Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted a comprehensive review of the Women and Child Development Department’s programs at Lok Seva Bhawan today, focusing on improving nutrition delivery and infrastructure for women and children across the state.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasised the need for a robust Monitoring and Evaluation System to ensure high-quality production and distribution of ‘Chhatua‘ (a fortified food mix) under the Take-Home-Ration (THR) scheme, aimed at combating malnutrition.
With 43,92,700 beneficiaries receiving Chhatua and other nutritional supplements through 546 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Majhi emphasised the need to enhance efficiency in the preparation, packaging, and distribution processes. He underscored that the health of women and children is paramount for Odisha’s development and cannot be overlooked.
The Chief Minister also directed the department to prioritise the construction of dedicated buildings for Anganwadi centres that lack infrastructure, including land acquisition where necessary. He emphasised the repair and maintenance of existing centres and mandated 100% coverage of own buildings for Anganwadis in OMBADC and DMF districts, with funds allocated from these sources.
To empower women, Majhi advocated for widespread awareness campaigns to address challenges and boost morale. He further instructed the department to expand the *Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana* to ensure nutritional support reaches children unable to attend Anganwadi centres, with timely delivery to their homes. Additionally, he proposed involving Odisha’s micro-industries in supplying uniforms and footwear for Anganwadi children.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief Minister & WCD Minister, Smt. Pravati Parida, Chief Secretary, Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner, Smt. Anu Garg and other senior officials. Departmental Secretary Smt. Shuba Sharma provided detailed insights into ongoing programs.
