21/06/2026
Collective Action for a Water Secure Odisha
PRADAN participated in the Odisha Water Conclave 2026 held in KISS campus, Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district, Odisha, under the theme "Collective Action for a Water-Secure Odisha." The conclave was organised by the District Administration, Kalahandi, in association with the Coalition for Change in Odisha.
The event brought together over 20 partner organisations associated with the Coalition, government officials, civil society organisations (CSOs), academic institutions, SHG leaders, and PRI members to deliberate on pathways towards a water-secure and climate-resilient future for rural Odisha.
The conclave featured discussions on critical challenges such as erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, non-functional and underutilised water infrastructure, and distress migration. Deliberations emphasised the need for improved planning, technology-enabled water governance, institutional convergence, community ownership, and the adoption of climate-resilient crops and sustainable farming practices. The discussions also highlighted the importance of integrating tools such as GIS, CLART, and YUKTADHARA with traditional knowledge systems to enable precision-based planning.
The event was graced by Sri Soumyaranjan Pradhan (IAS), Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Kalahandi, and Dr. Pawan Kumar Agrawal, Vice Chancellor, Maa Manikeswari University, Bhawanipatna, along with district-level officials. Sri Pradyumna Kumar Das, Programme Administrator, ITDA also joined the valedictory session.
Exhibition stalls set up by participating CSOs showcased impactful initiatives on water security through collaborations among government institutions, CSOs, CBOs, and PRIs. A compilation of best practices, including interventions from Podapadar village and Champadeipur Gram Panchayat in Lanjigarh block, was disseminated among participants.
A key outcome of the conclave was the collective commitment of participating CSO partners to advance five common agendas aimed at building a water-secure and climate-resilient Kalahandi district. The district administration identified a total of 273 villages across eight blocks for the development of water security action plans and the scaling up of model village strategies.
Note: PRADAN is a member of the Coalition for Change in Odisha and works alongside partner organisations to strengthen community-led water governance and promote collaborative, women collective-driven, climate-resilient solutions for a water-secure Odisha.
Administration, Kalahandi Livelihoods Mission Shakti @
Harsha Trust Gram Vikas – Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Sundargarh Foundation Alok Pathagara Foundation Manikeswari University for Change in Odisha