“Driving Sustainable Change through Government-Led Adventure Activities and Community Action in Koinpur”
The Mahendragiri Eco Adventure Fest held on 24–26 April 2026 was organized by Govt. of Odisha, Gajapati district tourism to promote Mahendragiri place as an eco-tourism, environmental awareness through adventure activities in Koinpur Gram panchayat. The ultimate purpose of hosting the adventure Fest is to check and stop the local migration through promoting eco-tourism at Mahendragiri places. And the Clean Koinpur initiative emerged as a strong example of community-driven change, integrating eco-tourism with environmental responsibility, waste management and collective action. Around 400 visitors and the public attended the 3days of the eco-tourism festival held at Koinpur. The govt. Odisha hosted for the first time in Gajapati district of Koinpur panchayat in Gram Vikas Operation areas to understand promotion and initiation of Mahendragiri eco-tourism. As an advantage of the Fest 11 of the cluster coordinators/volunteers engaged for the facilitation of the adventure activities at mahendragiri.
The initiative began with a pre-Fest cleanliness drive on 23 April at Koinpur Chowk, where community members and shopkeepers actively participated in waste removal, cleaning mahendrigiri tourism road and improving local hygiene, setting the tone for a clean and welcoming environment. This was strengthened through the involvement of the Sarpanch and local stakeholders, Clean Koinpur Committee Members, where responsibilities were shared. Shopkeepers signed commitment letters, promising to use dustbins and avoid littering in public places, promoting accountability and sustainable habits. During the adventure Fest, Swayansree Bazaar products were also promoted under the “Basket of Needs.” A variety of items were displayed for the public, highlighting how local institutions are being strengthened and organized to support market access and income generation.
During the adventure Fest, the WSGP stall served as a key platform for an engagement, where information on water, sanitation, and rural development initiatives was shared, highlighting integrated approaches such as WASH and Infrastructure programmes, the MANTRA approach, and water resource management. The stall attracted significant visitor interest, deepening public understanding and showcasing the sustainable practices of Gram Vikas.
Overall, the experience highlighted that collective action, strong local leadership, and continuous engagement can turn small efforts into meaningful and sustainable social change. It also reinforced key learnings on the importance of teamwork, effective communication, and grassroots participation, demonstrating how coordinated community actions can drive significant social and environmental impact under the Clean Koinpur Initiative, aligned with the of the SoTH framework.
