Bhubaneswar: Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) in collaboration with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) organised one-day Training Programme on Water Quality Testing for slum dwellers at the State Laboratory of Rural Water Supply Department (RWSS) at Khandarigi. Samir Ranjan Dash welcomed all the participants and guests and shared on the objective of the programme. In the training programme, about 45 members of the Single Window Forum(SWF) and women from 12 slums of Bhubaneswar i.e., Salia Sahi, Kimbhiria, Barabhuja, Tarini Basti, Khandgiri, Jagamora Bhoi Sahi and Samant Sahi etc participated as trainee and were trained on water quality testing. Sample water collected by the participants from their own settlements were tested on 10 parameters. However, the major quality testing approach was flagged off on elements of fluoride, iron, bacteria, metal and viruses in water. Community also brought water samples for their respective slums and on testing water found to be contaminated. Mr. Narendra Panda, Quality Manager and Ms. Harpriya Pandey, Analyst explained different parameters and factors for water quality testing. The participants were demonstrated the water quality testing through FTK and found to have little insight and skills in water quality testing. Mr. Sumant Harichandan, CEO, State Laboratory addressing the participants said, “Today it is one-day training to some women and we want to create awareness to all community residing in the remaining slums. Our technicians will visit the slums and provide information on water quality testing.” He also committed to provide necessary support to create awareness on a campaign mode to sensitize people on the significance and the need of water quality testing. They said 80 per cent of diseases were caused due to water contamination and about 3.6 billion people die all over the world due to water borne diseases. Shri Braja Kishor Rout has asked the community to conduct test with the Field Testing Kit (FTK) the next day. If the water is found contaminated, he asked them to bring it immediately to the Laboratory for quality testing. He further said that around 4000 people across urban settlements of Bhubaneswar will be sensitized and made aware about the need of water quality testing and its impact on public health. CFAR will carry out the training programmes at slum level with hand holding support from state Laboratory and will arrange for distribution of FTKs at the community level. Praising the initiative of CFAR, they advised CFAR to conduct more and more intensive and extensive training programmes at the community level with the technical support from State Laboratory. The participants from different settlements were made into five groups and were provided complementary FTK one each for demonstration and refresher training at the community level. It is to be noted Odisha State laboratory is believed to be one of the world class Laboratories and also the best national level Laboratory located in near Khandgiri in the State capital of Bhubaneswar. Water quality testing through FTK Kit was demonstrated during the training programme twice with hand holding and hands on support. Related Comments comments

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