By Ananya Pattnaik
The record-setting event saw the collection of 32.52 tonnes of plastic waste and the plantation of over 1.02 lakh saplings, reinforcing the district鈥檚 commitment to sustainability and cleanliness. Participants included government employees, school and college students, members of self-help groups, legal and healthcare workers, NGOs, businesses, and faith-based organizations.
This campaign is a follow-up to Nuapada鈥檚 declaration as Odisha鈥檚 first and India鈥檚 sixth district to be free of single-use plastic, an announcement made on World Environment Day. Since then, over 700 related activities have been undertaken, including the establishment of plastic waste management units and extensive plantation programs aimed at creating green buffer zones.
The campaign was monitored by a 12-member UNICEF team, including experts from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program, ensuring accountability and documentation of this historic effort.
Targeting more than 3,200 vulnerable garbage points, the initiative is being hailed as one of the most ambitious community-driven environmental campaigns in India. It not only sets a precedent for other districts but also showcases Nuapada鈥檚 leadership in grassroots climate action and citizen-led ecological stewardship.
This monumental effort marks a turning point in local-level sustainability leadership, aligning with national goals for a cleaner, greener India.