Sambalpur/Bhubaneswar, June 5: The pan-India, volunteer-driven Youth4Water-India campaign launched its new national initiative, “My 500-Meter City,” on the occasion of World Environment Day today. While the national launch took place on the banks of the Mahanadi River near the historic Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur, campaign volunteers simultaneously organised local gatherings and individual outreach activities in more than 20 cities across the country.
Announcing the launch, Ranjan Panda, Founder-Mentor of Youth4Water-India and popularly known as the Water Man of Odisha, said the initiative aims to encourage citizens to reclaim and reimagine their neighbourhoods through sustainable mobility and climate-conscious lifestyles.
More than 100 youth and citizens participated in the Sambalpur launch event, where the campaign logo was collectively unveiled by the participants. Speaking on the occasion, Sanjay Baboo, President of the Samaleswari Temple Trust Board and co-organiser of the event, described the initiative as “a timely and much-needed campaign” that can contribute to local climate adaptation efforts and promote more liveable cities.
Senior journalists Priya Ranjan Sahu and Siba Nanda, along with other prominent citizens, addressed the gathering and urged participants to actively adopt the principles of the campaign while taking broader actions to conserve water, biodiversity, and the urban environment.
The concept behind My 500-Meter City is simple yet transformative: every citizen is encouraged to identify a 500-meter radius around their home, workplace, or institution and reduce the use of fossil-fuel-based transport within that zone as much as possible. According to Masud Alam, a Core Volunteer of Youth4Water-India who coordinated the Sambalpur event, the initiative can help reduce pollution, lower carbon emissions, strengthen community interactions, and improve both physical and mental well-being.
Youth participant Suhani Patra shared that she already uses a bicycle for her daily commute and believes the campaign will encourage more people to choose cycling and walking while advocating for safer and more inclusive public spaces. Another Core Volunteer, Rashmi Ranjan Panigrahi, informed participants that the campaign would gradually expand through a series of citizen-led activities in different cities.
A key highlight of the programme was the collective pledge taken by all participants, committing themselves to building greener, cleaner, and water-secure cities. “The pledge reflects our shared responsibility towards creating healthier urban environments and stronger community connections,” said youth volunteer Supriti Bhitria.
Reflecting on the future of the initiative, Panda said that after the success of the Plastic-Free Picnic Challenge, which achieved significant national and international outreach, Youth4Water-India now aims to expand the My 500-Meter City movement across India and eventually to other countries.
“This is a purely volunteer-driven and collaboratively facilitated campaign. We invite government agencies, civil society organisations, corporate institutions, academic bodies, media organisations, youth groups, resident welfare associations, and citizens from all walks of life to join and strengthen this movement,” Panda added.
Winners of four competitions held on the theme “Liveable Cities: My Idea of a City That Lives in Harmony with Nature” were felicitated with prizes and certificates during the programme.
The launch programme was organised in collaboration with the Samaleswari Temple Trust Board and supported by several partner organisations, including AJSA India, Big Wire, ABCD Charitable Trust, Sambalpur Cycling Club, Parivartan Setu, Mahanadi Dhara, Adarsha, Sikshya Niketan, Loka Seva, Aahwan Foundation, Mount Xplore, Rupayaan, Water Initiatives–India, and Mahanadi River Waterkeeper.
