Bhubaneswar, April 7: While the lives are about to stagger in Odisha this summer due to the prevailing heatwave from the April first week, the IMD newscast adds to the worries of the denizens foreseeing roasting days ahead. In view of managing the upcoming heatwave situations through public participation the Youth4Water Plus launched a campaign on it.
The Youth4Water Plus rolled out a mobile campaign under the aegis of ‘Heatwave Awareness Van Campaign’ on Monday with a noble aim to sensitizing people on the adverse and inclement weather conditions due to the abnormal day temperatures.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida, flagged off the state-wide ‘Heatwave Awareness Campaign’ at Gita Govinda Bhawan in Bhubaneswar today, that aims to combat the prevailing heatwave conditions in the state.
The campaign is led by Youth4Water Plus, a UNICEF’s initiative, in collaboration withJeevan Rekha Parishad, KT Global School, Radio Bulbul, and other partner organizations. It will run from April 7, 2025, to June 6, 2025.
The specially equipped van will serve as a mobile education hub, traveling through vulnerable locations including slums, construction sites, bus stands, railway stations, hawker zones, temples and educational institutions in Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Cuttack. The campaign is expected to reach over 100,000 denizens of the three districts through innovative and interactive tools like street plays (Nukkad Natak), audio jingles, posters, mascots, and quizzes. Water kiosks will also be set up at several locations to ensure hydration.
“By taking this campaign to the vulnerable communities, we are ensuring no one is left behind. The youth are not just beneficiaries but vital partners in driving this change. This is a call to action towards a safer Odisha,” said Sugata Roy, Officer-In-Charge, UNICEF Odisha.
A team of trained volunteers from Youth4Water Plus, who received specialized training on heat-related health risks and community engagement techniques, will drive the on-ground implementation.
The dignitaries also unveiled a heatwave awareness poster and released an audio jingle relaying the key messages on safety during the launch event.
Among others, Shipra Saxena, WASH Specialist, UNICEF; Blorin Mohanty, Director, Youth4Water Plus; Sujit Mahapatra of Bakul Foundation and Dharmananda Sundaray graced the occasion.
