Bhubaneswar, July 27: The two-day national conference on “Ensuring Dignity, Safety, and Inclusion of Core Sanitation Workers” under Odisha’s pioneering GARIMA initiative concluded today in Bhubaneswar with a resounding message of unity, policy resolve, and compassion.
The event culminated in the adoption of the Bhubaneswar Declaration, a landmark commitment to safeguard the rights and well-being of core sanitation workers across the country.
The valedictory session, held in the presence of senior policymakers, experts, and sanitation champions from across India, was graced by Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Minister, Housing & Urban Development Department as chief guest.
The Minister felicitated sanitation market place vendors, recognizing their contribution towards the safety of the core sanitation workers.
Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, delivered the keynote address during the closing session.
She expressed pride in Odisha’s leadership in bringing the issue of core sanitation workers to the national forefront and emphasized the need to institutionalize learning, action, and empathy.
Notably, she repeated that the National GARIMA Workshop will now be held annually in the month of July, symbolizing an enduring national commitment to this cause as declared by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during his inaugural speech on the first day of the workshop.
Padhee also highlighted the key takeaways from the two-day deliberations, including the need for robust social protection frameworks tailored for sanitation workers.
The Bhubaneswar Declaration, as the final outcome of the conference, serves as a guiding framework for all states to follow Odisha’s lead in reimagining the sanitation ecosystem with human dignity at its core.
Delegates from 12 States and 34 development organisations participated in this two day conference. The workshop also attended by core sanitation workers across the state, the Panchayati Raj Dept and ST&SCMBCC department officials.
