In pursuance of its mandate of protecting the environment from further degradation, VIRD organized Environmental Awareness Building Camp inviting women community leaders. The day-long Camp focussed on the theme of “Environment and Women” underlining the vital role that the women could play in building awareness among the community and the measures that need to be taken for environment protection and regeneration. The camp was organized at Bahali village in Athamallick block of Angul district which was participated by 42 women community leaders.

Participation in NEAC

VIRD regularly participated in the National Environment Awareness Campaign being implemented by the Ministry of Forests and Environment of Government of India across the country. Different themes are taken up every year to sensitize and educate the general mass regarding protection of environment. Last concern was that of Bio-diversity conservation.

Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES)

As with all the VIRD programme areas, Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) takes a cross-cutting approach in which awareness and advocacy are integral to the purpose and development of the project. WES has been a programme area since 1996. Monitoring and evaluation in 2006/07 indicated that capacity in management of the programme infrastructure needed to be built among the communities so that planned interventions can be maximized in the project area.