Bhubaneswar: The Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department of Odisha has signed an MoU with Urban Management Centre, Ahmedabad for capacity building of the Mission Shakti SHGs.
The H&UD Department has planned for a structured capacity building of the Mission Shakti SHGs by creating a pool of trainers and mentors, besides strengthening the capacities of ULB functionaries engaged in sanitation related work.
As a step forward in this endeavour, today the H&UD Department has signed MoU with Urban Management Centre, Ahmedabad a globally recognised not-for-profit organisation with expertise in professionalising urban management.
The MoU was signed by H&UD Department’s Principal Secretary G.Mathivathanan and UMC Director Ms Manvita Baradi in presence of H&UD Minister Pratap Jena.
Speaking on the occasion Minister Jena told that Odisha is a leading State in prioritizing solid waste management in line with the sustainable development goal of making cleaner cities and has bagged a number of National as well as international recognitions for its sustained effort in this regard.
“Our state has envisioned 100% waste management and has created wealth centres that converts the waste collected from the households into wealth, he added.
The state is prioritizing systematic investments for the development of Mission Shakti Self Help Groups (SHGs) to address poverty and vulnerability of marginalized section of the community by giving them a voice and agency so that they can access opportunities and entitlements to improve their lives and livelihoods, said Jena.
Over the last two decades nearly 6,00,000 Mission Shakti SHGs have been formed in Odisha, which includes membership and participation of nearly 70 lakh women.
Mission Shakti SHG members are also engaged as Jal Sathi, managing Ahaar Kendra, engaged as Swachha Sathi and Swachha Supervisors, and transporting waste by driving Battery Operated Vehicles, he added.
At the out set Principal Secretary G Mathivathanan welcomed and highlighted the purpose of MoU being signed today. He informed that the H&UD Department has planned for a structured capacity building of the Mission Shakti SHGs by creating a pool of trainers and mentors, besides strengthening the capacities of ULB functionaries engaged in sanitation related work.
As a step forward in this endeavour, today the H&UD Department is going to start another state-wide program of strengthening capacities of Mission Shakti SHGs with technical support from Urban Management Centre(UMC).
Now, this thoughtful step that would help building capacities of about 2000 ULB functionaries, 250 mentors, 500 master trainers, who in turn will train presently engaged 5000 SHG members and also create and nurture another 2000 SHG members for the upcoming requirement.
Ms Manvit Barada in her speech told that UMC has been working in capacity building of SHGs and providing technical support to State. UMC is also providing technical support for implementation of the state’s flagship GARIMA scheme that aims at improving dignity and safety of core sanitation workers.
Additional Secretary Kalyan Kumar Ratha proposed a hearty vote of thanks. Among others Joint Secretary Sarada Prasad Panda, and other senior officers of H&UD Department and UMC were present.