Gender Community's Learning Event in Puri - Odisha, 7 - 10 August 2013

Dear Members of the Gender Community,

I would like to first congratulate you for taking this initiative of organizing an on-field learning event in Puri/Odisha with policy makers and grassroots practitioners, 7-10 August 2013. 

The issue that you have chosen to highlight as part of the learning event is highly relevant. Waterlogging woes have been a major concern for us; affecting livelihoods and affecting families’ well-being, especially women and children. In this regard, I appreciate your efforts to bring together a team of experts (including government representatives) for cross-learning and sharing through village visits (in Satyabadi and Kanas Block), interacting with the people, as well as understanding the efforts that have been put into place to make communities resilient in such situations.

Since the team will also share their learning with a wider group of people working on these issues at the dissemination workshop - the last day of the event, I am hopeful that it would lead to some positive outcomes.

Though issues are many and not all can be resolved overnight, In Odisha the government has taken fundamental steps to address situations of waterlogging. For example, our state government has created 6 divisions in coastal areas to solve waterlogging problem. One chief engineer heads the team. During last few years dredging of silted up water channels have been taken up extensively, as a result of which period of water logging has reduced. People are able to cultivate paddy during monsoon season; control structures are being provided to retain water after monsoon for irrigation. I hope some of these you get to see during your field visits.

One issue, which however we have been engaging to get better results is tackling water hyacinth. As you know, it infests rivers/ irrigation channels and devastates aquatic environments (among others it also restricts livestock access to water; destroys natural wetlands; destroys roads and other infrastructure, pastures and crops, when floating rafts become mobile during floods). Perhaps your team could look into this aspect as well during the field visits and exchange of ideas. 

What I find interesting about your event is that you have chosen to do reporting from the field during the duration of the event so that many others can follow the learning process and contribute. I am expecting it to yield good results. I look forward to reading the comments that you plan to share with all of us on the last day of the workshop on 10^th.  I look forward to being there myself with you all and learn from each other. 

Good Luck with your learning event. My team will join you for the entire duration of the event, starting from the orientation programme today at 5 PM. 

And welcome to Puri/Odisha. I hope your team here has a good stay and enjoys the warmth and hospitality of the people of Odisha.

Best wishes,

SC Mahapatra
Principal Secretary, Department of Water Resources,
Government of Odisha