As part of India’s national mission to promote cleanliness and hygiene, People’s Organisation for Participatory Education and Training (POPET) has played a vital role in advancing the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan across rural Odisha.
POPET has conducted hundreds of awareness programs through street plays, wall paintings, and community engagement activities to educate people about the importance of sanitation, toilet usage, and waste management. The campaign particularly focused on Open Defecation Free (ODF) behavior, personal hygiene, and village-level cleanliness. These efforts targeted both general communities and underserved areas, where health and hygiene challenges were more critical.
Between 2016 and 2020, POPET worked across multiple districts including Rayagada, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Jajpur, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur, reaching thousands of villagers in over 1,500 villages. Supported by various District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSM), the campaign involved:
These grassroots efforts helped increase awareness, shift attitudes, and promote sustainable sanitation practices aligned with the Swachh Bharat Gramin objectives.
POPET’s culturally relevant communication strategies and direct community engagement made the Swachh Bharat campaign not just a government initiative, but a people’s movement in Odisha. The organization continues to support clean village campaigns and partners with local agencies for long-term behavioral change.
