Odisha issues fresh urban sanitation policy

23 Feb 2024 CW Team

The official stated that the Odisha Inclusive Urban Sanitation Policy, 2024, aims to integrate the sanitation value chain with modern concepts like circular economy, community partnership, disaster resilience, and urban-rural convergence.

The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department, notified the policy, replacing the Odisha Urban Sanitation Policy issued in 2017.

According to the official, the policy will ensure that all stakeholders, including the community and partners in the urban sanitation sector in Odisha, are aware of and equipped to adopt the state's mandate. This mandate involves providing equitable access to, use of, and benefits from safely managed sanitation facilities and services to everyone, regardless of their identity or location, across all cities and towns in the state.

The policy also aims to establish a roadmap for sustainable sanitation and make Odisha's sanitation infrastructure climate-resilient. This will be achieved by implementing adaptive measures to minimize the impact of climate shocks on the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, thus promoting climate justice and equity.

The policy aligns with both Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 on sanitation and hygiene and the United Nations Human Right to Sanitation (2015).

In partnership with other key departments, the H&UDD will secure adequate coverage of public toilets for the floating population, providing access for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), women, children, and transgender persons.

Through the policy, the state aims to achieve 100 per cent mechanized cleaning for the safety and dignity of sanitation professionals in liquid waste management.

The state also aims to encourage Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to strive for 100 per cent access to sanitation facilities for all urban residents and 100 per cent safe disposal of all waste generated within the urban environs.

Furthermore, the state government will ensure that quality sanitation is integrated with other priority areas such as health, a good environment, and the right to life and equality, according to the policy document.

The state will ensure that all cities and towns formulate risk reduction and preparedness strategies, integrating them with sanitation interventions and services for all, with a focus on the most vulnerable.

The Odisha government, according to an official, has notified the urban sanitation policy with the intention of translating the state's vision of providing inclusive, equitable, safe, and sustainable sanitation services for all. The official stated that the Odisha Inclusive Urban Sanitation Policy, 2024, aims to integrate the sanitation value chain with modern concepts like circular economy, community partnership, disaster resilience, and urban-rural convergence. The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department, notified the policy, replacing the Odisha Urban Sanitation Policy issued in 2017. According to the official, the policy will ensure that all stakeholders, including the community and partners in the urban sanitation sector in Odisha, are aware of and equipped to adopt the state's mandate. This mandate involves providing equitable access to, use of, and benefits from safely managed sanitation facilities and services to everyone, regardless of their identity or location, across all cities and towns in the state. The policy also aims to establish a roadmap for sustainable sanitation and make Odisha's sanitation infrastructure climate-resilient. This will be achieved by implementing adaptive measures to minimize the impact of climate shocks on the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, thus promoting climate justice and equity. The policy aligns with both Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 on sanitation and hygiene and the United Nations Human Right to Sanitation (2015). In partnership with other key departments, the H&UDD will secure adequate coverage of public toilets for the floating population, providing access for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), women, children, and transgender persons. Through the policy, the state aims to achieve 100 per cent mechanized cleaning for the safety and dignity of sanitation professionals in liquid waste management. The state also aims to encourage Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to strive for 100 per cent access to sanitation facilities for all urban residents and 100 per cent safe disposal of all waste generated within the urban environs. Furthermore, the state government will ensure that quality sanitation is integrated with other priority areas such as health, a good environment, and the right to life and equality, according to the policy document. The state will ensure that all cities and towns formulate risk reduction and preparedness strategies, integrating them with sanitation interventions and services for all, with a focus on the most vulnerable.