Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge, Rourkela has found a place among 50 champion cities, representing the boldest urban innovations of the past year emerging out of the COVID pandemic.
According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, which announces the names of these 50 cities will advance to the final stage of this worldwide innovation competition, which encourages and spreads the cities’ most promising ideas. As per the officials, the 50 cities from 29 countries were elevated on four criteria — vision, potential from impact, feasibility and transferability.
Rourkela has been lauded for providing women entrepreneurs’ access to both solar-powered cold-storage units and new electric vehicle to distribute and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables at the doorsteps of citizens. Rourkela’s idea is compelling because it brings a gender-equity lens, as the majority of vendors are female, and is envisioned to be managed entirely by women federations across the city.
Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) Commissioner Dibyajyoti Parida stated that Rourkela proposed to address the challenges faced by small farmers, vegetables and fruits vendors by establishing solar-powered cold storage solution at various city locations; managed and operated by women self-help groups. The project has options to distribute and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables at the doorsteps of citizens through battery-operated vehicles. This will help in the sustainable economic growth of the stakeholders.
Deputy Commissioner, RMC, Sudhansu Kumar Bhoi is leading the proposed project, being implemented under the guidance of Commissioner RMC, Dibyajyoti Parida. Prasanta Kumar Nayak has been designated as the project manager for the same. The initiative is being implemented with technical support from agro tech and clean energy startup Koel Fresh Pvt Ltd.
