Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the “Healthy Diet Campaign” today at Lemon Tree Premier, Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the Department of Women & Child Development and UNICEF.
The campaign aims to promote nutritious, home-cooked meals and traditional foods like mandia (millets), pakhala, and pitha, especially among rural women and children.
Addressing the gathering, Parida emphasized that fitness requires not only healthy food but also a healthy mind. She highlighted mandia as the key reason behind the fitness of tribal women and urged people to avoid junk food and embrace traditional diets. The campaign also focuses on tackling obesity among rural women.
Senior officials including Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma, Director Monisha Banerjee, and Additional Secretary Swayamprabha Mohanty participated in the event. Prominent Odia film personalities such as Sabyasachi Mishra, Archita Sahu, and Anu Choudhury shared personal insights on healthy eating habits and lifestyle changes.
UNICEF’s senior officer Saurabh Bhattacharya stressed the importance of family meals and avoiding oily foods for children post-weaning. He also advocated reducing screen time and keeping children away from mobile devices.
The campaign featured a poster launch on social behavior change, which will be distributed through Anganwadi centers to raise awareness across villages. The initiative aligns with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s vision to reform dietary habits and improves public health.
