Anganwadi Centers are fundamental to grassroots development, and enhancing their infrastructure is vital for sustainable rural growth, stated Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida today. She affirmed that the Government of Odisha is committed to strengthening village-level development by improving Anganwadi infrastructure.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated 491 newly constructed Anganwadi Centers across the state virtually from the conference hall of the Department of Women and Child Development. She was joined by Rabi Narayan Nayak, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water, and Rural Development.
In her address, Smt. Parida highlighted the government’s focus on empowering Anganwadi Centers by providing essential facilities, including sanitation, toilets, safe drinking water, electricity, and nutrition gardens.
Minister Rabi Narayan Nayak described Anganwadi Centers as vital to the vision of “Viksit Gaan, Viksit Odisha.” He emphasized that women’s health, early childhood education, and the overall development of children significantly depend on the quality of infrastructure available at these centers.
The program was attended by key officials including, Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department; Girish S. N., Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department; Monisha Banerjee, Director of Women and Child Development; and Siddharth Shankar Swain, Director of Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, along with other senior departmental officials.
District Collectors, Additional District Magistrates, Chief Executive Officers, District Social Welfare Officers, Child Development Project Officers, and Anganwadi Workers from all districts also participated in the program virtually.
District-wise, the highest number of Anganwadi Centers inaugurated was in Ganjam district with 111, followed by Balasore (63), Bargarh (36), Jagatsinghpur (34), Bhadrak (28), Cuttack (24), Puri (24), Khordha (23), Jajpur (20), Kendrapada (19), Koraput (18), Kandhamal (16), Nayagarh (14), Subarnapur (11), Gajapati (10), Sambalpur (9), Balangir (7), Angul (6), Keonjhar (5), Sundargarh (4), Nabarangpur (3), Nuapada (2), Dhenkanal (2), Malkangiri (1), and Rayagada (1).
According to the Department of Women and Child Development, a total of 1,404 Anganwadi Centers have been enhanced in two phases so far. In the first phase, 913 Anganwadi Centers were inaugurated in September, followed by 491 Centers inaugurated today in the second phase.
