Marking the World Water Day, 2022 with the theme "Groundwater: making invisible visible", Local FEDWASAN of Banke district organized "Panel Discussion and Advocacy program on WASH" in collaboration with Lumanti Support Group for Shelter and SIMAVI Nepal on 24 March, 2022 in Kohalpur Banke. 
 

The panel discussion was aimed to disseminate report on WASH status of Kohalpur Municipality and Baijanath Rural Municipality to advocate on WASH rights with concerned authorities of both municipalities and to lobby for budget allocation on Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Fecal Sludge and Solid Waste Management from central, provincial and local level of government. The discussion program was also focused to internalize all the level of governments on real situations (problem faced by the community people) of Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Fecal Sludge and Solid Waste Management and to raise voice on importance of WASH and from developing planning process phase it should be given first priority by all level of governments. It was also intended to advocate on functionality of all the Water Supply and Sanitation Project of Kohalpur Municipality and Baijanath Rural Municipality for inclusive and sustainable delivery of WASH services.
 

During the program, a Video Documentary focused on WASH status of Kohalpur Municipality and Baijnath Rural Municipality, Banke highlighting the issues and challenges faced by the WSUCs for making water schemes functional. Based upon the video documentary, Panel Discussion was conducted between 6 panelists. The panelists on the dais were Mayor of the Kohalpur Municipality, Mr. Lut Bahadur Rawat, Ms. Sharada Regmi B.K, Vice-Chairperson of Baijanath Rural Municipality, Mr. Tika Ram Dhakal, Chief Administrative Officer of Kohalpur Municipality, Mr. Manish Kumar Raj, Chief of Central Drinking Water Office, Banke, Mr. Tilak Neupane, Chief of Water Supply and Sanitation Division Office, Banke and Mr. Dhurba Dhital, Under Secretary for Ministry of Rural, Tourism and Urban Development, Lumbini Province. 
 

Nearly 100 participants which included representatives from Lumbini province government, mayor, chief administrative officer, vice-chairperson, city representatives of various organizations including Water Supply and Sanitation Division Office, Central Drinking Water Office,  members of  Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Committee, members of Local FEDWASAN Banke, journalists, Akvo, SIMAVI and WAI Partners (CIUD, NFCC, Geruwa, Sahakarmi Samaj, Biruwa Advisors and ENPHO) have attended the discussion program.