Rourkela: Rourkela has won one million US dollars in the Bloomberg-2021 Global Mayors Challenge. The recognition has also made the city eligible for technical assistance to carry out the innovation over the next three years. Rourkela, one of the five Municipal Corporations and a leading industrial town of Odisha, is the only Indian city to rank among top 15 cities of the world.
Rourkela has developed a sustainable model under Global Mayors Challenge, which while promoting the use of technology, also aids in increasing the income of women and small traders. Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) has developed a cold storage facility at the local Veer Surendra Sai (VSS) Market in partnership with a NIT Rourkela based startup which is being managed by Women Self Help Group (SHG) members.
The facility has helped the local farmers and fruit traders in enhancing their income by preserving their produce and delivering to people's doorsteps, especially in times of Covid-19. This also helps in preventing wastage. This system is being managed by members of women self help groups using mobile apps.
Dr Subhankar Mohaptra, Commissioner, RMC, expressed his happiness after winning the challenge. He appreciated the role of team RMC, Technical Partner Koel Fresh, research students and alumni of NIT Rourkela who have shown commendable effort in the last 6 months. "Through everyone’s contribution, Rourkela has clinched the Top 15 position in the world. The role of the women who manage the show is also worth celebrating. The prestigious Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge 2021 award will not only help us to take the innovation forward but also inspire all stakeholders,” shared Dr Mohapatra.
“I congratulate Team RMC and all the stakeholders for this global recognition. With its uniqueness, the project immensely helps women SHGs, small vegetable and fruit vendors of Rourkela while delivering a smart service at the doorstep of the people. Moreover, this sustainable idea also promotes technology and aims to adopt eco-friendly energy which are the key goals for the future generation,” said Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Collector and DM Sundargarh while addressing the press.
"We are very much hopeful that such a solution would be scaled up in various parts of India and Rourkela city would act as a role model for many other cities. We thank the entire team from Bloomberg Philanthropies for giving us such a wonderful platform to showcase our city’s potential," added Dr Mohapatra.
“As the world works to address the profound public health and economic effects of the ongoing pandemic, cities can implement innovative ideas at a pace that national governments simply can’t match,” said Michael R Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP and 108th Mayor of New York City. "Our fifteen winners offer bold, achievable plans to improve health, reduce unemployment, empower women, and more. Collectively, they have the potential to improve millions of their residents' lives – and the most successful solutions will inspire cities around the world to embrace them.”
“The Mayors Challenge always pushes mayors to take big ideas and bring them to life and was vitally important as we emerged from the worst year of the pandemic” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The cities will now strive to implement these projects and inspire other cities to adopt and spread their ideas.
Held in June 2021, 99 countries from around the world took part in the Global Mayors Challenge. The competition focused on proposals from 630 cities on economic recovery and overall growth, health and welfare, climate and environment, and good governance and equality. Of these, 50 cities, including Rourkela, were finalists among proposals for innovative and modern projects. Rourkela is the only city from India to have made the cut among top 15 cities globally. /BI/
