Climate-Resilient WASH Workshop Held in Bhadrak

Climate-Resilient WASH Workshop Held in Bhadrak

Bhadrak, June 6, 2026: A Learning  and Sharing Workshop on Climate-Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Initiatives was organized in Bhadrak by WaterAid India in collaboration with the Harish and Bina Shah Foundation. The workshop aimed to promote sustainable and disaster-resilient WASH systems in the face of climate change and natural disasters.

Bhadrak District Collector Shri Dilip Routrai attended the programme as the Chief Guest and appreciated the climate-resilient WASH initiatives being implemented in the district. He highlighted the importance of climate-resilient infrastructure, including elevated tube wells, rainwater harvesting systems, grey water management facilities, and awareness programmes in schools that serve as cyclone shelters.

District Sanitation Advisor Ritarani Nayak emphasized the need for effective community-level solid waste management. WaterAid State Programme Coordinator Jitendra Kumar Nayak stressed that regular operation and maintenance of WASH infrastructure is essential for ensuring long-term sustainability. He said active community participation and proper use of facilities are key to maintaining safe water and sanitation services.

The workshop was attended by WaterAid Programme Coordinator Shraddha Das and District Coordinator Bhagyabatwati Bala Subuddhi, along with government officials from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) Department and the Education Department. Members of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), representatives of civil society organizations, teachers, educators, and members of the Women’s Water Forum also participated in the event. The participants shared their experiences and discussed ways to strengthen community participation, sustainability, and effective management of climate-resilient WASH initiatives.

The workshop was attended by government officials from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) and Education Departments, members of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), teachers, representatives of civil society organizations, and members of the Women’s Water Forum. Participants shared experiences and discussed strategies to improve the sustainability and management of climate-resilient WASH initiatives.

The discussions focused on strengthening safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services while improving the resilience of schools and communities during climate-related disasters.

WaterAid India, operating in the country through the Jal Seva Charitable Foundation, has been working for nearly four decades to improve access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services. The organization is part of the global WaterAid network and currently works across 10 Indian states, including Odisha.