Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, on Monday,flagged off a state-wide ‘Heatwave Awareness Van Campaign’ at Gita Govinda Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, 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, Project Coordinator, Youth4Water Plus were present.
