### Community-Led Waste Management and Awareness Initiative
In the month of March and April 2026, Kantagaon village under Koinpur Gram Panchayat, Gajapati district, has taken a successful community-led initiative to address unmanaged tourist waste near the sacred Mahendratanaya River. Earlier, litter from visitors such as plastic bottles, disposable plates, food waste, and sachets created environmental pollution, reducing soil fertility and health risks for village cattle.
Under the leadership of Mr. Trinath Karjii and the Clean Koinpur Initiative, villagers collectively discussed the issue and implemented simple local solutions. The community constructed dustbins using locally available wood and bamboo, reused old boards for awareness messages, regularly interacted with tourists to encourage responsible waste disposal, and included waste management discussions in village meetings. A weekly village cleaning drive is now conducted every Saturday before Satsang.
At present, the village follows a basic waste management system with designated waste collection points and segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. The initiative has helped keep the picnic spot and river surroundings cleaner, reduced risks to cattle, and restored the cleanliness and sacredness of the area. Kantagaon has now become an example of collective community action and low-cost local solutions for environmental management within the Gram Panchayat.