Dharitri Youth Conclave

The Dharitri Youth Conclave 2025, organised by Dharitri and OrissaPOST to mark the newspaper’s 52nd anniversary, convened over a thousand young climate activists and environmental leaders at Hotel Swosti Premium. Chief Executive Adyasha Satpathy inaugurated the event, stressing its role as a platform for grassroots environmentalists and highlighting the Dharitri Climate Grant’s support for young climate innovators across the region.

British Deputy High Commissioner Dr Andrew Fleming, Special Guest of Honour, underscored the crucial role of youth in climate resilience. Appreciating Odisha’s heritage and disaster preparedness, he urged young people to learn from the traditional conservation practices of tribal communities.

Chief speaker Sunita Narain described the climate crisis as unprecedented in scale, driven by deforestation, pollution, and unsustainable development. She called for rethinking energy, transport, and agricultural systems, praising Odisha’s youth and its successful community-led models in farming, sanitation, and forest conservation.

Renowned conservationist Dr Purnima Devi Barman inspired attendees with her work in saving the endangered greater adjutant stork through the ‘Hargila Army,’ demonstrating how conservation and community development can progress together.

Dharitri and OrissaPOST Editor Tathagata Satpathy urged individuals to take responsibility for environmental protection and called on the youth to stay informed, move beyond digital distractions, and work towards leaving behind a better world for future generations.