment through faecal sludge and septage Management in the city.

The 2020 Guangzhou Awards are aimed at recognising innovations which improve social, economic and environmental sustainability in cities and local, regional and metropolitan governments namely United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis).

Other cities apart from Odisha in the top list include City of Unley, Australia; Wien, Austria; Sao Jose dos Pinhais, Brazil; Chongqing Municipality, China and Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.