National Conference On Core Sanitation Workers Concludes In Bhubaneswar With Bhubaneswar Declaration

With a strong message of solidarity, policy resolution, and compassion, the two-day National Conference on “Ensuring Dignity, Safety, and Inclusion of Core Sanitation Workers” under Odisha’s groundbreaking GARIMA program came to a close today in Bhubaneswar. The Bhubaneswar Declaration, a historic declaration pledging to protect and empower essential sanitation workers nationwide, was adopted at the conclusion of the event.

Senior policymakers, industry specialists, development partners, and sanitation advocates from all over India attended the farewell session. The Chief Guest for the session was Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Minister of Housing & Urban Development. The Minister congratulated sanitation marketplace merchants in a symbolic gesture, recognizing their vital role in ensuring the safety of core sanitation personnel. The government’s wider acknowledgment of stakeholders throughout the sanitation value chain was emphasized by the act.

During the concluding session, Usha Padhee, the principal secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, gave the keynote address and reaffirmed Odisha’s position as a pioneer in sanitation reform. She emphasized the necessity of integrating learning and action into national and state frameworks in order to institutionalize empathy-driven government.