‘Heatwave Awareness Van Campaign’ Rolls Out in Odisha to Protect Communities from Rising Temperatures

Bhubaneswar: With temperatures soaring across Odisha, the state government has launched an intensive awareness campaign to safeguard vulnerable communities from the health risks of extreme heat. Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida flagged off the ‘Heatwave Awareness Van Campaign’ on Monday at Gita Govinda Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, marking the beginning of a two-month outreach drive.

Spearheaded by Youth4Water Plus with support from UNICEF, the campaign will run from April 7 to June 6, 2025, covering key locations in Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Cuttack. Partnering organizations include Jeevan Rekha Parishad, KT Global School, Radio Bulbul, and several local stakeholders.

The centerpiece of the initiative—a specially designed awareness van—will function as a mobile information hub. It will traverse slums, construction zones, bus terminals, railway stations, hawker areas, temples, and educational institutions to spread life-saving information on coping with heatwaves. The campaign expects to reach over one lakh people using interactive mediums like street plays (Nukkad Natak), posters, audio jingles, quizzes, and engaging mascots. In addition, water kiosks will be installed at key spots to provide relief from the scorching heat.

At the launch, UNICEF Odisha Officer-in-Charge Sugata Roy highlighted the campaign’s inclusive approach. “We are taking this initiative directly to the communities most at risk. Our youth volunteers are not just participating—they are leading this mission. It’s about making Odisha safer for everyone,” he said.

A team of trained youth volunteers from Youth4Water Plus, equipped with knowledge on heat-related health issues and community engagement techniques, will lead the on-ground activities. Their training ensures that the campaign delivers accurate, timely, and impactful messages to the public.

The event also featured the unveiling of a heatwave awareness poster and the release of an audio jingle, which will be used throughout the campaign to reinforce critical messages about heat safety.

Several dignitaries were present at the launch, including Shipra Saxena, WASH Specialist, UNICEF; Blorin Mohanty, Director, Youth4Water Plus; Sujit Mahapatra of Bakul Foundation; and Dharmananda Sundaray, Project Coordinator, Youth4Water Plus.