Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women and Child Development, Pravati Parida, today launched a simple digital book explaining the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life at the conference hall of the Women and Child Development Department.
On the occasion, the Minister also announced an increase in nutritional support for severely underweight children and enhanced breakfast allocations for Anganwadi pre-school children.
The daily cost of supplementary nutrition provided to severely underweight children aged between six months and six years has been increased from ₹8 to ₹12. In addition, ₹6 per child per day is being provided under the Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana. As a result, these children will now receive nutrition worth a total of ₹18 per day.
Around 35,000 severely underweight children across Odisha are expected to benefit directly from this enhancement. The State Government will bear an additional annual expenditure of approximately ₹10.7 crore for the initiative.
Similarly, the daily allocation for breakfast provided to pre-school children (3–6 years) at Anganwadi centres has been increased from ₹1.24 to ₹3.56. The State Government will incur an additional annual expenditure of approximately ₹126.83 crore from its own budget towards this enhancement.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy CM Parida said that the first 1,000 days of life—from conception until a child’s second birthday—constitute the most critical period for a child’s overall growth and development. Keeping this significance in view, the Women and Child Development Department has developed a digital book in Odia that explains each stage of the first 1,000 days and the care required during this period in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.
She informed that Anganwadi workers will use the digital book during home visits to create awareness among beneficiaries. Efforts have also been made to disseminate the digital book widely through Anganwadi workers and social media platforms so that it reaches all intended beneficiaries across the state.
The Minister appealed to parents and family members to read and apply the guidance provided in the digital book in their daily lives. She expressed confidence that collective adoption of these practices would help realise the vision of a “Healthy Mother – Healthy Child – Healthy Family” in Odisha.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Director Monisha Banerjee, and other departmental officials attended the programme. District Social Welfare Officers, Child Development Project Officers, DC-Nutrition officials, and Supervisors from all districts of the state participated virtually.
